Aramine Consumer Medicine Information

10mg/1mL ampoule for injection

Metaraminol bitartrate

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about ARAMINE. It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ARAMINE against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What ARAMINE is used for

ARAMINE is given to patients to treat sudden low blood pressure occurring with spinal anaesthesia (epidural).

ARAMINE may be given in combination with other medicines or procedures to treat low blood pressure due to haemorrhage, reactions to other medication, surgical complications, and shock associated with brain damage due to a tumour or injury. It may also be used in the treatment of low blood pressure due to a serious heart condition known as cardiogenic shock or a bacterial infection of the blood (septicaemia).

How ARAMINE works

ARAMINE works by narrowing the blood vessels, which has the effect of raising the blood pressure for a short period of time.

ARAMINE belongs to a group of medicines called vasoconstrictors.

Your doctor may prescribe ARAMINE for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why ARAMINE has been prescribed for you.

ARAMINE is not addictive.

Before you take ARAMINE

When you must not be given it

You should not be given ARAMINE if:

  • you are allergic to ARAMINE or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  • you are allergic to sulfites (ask your doctor if you are not sure what sulfites are.
  • you are receiving at the same time certain anaesthetics, such as halothane and cyclopropane.

If you are not sure whether you should be given ARAMINE, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if:

     

  1. you are pregnant or are breast-feeding. Like most medicines, ARAMINE is generally not recommended during pregnancy or breast feeding. However, if there is a need to consider using ARAMINE during pregnancy or breast feeding, your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits to you and your baby.

    2.  

  2. you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

    • asthma

    • heart disease

    • Cirrhosis (a type of liver disease)

    • thyroid disease

    • high blood pressure

    • diabetes
    • have had malaria.

     

  3. you have had an allergy to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are given ARAMINE.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and ARAMINE may interfere with each other. These include:

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) medicine, used to treat psychiatric or emotional conditions and some types of depression or Parkinson's Disease
  • Digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure.

These medicines may be affected by ARAMINE, or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor has more information on medicines to avoid while taking ARAMINE.

How ARAMINE is given

ARAMINE is given as an injection either into the vein (intravenous), the muscle (intramuscular) or under the surface of the skin (subcutaneous).

ARAMINE must only be given by either a doctor or a nurse.

Your doctor will decide what dose and how long you will receive ARAMINE. This depends on your condition and whether you are taking any other medications.

Adverse Effects

Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are on ARAMINE.

ARAMINE helps most people, but it may have unwanted adverse effects in a few people. All medicines can have adverse effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the adverse effects.

Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • changes in the way your heart beats, for example, if you notice it beating faster or in an irregular pattern
  • abscess, discoloration of the skin or skin changes around the injection site.

These may be serious adverse effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious adverse effects are rare.

Other adverse effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible adverse effects. You may not experience any of them.

Storage of ARAMINE

ARAMINE will be stored in the hospital pharmacy or on the ward.

It is kept in a cool, dry place where it is protected from light.

Product description

What it looks like

ARAMINE comes in a 1mL glass ampoule containing 10mgs of metaraminol bitartrate.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

  • metaraminol bitartrate 10mg

Inactive ingredients:

  • sodium chloride
  • water for injection
  • propylparaben
  • methylparaben
  • sodium bisulfite.

This leaflet was prepared in October 2001

CP-ARM-0589(291001)

®Registered Trademark of Merck & Co Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA