Tigan Side Effects

Generic name: trimethobenzamide

Note: This document contains side effect information about trimethobenzamide. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Tigan.

Some side effects of Tigan may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to trimethobenzamide: oral capsule

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking trimethobenzamide (the active ingredient contained in Tigan) hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• seizure (convulsions);

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• tremor (uncontrolled shaking); or

• muscle cramps, severe muscle spasms.

Continue using trimethobenzamide and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• drowsiness or dizziness;

• headache;

• feeling depressed or disoriented; or

• blurred vision.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to trimethobenzamide: compounding powder, intramuscular solution, oral capsule, rectal suppository

Nervous system

Nervous system adverse effects have included dizziness, drowsiness, headache, disorientation, coma, convulsions, depression of mood, opisthotonus, Parkinson's-like symptoms, trismus, and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Extrapyramidal reactions to trimethobenzamide have been reported in some patients, the youngest of whom was 2 weeks old. This patient received approximately 300 mg rectally, although the drug is not recommended for newborn infants.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have included allergic-type skin reactions.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have been reported rarely. Hypotension has been occasionally associated with intramuscular administration in surgical patients.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included depression.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal adverse effects include diarrhea.

Hepatic

An isolated case report described a 50-year-old white female receiving trimethobenzamide (the active ingredient contained in Tigan) capsules during a study protocol for use as a prophylactic antiemetic. After two days of administration, the patient had become jaundiced and her urine was dark. She felt tired, anorexic and nauseated with mild epigastric pain. A liver scan four days after the episode indicated hepatocellular dysfunction. She denied any other factors which may have contributed to the episode.

Hepatic side effects have included reports of jaundice and hepatotoxicity.

Musculoskeletal

Muscle cramps have occurred in some patients.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have rarely included blood dyscrasias.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included reports of blurring of vision.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects reported following intramuscular injection have included pain, stinging, burning, redness and swelling at the site of injection.

The manufacturer recommends giving trimethobenzamide by deep injection into the upper outer quadrant of the gluteal region, and avoiding the escape of the injectable solution along the route, in order to reduce the incidence of side effects at the injection site.

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