Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Mepyramine maleate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What you need to know before you take it
e Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream 3. How to use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream 6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream is and what it is used for Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains a medicine called mepyramine maleate. This belongs to a group of medicines called antihistamines. It works by blocking a natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream is used for treating:
- Pain, itching and inflammation caused by insect stings, bites and nettle rash. You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 3 days.
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2. What you need to know before you use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream Do not use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream if: You are allergic (hypersensitive) to mepyramine maleate or any of the other ingredients of Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream (listed in Section 6) The signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue Do not apply the cream on: Eczema Cut, grazed or badly broken skin Areas of sunburnt skin Large areas of skin Do not use this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream. Other medicines and Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines you can buy without prescription, including herbal medicines. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before using this medicine. Driving and using machines You may feel drowsy or sleepy while using this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines. Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains ceto-stearyl alcohol, castor oil and methyl hydroxybenzoate This medicine contains:
- Ceto-stearyl alcohol and castor oil. These may cause local skin reactions (such as ''contact dermatitis'' which may include the following symptoms: skin redness, swelling and itching, pain or burning sensation).
- Methyl hydroxybenzoate. This may cause an allergic reaction, possibly delayed. This reaction may happen some time after starting the medicine.
How to take it
Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
*884261* Adults, Elderly and Children over 2 years of age The recommended dose is two or three times a day for up to three days:
- Apply the cream directly to the affected areas of skin
- Do not apply the cream on eczema, larger areas of skin, cut, grazed, badly broken or sunburnt skin
- For best results use as soon as possible after the bite or sting
- Repeated use of the cream for periods longer than a few days is not recommended
- If your symptoms worsen or do not improve after 3 days talk to your doctor or pharmacist If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you use more Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream than you should If you use more Anthisan Cream than you should or it is accidentally swallowed, seek immediate medical attention particularly in young children. Tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you or the child has taken. The following effects may happen: loss of consciousness and fits (seizures). If you forget to use Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream Do not apply a double amount of cream to make up for a forgotten application. Apply the cream as soon as you remember, then carry on as before. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:
- A severe allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue Stop using Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream and tell a pharmacist if you notice the following side effect:
- An increase in skin redness, swelling and itching in the area where you have used the cream. This might be due to a mild allergic reaction. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra. gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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How to store it
Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton flap or tube after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
- Store below 30°C Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains:
- Each 1g of cream contains 20mg of the active substance, mepyramine maleate
- The other ingredients are ceto-stearyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol 600 monostearate, castor oil, methyl hydroxybenzoate, foin coupe (fragrance), silicon antifoam and purified water What Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream looks like and contents of the pack A smooth off-white cream contained within a collapsible aluminium tube with extended nozzle and polypropylene cap. The tube contains 20 grams of cream. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Phoenix Labs, Suite 12, Bunkilla Plaza, Bracetown Business Park, Clonee, Co.Meath, Ireland. Tel: +353-1-5742410 email: [email protected] Manufacturer Sanofi Winthrop Industrie 196, Rue du Maréchal Juin 45200 Amilly France This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This leaflet was last revised in June 2023
Frequently asked questions about Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream
How do I take Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream?
Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream comes as cream. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream?
The active substance in Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream is mepyramine maleate.
Are there equivalent medicines to Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Anthisan Cream. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: mepyramine maleate
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Symptomatic relief of skin irritation caused by insect stings, insect bites and nettle stings.
Route of Administration: Topical
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Adults, elderly and children over 2 years of age and older. Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream should be applied directly to the affected parts two or three times a day for up to three days. Early application is essential to obtain the optimum response.
4.3. Contraindications
Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream should not be used in eczematous conditions or on extensively broken skin surfaces, or if the skin is cut or grazed. Do not use on large areas of skin or on areas of sunburnt skin.
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Repeated application of Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream to the same area for longer than three days is not recommended and treatment should be discontinued immediately if skin sensitisation occurs.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
No significant interactions described.
4.6. Pregnancy and lactation
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, Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream should not be used during pregnancy or lactation, unless considered essential.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream has minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
May theoretically be extensively absorbed through the skin when applied over large areas and cause somnolence and mild disorientation.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Skin sensitisation has been reported on rare occasions.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
A 20g tube of Anthisan Bite and Sting Cream contains 400mg mepyramine maleate. If the product is ingested in significant amounts, this could be life-threatening in young children.
The chief symptoms of overdosage is unconsciousness and there may be convulsions in the intervening periods. The stomach should be washed out. Stimuli liable to provoke convulsions should be avoided, but if this complication should occur, parenteral Diazepam should be given, sedatives which are liable to increase respiratory depression should be avoided. Other measures such as artificial respiration and oxygen may also be required and an antibiotic can be given as a prophylactic against pneumonia.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Anthisan Bite and Sting 2% w/w Cream. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.