methenamine

Take all of the methenamine that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Plenty of fluid should be consumed while taking methenamine.

Your healthcare provider may recommend drinking additional water and/or certain fruit juices (e.g., cranberry, plum, prune) and increased protein in the diet while taking methenamine to ensure adequate hydration and acidity of the urine. It may also be recommended to avoid citrus fruits and juices (e.g., orange, grapefruit, lemon), milk and dairy products, and antacids during treatment with methenamine. These products may decrease the effectiveness of methenamine. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

Methenamine is a urinary antiinfective medicine. Methenamine fights bacteria in the urine and bladder.

Methenamine may be used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections.

Methenamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

Before taking methenamine, talk to your doctor if you

• have liver problems;
• have kidney problems;
• have other medical conditions; or
• take other medications.

You may not be able to take methenamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Methenamine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take methenamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Methenamine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take methenamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take methenamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Plenty of fluid should be consumed while taking methenamine.

Methenamine should be taken with food to reduce stomach upset.

Do not crush or chew the enteric-coated tablets. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to be less irritating to the stomach. Talk to your doctor if swallowing the tablets is difficult.

Shake the liquid form of methenamine well before measuring a dose. To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the suspension with a dose-measuring spoon, dropper, or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

It is important to take methenamine at regularly scheduled intervals to get the most benefit.

Take all of the methenamine that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

Your healthcare provider may recommend drinking additional water and/or certain fruit juices (e.g., cranberry, plum, prune) and increased protein in the diet while taking methenamine to ensure adequate hydration and acidity of the urine. It may also be recommended to avoid citrus fruits and juices (e.g., orange, grapefruit, lemon), milk and dairy products, and antacids during treatment with methenamine. These products may decrease the effectiveness of methenamine. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

Store methenamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

Symptoms of a methenamine overdose are not known.

Your healthcare provider may recommend drinking additional water and/or certain fruit juices (e.g., cranberry, plum, prune) and increased protein in the diet while taking methenamine to ensure adequate hydration and acidity of the urine. It may also be recommended to avoid citrus fruits and juices (e.g., orange, grapefruit, lemon), milk and dairy products, and antacids during treatment with methenamine. These products may decrease the effectiveness of methenamine. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking methenamine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives;
• lower back or side pain;
• blood in urine; or
• increasingly painful or difficult urination.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take methenamine and talk to your doctor if you experience

• nausea or upset stomach;
• decreased appetite; or
• skin rash.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Do not take methenamine without first talking to your doctor if you are taking:

• a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as acetazolamide (Diamox), dichlorphenamide (Daranide), or methazolamide (Glauctabs, MZM, Neptazane);
• a sulfa product such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and others;
• a diuretic (water pill); or
• a product that contains aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium bicarbonate, potassium or sodium citrate, or citric acid (such as antacids, vitamin or mineral pills, urinary alkalinizers, and other medications).

You may not be able to take methenamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methenamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Your pharmacist has additional information about methenamine written for health professionals that you may read.

Methenamine is available with a prescription under the brand names Hiprex, Urex, and Mandelamine. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.