Guanidine

Guanidine improves the release of a chemical in the brain that sends nerve signals to your muscles to control movement.

Guanidine is used to treat muscle weakness caused by Eaton-Lambert syndrome. Guanidine will not treat myasthenia gravis.

Guanidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with guanidine, especially drugs that weaken the immune system such as cancer medicine, steroids, and medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection.

Other drugs may interact with guanidine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that guanidine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

guanidine lowers the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Ammonia-like breath odor
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• blurred vision
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• change in frequency or amount of urine
• chest pain
• chills
• cloudy urine
• cold sensations in the hands and feet
• confusion
• cough
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• fever
• increased thirst
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• shortness of breath, especially with exercise
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sweating
• swollen glands
• unsteadiness, trembling, or problems with muscle control
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weight loss

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Abdominal or stomach cramps
• burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas
• crying for no reason
• dry mouth
• dryness and scaling of the skin
• false or unusual sense of well-being
• feeling irritated
• feeling of warmth
• feeling paranoid
• jitteriness
• large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
• mood or mental changes
• pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
• quick to react or overreact emotionally
• rash
• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• restlessness
• seeing or hearing things that are not there

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Belly pain.
• Flushing.
• Sweating a lot.
• Not hungry.
• Upset stomach.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Stomach cramps.
• Dry mouth.
• Feeling nervous and excitable.
• Dizziness.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this medicine, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take guanidine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to guanidine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

Mild gastrointestinal disorders, such as anorexia, increased peristalsis, or diarrhea are early warnings that tolerance is being exceeded. These symptoms may be relieved by atropine, but nevertheless note should be taken of these symptoms and dosage reductions considered. Slight numbness or tingling of the lips and fingertips shortly after taking a dose of Guanidine has been reported. This per se is not an indication to discontinue treatment and/or reduce dosage.

Severe Guanidine intoxication is characterized by nervous hyperirritability, fibrillary tremors and convulsive contractions of muscle, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, hypoglycemia, and circulatory disturbances. Administration of intravenous calcium gluconate may control the neuromuscular and convulsive symptoms and provide some relief of other toxic manifestations.

Atropine is more effective than calcium in relieving the G.I. symptoms, circulatory disturbances, and changes in blood sugar.

• Cholinergic Agonist