Sodium Benzoate and Sodium Phenylacetate (Systemic)

Brand name(s): Ammonul

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination, the following should be considered:

Allergies-Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to sodium benzoate or sodium phenylacetate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy-Sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination has not been studied in pregnant women or animals.

Breast-feeding-It is not known whether sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children-This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults-Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines-Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Corticosteroids-May cause breakdown of body protein and increase ammonia levels in your body

• Penicillins-Use with penicillins may keep the sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination from working properly

Other medical problems-The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate combination. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Cancer-Use of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate may increase your chance of side effects

• Edema (swelling) or
• Heart disease-Increased retention of water may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease-May increase the amount of medicine in your body

Last Revised: 04/14/2005