Hy – Po – Tone Film-Coated Tablets

HY - PO - TONE belongs to a group of medicines called anti - hypertensives, which lower blood pressure. HY - PO - TONE tablets are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Do not take HY - PO - TONE and tell your doctor if you:

• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to methyldopa or any of the other ingredients.
• Have liver disease, or if your kidneys do not function properly.
• Have high blood pressure due to a tumour near the kidney (phaeochromocytoma).
• Suffer from depression.
• Suffer from porphyria.
• Are taking medicines for depression called monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as moclobemide or selegiline.

Take special care with HY - PO - TONE

Check with your doctor of pharmacist before taking HY - PO - TONE if you:

• Develop and unexplained fever.
• Are going to have a blood transfusion.
• Are going to have an operation in which you will be given anesthesia.
• HY - PO - TONE may cause darkening of the colour of your urine.
• Are taking other medicines such as imipramine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s) (see Taking other medicines with HY - PO - TONE).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The safety of HY - PO - TONE while pregnant and breastfeeding has not been established. Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby, please consult your healthcare provider for advice before taking HY - PO - TONE. HY - PO - TONE is distributed into breast milk in small amounts.

Driving and using machinery

HY - PO - TONE may make you feel drowsy. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.

Taking other medicines with HY - PO - TONE

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription especially:

• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure,
• if you are taking lithium as lithium toxicity may occur,
• if you are using hepatotoxic medicines such as halothane; the combination is not advisable,
• medicines used to treat depression like tricyclic antidepressants as the blood pressure lowering effect may be diminished (see Take special care with HY - PO - TONE).

Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine (this includes complementary or traditional medicines).

Always take HY - PO - TONE exactly as your doctor has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person.

Dosage: Adults and children over 12 years: HY - PO - TONE may be given as follows: Initially 250 mg two or three times a day, for 2 days. Then increased every 2 or more days until an adequate response is achieved up to a maximum of 2 g daily. If you have the impression that the effect of HY - PO - TONE is too strong or too weak, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more HY - PO - TONE than you should

In the event of overdosage, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre.

If you forget to take HY - PO - TONE

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.

HY - PO - TONE tablets can cause side effects. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following effects or any effects not listed.

• Allergic reactions: inflammation of heart muscle or the sac surrounding the heart, skin rash which may be red and/or scaly, fever.
• HY - PO - TONE may alter the numbers and types of your blood cells and cause a rise in urea in the blood. If you notice increased bruising, nosebleeds, sore throat, infections or fever, you should tell your doctor who may want to give you a blood test.
• Drowsiness, headache, loss of strength or weakness, tingling or pins and needles, trembling and shuffling walk, partial paralysis of the face, involuntary jerky movements, mental changes including nightmares, confusion, depression, dizziness, lightheadedness, reduced blood flow to the brain.
• Slow heart rate and low blood pressure, worsening of existing heart pain, low blood pressure causing dizziness on standing, water retention causing swelling and weight gain.
• Blocked/stuffy nose.
• Feeling or being sick, bloated stomach, constipation, wind, diarrhoea, inflammation of the large bowel, mild dryness of the mouth, sore or “black” tongue, inflamed salivary glands and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Tell your doctor immediately if you get very severe abdominal pains.
• Liver: abnormal liver function, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes). These would be detected by a blood test.
• Skin: eczema (scaly and itchy rashes), hard skin rash (lichenoid), severe rash involving reddening, peeling and swelling of the skin that resembles severe burns (toxic epidermal necrolysis).
• Muscles and bones: joint pain with or without swelling. Muscle pain or cramps.
• Reproductive system and breasts: absence of menstrual periods, swelling of breasts in men and women, production of breast milk, failure to ejaculate, decreased sex drive, failure to maintain an erection (impotence).

Not all side effects reported for HY - PO - TONE are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking HY - PO - TONE, please consult your healthcare provider for advice.

Store at or below 25 °C in a dry place. Protect from light. Keep in original packaging until required for use. Do not store in a bathroom. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets). STORE ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.