Mepyramine Maleate
Indications
Registered South African indications:
- Allergic skin reactions
Cautions
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
- Eczematous conditions
- Extensively broken skin surfaces
- Acute vesicular and exudative dermatoses
Cautions
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Repeated application for longer than a few days is not recommended
Adult dosage
Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cre
Allergic skin conditions including relief of insect bites or stings
- Topical (cre): Apply to affected area, 8-12hrly; Max duration: 3 days
Early application is essential to obtain the optimum response
Paediatric dosage
See adult dosage
Special populations
Pregnancy
- Caution
- There is no evidence of the safety of mepyramine maleate in human pregnancy, but it has been widely used for many years without apparent ill consequence. Absorption of a significant amount after topical application is unlikely in the prescribed method of use, nevertheless, mepyramine maleate cream should not be used during pregnancy, unless considered essential
Breastfeeding
- Caution
- Absorption of a significant amount after topical application is unlikely in the prescribed method of use, nevertheless, mepyramine maleate cream should not be used during breastfeeding, unless considered essential
Renal Impairment
Hepatic Impairment
Elderly
Porphyria Information
Drugs in Sport
- Permitted - No warnings
Adverse reactions
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Skin sensitisation
- Dermatitis
Interactions
No information available
Monitoring
None routine
Prescribing points
Overdose in children
- If the mepyramine maleate is ingested in significant amounts, it could be life-threatening in young children
- Main overdose symptoms include: unconsciousness and convulsions in the intervening periods
Mechanism of action
Mepyramine is a histamine H1-receptor antagonist. It competes with histamine for H1-receptor sites on the effector cell surface, resulting in suppression of histamine-related oedema, flare, and pruritus.
Dosage forms
- Cream
Formulation
Cream (per 100g) 2g
- Allergex Mepyramine Cream (Adcock)
- Alsan (Gulf Drug)
- Anthisan Cream (Sanofi)
Cream (per 25g) 0.2g
- Mepyraderm (Be-Tabs)
Also available in following forms: Injection.
COMBINATION PREPARATIONS
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride/ Mepyramine maleate
Cream (per 5g) 50mg/50mg
- Histodor (Pharmacare)
References
1. SmPC: Anthisan cream, Sanofi:Last updated on eMC: 16 Sep 2013; Downloaded online 16 Nov 2018 [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Bg6LsEUiCE9U328SqPIjYF3LSBAaAcLd] 2. PI: Allergex Mepyramine cream, Adcock Ingram:Date of registration: 27 April 1991 [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Bg6LsEUiCE9U328SqPIjYF3LSBAaAcLd] 3. PI: Alsan cream, Gulf Drug Company:Date of registration: March 1973 [https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1Bg6LsEUiCE9U328SqPIjYF3LSBAaAcLd] 4. https://books.google.co.za/books?id=BfdighlyGiwC&pg=PA399&lpg=PA399&dq=pyrilamine+fda+preg&source=bl&ots=Ktg7rMs317&sig=HzE4eoRf42202QqCUMH17CID1-8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhq8e99ZHSAhWsA8AKHZinD_I4ChDoAQg5MAg#v=onepage&q=pyrilamine%20fda%20preg&f=false 5. NAPOS The Drug Database for Acute Porphyria: D04AA02 Mepyramine; Accessed online 11 Jan 2019 [http://www.drugs-porphyria.org/languages/UnitedKingdom/s3.php?atc_code=D04AA02&l=gbr] 6. South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport; Anthisan; Accessed online 11 Jan 2019 [http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/online-medication-check/] 7. SmPC: Anthisan Cream, SANOFI; Last updated on eMC: 13 Mar 2020; Downloaded online: 17 July 2020 [https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1618/smpc/print]
Brands & products
10 products · stale NAPPI snapshot · refreshed 5/28/2026 · 159 days oldsyrupGeneric· 3 products
from R0.33/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codomil new formula | 7 mg/5ml | 2500 | S2 | R813.19 | R0.33 | R204.10 | 710568002 |
| Codomil new formula | - mg/5ml | 200 | S2 | R92.55 | R0.46 | R43.90 | 710568003 |
| Codomil new formula | 7 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R55.26 | R0.55 | R31.00 | 710568001 |
tabletGeneric· 1 product
from R0.55/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Histodor | 30 mg | 1000 | S2 | R551.31 | R0.55 | R165.57 | 731226003 |
creamGeneric· 4 products
from R1.27/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mepyraderm | - g/25g | 500 | S2 | R637.17 | R1.27 | R178.20 | 701102003 |
| Histodor | 50 mg/5g | 20 | S2 | R47.81 | R2.39 | R28.42 | 731269004 |
| Demazin itch relief (was alsan) | 20 mg/g | 25 | S2 | R61.00 | R2.44 | R32.99 | 897334011 |
| Anthisan | 2 g/100g | 25 | S2 | R110.59 | R4.42 | R50.15 | 703834002 |
injectionGeneric· 2 products
from R6.67/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antihist 2ml | 25 mg/ml | 1 | S2 | R66.67 | R6.67 | R34.95 | 832820008 |
| Mepyramine Maleate Fresenius 50Mg | 50 mg/2ml | 2 | S3 | R362.16 | R18.11 | R124.84 | 742015009 |
- Allergex Mepyramine
- Alsan
- Anthisan
- Mepyraderm
Medical aid coverage
data not yet integrated- Comprehensive Series—
- Executive Plan—
- KeyCare Series—
- Priority Series—
- Saver Series—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- BonClassic—
- BonComprehensive—
- BonEssential—
- BonFit Select—
- BonSave—
- BonStart—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- Beryl—
- Emerald—
- Onyx—
- Ruby—
- Sapphire—
- Tanzanite One—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- Aquarium Option—
- Efficiency Option—
- Marine Option—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.