Cisapride (Systemic)

Brand Names : Propulsid, Prepulsid

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cisapride, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cisapride. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Cisapride has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that cisapride causes harm to the fetus. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Cisapride passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies, particularly if the infant or mother are taking certain other medicines. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

Children - Cisapride can cause serious side effects in any patient. Therefore, it is especially important that you discuss with the child's doctor the good that this medicine may do, as well as the risks of using it.

Older adults - Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of cisapride. Cisapride stays in the body longer so the dose may be different than in younger people.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cisapride, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amantadine (e.g., Symmetrel) or
• Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps) or
• Antidepressants (medicine for depression) or
• Antidyskinetics (medicine for Parkinson's disease or other conditions affecting control of muscles) or
• Antihistamines, except cetirizine (e.g., Reactine), and loratadine (e.g., Claritin) or
• Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
• Buclizine (e.g., Bucladin) or
• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Cyclizine (e.g., Marezine) or
• Cyclobenzaprine (e.g., Flexeril) or
• Disopyramide (e.g., Norpace) or
• Ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent) or
• Meclizine (e.g., Antivert) or
• Orphenadrine (e.g., Norflex) or
• Oxybutynin (e.g., Ditropan) or
• Promethazine (e.g., Phenergan) or
• Trimeprazine (e.g., Temaril) - Cisapride may decrease the absorption of these medicines and cause them to be less effective

• Bepridil (e.g., Bepadin, Vascor) or
• Bumetanide (e.g., Bumex) or
• Clarithromycin (e.g., Biaxin) or
• Erythromycin (e.g., E-Mycin) or
• Ethacrynic acid (e.g., Edecrin) or
• Fluconazole (e.g., Diflucan) or
• Furosemide (e.g., Lasix) or
• Indinavir (e.g., Crixivan) or
• Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or
• Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
• Miconazole (e.g., Monistat i.v.) or
• Nefazodone (e.g., Serzone) or
• Nelfinivir (e.g., Viracept) or
• Procainamide (e.g., Pronestyl) or
• Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) or
• Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir) or
• Saquinavir (e.g., Invirase) or
• Sotalol (e.g., Betapace, Sotacor) or
• Sparfloxacin (e.g., Zagam) or
• Terodiline (e.g., Micturin) or
• Troleandomycin (e.g., Tao) - These medicines may increase the chance of serious side effects and should not be taken with cisapride

• Diuretics (water pills) - These medicines may increase the chance of serious side effects from cisapride

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cisapride. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Abdominal or stomach bleeding or
• Intestinal blockage - Cisapride may make these conditions worse

• Heart disease or
• Kidney disease, severe, or
• Low potassium blood levels or
• Lung disease, severe - Cisapride may cause an increased risk of serious heart rhythm problems