Are you taking any of the medicines listed below?

• Medicines to thin your blood (anticoagulants)

• Medicines to prevent fits (anticonvulsants), e.g. phenytoin

• Theophylline

• Lignocaine

Your medicine will be given to you by injection into a muscle, or slowly into a vein. The length of treatment will be decided by your doctor.

The usual adult dose of 'Tagamet' by injection is 200-400 mg every four to six hours.

The dose of 'Tagamet' for children varies with body weight. The usual dose is 25-30 mg for each kg of body weight each day. This is given in divided doses. The maximum recommended dose of 'Tagamet' is 2.4 g a day.

If you think you have missed an injection or that you have been given too much, speak to a nurse or a doctor.

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

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 medicine should be stored below 30°C and protected from light, until it is administered to you.

• The doctor or nurse should check that the expiry date on the pack has not been passed.

Leaflet prepared May 1995

'Tagamet' and the SB logo are trade marks