NEULACTIL®

Pericyazine

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Neulactil.

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 or pharmacist
has weighed the risks of you taking Neulactil 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 NEULACTIL is used for

The active ingredient of Neulactil is pericyazine, one of a group of
medicines called phenothiazines.

Neulactil is used to treat patients who feel very anxious and/or
tense.

It is used in patients to control symptoms such as impulsiveness and
aggression.

It is also used in patients with severe mental conditions when a person
loses contact with reality and is unable to think and judge clearly.

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

Before you take NEULACTIL

When you must not take it

Do not take Neulactil if you have an allergy to Neulactil, any other
drugs from the phenothiazine family, and/or any of the ingredients listed at
the end of this leaflet.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

• asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
• swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in
  swallowing or breathing
• hives, itching or skin rash
• fainting

Do not take Neulactil if you have any of the following-

• circulatory disorders
• blood or bone marrow disorders
• a history of high pressure in the eyes (certain types of glaucoma)
• if you are receiving local anaesthetics around the spinal cord
• uncontrolled fitting disorders

Do not take Neulactil after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.

If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work
(as well).

Do not take Neulactil if the packaging is torn or shows signs of
tampering.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking Neulactil, contact
your doctor or pharmacist.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:

• any other medicines
• any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes

Tell your doctor if you are breast feeding, pregnant or trying to become
pregnant.

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Neulactil
during pregnancy and lactation.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions,
especially the following:

• liver problems
• kidney problems
• epilepsy fits
• Parkinson's disease
• decreased thyroid activity
• heart failure
• tumour of the adrenal gland
• muscle weakness (Myasthenia gravis)
• certain types of glaucoma- high pressure in the eyes
• prostate problems

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them
before you start taking NEULACTIL.

Taking other medicines

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

These include:

• sedatives, medicines to help you sleep or to calm you down.
• medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
• medicines used to treat mental illness.

These medicines may be affected by Neulactil or may affect how well
it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to
take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.

How to take NEULACTIL

How much to take

Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many tablets you will need to
take each day. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are
taking any other medicines.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist
carefully.

These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or
pharmacist for help.

How to take it

Swallow Neulactil with a glass of water.

When to take it

Take Neulactil at about the same time each day.

Taking your tablets at the same time each day will have the best effect.
It will also help you remember when to take the tablets.

It does not matter if you take Neulactil before or after food.

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
your medicine as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your
pharmacist for some hints.

How long to take it

Neulactil helps control your condition, but does not cure it.
Therefore you must take Neulactil every day. Continue taking the
tablets for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you.

Do not stop using it unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to - even
if you feel better.

If you take too much (overdose)

If you take too much Neulactil you are more likely to experience side
effects listed below.

Immediately telephone your doctor or pharmacist or the Poisons
Information Centre (telephone Australia 13 11 26; New Zealand 0800 POISON or
0800 764766), or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital, if you
think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Neulactil. Do this even
if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are taking NEULACTIL

Things you must do

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you
that you are taking Neulactil.

If you become pregnant while taking Neulactil, tell your doctor.

Things you must not do

Do not give Neulactil to anyone else, even if they have the same
condition as you.

Do not take Neulactil to treat any other complaints unless your doctor
tells you to.

Do not stop taking Neulactil, or lower or raise the dosage, without
checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Neulactil may cause you to become extra sensitive to sunlight. Make
sure you avoid exposure and protect your eyes from strong sunlight.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Neulactil
affects you.

As with other medicines of this kind, Neulactil may cause dizziness,
light-headedness, and drowsiness in some people. Make sure you know how you
react to Neulactil before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do
anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If
this occurs do not drive.

Alcohol should be avoided while on treatment with Neulactil. If you
drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are taking Neulactil.

Neulactil helps most people, 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. If you are over 65 years of age you may have an
increased chance of getting side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

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

• drowsiness
• agitation or aggressiveness
• insomnia
• vomiting
• nausea
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• dizziness, especially on standing up from a sit down or lying position
• nasal stuffiness
• dry mouth (sometimes with mouth infections)
• sweating
• symptoms of sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling, blistering)
  which may occur more quickly than normal
• unusual secretion of breast milk
• growth of breasts in males
• absence or irregular menstrual periods
• impotence
• false positive pregnancy tests
• changes in libido
• inability to ejaculate
• swelling of hands, ankles, feet
• increased appetite and weight gain

Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you notice any of the
following:

• fever
• severe confusion
• skin rash
• severe pain in the stomach with bloating, gut cramps and vomiting
• yellowing of the skin and or the eyes
• changes in the way the heart beats
• shallow breathing
• frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth
  ulcers
• distortion of the body
• uncontrollable twitching, jerking or writhing movements
• restlessness
• lack of normal muscle movement
• stiffness or tightness in the arms or legs
• blurred vision
• aggravation of glaucoma
• abnormal pigmentation on certain areas of the eye
• difficulty breathing
• altered consciousness
• swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause
  difficulty breathing or swallowing

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

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell
your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel
unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

Neulactil tablets should not be frequently handled. Care should be
taken to minimise contact of Neulactil tablets with the skin.

After taking NEULACTIL

Storage

Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. If you
take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep as well.

Keep your tablets in a cool dry place protected from light where the
temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store Neulactil or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a
sink.

Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on windowsills. Heat and
dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where 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 Neulactil or the tablets have
passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are
left over.

Product description

What it looks like

Neulactil 2.5mg tablets are yellow, scored, and marked 'NEULACTIL'.
They are available in packs of 100 tablets.

Neulactil 10mg tablets are yellow, scored, and marked '10'. They are
available in packs of 100.

Neulactil tablets contain:

• pericyazine 2.5 or 10mg (active ingredient)
• cellulose microcrystalline
• lactose
• starch wheat
• silicon dioxide
• magnesium stearate