Paraldehyde (Systemic)

Brand Names : Paral

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 paraldehyde, the following should be considered:

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

Pregnancy - Paraldehyde crosses the placenta. Studies on birth defects have not been done in either humans or animals. Use of paraldehyde during labor may cause breathing problems in the newborn infant.

Breast-feeding - Paraldehyde has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Although there is no specific information comparing use of paraldehyde in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of paraldehyde in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 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 paraldehyde, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression) - CNS depressant effects may be increased

• Disulfiram (e.g., Antabuse) - Higher blood levels of paraldehyde may occur, increasing the chance of side effects

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

• Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
• Drug abuse or dependence (or history of) - Dependence on paraldehyde may develop

• Colitis - Paraldehyde used rectally may make the condition worse

• Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease, or
• Liver disease - Higher blood levels of paraldehyde may occur, increasing the chance of side effects

• Gastroenteritis (stomach flu) or
• Stomach ulcer - Paraldehyde taken by mouth may make the condition worse