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BELSOMRA- suvorexant tablet, film coated


  1. Patient Information
  2. Belsomra May Cause Serious Side Effects That You May Not Know Are Happening To You. These Side Effects Include:
  3. What Is Belsomra?
  4. Who Should Not Take Belsomra?
  5. Before Taking Belsomra, Tell Your Doctor About All Of Your Medical Conditions, Including If You:
  6. How Should I Take Belsomra?
  7. What Should I Avoid While Taking Belsomra?
  8. Belsomra May Cause Serious Side Effects Including:
  9. Active Ingredient:
  10. Inactive Ingredients:

Patient Information 

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Inform patients of the availability of a Medication Guide and instruct them to read the Medication Guide prior to initiating treatment and with each prescription refill. Review the BELSOMRA Medication Guide with every patient prior to initiation of treatment.

CNS Depressant Effects and Next-Day Impairment

Tell patients that BELSOMRA has the potential to cause next-day impairment, and that this risk is increased with higher doses or if dosing instructions are not carefully followed. Patients using the 20 mg dose should be cautioned against next-day driving and other activities requiring full mental alertness as this dose is associated with a higher risk of impaired driving. Patients taking lower doses should also be cautioned about the potential for driving impairment because there is individual variation in sensitivity to BELSOMRA.

Patients should not drive or engage in other activities requiring full alertness within 8 hours of dosing of BELSOMRA.

Sleep-Driving and Other Complex Behaviors

Instruct patients to inform their families that BELSOMRA has been associated with getting out of bed while not being fully awake, and tell patients and their families to call their healthcare providers if this occurs.

Hypnotics, like BELSOMRA, have been associated with "sleep-driving" and other complex behaviors while not being fully awake (preparing and eating food, making phone calls, or having sex). Tell patients and their families to call their healthcare providers if they develop any of these symptoms.

Suicide

Tell patients to report any worsening of depression or suicidal thoughts immediately.

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Ask patients about alcohol consumption, prescription medicines they are taking, and drugs they may be taking without a prescription. Advise patients not to use BELSOMRA if they drank alcohol that evening or before bed.

Tolerance, Abuse, and Dependence

Tell patients not to increase the dose of BELSOMRA on their own, and to inform you if they believe the drug "does not work."

Administration Instructions

Advise patients to take BELSOMRA only when preparing for or getting into bed and only if they can stay in bed for a full night before being active again. Advise patients to report all of their prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements to the prescriber.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of
MERCK & CO., INC.,Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA

For patent information: www.merck.com/product/patent/home.html

Copyright 2014-2018 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary ofMerck & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved.

uspi-mk4305-t-1807r003

MEDICATION GUIDE
BELSOMRA
(bell-SOM-rah)
suvorexant
Tablets C-IV
What is the most important information I should know about BELSOMRA?
  • Do not take more BELSOMRA than prescribed.
  • Do not take BELSOMRA unless you are able to stay in bed a full night (at least 7 hours) before you must be active again.
  • Take BELSOMRA within 30 minutes of going to bed.

Belsomra May Cause Serious Side Effects That You May Not Know Are Happening To You. These Side Effects Include: 

  • sleepiness during the day
  • not thinking clearly
  • act strangely, confused, or upset
  • "sleep-walking" or doing other activities when you are asleep like eating, talking, having sex, or driving a car.
  • Call your doctor right away if you find out that you have done any of the above activities after taking BELSOMRA.

What Is Belsomra? 

  • BELSOMRA is a prescription medicine for adults who have trouble falling or staying asleep (insomnia).
  • It is not known if BELSOMRA is safe and effective in children under the age of 18.
BELSOMRA is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or cause dependence. Keep BELSOMRA in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away BELSOMRA may harm others and is against the law. Tell your doctor if you have ever abused or have been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.

Who Should Not Take Belsomra? 

Do not take BELSOMRA if you fall asleep often at unexpected times (narcolepsy).

Before Taking Belsomra, Tell Your Doctor About All Of Your Medical Conditions, Including If You: 

  • have a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts
  • have a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
  • have a history of a sudden onset of muscle weakness (cataplexy)
  • have a history of falling asleep often at unexpected times (narcolepsy) or daytime sleepiness
  • have lung problems or breathing problems
  • have liver problems
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BELSOMRA can harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BELSOMRA passes into your breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Medicines can interact with each other, sometimes causing serious side effects. Do not take BELSOMRA with other medicines that can make you sleepy unless your doctor tells you to.Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

How Should I Take Belsomra? 

  • Take BELSOMRA exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
  • Only take BELSOMRA 1 time each night, if needed, within 30 minutes of going to bed.
  • Only take BELSOMRA when you can get a full night's sleep (at least 7 hours).
  • Do nottake BELSOMRA if you drank alcohol that evening or before bed.
  • BELSOMRA may be taken with or without a meal. However, BELSOMRA may take longer to work if you take it with or right after meals.
  • Call your doctor if your insomnia (sleep problem) worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem.
  • If you take too much BELSOMRA, call your doctor right away or get emergency treatment.

What Should I Avoid While Taking Belsomra? 

  • Do notdrink alcohol while taking BELSOMRA. It can increase your chances of getting serious side effects.
  • Do notdrive, operate heavy machinery, do anything dangerous or do other activities that require clear thinking after taking BELSOMRA.
  • You may still feel drowsy the next day after taking BELSOMRA.Do notdrive or do other dangerous activities until you feel fully awake.

Belsomra May Cause Serious Side Effects Including: 

    • Store BELSOMRA at room temperature between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C).
    • Store in the original package until use, to protect from light and moisture.
    • Keep BELSOMRA and all medicines out of reach of children.
    General information about the safe and effective use of BELSOMRA.Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use BELSOMRA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give BELSOMRA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about BELSOMRA. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about BELSOMRA that is written for health professionals.For more information, go to www.BELSOMRA.com or call 1-800-622-4477.

Active Ingredient: 

Suvorexant

Inactive Ingredients: 

Polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer (copovidone), microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, and triacetin. The film coating for the 5 mg tablets also contains iron oxide yellow and iron oxide black, and the film coating for the 10 mg tablets also contains iron oxide yellow and FD&C Blue #1/Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake.This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of
MERCK & CO., INC.,Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA
For patent information: www.merck.com/product/patent/home.html
Copyright 2014 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary ofMerck & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved.
Issued: 05/2016
usmg-mk4305-t-1605r002



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