Meprobamate

What is Meprobamate?

• Meprobamate is a carbamate derivative used for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.

Meprobamate

Meprobamate molecule ball

Meprobamate molecule spacefill

What are the uses of this medicine?

• Meprobamate is used for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.
• Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually do not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

How does this medicine work?

• Meprobamate is a bis-carbamate ester belongs to class of medications called tranquilizers.
• It have effects at multiple sites in the central nervous system including the thalamus and limbic system.
• It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients with:

• Acute intermittent porphyria
• who are allergic or idiosyncratic reactions to meprobamate or related compounds such as carisoprodol, mebutamate, tybamate, or carbromal.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

• antidepressants
• medications for anxiety
• medications for mental illness, seizures
• sedatives
• sleeping pills
• tranquilizers

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Meprobamate was approved for use in generalized anxiety disorders in the United States in 1955, but it is currently rarely used and is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance because of its potential for abuse and dependency.
• Nevertheless, meprobamate remains available in several generic forms as 200 and 400 mg tablets.
• In addition, the muscle relaxant carisoprodol is a prodrug of meprobamate and is clinically available, although now it is also classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• The usual adult daily dosage is 1200 mg to 1600 mg, in three or four divided doses; a daily dosage above 2400 mg is not recommended.
• The usual daily dosage for children ages six to twelve years is 200 mg to 600 mg, in two or three divided doses.

Administration:

• Meprobamate comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
• It usually is taken 2 to 3 times a day in children and 3 to 4 times a day in adults.
• Meprobamate can be habit-forming, do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer period than your doctor tells you to.
• Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor, especially if you have been taking it for a long time.
• Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As Meprobamate Tablets USP, 200 mg and 400 mg for oral administration

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Amosene
• Bamate
• Equanil
• Mepriam
• Meprospan
• Miltown
• Neuramate
• Tranmep

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• drowsiness
• ataxia
• dizziness
• headache
• weakness
• nervousness
• euphoria
• overstimulation
• physical dependence
• vision changes
• excitement
• Agranulocytosis
• aplastic anemia
• Palpitation
• tachycardia
• various forms of arrhythmia
• syncope

What special precautions should I follow?

• Physical dependence, psychological dependence, and abuse have occurred. When chronic intoxication from prolonged use occurs, it usually involves ingestion of greater than recommended doses and is manifested by ataxia, slurred speech, and vertigo.
• Sudden withdrawal of the drug after prolonged and excessive use may precipitate recurrence of pre-existing symptoms. When excessive dosage has continued for weeks or months, dosage should be reduced gradually over a period of one or two weeks rather than abruptly stopped. Alternatively, a long-acting barbiturate may be substituted, then gradually withdrawn.
• Patients should be warned that meprobamate may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
• Talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol during your treatment with meprobamate. Alcohol can make the side effects of meprobamate worse.
• The lowest effective dose should be administered, particularly to elderly and/or debilitated patients, in order to preclude oversedation.
• Meprobamate is a sedative used for anxiety and insomnia, which infrequently causes liver enzyme elevations and which has not been linked to instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
• Meprobamate also has major abuse potential and many cases of dependency, habituation and overdose have been described. Withdrawal can lead to hallucinations and seizures.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking meprobamate.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking meprobamate.
• Meprobamate is a sedative used for anxiety and insomnia, which infrequently causes liver enzyme elevations and which has not been linked to instances of clinically apparent liver injury.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• drowsiness
• lethargy
• stupor
• ataxia
• coma
• shock
• vasomotor
• respiratory collapse

Management of overdosage:

• In cases where excessive doses have been taken, sleep ensues rapidly and blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rates are reduced to basal levels.
• Any drug remaining in the stomach should be removed and symptomatic therapy given.
• Respiration or blood pressure become compromised, respiratory assistance, central nervous system stimulants, and pressor agents should be administered cautiously as indicated.
• Meprobamate is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidney.
• Diuresis, osmotic (mannitol) diuresis, peritoneal dialysis, and hemodialysis have been used successfully.
• Careful monitoring of urinary output is necessary and caution should be taken to avoid overhydration.
• Relapse and death, after initial recovery, have been attributed to incomplete gastric emptying and delayed absorption.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• An increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of minor tranquilizers (meprobamate, chlordiazepoxide and diazepam) during the first trimester of pregnancy has been suggested in several studies.
• Patients should be advised that if they become pregnant during therapy or intend to become pregnant they should communicate with their physician about the desirability of discontinuing the drug.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Meprobamate tablets should not be administered to children under age six.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active ingredient:

• Meprobamate

Inactive ingredients:

• silicon dioxide
• magnesium stearate
• microcrystalline cellulose
• sodium starch glycolate type a potato
• stearic acid
• starch, corn

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

• Mfd. by: Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Haifa Bay, Israel
• Dist. by: Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., Hawthorne, NY

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F).
• Dispense in well-closed container with child-resistant closure.

• Dailymed label info on Meprobamate
• FDA Meprobamate

Meprobamate Resources
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