Mestinon SR and/or Equivalents

Mestinon SR

Mestinon SR Drug Description

Mestinon SR is the brand name of a medicine that is indicated for the symptomatic therapy of myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that affects the normal functioning of muscles in the body. Under this condition, the muscles become exhausted during activity period and recover after periods of relaxation. Especially susceptible are the muscles that regulate chewing, swallowing, talking, facial expressions, eyelids and eyes. Even muscles regulating limb and neck movements and breathing may also be affected by this condition. Mestinon SR is prescribed to provide relief in such conditions. Each Mestinon SR (sustained release) tablet contains 180gm of pyridostigmine bromide as the prime ingredient. It also contains carnauba wax, calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate and isopropyl alcohol as the inactive ingredients. The tablets are light straw coloured, capsule-shaped, flattened on both the sides with a single score on one surface and engraved with ICN M180. The medicine is available in bottles with thirty tablets in each bottle. Mestinon SR is presented by Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Conditions Treated by Mestinon SR

Mestinon SR is prescribed to provide relief from the usual symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Mestinon SR belongs to the group of medications that are known as anticholinesterase agents. Pyridostigmine, the prime ingredient in Mestinon SR acts mainly by inhibiting the action of the enzyme cholinesterase and improving cholinergic action by helping the transmission of impulses through neuromuscular joints. It also has direct cholinomimetic influence on the skeletal muscles, autonomic ganglions and neurons of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Mestinon SR Dosage Information

a.) Typical dosage recommendations

Typical dosage for any medication depends on several factors like age, body weight, severity of condition, individual tolerance, response to the medicine etc. Your physician is the best person to determine the most effect dose for you. Since Mestinon SR is a sustained release formulation, it helps to control the typical symptoms of myasthenia gravis with less individual regular doses. Though the immediate effect of one Mestinon SR tablet is equivalent to that of one Mestinon regular tablet (60mg), its long term effectiveness is equivalent to more than twice the 60mg dose. The medicine is released slowly and uniformly and acts for a longer duration. Taking all these factors into consideration, the usual dose of Mestinon SR is one to three tablets to be taken once or twice per day. The gap between two successive doses should not be less than six hours. However, depending on patient condition and severity of symptom, Mestinon regular tablet and Mestinon syrup may be administered together with the sustained release formulation. The typical dosage may be increased or decreased depending on the remission or aggravation of muscle fatigue. It also depends on the physical and emotional stress the patient is going through and larger doses may be required during mealtimes when the muscles become more fatigued.

b.) Missing a dose

In case you have missed a particular dosage of Mestinon SR, take it whenever you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal dosage schedule. Never take more doses arbitrarily in order to compensate for a missed dose. Consult your physician instead for the best course of action.

c.) Overdosing

Inform your medical caregiver immediately if you have accidentally overdosed Mestinon SR. Overdosing may lead to cholinergic crisis and the typical symptoms include increased muscular fatigue. The condition can even affect the respiratory muscles leading to their exhaustion. This may become fatal for the patient if not treated urgently.

Mestinon SR Warnings

Before commencing treatment with Mestinon SR, inform your physician if you are allergic to the active or inactive ingredients present in the medicine. He/she would also want to know if you are suffering from bronchial asthma, allergies, urinary or intestinal obstruction. Discuss in detail your past and present medical condition including all other medications you are taking presently. Lack of improvement in your condition maybe an indication of either underdosage or overdosage of Mestinon SR. Inform your physician if you are suffering from extreme fatigue of muscles or having difficulty in breathing. He/she may then decide whether to increase or decrease your dose to provide the best benefit of the medicine. While undergoing treatment with Mestinon SR, you should use atropine with care as the formulation may mask symptoms of overdose and result in cholinergic crisis; a condition which can become fatal if left undetected or untreated immediately. As pyridostigmine, the prime ingredient in Mestinon SR is excreted unaltered through the kidneys; the medicine should be used with caution and titrated suitably in patients suffering from renal impairment. Inform your medical caregiver if you are suffering from epilepsy, bradychardia, vagotonia, coronary occlusion, peptic ulcer or cardiac arrhythmia. If you are suffering from reduced gastrointestinal motility, Mestinon SR may accumulate and lead to toxicity when normal motility is regained. Your physician will then consider the risks and benefits of the medication before prescribing it for you. Mestinon-SR tablets should always be swallowed whole without crushing or chewing. However, if required you may cut it into halves but do not quarter the tablet. Doing so will damage the sustained release medium. Mestinon-SR is hygroscopic in nature and may show signs of mottling; this however does not affect its efficacy. Always inform your physician if you are pregnant, plan to become so or nursing before commencing treatment with Mestinon-SR. Store the medicine in a cool and dark place. Keep it away from the reach of children or pets. Never share your medicine with another person, alter doses or discontinue taking it without medical consultation.

Mestinon SR Side Effects

Side effects associated with a particular medicine may vary from patient to patient and can be of temporary or permanent nature, severe or moderate. Generally, adverse effects of Mestinon-SR include the following:

• Fasciculation (small, involuntary and localized twitching of muscles)
• Salivation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps
• Increase in bronchial secretions
• Cramps in muscles
• Allergic reactions
• Urticaria
• Miosis (constriction of the pupil)
• Diaphoresis (profuse perspiration)
• Weakness in muscles

Mestinon SR Drug Interactions

Both the active and inactive ingredients in Mestinon-SR can react with other formulations you are taking. These include all prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, herbal preparations, dietary supplements etc. Talk to your physician in details about these and also about any addictions you may have towards caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or other street drugs.

If you have any questions about buying discount Mestinon SR online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Mestinon SR and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information