What is this medicine?
MANNITOL (MAN i tawl) is a diuretic. It is used to reduce pressure and swelling around the brain and in the eyes. It is also used to prevent or treat kidney failure. This medicine is also used during some urology procedures.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- breathing problems
- changes in vision
- chest pain
- confusion
- fast, irregular heartbeat
- feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
- fever or chills
- increased thirst
- irritation, pain at site where injected
- muscle pain, weakness
- seizures
- swelling of the ankles, feet, hands
- trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
- unusually weak or tired
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- headache
- nausea, vomiting
- runny nose
- skin sores
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for infusion into a vein or into the urethra. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 12 years of age for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.
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What may interact with this medicine?
- levomethadyl
- lithium
- other diuretics
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- In patients with well-established anuria caused by severe renal disease or impaired renal function who do not respond to 2 test doses. (See Test Dose under Dosage and Administration.)
- Severe pulmonary congestion or frank pulmonary edema.
- Severe CHF.
- Severe dehydration.
- Metabolic edema associated with capillary fragility or membrane permeability not associated with renal, cardiac, or hepatic disease.
- Active intracranial bleeding except during craniotomy.
- Progressive renal disease or dysfunction, including increasing oliguria and azotemia, or progressive heart failure or pulmonary congestion occurring after institution of mannitol therapy.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
You will be monitored closely while you are on this medicine.
You may need to be on a special diet while taking this medicine. Check with your doctor. Also, ask how many glasses of fluid you need to drink a day. You must not get dehydrated.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- bleeding in the brain, head injury or trauma
- dehydration
- fluid on the lungs
- heart failure
- kidney disease
- small amount of urine output
- an unusual or allergic reaction to mannitol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
Even though you may feel better you should not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first checking with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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