Tacrine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Cognex, THA, tetrahydroaminoacridine

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 tacrine the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to tacrine or to wound antiseptics (e.g., Akrinol, Panflavin, Monacrin). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether tacrine passes into breast milk. However, use of tacrine is not recommended in nursing mothers.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of tacrine in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Studies on tacrine have been done only in middle-aged and older patients. Information on the effects of tacrine is based on these patients.

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 tacrine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet) - Cimetidine may cause higher blood levels of tacrine, which may increase the chance of side effects

• Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics - Stomach irritation may be increased

• Neuromuscular blocking agents (medicines used in surgery to relax muscles) - Tacrine may increase the effects of these medicines; your doctor may change the dose of tacrine before you have surgery

• Smoking tobacco - Smoking may cause lower blood levels of tacrine, which may decrease the effects of tacrine; if you smoke, your doctor may need to change the dose of tacrine

• Theophylline (e.g., Theo-Dur, Uniphyl) - Tacrine may cause higher blood levels of theophylline, which may increase the chance of side effects; your doctor may need to change the dose of theophylline

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

• Asthma (or history of) or
• Heart problems, including slow heartbeat or hypotension (low blood pressure), or
• Intestinal blockage or
• Liver disease (or history of) or
• Parkinson's disease or
• Stomach ulcer (or history of) or
• Urinary tract blockage or difficult urination - Tacrine may make these conditions worse

• Brain disease, other, or
• Epilepsy or history of seizures or
• Head injury with loss of consciousness - Tacrine may cause seizures