Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Biltricide
Serious Warnings and Precautions
See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table, below, for more information on these and other serious side effects. |
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What is BILTRICIDE used for?
BILTRICIDE is used in adults and children 4 years of age and older to treat infections caused by worms and/or liver flukes.
How does BILTRICIDE work?
BILTRICIDE belongs to a class of medicines called antihelminthics. It works by killing the worms and/or liver flukes which treats the infection.
What are the ingredients in BILTRICIDE?
Medicinal ingredients: praziquantel
Non-medicinal ingredients: corn starch, hypromellose 15 cp, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol 4000, povidone, sodium lauryl sulphate, titanium dioxide
BILTRICIDE comes in the following dosage form:
Tablet: 600 mg
Do not use BILTRICIDE if:
- you are allergic to praziquantel or any of the non-medicinal ingredients (see What are the ingredients in BILTRICIDE?)
- you have a parasitic worm infection of the eye (ocular cysticercosis)
- you are also taking rifampin, used to treat tuberculosis and bacterial infections
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take BILTRICIDE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. BILTRICIDE passes into breast milk. You should not breastfeed your baby on the day of your treatment with BILTRICIDE or for 72 hours after. Talk to your healthcare professional about ways to feed your baby during this time.
- have a history of epilepsy
- have kidney or liver problems
- have heart problems
- are also taking efavirenz, used to treat HIV infection
Other warnings you should know about:
Driving and Using Machines: Treatment with BILTRICIDE may affect your reflexes. You should not drive or operate machinery on the day of your treatment or for 24 hours after.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medications you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
Serious Drug Interactions
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The following may interact with BILTRICIDE:
- albendazole, also used to treat worm infections
- anticonvulsant medicines used to prevent seizures such as; phenytoin, fosphenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital
- anti-fungal medicines used to treat fungal infections such as; miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole
- cimetidine, used to treat heartburn
- chloroquine, used to prevent and treat malaria
- dexamethasone, used to relieve inflammation and treat other conditions
- erythromycin, used to treat bacterial infections
- glucose and bicarbonate can cause a decrease in BILTRICIDE levels in your blood
- medicines used to treat HIV infection and AIDS, such as efavirenz, ritonavir
- St. John’s Wort, an herbal medicine used to treat depression
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking BILTRICIDE.
How to take BILTRICIDE:
- Take BITRICIDE exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. Talk to your healthcare professional if you are not sure.
The tablets and/or tablet segments should be swallowed whole with some liquid, preferably during or after meals.
- Keeping the tablets (and tablet segments) in your mouth may release a bitter taste which can cause you to gag or vomit.
- Each BILTRICIDE tablet has 3 scores so it can be broken into four segments.
- Segments are broken off by pressing the score (notch) with thumbnails. If one quarter of a tablet is required, this is best achieved by breaking the segment from the outer end.
Usual dose:
Adults and children 4 years of age and older: Your healthcare professional will decide on the dose that is right for you based on your weight. You must take your dose as a one day treatment.
If your healthcare professional has told you to divide your dose throughout the day, the time between doses should be at least 4 hours and not more than 6 hours.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much BILTRICIDE, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
What are the possible side effects from using BILTRICIDE?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking BILTRICIDE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- abdominal pain
- nausea, vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- dizziness
- drowsiness, tiredness
- fever
- headache
- hives (urticaria), rash
- itching
- muscle pain
- weakness
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Frequency / symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| UNKNOWN | |||
| Allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | ✓ | ||
| Heart problems: irregular or rapid heartbeat | ✓ | ||
| Convulsion: seizures, spasms, shaking or fits | ✓ | ||
| Bloody diarrhea | ✓ | ||
| Respiratory failure: shortness of breath, rapid breathing, confusion, blueish colour to your nails, lips and skin, extreme tiredness | ✓ | ||
| Encephalopathy (disease of the brain): memory loss, reduced ability to think clearly or concentrate, drowsiness, personality changes | ✓ | ||
| Cerebral vasculitis: sudden numbness or weakness of your arm, leg or face, especially if only on one side of the body; sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others; sudden difficulty in walking or loss of balance or coordination; suddenly feeling dizzy or sudden severe headache with no known cause | ✓ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store this medicine at room temperature below 30°C. Protect from light and excessive humidity.
Keep this and all medicine in a safe place out of the reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about BILTRICIDE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; the manufacturer’s website http://www.bayer.ca, or by contacting Bayer Medical Information at 1-800-265-7382 or canada.medinfo@bayer.com.
Bayer Inc. 2920 Matheson Boulevard East Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5R6 Canada |
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Last revised: November 16, 2023
© 2023, Bayer Inc.
® TM see www.bayer.ca/tm-mc