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Before Using

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

This medicine comes in different strengths. Serious problems, including deaths, have occurred when children were given the wrong strength. Make sure your doctor has told your pharmacist both how many milligrams (mg) and how many capsules, teaspoonfuls, or suppositories your child should receive. This information is needed to be sure the right amount is given. With proper use, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

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. Although there is no specific information comparing use of chloral hydrate in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Levomethadyl
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acecainide
• Adinazolam
• Ajmaline
• Alfentanil
• Alprazolam
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Amobarbital
• Amoxapine
• Anileridine
• Aprindine
• Aprobarbital
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Azimilide
• Bretylium
• Bromazepam
• Brotizolam
• Butabarbital
• Butalbital
• Carisoprodol
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Chlorzoxazone
• Clarithromycin
• Clobazam
• Clonazepam
• Clorazepate
• Codeine
• Dantrolene
• Desipramine
• Diazepam
• Dibenzepin
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Droperidol
• Enflurane
• Erythromycin
• Estazolam
• Fentanyl
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Flunitrazepam
• Fluoxetine
• Flurazepam
• Foscarnet
• Fospropofol
• Gemifloxacin
• Halazepam
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Imipramine
• Isoflurane
• Isradipine
• Ketazolam
• Levorphanol
• Lidoflazine
• Lorazepam
• Lorcainide
• Lormetazepam
• Medazepam
• Mefloquine
• Meperidine
• Mephenesin
• Mephobarbital
• Meprobamate
• Metaxalone
• Methocarbamol
• Methohexital
• Midazolam
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Nitrazepam
• Nordazepam
• Nortriptyline
• Octreotide
• Oxazepam
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Pentamidine
• Pentobarbital
• Phenobarbital
• Pirmenol
• Prajmaline
• Prazepam
• Primidone
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Propoxyphene
• Quazepam
• Quetiapine
• Quinidine
• Remifentanil
• Risperidone
• Secobarbital
• Sematilide
• Sertindole
• Sotalol
• Spiramycin
• Sufentanil
• Sulfamethoxazole
• Sultopride
• Tedisamil
• Telithromycin
• Temazepam
• Terfenadine
• Thiopental
• Triazolam
• Trifluoperazine
• Trimethoprim
• Trimipramine
• Vasopressin
• Zotepine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Warfarin

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

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

• Alcohol abuse or dependence (or history of) or
• Drug abuse or dependence (or history of)—Dependence on chloral hydrate may develop

• Colitis or
• Proctitis or inflammation of the rectum—Chloral hydrate used rectally may make the condition worse

• Esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus, or
• Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach, or
• Stomach ulcers—Chloral hydrate taken by mouth may make the condition worse

• Heart disease—Chloral hydrate may make the condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of chloral hydrate may occur, increasing the chance of side effects

• Porphyria—Acute attacks may be set off by chloral hydrate

• Sleep problems in children (especially in those with enlarged tonsils)—Risk of breathing problems may be increased

DR600343

Nov. 1, 2009

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

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