How much?

The following pharmaceutical forms are authorized for marketing in Italy:

• Saridon® in packs of 20 tablets at the price of 10.86 euros;
• Saridon® in packs of 10 tablets at the price of 5.81 euros.

This drug does not require a prescription to be purchased.

How does it work?

The drug Saridon® belongs to the category of analgesics and antipyretics. Paracetamol, propyphenazone and caffeine are the main active ingredients of this product and are used to treat symptoms associated with acute pain states such as headaches, neuralgia, menstrual pain, toothache and feverish.

How is it assumed?

As far as the dosage is concerned, the following must be observed. The drug must be taken with food. It should be swallowed with plenty of water and, in adults, the recommended dose is as follows: 1-2 tablets, up to a maximum dose of 4 tablets over 24 hours.

Minimum dosages should be adhered to in elderly patients and in patients with a past history of ulcers. The drug should not be taken for more than 3 consecutive days without first consulting your doctor.

The drug cannot be taken, as it is strongly contraindicated, by those suffering from renal insufficiency and in the case of patients with hepatic or cardiac insufficiency.

Overdose

Studies on a possible overdose of Saridon® have been carried out . In case of overdose, the drug can cause serious and irreversible damage to liver cells.

Caffeine may cause hyperstimulation and excitation resulting in insomnia, nausea, vomiting, muscle tremor, increased heart rate, palpitations, increased urine volume and reduced visual field.

Continued use of acetaminophen can cause kidney damage and seizures. If you accidentally take a large dose of the medicine you should notify your doctor immediately or contact the nearest hospital.

Can it be taken during pregnancy?

As regards the possibilities of using  Saridon®  during pregnancy and lactation, the drug is strongly contraindicated. If you are pregnant, suspect or are planning one, do not take the drug and ask your doctor or pharmacist for help in understanding what to do as an alternative.

Contraindications

The use of paracetamol, propyphenazone and caffeine is not recommended in cases of hypersensitivity, as well as in cases of hypersensitivity to the excipients contained in the drug. The excipients contained in the drug  Saridon® are: microgranular cellulose, corn starch, hypromellose, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate and precipitated silica.

The drug is contraindicated if the patient has a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation caused by previous treatments. If you have a history of haemorrhage and/or peptic ulcer, if you suffer from blood disorders, porphyrias, haemolytic anemia and favism, the drug is contraindicated.

The drug should not be taken by children under 12 years of age due to the presence of caffeine. Patients suffering from renal, hepatic or cardiac insufficiency should not take the drug.

Interactions with other drugs

You are advised to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken, if you are taking, might take any other medicines together with Saridon®. The drug interacts with other NSAIDs, including selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Corticosteroids and oral anticoagulants can interact with the drug causing serious side effects. Paracetamol should not be taken for long periods because it could increase the effects of anticoagulant drugs.

Drugs containing antiplatelet agents and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Diuretics, angiotensin II antagonists and ACE inhibitors may have a reduced effect.

Hypoglycaemic medicines and medicines for gout and hyperuricemia can interact with paracetamol. The same goes for medicines that increase the rate of gastric emptying, to reduce cholesterol, some antibiotics, AZT and anti-inflammatories.

If the patient takes cimetidin and antiepileptics he should take the drug with extreme caution and only under periodic medical supervision. The drug can interfere with the determination of blood sugar and uric acid and could distort blood tests.

Taking alcohol together with paracetamol-based drugs can increase the risk of damage to the liver and for this reason it is not recommended to take alcohol even if in small doses.

Side effects

Saridon®  can also cause side effects. Serious side effects are:

• Severe skin reactions, some fatal, especially during the early stages of treatment.

At the first signs of skin problems, stop the treatment immediately and contact your doctor or the nearest hospital. At the moment it is not possible to give information on the frequency of undesirable effects.

Other side effects are:

• For skin diseases: rash, urticaria, edema, acute exanthematous pustulosis, erythema, bullous reactions;
• For immune system disorders: allergic reactions, nausea, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, swelling of the larynx, anaphylactic shock;
• For disorders of the blood and lymphatic system: thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, blood cell count abnormalities, leukopenia, pancytopenia and agranulocytosis;
• For pathologies of the nervous system: drowsiness, dizziness;
• For hepatobiliary pathologies: impaired liver function, liver failure, hepatitis;
• For urinary and renal pathologies: interstitial nephritis, anuria, renal failure;
• For gastrointestinal pathologies: intestinal perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcers;
• For ear diseases: presence of vertigo.

Respecting the instructions of the doctor or the leaflet greatly reduces the risk of side effects. If side effects occur, it is advisable to consult your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately.