General Information
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Neo-Mercazole tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Neo-Mercazole against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Neo-Mercazole is used for
Neo-Mercazole contains the active ingredient carbimazole.
Neo-Mercazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid gland (a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormones).
Neo-Mercazole belongs to a group of medicines called anti-hyperthyroidism agents. These medicines work by reducing the production of thyroid hormones.
There are different types of medicines used to treat hyperthyroidism.
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Neo-Mercazole for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Neo-Mercazole has been prescribed for you.
Neo-Mercazole is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Neo-Mercazole
When you must not take it
Do not take Neo-Mercazole if:
1. you have had an allergic reaction to Neo-Mercazole or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
2. you have a previous history of adverse reactions to carbimazole
3. you have airway obstruction condition
4. you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed Neo-Mercazole passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Neo-Mercazole if you are breast-feeding.
5. the package is torn or shows signs of tampering
6. the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure if you should be taking Neo-Mercazole, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
Neo-Mercazole is not generally recommended for use in pregnant women unless the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk to the unborn baby.
2. you have any other health problems, especially the following:
- liver disorder
- blood disorder
3. you are currently being given a course of iodine as part of your treatment
4. you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Neo-Mercazole.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Neo-Mercazole.
These include:
iodine or any preparation containing iodine.
These medicines may be affected by Neo-Mercazole, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Neo-Mercazole.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.
How to take Neo-Mercazole
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
Take Neo-Mercazole exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Your doctor will tell you how many Neo-Mercazole tablets to take each day.
Your dose of Neo-Mercazole may also change from time to time, according to your progress. Therefore be sure to keep your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
How to take it
Swallow tablets whole with a glass of water.
Do not chew the tablets.
When to take it
Take your Neo-Mercazole at about the same time each day.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take the tablets.
How long to take it
Continue taking Neo-Mercazole until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
In case of an overdose
Immediately telephone your doctor, or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Neo-Mercazole. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
The following are some symptoms which may or may not occur:
skin rash
fever
severe chills
sore throat
mouth ulcers
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking Neo-Mercazole
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Neo-Mercazole.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Neo-Mercazole.
Tell your doctor that you are taking Neo-Mercazole if you are going to have any laboratory tests.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may want to do some blood and other tests from time to time to check on your progress and detect any unwanted side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Neo-Mercazole or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not give Neo-Mercazole to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Neo-Mercazole to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Neo-Mercazole affects you. However, Neo-Mercazole is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Neo-Mercazole.
Neo-Mercazole helps most people with hyperthyroidism but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea
headache
stomach upsets
skin rashes
pain in muscles & joints
hair loss
itchiness
hives
These are the more common side effects of Neo-Mercazole.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
sore throats
mouth ulcers
fever
bruising
yellowing in the skin and/or eyes
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking Neo-Mercazole
Storage
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.
Keep Neo-Mercazole in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep Neo-Mercazole where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Neo-Mercazole, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
Product description
Availability
Neo-Mercazole comes in a tablet strength of 5 mg.
Neo-Mercazole comes in bottle of 100 tablets.
What Neo-Mercazole looks like
The tablets are pink and scored.
Ingredients
Active ingredient -
Carbimazole
Inactive ingredients -
Lactose
Starch - maize
Sucrose
Magnesium stearate
Talc
Acacia
Cellulose Microcrystalline
Iron Oxide CI 77491
Propyl hydroxybenzoate
Gelatin etc
Neo-Mercazole tablets are gluten free.
Distributor
Neo-Mercazole is distributed by:
Link Medical Products Pty Ltd
Level 1 Bridgepoint centre
3 Brady Street, Mosman
NSW 2088
Australia
Distributed in New Zealand by:
AFT Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Auckland
Australian Registration Number
AUST R12121
This leaflet was last updated
October 23, 2007.