Spasmhalt -ASA-8

Uses

Codeine is an opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain when the use of an opioid is indicated.

Codeine sulfate is a form of this drug that is commonly used. It is available in tablet form and indicated for the relief of mild to moderately severe pain, where the use of an opioid analgesic is appropriate .

The solution form is used by itself or combined in a syrup with other drugs and is used as a cough suppressant in adults aged 18 and above , .

Methocarbamol is used for an adjunct to rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. The mode of action of methocarbamol has not been clearly identified, but may be related to its sedative properties. Methocarbamol does not directly relax tense skeletal muscles in man

Spasmhalt -ASA-8 is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Common Cold, Cough, Flu caused by Influenza, Mild pain, Pain, Severe Pain, Dry cough, Moderate Pain, Upper respiratory symptoms, Airway secretion clearance therapyArthritis, Discomfort, Gouty Arthritis, Muscle Spasms, Pain, Rheumatism, Soreness, Muscle, Tetanus

How Spasmhalt -ASA-8 works

Codeine is a selective agonist for the mu opioid receptor, but with a much weaker affinity to this receptor than morphine, a more potent opioid drug. Codeine binds to mu-opioid receptors, which are involved in the transmission of pain throughout the body and central nervous system , . The analgesic properties of codeine are thought to arise from its conversion to Morphine, although the exact mechanism of analgesic action is unknown at this time , .

The mechanism of action of methocarbamol is thought to be dependant on its central nervous system depressant activity. This action may be mediated through blocking spinal polysynaptic reflexes, decreasing nerve transmission in spinal and supraspinal polysynaptic pathways, and prolonging the refractory period of muscle cells. Methocarbamol has been found to have no effect on contraction of muscle fibres, motor end plates, or nerve fibres.

Dosage

Spasmhalt -ASA-8 dosage

Methocarbamol 500 mg:

• Initial dosage: 1500 mg (3 tablets) q.i.d.
• Maintenance dosage: 2 tablets q.i.d.

Methocarbamol 750 mg:

• Initial dosage: 1500 mg (2 tablets) q.i.d.
• Maintenance dosage: 1 tablet q.4h. or 2 tablets t.i.d.

Six grams a day are recommended for the first 48 to 72 hours of treatment. (For severe conditions 8 grams a day may be administered). Thereafter, the dosage can usually be reduced to approximately 4 grams a day.

Side Effects

Body as a whole: Anaphylactic reaction, angioneurotic edema, fever, headache

Cardiovascular system: Bradycardia, flushing, hypotension, syncope, thrombophlebitis

Digestive system: Dyspepsia, jaundice (including cholestatic jaundice), nausea and vomiting

Hemic and lymphatic system: Leukopenia

Immune system: Hypersensitivity reactions

Nervous system: Amnesia, confusion, diplopia, dizziness or lightheadedness, drowsiness, insomnia, mild muscular incoordination, nystagmus, sedation, seizures (including grand mal), vertigo

Skin and special senses: Blurred vision, conjunctivitis, nasal congestion, metallic taste, pruritus, rash, urticaria

Toxicity

Oral LD50: 427 mg kg-1 (rat) .

Overdose/toxicity

Symptoms of opioid toxicity may include confusion, somnolence, shallow breathing, constricted pupils, nausea, vomiting, constipation and a lack of appetite. In severe cases, symptoms of circulatory and respiratory depression may ensue, which may be life-threatening or fatal , .

Teratogenic effects

This drug is classified as a pregnancy Category C drug. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies completed in pregnant women. Codeine should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk of the drug to the fetus .

Codeine has shown embryolethal and fetotoxic effects in the hamster, rat as well as mouse models at about 2-4 times the maximum recommended human dose . Maternally toxic doses that were about 7 times the maximum recommended human dose of 360 mg/day, were associated with evidence of bone resorption and incomplete bone ossification. Codeine did not demonstrate evidence of embrytoxicity or fetotoxicity in the rabbit model at doses up to 2 times the maximum recommended human dose of 360 mg/day based on a body surface area comparison .

Nonteratogenic effects

Neonatal codeine withdrawal has been observed in infants born to addicted and non-addicted mothers who ingested codeine-containing medications in the days before delivery. Common symptoms of narcotic withdrawal include irritability, excessive crying, tremors, hyperreflexia, seizures, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and poor feeding. These signs may be observed shortly following birth and may require specific treatment .

Codeine (30 mg/kg) given subcutaneously to pregnant rats during gestation and for 25 days after delivery increased the rate of neonatal mortality at birth. The dose given was 0.8 times the maximum recommended human dose of 360 mg/day .

The use in breastfeeding/nursing

Codeine is secreted into human milk. The maternal use of codeine can potentially lead to serious adverse reactions, including death, in nursing infants .

Overdose of methocarbamol may be associated with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Patients may experience nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, hypotension, seizures, and coma. Treatment of overdose is generally through airway maintenance, monitoring urinary output, vital signs, and giving fluid intravenously if necessary.

The oral LD50 in rats is 3576.2mg/kg.

The FDA has classified methocarbamol as pregnancy category C. Animal and human studies have not been performed to determine the risks to a fetus, however fetal and congenital abnormalities have been reported. Methocarbamol is excreted in the milk of dogs, however it is unknown if this is also the case for humans. Caution should be exercised when taking methocarbamol while breastfeeding.

Studies to assess the carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or effects on fertility of methocarbamol have not been performed.

Precaution

Patients should be cautioned that methocarbamol may cause drowsiness or dizziness, which may impair their ability to operate motor vehicles or machinery. Because methocarbamol may possess a general CNS-depressant effect, patients should be cautioned about combined effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants.

Since methocarbamol may possess a general CNS depressant effect, patients receiving methocarbamol should be cautioned about combined effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants. Safe use of methocarbamol has not been established with regard to possible adverse effects upon fetal development. There have been reports of fetal and congenital abnormalities following in utero exposure to methocarbamol. Therefore, methocarbamol should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant and particularly during early pregnancy unless in the judgment of the physician the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards

Interaction

Methocarbamol may inhibit the effect of pyridostigmine bromide. Therefore, methocarbamol should be used with caution in patients with myasthenia gravis receiving anticholinesterase agents.

Volume of Distribution

Apparent volume of distribution: about 3-6 L/kg, showing an extensive distribution of the drug into tissues .

Volume of distribution data in humans is scarce. In horses, the volume of distribution is 515-942mL/kg at steady state or 724-1130mL/kg.

Elimination Route

Absorption

Codeine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The maximum plasma concentration occurs 60 minutes after administration .

Food Effects

When 60 mg codeine sulfate was given 30 minutes post-ingestion of a high high-calorie meal, there was no significant change in the absorption of codeine .

Steady-state concentration

The administration of 15 mg codeine sulfate every 4 hours for 5 days lead to steady-state concentrations of codeine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) within 48 hours .

The time to maximum concentration is 1.1 hours for both healthy patients and those on hemodialysis. The maximum plasma concentration is 21.3mg/L for healthy patients and 28.7mg/L in hemodialysis patients. The area under the curve for healthy patients is 52.5mg/L*hr and 87.1mg/L*hr in hemodialysis patients. AUC% based on terminal elimination half life is 2% for healthy patients and 4% for hemodialysis patients.

Older studies report maximum plasma concentrations in 0.5 hours.

Half Life

Plasma half-lives of codeine and its metabolites have been reported to be approximately 3 hours .

The elimination half life is 1.14 hours in healthy subjects and 1.24 hours in subjects with renal insufficiency. Older studies report half lives of 1.6-2.15 hours.

Clearance

Renal clearance of codeine was 183 +/- 59 ml min-1 in a clinical study .

Renal impairment may decrease codeine clearance .

0.2-0.8L/h/kg.

Elimination Route

About 90% of the total dose of codeine is excreted by the kidneys. Approximately 10% of the drug excreted by the kidneys is unchanged codeine .

The majority of the excretion products can be found in the urine within 6 hours of ingestion, and 40-60 % of the codeine is excreted free or conjugated, approximately 5 to 15 percent as free and conjugated morphine, and approximately 10-20% free and conjugated norcodeine .

In humans the majority of the dose is eliminated in the urine. In dogs, 88.85% of the dose is eliminated in urine and 2.14% in the feces. In rats, 84.5-92.5% of the dose is eliminated in the urine and 0-13.3% is eliminated in the feces.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with methocarbamol. It is also not known whether methocarbamol can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. methocarbamol should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Safe use of methocarbamol has not been established with regard to possible adverse effects upon fetal development. There have been reports of fetal and congenital abnormalities following in utero exposure to methocarbamol. Therefore, methocarbamol should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant and particularly during early pregnancy unless in the judgment of the physician the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards

Nursing Mothers: Methocarbamol and/or its metabolites are excreted in the milk of dogs; however, it is not known whether methocarbamol or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Methocarbamol is administered to a nursing woman.

Contraindication

Methocarbamol is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to methocarbamol or to any of the tablet components.

Special Warning

Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of Methocarbamol in pediatric patients below the age of 16 have not been established.

Acute Overdose

Limited information is available on the acute toxicity of methocarbamol. Overdose of methocarbamol is frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other CNS depressants and includes the following symptoms: nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, hypotension, seizures, and coma. In post-marketing experience, deaths have been reported with an overdose of methocarbamol alone or in the presence of other CNS depressants, alcohol or psychotropic drugs.

Management of overdose includes symptomatic and supportive treatment. Supportive measures include maintenance of an adequate airway, monitoring urinary output and vital signs, and administration of intravenous fluids if necessary. The usefulness of hemodialysis in managing overdose is unknown.

Storage Condition

Store at controlled room temperature, between 20°C and 25°C

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