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Ponstan Suspension 50 mg/5 ml
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The Ponstan Suspension leaflet is in the form of a small booklet attached to the bottle.  The text below is the information it contains.
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Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to give your child this medicine.  It gives you important information about your child's treatment.  If you have any questions, or if you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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What is in the pack?
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The name of your medicine is Ponstan Suspension.  It comes in a bottle (125 ml) of off-white liquid and is for children up to 12 years old.  Each 5 ml spoonful of Ponstan Suspension contains 50 mg of the active ingredient, mefenamic acid.
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The medicine also contains: aluminium magnesium silicate, povidone, sodium hydroxide, glucono delta lactone, hydrochloric acid, sorbitol, sodium benzoate, sodium saccharin, sugar, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethanol, banana flavour (510120E), anise mint (1081FF), imitation chocolate flavour and water.
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What is your medicine?
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Mefenamic acid is one of the group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Who supplies Ponstan Suspension?
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The product licence holder is Parke, Davis &amp; Company and the manufacturer is Parke Davis &amp; Co. Ltd., at Usk Road, Pontypool, Gwent, NP4 0YH.
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What is Ponstan Suspension used for?
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Ponstan can relieve the pain and discomfort caused by: arthritis, headache, toothache, periods, fever in children and may also be used after operations.
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Before taking Ponstan Suspension
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Has your child ever had a reaction (for example wheezing, runny nose, rash) after taking mefenamic acid or other pain killers such as ibuprofen?
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Does your child suffer from asthma or any other allergic disease?
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Has your child ever had a stomach or duodenal ulcer or an upset stomach after taking pain killers such as ibuprofen?
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Does your child have inflammatory bowel disease?
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Does your child suffer from kidney, heart or liver disease?
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Does your child suffer from epilepsy?
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Is your child taking medicines for blood clots (for example wafarin)?
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If you answer YES to any of these questions, do not give the medicine to your child.  Talk to your doctor or pharmacist at once.
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If your child goes into hospital or to see a doctor or dentist, tell them that he or she is taking Ponstan Suspension.
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How to take Ponstan Suspension
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The recommended doses for children are shown in the table above although your doctor will have decided what dose of Ponstan is right for your child.  Always follow your doctor's instructions exactly and never change the dose yourself.
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Age
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 <CB n=2> Dose (May be prescribed up to 3 times daily) <PB n=2> <CB n=1> 6 months - 1 year 2 years - 4 years 5 years - 8 years 9 years - 12 years <CB n=2> One 5 ml spoonful Two 5 ml spoonfuls Three 5 ml spoonfuls Four 5 ml spoonfuls
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Try to give the medicine at the same times every day.
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If you forget to give a dose, give another as soon as you remember unless it is time for the next dose.
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Do not give 2 doses at the same time.
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Unless this medicine is prescribed for Still's Disease, the treatment should not continue for longer than 7 days.
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If you accidentally give your child too much medicine tell your doctor at once.  If you can't do this, go to the nearest hospital) casualty department.  Take along any medicine that is left, the container and the label so that the hospital staff can easily tell what medicine your child has taken.
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Side-effects
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Ponstan can sometimes cause side-effects. These might be:
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diarrhoea skin rash wheezing
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Other side-effects have also been reported with Ponstan, these are shown below.  If your child suffers from any of the listed side-effects, or any other side-effects, stop giving the medicine and tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
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Stomach:
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 Upset stomach, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, stomach pain, black tarry stools(bowel motions).
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Blood:
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 Anaemia, increased bruising or bleeding, frequent sore throats or infections.  Mefenamic acid can reduce the number of certain types of blood cells.  If your child has any blood tests performed, you should remember to tell the doctor that he/she is taking mefenamic acid.
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Liver:
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 Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
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Kidney:
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 Red urine, protein in the urine (you cannot see this but your doctor may test for this from time to time).
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Other:
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 Recurring or persistent headache, dizziness, drowsiness, puffiness of the face, allergy.
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How to store Ponstan Suspension
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Keep the medicine in a dry place at a normal room temperature (below 30ºC) in the packaging that it came in.
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Remember, like all medicines, to keep Ponstan Suspension well away from children to avoid accidental use.
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Do not use the medicine after expiry date on the package.  Return any out-of-date medicine to your pharmacist.
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If your doctor decides to end your child's treatment return the left-over Ponstan Suspension to your pharmacist.  Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.
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Ponstan is a trade mark.  Date of last revision: June 1995.
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For further information contact: Elan Pharma Ltd., Lambert Court, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire, S053 3ZQ.
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