Dichlorphenamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Carbonic anhydrase is a protein in your
body. Dichlorphenamide reduces the activity of this protein.
Dichlorphenamide is used to treat glaucoma. By inhibiting the actions of carbonic anhydrase,
dichlorphenamide reduces the amount of fluid produced in your eyes and therefore also reduces
pressure.
Dichlorphenamide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication
guide.
Take dichlorphenamide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these
directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Store dichlorphenamide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical
attention:
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
a sore throat or a fever;
unusual bleeding or bruising;
side or groin pain;
tingling or tremors in your hands or feet; or
a rash.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to
take dichlorphenamide and talk to your doctor if you experience
decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or
changes in taste;
drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, or weakness;
nervousness or tremor;
headache or confusion;
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight;
worsening gout;
loss of blood sugar control (if you are diabetic);
ringing in your ears or hearing problems; or
changes in your vision.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following
medicines:
cyclosporine (Sandimmune). Cyclosporine may have more side
effects if it is taken with dichlorphenamide.
primidone (Mysoline). Primidone may not be as effective if
it is taken with dichlorphenamide, and seizure control may be reduced.
diflunisal (Dolobid). Diflunisal may increase both the
activity and the side effects of dichlorphenamide.
aspirin, salsalate (Disalcid, Salflex, Salsitab, others),
choline salicylate (Arthropan), magnesium salicylate (Doan’s, Magan, Mobidin), and other
aspirin-like products (salicylates). These medicines may also interact with dichlorphenamide,
and special monitoring of your therapy may be necessary.
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others). Dichlorphenamide may
decrease the level of lithium in your blood. Special monitoring or a dosage adjustment may be
necessary.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with
dichlorphenamide. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities. Dichlorphenamide may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or
drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Dichlorphenamide may increase the sensitivity of
your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is
unavoidable.
Symptoms of a dichlorphenamide overdose include drowsiness, decreased appetite, nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, numbness or tingling, shaking, and ringing in the ears.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next
dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience a sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding or
bruising, tingling or tremors in your hands or feet, pain in your side or groin, or a rash. These
symptoms could be early signs of a serious side effect.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities. Dichlorphenamide may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or
drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Dichlorphenamide may increase the sensitivity of
your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is
unavoidable.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a sulfa-based drug such as
sulfamethoxazole (e.g., Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol). Dichlorphenamide is also a sulfa-based drug,
and you may have a similar reaction to it.
Before taking dichlorphenamide, tell your doctor if you
are on aspirin therapy,
have liver disease,
have kidney disease,
have heart disease,
have lung disease, or
have a hormonal disease.
You may not be able to take dichlorphenamide, or you may require a
lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Dichlorphenamide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known
whether dichlorphenamide will harm an unborn baby. Do not take dichlorphenamide without first
talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether dichlorphenamide passes into breast milk. Do not take
dichlorphenamide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Dichlorphenamide is available with a prescription under the brand name Daranide. Other
brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have
about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Daranide 50 mg—round, yellow tablets
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your
medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive.
Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and end-users in the United States. Cerner Multum does not warrant
that uses outside of the United States are appropriate. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy.
Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or
to serve end-users viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare
practitioners. Healthcare practitioners should use their professional judgment in using the information provided. The absence of a warning for a
given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for
any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2007 Cerner Multum, Inc. All rights reserved.
Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement,
which can be accessed by clicking on this link.
