Maxolon Solution for Injection

Generic Name: Metoclopramide hydrochloride
Product Name: Maxolon Solution for Injection

Indication of Maxolon Solution for Injection
Action of Maxolon Solution for Injection
Dose advice of Maxolon Solution for Injection
Schedule of Maxolon Solution for Injection
Common side effects of Maxolon Solution for Injection
Uncommon side effects of Maxolon Solution for Injection

Indication of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

Individuals aged ≥ 20 years
Maxolon is a medicine used to relieve nausea and vomiting. For individuals aged ≥ 20 years of age it is used to treat vomiting and/or nausea associated with the following causes:

Use of other medications which cannot be withdrawn because they are essential for treating the person’s health condition;
Kidney disorders;
Childbirth;
Cancer;
Vomiting which occurs after surgery;
Radiation therapy;
Chemotherapy;
Infectious diseases.

Maxolon may also be used to treat people ≥20 years in a number of other situations. It may be used to assist with the placement of a gastrointestinal tube (e.g. a tube which is placed to allow feeding via the tube). In this instance Maxolon is used because it prevents stomach and throat contractions (gagging) which can make it more difficult for the doctor or nurse to place the gastric tube.

In addition, Maxalon may be given to a person ≥ 20 years of age before they have an x-ray examination of the stomach and duodenum, to assist with the diagnosis.

A further use for Maxolon is to stimulate the stomach contractions which cause food to move through the stomach and intestines in people who have digestion problems.

Individuals aged < 20
For individuals aged < 20 years of age it is used:

To relieve severe vomiting when the cause of the vomiting has been identified;
To relieve vomiting associated with radiation therapy and the use of cytotoxic medicines (medicines that destroy the body’s cell such as medicines used for chemotherapy);
To assist in the placement of a gastrointestinal tube.

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Action of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

Maxolon is a medicine which affects the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal system. It stimulates gastric contractions and in doing so causes the stomach to empty into the intestines more quickly than it otherwise would.

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Dose advice of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

Dose information
Maxolon is injected by a doctor or nurse. The doctor will determine the correct dose based on your age and body weight. The medicine must only be taken according to the doctor’s instructions to reduce the likelihood of adverse side effects.

When Maxolon is used to relieve nausea and vomiting it is usually administered three times a day. The doctor will determine how long you need to take Maxolon for and whether it is best injected into a muscle in the upper arm or buttock (intramuscular) or a vein (intravenous). When injected intravenously, it is given slowly and takes 1-2 minutes.

When used to assist with diagnosis or tube placement, a single dose is usually given. The quantity varies depending on the person’s age and body weight.

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms which may indicate an overdose or serious reaction:

Drowsiness;
Confusion;
Tremor; or
Twitching or uncontrolled muscle spasms.

You should also alert your doctor if your nausea and/or vomiting persist as this may indicate an underlying condition requiring treatment.

If you have any queries about the correct way to use Maxolon, please ask your doctor.

Contraindications
Maxolon should not be used under certain conditions. Tell your doctor if you:

Are allergic to metoclopramide or any other ingredients in the product;
Have problems in the stomach or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, especially:

Bleeding;
Blockage;
Wounds from recent surgery;

Have a tumour of the adrenal gland.

Precautions
Special care needs to be taken when using Maxolon under certain conditions. Tell your doctor if you:

Have any sort of allergy;
Have epilepsy;
Have Parkinson’s disease;
Have a liver problem;
Have a kidney problem;
Are pregnant;
Are planning to become pregnant;
Are breastfeeding;
Are taking other medications, including over the counter medicines from the supermarket or pharmacy. Some medicines affect the way that Maxolon works, including:

Tranquilizers or anti-anxiety medications;
Pain killers that contain codeine or morphine;
Sedatives or sleeping medications;
Some cold and flu tablets;
Some travel sickness medications;
Some antibiotics;
Paracetamol;
Levodpa (an natural anti-Parkinson’s drug); or
Digoxin (a medication used to treat people with heart problems).

Pregnancy
Maxolon should not be used by pregnant women as tests have not been conducted to determine its safety for use during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding
Maxolon should not be used by breastfeeding women. Tests have not been conducted to determine whether or not it is safe when used by breastfeeding women.

Children
Children are more likely to experience side effects when they use Maxolon. A doctor will therefore only prescribe Maxolon for a child when there is a clear medical need for the medicine to be given.

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Schedule of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

Maxolon is a Schedule S4 medication.¹

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Common side effects of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

All medicines have side effects. Most commonly the side effects are minor; however, some can be more serious. Usually the benefits of taking a medication outweigh the associated side effects. Your doctor would have considered these side effects before starting you on Maxolon.

The side effects of Maxolon typically occur within 36 hours of taking the medicine. They usually go away within 24 hours after you last take the medicine.

Serious side effect are rare but they can be life threatening. It is very important to seek urgent medical attention if you experience symptoms which may be caused by a severe side effect of the drug (see below for further details).

Allergic reactions may occur in individuals who are hypersensitive to the medicine. They are a potentially fatal side effect and cause symptoms including loss of consciousness, swelling of the limbs or face (which may cause breathing difficulty). Seek urgent medical attention if you experience these symptoms after taking Maxolon.

Very common side effects
Very common side effects are those that occur in more than 10% of people given Maxolon. These include:

Restlessness;
Drowsiness;
Weakness; and
Fatigue.

Common side effects
Common side effects are those that occur in 1–10% of people given Maxolon. These include:

Insomnia;
Headache;
Dizziness;
Nausea; and
Bowel disturbances.

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Uncommon side effects of Maxolon Solution for Injection:

Side effects that occur in less than 1% of people given [drug] are considered uncommon. People do not necessarily experience any of these side effects, so do not become alarmed by this list:

Anxiety;
Agitation;
Muscular disorders which are potentially serious and should be reported to a doctor immediately including:

Spasm of the facial muscles including sucking or smacking the lips or chewing movements;
Trismus (inability to open the mouth);
Protrusion of the tongue;
Abnormal speech;
Spasm of the eye muscles;
Unnatural positioning of the head and shoulders;
Uncontrolled arm and leg movements; and
Abnormal posture.

Rare side effects
Rare side effects are those that occur in 0.01–0.1% of people given Maxolon. These include:

Depression; and
Tardive dyskinesia, a condition characterised by abnormal and involuntary muscle movements (e.g. facial spasms) which is potentially life threatening and requires urgent medical attention.

Very rare side effects
Very rare side effects are those that occur in less than 0.01% of people given Maxalon. These include:

Rapid heartbeat; and
Neuroplectic malignant disorder, a condition characterised by a rapid increase in body temperature, high blood pressure and seizures.

If you experience any of the listed side effects, or any other symptoms that appear abnormal or unusual, please tell your doctor.

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Reference:

Maxolon Product Information [online]. St Leonards, NSW: MIMS Online; 17 March 2009 [cited 8 April 2011]. Available from: URL link
Maxolon Consumer Medical Information [online] St Leonards. NSW MIMS Online; 17 March 2009 [cited 8 April 2011] Available from: URL link

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