Methergine (methylergonovine) is an ergotalkaloid that affects the smooth muscle of a woman's uterus, improving the muscle tone as well as the strength and timing of uterine contractions. Methergine is administered in the postpartum period to help deliver the placenta and to help control bleeding and other uterine problems after childbirth.
Methergine can be given in tablet form, as an intramuscular injection, or intravenously. The intramuscular dose of Methergine is 1 mL, 0.2 mg, after delivery of the anteriorshoulder, after delivery of the placenta, or during the puerperium. The intravenous dose of Methergine is 1 mL, 0.2 mg, administered slowly over a period of no less than 60 seconds. The oral dose of Methergine is one tablet, 0.2 mg, 3 or 4 times daily in the puerperium for a maximum of 1 week.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Methergine?
Methergine may interact with conivaptan, epinephrine, imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone, zileuton, antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungals, cold or allergy medicines that contain decongestants, heart or blood pressure medications, hepatitis C medications, HIV/AIDS medications, migraine headache medicines, nitrates, or other ergot medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Do not use Methergine during pregnancy. Methergine is to be used only after delivery a baby.
Do not breastfeed within 12 hours after taking Methergine.
Methergine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Methylergonovine may pass into breast milk in small amounts and could affect a nursing baby. In some cases this drug may be used for up to 1 week after a baby is born. It is important to discuss with your doctor about whether you should breast-feed during that time.
Additional Information
Our Methergine Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Methergine Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, shortness of breath);
chest pain, sweating, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
seizure (convulsions);
numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in your fingers or toes;
confusion, hallucinations, vision problems;
blood in your urine; or
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.
Common side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting;
stomach pain (caused by uterine contractions); or
mild headache or dizziness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
The most common adverse reaction is hypertension associated in several cases with seizure and/or headache. Hypotension has also been reported. Abdominal pain (caused by uterine contractions), nausea and vomiting have occurred occasionally. Rarely observed reactions have included: acute myocardial infarction, transient chest pains, vasoconstriction, vasospasm, coronary arterial spasm, bradycardia, tachycardia, dyspnea, hematuria, thrombophlebitis, water intoxication, hallucinations, leg cramps, dizziness, tinnitus, nasal congestion, diarrhea, diaphoresis, palpitation, rash, and foul taste.1
There have been rare isolated reports of anaphylaxis, without a proven causal relationship to the drug product.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse drug reactions have been derived from post-marketing experience with Methergine via spontaneous case reports. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency which is therefore categorized as not known.
&Copy; Methergine Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Methergine Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
