Methylergonovine Maleate

Methergine is used by pregnant women after delivering the baby to prevent bleeding from the uterus. It works by enhancing the amount, strength, and stiffness of contractions in the uterus muscles. This helps to slow the bleeding. Methergine also helps to deliver the placenta (afterbirth) just after the baby has been born.

• Methergine

• Ergonovine Maleate
• Methergine
• Methylergonovine Maleate
• Oxytocin
• Oxytocin-Dextrose
• Oxytocin-Dextrose-Lact Ringers
• Oxytocin-Lactated Ringers
• Oxytocin-Sodium Chloride
• Pitocin

• Tablet

• By mouth

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed. This medicine is usually given for up to 1 week after childbirth, as directed by your doctor.

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to methylergonovine, or if you have high blood pressure or toxemia. If you are pregnant, you should use this medicine only if you are in labor.

This medicine may increase your chance of heart problems or a heart attack. This is more likely if you already have heart disease, if you have diabetes or high cholesterol, or if you smoke or are overweight. Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort; nausea or vomiting; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck; trouble breathing; or sweating.

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are taking this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

Make sure your doctor knows if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease (such as coronary artery disease), or blood vessel disease.

Do not breastfeed for at least 12 hours after your last dose of this medicine.

Your unborn baby could be harmed if you use this medicine before you go into labor. This medicine may cause contractions of the uterus and cause you to give birth early.

Tingling of the fingers, toes, or feet

This medicine may increase your chance of heart problems or a heart attack. This is more likely if you already have heart disease, if you have diabetes or high cholesterol, or if you smoke or are overweight. Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort; nausea or vomiting; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck; trouble breathing; or sweating.

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are taking this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using medicine to treat an infection (such as clarithromycin, clotrimazole, erythromycin, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, troleandomycin, voriconazole, Biaxin®, Diflucan®, Ery-tab®, Nizoral®), medicine to treat HIV infection (such as delavirdine, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir, Norvir®, Rescriptor®), or medicine to treat depression (such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone, Serzone®). Tell your doctor if you are also using rifampicin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), zileuton (Zyflo®) or medicine to treat severe chest pain or angina (such as nitroglycerin, Nitro-Bid®, Nitrostat®, Transderm-Nitro®).

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using another ergot medicine (such as ergotamine, Cafergot®, Ergomar®, Wigraine®) or a blood pressure medicine (such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, Bystolic®, Tenormin®).

• Tingling of the fingers, toes, or feet
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate
• Seizures
• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Chest pain or discomfort, fast or uneven heartbeat, sweating, trouble breathing, or pain in the arm, back, or jaw
• Severe headache, blurred vision
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain