Patient leaflet - HIPREX 1G TABLETS
Patient Information Leaflet
Hiprex® 1g tablets (methenamine hippurate)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
The name of your medicine is Hiprex 1g tablets, but will be referred to as Hiprex throughout the remainder of the leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
-
1. What Hiprex is and what it is used for
-
2. What you need to know before you take Hiprex
-
3. How to take Hiprex
-
4. Possible side effects
-
5. How to store Hiprex
-
6. Contents of the pack and other information.
1. what hiprex is and what it is used for
Hiprex contains the active substance methenamine hippurate and belongs to a group of medicines called anti-bacterials. These work by killing many different types of bacteria which cause infections.
Hiprex is used to treat infections of the urinary tract and stop them from coming back. The urinary tract is a collective name for the parts of the body that produce, store and transport urine. These include the kidney, bladder and tubes called the ureter and urethra. It is also used to avoid urinary tract infections in patients with catheters from their bladders (a tube that helps with incontinence) and in people undergoing certain medical procedures.
2. what you need to know before you take hiprex do not use hiprex if:
- You are allergic to methenamine hippurate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- You are taking antibiotic medicines called sulphonamides. These can damage your kidneys when taken at the same time as Hiprex
- You are severely dehydrated
- You have serious problems with your kidneys
- You have problems with your liver
- You have gout
- You have a condition called metabolic acidosis (a chemical imbalance in the blood).
If any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Warnings and precautions
- You have any kinds of problems with your kidneys.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Medicines to make your urine less acidic such as potassium citrate and acetazolamide.
These can stop Hiprex working properly
- Any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
3. how to take hiprex
Always take Hiprex exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Important:
Your doctor will choose the dose that is right for you. Your dose will be shown clearly on the label that your pharmacist puts on your medicine. If it does not, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Adults
The recommended dose is one tablet twice a day.
If you have a catheter your doctor may increase your dose to one tablet three times a day.
Use in children
Not for children aged under 6.
Children aged 6 – 12 years the recommended dose is half a tablet (500mg) twice a day.
Method of administration
The tablets can be broken in half. If you find it particularly difficult to swallow them, the tablets may be crushed and taken with a drink of milk or fruit juice.
If you take more Hiprex than you should
If you accidentally take more Hiprex than you should you might be sick or see blood in your urine. Drink plenty of water and immediately go to the nearest hospital casualty department or your doctor.
Your doctor may give you another medicine to stop you being sick.
If you forget to take Hiprex
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Simply take your next dose as planned.
If you stop taking Hiprex
Your doctor will tell you how long to take your medicine for. Do not stop taking Hiprex without first talking to your doctor.
If you have further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
You may experience the following:
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Rashes
- Stomach irritation
- Itching
- Nausea
- Bladder irritation usually seen as a burning sensation and pain on urinating
- vomiting
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Diarrhoea, abdominal pain
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store hiprex
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Hiprex after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C.
Keep container tightly closed in the original package in order to protect from light and moisture.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Return any medicine you no longer need to your pharmacist.
If the tablets show any signs of discolouration or deterioration consult your pharmacist for advice.
6. contents of the pack and other information what hiprex contains
Each tablet contains 1 gram methenamine hippurate. Also contains magnesium stearate, povidone and colloidal anhydrous silica.
What Hiprex looks like
Each tablet is white, oblong shaped with breakline and is marked “HX” on one side and plain on the reverse.
Hiprex is available in a glass bottle which contains 100 tablets.
PL 20774/1597 Hiprex 1g tablets P
Manufactured by SIDEFARMA – Sociedade Industrial de Expansao Farmaceutica, S.A. Rua de Guine, n° 26, 2698–514 Prior Velho, Portugal. Procured from within the EU. Product Licence Holder: Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Lynstock House, Lynstock Way, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4SA. Repackaged by Maxearn Ltd, Unit 29, Oakhill Trading Estate, Devonshire Road, Worsley, Manchester M28 3PT.
Leaflet revision date 8th March 2021
Hiprex is a registered trademark.
Blind or partially sighted? Is this Leaflet hard to see or read?
Phone Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 01204 471269
L-02–1597–01