Roxanol Rect

This medication is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain. It acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief. This medication is a narcotic pain reliever (opiate-type).

How to use Roxanol Rect
Unwrap and insert one suppository rectally as directed by your doctor. Lie down on your left side with right knee bent. Gently push the suppository into the rectum with your finger. Remain lying down for a few minutes, and avoid having a bowel movement for an hour or longer so the drug will be absorbed. The suppository is for rectal use only.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.
You may also take long-acting narcotic medications or use narcotic patches for ongoing pain if so directed by your doctor. In that case, this medication might be used for sudden (breakthrough) pain only as needed. Also follow your doctor\'s or pharmacist\'s instructions for safely using non-narcotic pain relievers (e.g., naproxen, ibuprofen). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, irritability, watery eyes, runny nose, sweating, diarrhea) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.
Though very unlikely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. To lessen the risk of becoming addicted, do not increase your dose, use it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed.
When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.
Inform your doctor if your pain persists or worsens.

Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, increased sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you become constipated while using this drug, consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (e.g., stimulant-type with stool softener).
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, mental/mood changes, fainting, vision changes, slow/fast heartbeat, difficulty urinating.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, change in the amount of urine, seizures.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using morphine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other narcotic pain medications (e.g., codeine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe breathing problems (e.g., respiratory depression, hypercarbia, asthma attack), certain bowel diseases (e.g., paralytic ileus, infectious diarrhea), intoxication with medications that depress the nervous system or your breathing (CNS/respiratory depressants such as alcohol or tranquilizers/sedatives), certain heart problems (e.g., irregular heartbeat, cor pulmonale), brain disorders (e.g., seizures, head injury, tumor, increased intracranial pressure), certain surgeries (e.g., surgical anastomosis, biliary tract surgery).
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: lung diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, asthma, hypoxia, hypercapnia), disease of the pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis), mental/mood disorders (e.g., toxic psychosis), gallbladder disease, a certain spinal problem (kyphoscoliosis), personal or family history of regular use/abuse of drugs/alcohol, kidney disease, liver disease, adrenal gland problem (e.g., Addison\'s disease), difficulty urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate or urethral stricture), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), intestinal diseases (e.g., colitis).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially slow/shallow breathing and drowsiness.
Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, use the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as slow/shallow breathing, irritability, abnormal/persistent crying, vomiting, or diarrhea.
This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: naltrexone.
If you are currently using this medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting morphine.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anticholinergic medications (e.g., scopolamine), cimetidine, drugs that lower blood pressure (e.g., diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), other medications for pain (e.g., pentazocine, nalbuphine), rifampin.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, phenothiazines (e.g., prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including amylase and lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents should call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others. It is against the law.
This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that case.

MISSED DOSE:
If you use this medication regularly and miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from heat. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Information last revised September 2011. Copyright(c) 2011 First Databank, Inc.