This leaflet tells you about 'Dyspamet' Chewtab Tablets. Please read it before taking your tablets.

If there is anything you do not understand, or if you want to know more about your tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist).

Please keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.

'Dyspamet' Chewtab Tablets contain the active ingredient cimetidine. Each tablet contains 200 milligrammes (mg) of cimetidine.

Your tablets also contain inactive ingredients. These are Eudragit, sorbitol (E420), lactose, croscarmellose sodium (Type A), sodium saccharin, aspartame, magnesium stearate (E572), aniseed and butterscotch flavours.

Your tablets contain 6.2 mg (0.27 mmol) sodium in each tablet.

'Dyspamet' Chewtab Tablets are available in packs of 120 tablets.

The Product Licence Holder is Smith Kline & French Laboratories Ltd., trading as SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 1EY.

The Product Authorisation Holder is Bridge Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited, Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Ireland.

'Dyspamet' Chewtab Tablets are manufactured by Smith Kline & French Laboratories, Manor Royal, Crawley.

Your medicine is known as a histamine H₂ antagonist. It works by reducing the natural production of acid in the stomach.

Your medicine is used to treat and relieve the symptoms of stomach and duodenal ulcers, oesophageal reflux disease and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

It will also help the healing of ulcers and reduce the inflammation due to these conditions.

Your medicine may also be prescribed for a range of other medical conditions where reduction of acid production in the stomach is needed.

If you answer Yes to any of the following questions, go back to your doctor or pharmacist and ask what you should do. You may need to be given another medicine or the dose may need to be changed.

• Are you allergic to 'Dyspamet' (cimetidine)?
• Do you have a kidney problem?
• Do you have a blood disorder?
• Are you pregnant, or do you think you may be?
• Are you breast feeding?

You should also tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medicines listed below

• Medicines which thin the blood (anticoagulants) e.g . warfarin
• Medicines to prevent fits (anticonvulsants) e.g. phenytoin
• Theophylline tablets to help your breathing
• Lignocaine (by injection)

The usual dose of 'Dyspamet' Chewtab Tablets is shown in the following table.

and two 200 mg tablets at bedtime

One 200 mg tablet three times a

day (with meals) followed by two

200 mg tablets at bedtime.

Elderly As for adults.

Children over 1 The dose of 'Dyspamet' for

year of age children varies with body weight.

The usual dose is 25 30 mg each

day for each kg of body weight.

This is given in divided doses. For

example, a 20 kg child would have

600 mg 'Dyspamet' a day (One

200 mg tablet three times a day).

The maximum recommended dose of 'Dyspamet' is 2.4 g a day.

Your doctor may reduce your dose when you start to feel better.

Doctors sometimes prescribe different doses to those described above. if this applies to you, you should discuss it with your doctor if you have not already done so.

The pharmacist's label on your pack will tell you how much your doctor would like you to take and when to take it. Please read the label carefully.

You may feel better after a few days but you should keep taking your medicine until the prescribed course is finished. Your symptoms may come back if you stop your treatment too soon.

You should only take the dose that your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If you have taken too much tell your doctor or hospital casualty department straight away. Take your tablet pack with you.

If you forget to take a dose leave out that dose completely. Take your next dose at the normal time.

Side effects with your medicine are usually mild and do not last long. The most common unwanted effects are diarrhoea, dizziness, rash and tiredness.

Other more rare side effects are confusion, breast enlargement in men, blood changes, kidney disorders liver disorders, inflammation of the pancreas, fever headache, aching muscles, aching joints, heart effects and impotence. All these side effects should disappear when treatment is stopped.

Very rarely allergic reactions (rash, itching, shortness of breath and low blood pressure) and hair loss have occurred.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of these effects or any other unwanted effects not mentioned above.

• Your tablets will have an expiry date on the pack.

You should not use your tablets after this date.

• Keep your tablets in their original pack.
• Remember, these tablets have been prescribed just for you. Never offer your tablets to other people. It may not be suitable for them even if their symptoms seem the same as yours.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Preferably in a locked cupboard or medicine cabinet.

Leaflet prepared May 1995

'Dyspamet' is a trade mark

© 1995 SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals