PONSTAN® Capsules

Mefenamic Acid

Consumer Medicine Information

Ask your doctor if you have any 3. you have a gastric ulcer (i.e.
What is in this leaflet questions about why PONSTAN stomach or duodenal ulcer), a
has been prescribed for you. recent history of one, or have
This leaflet answers some common had gastric ulcers before.
PONSTAN is not addictive.
questions about PONSTAN. 4. you have or have had
Before you take inflammation and/or
It does not contain all the available
ulceration of the lining of the
information. It does not take the PONSTAN stomach or bowel.
place of talking to your doctor or
pharmacist. When you must not take it Some examples of these conditions
include Crohn's disease and
All medicines have risks and Do not take PONSTAN if:
ulcerative colitis.
benefits. Your doctor has weighed 1. you have an allergy to:
5. you have kidney disease.
the risks of you taking PONSTAN • mefenamic acid or any of
6. you have severe heart failure.
against the benefits they expect it the ingredients listed at the
7. you have liver failure.
will have for you. end of this leaflet
8. you are about to have
• aspirin coronary artery bypass
If you have any concerns about
• any other NSAID medicine surgery.
taking this medicine, ask your
including COX-2 inhibitors. 9. children under 14 years of age.
doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. Many medicines used to treat Do not take PONSTAN if the
headache, period pain or other aches packaging is torn or shows signs of
You may need to read it again. and pains contain aspirin or NSAID tampering.
medicines. Do not take PONSTAN if the
What PONSTAN is
If you are not sure if you are expiry date (EXP) printed on the
used for pack has passed.
taking any of these medicines, ask
your doctor or pharmacist. If you take this medicine after the
PONSTAN is used to relieve the
symptoms of period pain and treat Symptoms of an allergic reaction to expiry date has passed, it may not
heavy periods. these medicines may include: work as well.

It also provides short term relief of • asthma, wheezing or If you are not sure if you should
pain in conditions such as: shortness of breath start taking PONSTAN contact
• swelling of the face, lips or your doctor or pharmacist.
• muscle and joint injuries such as tongue which may cause
sprains, strains and tendonitis Before you start to take it
difficulty in swallowing or
• dental pain. breathing Tell your doctor or pharmacist if
PONSTAN containing mefenamic • hives, itching or skin rash you have any allergies to:
• fainting.
acid belongs to a group of medicines • any other medicines including
called Non-Steroidal Anti- If you are allergic to aspirin or aspirin or other NSAID
Inflammatory Drugs (or NSAIDs). NSAID medicines and take medicines
These medicines work by relieving PONSTAN, these symptoms may be • any other substances, such as
pain and inflammation. severe. foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if
Although PONSTAN can relieve the 2. you had diarrhoea with this
you have or have had any medical
symptoms of pain and inflammation, medicine in the past.
conditions, especially the following:
it will not cure your condition. Diarrhoea may recur if you take
PONSTAN again. • vomiting blood or bleeding from
Your doctor may have prescribed the back passage
PONSTAN for another reason. • heart failure, heart attack, stroke

PONSTAN® CAPSULES 1
• heart disease. Use of PONSTAN • warfarin or similar medicines How to take it
may increase your risk of including Eliquis, Xarelto or
developing cardiovascular Pradaxa that are used to stop Swallow PONSTAN capsules
events (e.g. heart attack) even if blood clots whole with a full glass of water.
you don't have a history of heart • some medicines used to treat Do not chew them.
disease. high blood pressure
• high blood pressure • corticosteroids, medicines used Take PONSTAN with or after
• blood clots to suppress the immune system food.
• a tendency to bleed or other or reduce inflammation This may help reduce the possibility
blood problems such as anaemia • some medicines used to treat of stomach upset.
• heartburn, indigestion, stomach diabetes
ulcer or other stomach problems • lithium, a medicine used to treat How long to take it
• bowel or intestinal problems mood swings in patients with
such as ulcerative colitis bipolar disorder Do not take PONSTAN for longer
• than your doctor says.
• diarrhoea cyclosporin or tacrolimus,
• asthma medicines used to suppress the Do not exceed the dosage
• pinkish, itchy swellings on the immune system recommended by your doctor.
skin (also called hives) or any • selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors, medicines used for If you are not sure how long to take
other skin rash.
depression PONSTAN, talk to your doctor or
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if • methotrexate, a medicine used to pharmacist.
you are using an intrauterine treat arthritis and some cancers.
contraceptive device (IUCD). If you need to take PONSTAN for
These medicines may be affected by a long time, see your doctor for
Tell your doctor if you are regular check-ups so that he/she
pregnant or plan to become PONSTAN, or may affect how well
can monitor your condition and
pregnant. it works. You may need to take
treatment.
different amounts of your medicine,
PONSTAN may affect your or you may need to take different If you forget to take it
developing baby if you take it during medicines. Your doctor will advise
pregnancy. Pregnant woman taking If it is almost time for your next
you. dose, skip the dose you missed and
PONSTAN should be closely
Your doctor and pharmacist may take your next dose when you are
monitored by their doctor. meant to. Otherwise, take it as
have more information on medicines
Tell your doctor if you are soon as you remember, and then go
to be careful with or avoid while back to taking your capsules as you
breastfeeding.
taking PONSTAN. would normally.
PONSTAN passes into breast milk
and may affect your baby. How to take PONSTAN Do not take a double dose to make
up for the dose that you missed.
Your doctor will discuss with you the Follow all directions given to you This may increase the chance of you
benefits and risks of taking this by your doctor or pharmacist getting an unwanted side effect.
medicine. carefully.
If you have not told your doctor or If you have trouble remembering to
They may differ from the
pharmacist about any of the above, take your medicine, ask your
information contained in this leaflet.
tell them before you take any pharmacist for some hints.
PONSTAN. If you do not understand the
instructions on the pack, ask your If you take too much
Taking other medicines doctor or pharmacist for help. (overdose)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if How much to take Immediately telephone your doctor
you are taking any other or Poisons Information Centre
medicines, including any that you The usual dose of PONSTAN is 2 (telephone Australia 13 11 26 or
buy without a prescription from capsules (500 mg) three times daily New Zealand 0800 POISON or
your pharmacy, supermarket or with meals. 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to
health food shop. Accident and Emergency at your
Your doctor may recommend a nearest hospital, if you think that
Some medicines may interfere with different dose. This may depend on you or anyone else may have taken
PONSTAN. These include: your age, your condition and whether too much PONSTAN. Do this even
• aspirin including low doses of or not you are taking any other if there are no signs of discomfort
aspirin used to prevent your medicines. or poisoning. You may need
blood from clotting in certain urgent medical attention.
heart conditions Take PONSTAN exactly as your
doctor has prescribed. If you take too much PONSTAN,
you may experience pain or

PONSTAN® CAPSULES 2
tenderness in the stomach, diarrhoea, occurs do not drive. If you drink These are the more common side
muscle twitches, seizure (fit), alcohol, dizziness or light- effects of PONSTAN.
confusion, dizziness or hallucination. headedness may be worse.
Tell your doctor as soon as
While you are taking Be careful drinking alcohol whilst possible if...
taking PONSTAN. As with other
PONSTAN Tell your doctor as soon as possible
NSAID medicines, alcohol may
if you notice any of the following:
increase your risk of developing
Things you must do • severe dizziness
gastro intestinal complications.
If you become pregnant while • severe or persistent headache
taking PONSTAN tell your doctor Side effects • severe pain or tenderness in the
immediately. stomach
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as • severe diarrhoea
If you are about to start taking any
new medicine tell your doctor and soon as possible if you do not feel • eye problems such as blurred
pharmacist that you are taking well while you are taking vision or loss of colour vision
PONSTAN. PONSTAN. • ear pain
• fast or irregular heartbeats, also
Tell all of the doctors, dentists, and All medicines can have side effects. called palpitations
pharmacists that are treating you Sometimes they are serious, most of • excessive sweating
that you are taking PONSTAN. the time they are not. You may need • signs of frequent or worrying
If you are going to have surgery, medical treatment if you get some of infections such as fever, severe
tell your doctor you are taking the side effects. chills, sore throat or mouth
PONSTAN. ulcers
It can be difficult to tell whether side • bleeding or bruising more easily
If you get an infection while using effects are the result of taking than normal, reddish or purplish
PONSTAN, tell your doctor. PONSTAN, effects of your condition blotches under the skin
PONSTAN may hide some of the or side effects of other medicines you • worsening blood sugar levels in
signs of an infection and may make may be taking. For this reason it is patients with diabetes
important to tell your doctor of any • signs of anaemia, such as
you think, mistakenly, that you are
change in your condition. tiredness, being short of breath,
well or that it is not serious. Signs of
and looking pale
an infection may include fever, pain, If you are over 65 years of age you • a change in the colour of urine
swelling and redness. may have an increased chance of passed, blood in the urine
If you need to have any medical getting side effects. • a change in the amount or
tests while you are taking frequency of urine passed,
Do not be alarmed by the list of burning feeling when passing
PONSTAN, tell your doctor. side effects. urine
PONSTAN may affect the results of You may not experience any of them. • bulky, grey or pale coloured
some tests. stools
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to • yellowing of the skin and eyes,
Things you must not do answer any questions you may also called jaundice
have. • unusual weight gain, swelling of
Do not give PONSTAN to anyone
else, even if they have the same Tell your doctor if... ankles or legs.
condition as you.
Tell your doctor if you notice any The above list includes serious side
Do not take PONSTAN to treat of the following and they worry effects that may require medical
any other complaints unless your you: attention.
doctor tells you to.
• stomach upset including nausea Go to hospital if...
Things to be careful of (feeling sick), vomiting,
heartburn, indigestion, cramps Tell your doctor immediately or go
Be careful driving or operating to Accident and Emergency at
machinery until you know how • loss of appetite
• constipation, diarrhoea, pain in your nearest hospital if any of the
PONSTAN affects you. following happen:
the stomach, wind
As with other NSAID medicines, • fluid retention, swelling • vomiting blood or material that
PONSTAN may cause dizziness or • dizziness, light-headedness looks like coffee grounds
light-headedness in some people. • drowsiness • bleeding from the back passage,
Make sure you know how you react • nervousness black sticky bowel motions
to PONSTAN before you drive a car, • headache (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
operate machinery, or do anything • sleeplessness. • swelling of the face, lips or
else that could be dangerous if you tongue which may cause
are dizzy or light-headed. If this

PONSTAN® CAPSULES 3
 difficulty in swallowing or Disposal
breathing
• asthma, wheezing, shortness of If your doctor tells you to stop
breath taking PONSTAN or the capsules
• sudden or severe itching, skin have passed their expiry date, ask
rash, hives your pharmacist what to do with
any that are left over.
• fainting, seizures or fits
• pain or tightness in the chest
• fever, nausea, vomiting,
Product description
headache, stiff neck and extreme
sensitivity to bright light What it looks like
• severe blisters and bleeding in PONSTAN capsules have an ivory
the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and
opaque body and an aqua blue
genitals.
opaque cap, and are marked in black
These are very serious side effects. with "Parke Davis" on the body and
You may need urgent medical cap.
attention or hospitalisation. These
PONSTAN comes in blister packs of
side effects are rare.
50 capsules. This presentation is
Other side effects not listed above available only with a doctor's
may also occur in some patients. prescription.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if Ingredients
you notice anything else that is
making you feel unwell. Active ingredient:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if Each PONSTAN capsule contains
you don't understand anything in 250 mg mefenamic acid.
this list.
Inactive ingredients:
Some of the other possible side
• lactose monohydrate
effects can only be found when your
• titanium dioxide
doctor does tests from time to time to
• iron oxide yellow
check your progress. • brilliant blue
• gelatin
After taking PONSTAN • carbon black.

Storage PONSTAN does not contain sucrose,

gluten, tartrazine or any other azo
Keep your capsules in the pack
dyes.
until it is time to take them.
If you take the capsules out of the Distributor
pack they will not keep well. PONSTAN is supplied in New
Zealand by:
Keep the capsules in a cool dry
place where the temperature stays Pfizer New Zealand Limited
below 30°C.
PO Box 3998
Do not store PONSTAN or any
Auckland NEW ZEALAND
other medicine in the bathroom or
near a sink. Do not leave it in the Toll Free Number: 0800 736 363.
car or on window sills.
Date of preparation
Heat and dampness can destroy some
This leaflet was prepared in February
medicines.
2020.
Keep PONSTAN where children
® Registered Trademark.
cannot reach it.
© Pfizer Australia 2015.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-
a-half metres above the ground is a
good place to store medicines.

PONSTAN® CAPSULES 4