Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Bamipine




Scheme

Rec.INN

ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification)

D04AA15,R06AX01

CAS registry number (Chemical Abstracts Service)

0004945-47-5

Chemical Formula

C19-H24-N2

Molecular Weight

280

Therapeutic Categories

Antiallergic agent

Histamine, H₁-receptor antagonist

Chemical Name

4-Piperidinamine, 1-methyl-N-phenyl-N-(phenylmethyl)-

Foreign Names

  • Bamipinum (Latin)
  • Bamipin (German)
  • Bamipine (French)
  • Bamipina (Spanish)

Generic Names

  • Bamipine (OS: DCF, BAN)
  • Piperamine (IS)

Brand Names

  • Soventol Gel
    Medice, Austria


  • Soventol
    Medice, Germany; Medice, Poland; Nicholas, India; Oramon, Luxembourg

International Drug Name Search

Glossary

BANBritish Approved Name
DCFDénomination Commune Française
ISInofficial Synonym
OSOfficial Synonym
Rec.INNRecommended International Nonproprietary Name (World Health Organization)

Click for further information on drug naming conventions and International Nonproprietary Names.

Kaolin Mixture for Children





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Kaolin Mixture for Children or Children's Diarrhoea Mixture


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Kaolin light (grade A1) BP 1.0g per 5ml.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Solution/mixture



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



For relief of the symptoms of diarrhoea and upset stomachs in children.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



Oral.



Recommended doses



Children up to 1 year of age: one 5ml spoonful.



Children 1 – 5 years of age: two 5ml spoonfuls.



Directions for use: shake the bottle.



To be repeated every four hours as required.



4.3 Contraindications



Contraindicated in intestinal obstruction; and in patients with known hypersensitivity to kaolin or any of the other constituents.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Rehydration therapy may be necessary because of fluid and electrolyte depletion.



Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.



If symptoms persist for more than 3 days consult your doctor.



Use with medical advice for infants under 1 year.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



As kaolin is an adsorbent, the absorption of other drugs from the gastrointestinal tract administered concomitantly may be reduced.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Although not relevant in childrens use, as with all medicines the use of this product should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation unless advised by a doctor.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



None, although not relevant in children.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



None known.



4.9 Overdose



In the unlikely event of overdose, treatment should be symptomatic.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Kaolin is an adsorbent, it adsorbs toxic and other substances from the alimentary tract and increases the bulk of the faeces.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Kaolin is not absorbed following oral administration. It remains unchanged throughout transit of the gastrointestinal tract.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



None.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Raspberry juice concentrated BP, syrup BP, benzoic acid BP, propylene glycol BP, chloroform BP and purified water BP.



6.2 Incompatibilities



None



6.3 Shelf Life



100ml: 36 months unopened, discard 8 weeks after first opening.



500ml: 36 months unopened, discard 8 weeks after first opening.



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Store below 25°C.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



100ml: Amber glass bottle with plastic lined cap or polypropylene child-resistant cap with saranex faced EPE liner or white 28mm Child-resistant cap with Tamper Evident band and EPE/Saranex Liner.



500ml: Amber glass bottle with plastic lined cap or polypropylene child-resistant cap with saranex faced EPE liner or white 28mm Child-resistant cap with Tamper Evident band and EPE/Saranex Liner.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



None.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



L.C.M Ltd



Linthwaite Laboratories



Huddersfield



HD7 5QH



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



PL 12965/0020



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



07 January 1994



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



10/11/2008




Zirtek Allergy Relief for Children






Zirtek



ALLERGY RELIEF for children



cetirizine hydrochloride



What You Should Know About Your Medicine


Please read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.


It provides a summary of the information currently available on Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children.


For further information or advice ask your doctor or pharmacist.






What Is In Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children


Each pack contains 70 ml of a banana flavoured, sugar free oral solution; each ml containing 1 mg of cetirizine hydrochloride as the active ingredient. This medicine also contains sorbitol (E420), glycerol (E422), propylene glycol, saccharin sodium, methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216), banana flavouring, sodium acetate (E262), acetic acid (E260) and purified water.



Product licence number: PL 00039/0541



This medicine is manufactured and licenced by:




UCB Pharma Ltd


208 Bath Road


Slough


Berkshire

SL1 3WE





When Is Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children Used


Your medicine belongs to the antihistamine group of drugs.



This medicine treats adults & children aged 6 years and over: suffering from hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), year round allergies such as dust or pet allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis) and urticaria (swelling, redness and itchiness of the skin).


Antihistamines like ZIRTEK Allergy Relief For Children relieve the unpleasant symptoms and discomfort associated with the above conditions, such as sneezing, irritated, runny and blocked up nose, itchy, red and watering eyes and skin rashes.





Before Taking Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children


If you are pregnant or if your doctor has told you that you have kidney problems, you should consult your doctor before taking this medicine. You should not take this medicine if you are breastfeeding or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any of its constituents (see ‘What is in ZIRTEK Allergy Relief For Children’).


Your medicine contains methylhydroxybenzoate (E218) and propylhydroxybenzoate (E216) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed) and glycerol (E422) which may cause headache, stomach upset and diarrhoea. If you have been told by
your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking ZIRTEK Allergy Relief For Children.


As with all antihistamines, you should avoid excessive alcohol consumption when taking this medicine.


If you have ever had a reaction to an antihistamine in the past consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this solution.





How To Take Your Medicine



Adults, and children aged 6 years and over: Two 5 ml spoonfuls once a day or one 5 ml spoonful in the morning and another 5 ml spoonful in the evening.


You may feel drowsy or dizzy, taking half your dose twice a day may reduce this. If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose consult your doctor immediately.


This solution should not be given to children under 6 years of age.



REMEMBER... If you forget to take a dose, you should take one as soon as you remember, but wait at least 24 hours before taking the next dose.



DO NOT EXCEED THE STATED DOSE


If symptoms persist consult your doctor or pharmacist.





After Taking Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children


This medicine does not cause side-effects in most people. However, as with all medicines, some people can react differently. If you:


  • have frequent headaches

  • have an upset stomach

  • become agitated

  • have diarrhoea

  • get a dry mouth

  • feel weak and/or unwell

  • experience unusual touch sensation

  • experience fatigue, dizziness or drowsiness

  • experience itchiness and skin rash


Stop taking the solution and tell your doctor.


Other rare side effects have been reported such as bleeding and bruising easily, rapid heart beat, difficulty focussing, blurred vision, swelling, allergic reaction/shock, changes in liver function, fits, confusion, depression, aggression,
weight increase, unusual limb movements, experience a bad taste in the mouth, fainting, hallucination, insomnia, bed wetting, pain and/or difficulty passing water, red and/or blotchy skin rash.


If you notice anything unusual or have these or any other unexpected effects stop taking the solution and tell your doctor.


This solution does not normally cause drowsiness. However, individuals can react differently to treatment. If you are affected you should not drive or operate machinery, but should persist with the solution as any drowsiness doesn’t usually
last very long.






Storing Your Medicine.


Keep this medicine out of reach and sight of children.


Store the solution below 30°C


Do not use after the expiry date shown under Exp on the end panel of the carton.




LEGAL STATUS: GSL.


Date of preparation of this leaflet: October 2005


© UCB 2004 Cod. I 31661/3






Zometa 4mg / 5ml Concentrate for Solution for Infusion






Zometa 4 mg/5 ml concentrate for solution for infusion


Zoledronic acid



Read all of this leaflet carefully before you are given Zometa.


  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

  • If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice side effects not listed in this leaflet, please
    tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.




In this leaflet


  • 1. What Zometa is and what it is used for

  • 2. Before you are given Zometa

  • 3. How Zometa is used

  • 4. Possible side effects

  • 5. How to store Zometa

  • 6. Further information




What Zometa Is And What It Is Used For


The active substance in Zometa is zoledronic acid, which belongs to a group of substances called bisphosphonates. Zoledronic acid works by attaching itself to the bone and slowing down the rate of bone change. It is used:



  • To treat bone metastases (spread of cancer from the primary cancer site to the bone) and to prevent associated/related bone complications, e.g. fractures.


  • To reduce the amount of calcium in the blood in cases where it is too high due to the presence of a tumour. Tumours can accelerate normal bone change in such a way that the release of calcium from bone is increased. This condition is known as tumour-induced hypercalcaemia (TIH).



Before You Are Given Zometa


Follow carefully all instructions given to you by your doctor.


Your doctor will carry out blood tests before you start treatment with Zometa and will check your response to treatment at regular intervals.



You should not be given Zometa:


  • if you are breast-feeding.

  • if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to zoledronic acid, another bisphosphonate (the group of substances to which Zometa belongs), or any of the other ingredients of Zometa.



Before you are given Zometa, tell your doctor:


  • if you have or have had a liver problem.

  • if you have or have had a kidney problem.

  • if you have or have had a heart problem.

  • if you have or have had pain, swelling or numbness of the jaw, a feeling of heaviness in the jaw or loosening of a tooth.

  • if you are having dental treatment or are due to undergo dental surgery, tell your dentist that you are being treated with Zometa.



Using other medicines


Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. It is especially important that you tell your doctor if you are also taking:


  • Aminoglycosides (medicines used to treat severe infections), since the combination of these with bisphosphonates may cause the calcium level in the blood to become too low.

  • Thalidomide or any other medicines which may harm your kidneys.



Patients aged 65 years and over


Zometa can be given to people aged 65 years and over. There is no evidence to suggest that any extra precautions are needed.




Use in children


There have been 2 studies on the use of Zometa in children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (a genetic disorder, also called “brittle bone disease”). However, it has not been established whether these children will benefit from Zometa treatment.




Pregnancy and breast-feeding


You should not be given Zometa if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are or think that you may be pregnant.


You must not be given Zometa if you are breast-feeding.


Ask your doctor for advice before taking any medicine while you are pregnant or breast-feeding.




Driving and using machines


The effects of Zometa on driving, using machines and performing other tasks that need your full attention have not been studied. However, there have been very rare cases of drowsiness with the use of Zometa. You should therefore be careful when driving, using machinery or performing other tasks that need full attention.





How Zometa Is Used


  • Your doctor will recommend that you drink enough water before each treatment to help prevent dehydration.

  • Carefully follow all the other instructions given to you by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.


How much Zometa is given


  • The usual single dose given is 4 mg.

  • If you have a kidney problem, your doctor will give you a lower dose depending on the severity of your kidney problem.



How Zometa is given


  • Zometa is given as a drip (infusion) into a vein which should take at least 15 minutes and should be administered as a single intravenous solution in a separate infusion line.

Patients whose blood calcium levels are not too high will also be prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements to be taken each day.




How often you will be given Zometa


  • If you are being treated for bone metastases, you will be given one infusion of Zometa every three to four weeks.

  • If you are being treated to reduce the amount of calcium in your blood, you will normally only be given one infusion of Zometa.



If you are given more Zometa than you should be


If you have received doses higher than those recommended, you must be carefully monitored by your doctor. This is because you may develop serum electrolyte abnormalities (e.g. abnormal levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and/or changes in kidney function, including severe kidney impairment. If your level of calcium falls too low, you may have to be given supplemental calcium by infusion.





Possible Side Effects


Like all medicines, Zometa can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common ones are usually mild and will probably disappear after a short time.


The frequency of possible side effects listed below is defined using the following convention:


  • very common: affects more than 1 user in 10

  • common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100

  • uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000

  • rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000

  • very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000

  • not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.


Tell your doctor about any of the following side effects as soon as possible:



Very common:


  • Low level of phosphate in the blood.


Common:


  • Headache and a flu-like syndrome consisting of fever, fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, chills and bone, joint and/or muscle ache. In most cases no specific treatment is required and the symptoms disappear after a short time (couple of hours or days).

  • Gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting as well as loss of appetite.

  • Conjunctivitis, as reported with other bisphosphonates (the group of substances to which Zometa belongs).

  • Blood tests indicating changes in kidney function (higher levels of creatinine), including severe kidney impairment. Such changes are also known to occur with other medicinal products of this kind. In addition, some cases of kidney disease have been reported.

  • Low level of red blood cells (anaemia).

  • Low level of calcium in the blood.


Uncommon:


  • Pain in the mouth, teeth and/or jaw, swelling or sores inside the mouth, numbness or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw, or loosening of a tooth. These could be signs of bone damage in the jaw (osteonecrosis). Tell your doctor and dentist immediately if you experience such symptoms.

  • Hypersensitivity reactions.

  • Low blood pressure.

  • Chest pain.

  • Skin reactions (redness and swelling) at the infusion site, rash, itching.

  • High blood pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, sleep disturbances, tingling or numbness of the hands or feet, diarrhoea.

  • Low counts of white blood cells and blood platelets.

  • Low level of magnesium and potassium in the blood. Your doctor will monitor this and take any necessary measures.


Rare:


  • Slow heart beat.

  • Confusion.


Very rare:


  • Fainting due to low blood pressure.

  • Severe bone, joint and/or muscle pain, occasionally incapacitating.

  • Painful redness and/or swelling of the eye.

Irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) has been seen in patients receiving zoledronic acid for postmenopausal osteoporosis. It is currently unclear whether zoledronic acid causes this irregular heart rhythm but you should report it to your doctor if you experience such symptoms after you have received zoledronic acid.




If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please
tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.




How To Store Zometa


Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist knows how to store Zometa properly (see section 6).




Further Information



What Zometa contains


  • The active substance of Zometa is zoledronic acid.

  • The other ingredients are: mannitol, sodium citrate, water for injections.



What Zometa looks like and contents of the pack


Zometa is supplied as a liquid concentrate in a vial. One vial contains 4 mg of zoledronic acid.


Each pack contains the vial with concentrate. Zometa is supplied as packs containing 1, 4 or 10 vials.


Not all pack sizes may be marketed.




Marketing Authorisation Holder



Novartis Europharm Limited

Wimblehurst Road

Horsham

West Sussex

RH12 5AB

United Kingdom




Manufacturer



Novartis Pharma GmbH

Roonstrasse 25

D-90429 Nuremberg

Germany



For any further information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:

































United Kingdom

Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.

Tel: +44 1276 698370



This leaflet was last approved in January 2010





Monday, October 24, 2016

Dicobalt Edetate Injection 300mg (Cambridge Laboratories)






What you should know about Dicobalt Edetate Injection


This leaflet contains information about Dicobalt Edetate Injection, which will have already been given to you by injection into one of your veins. Although you will not be taking this medicine yourself, this leaflet contains important information to help you understand how Dicobalt Edetate Injection is used.


Always follow your doctor`s advice, and if there is anything you do not understand, please ask your doctor or nurse to explain it.





What does Dicobalt Edetate Injection contain


Dicobalt Edetate Injection is a sterile for injection. Each ampoule contains 300mg of dicobalt edetate, which is the active ingredient, 4 g of dextrose (glucose) monohydrate and water. Six ampoules are supplied in each pack.


Dicobalt Edetate Injection reacts with cyanide in the blood and stops the cyanide from causing death.


The holder of the product licence for this medicine is



Medicis Limited

Cricketers

Turgis Green

Hook

Nr Basingstoke

RG27 0AH


The ampoules are made by



Delpharm Tours

Rue Paul Langevin - BP 90241

37172 Chambray-les-Tours Cedex

France




What is Dicobalt Edetate Injection used for?


Dicobalt Edetate Injection is used only as a cure for cyanide poisoning.




When should Dicobalt Edetate Injection not be used?


Dicobalt Edetate Injection should not be used when the poisoning is so mild that the patient is fully awake, or for any condition other than cyanide poisoning.




How Dicobalt Edetate Injection is used


Dicobalt Edetate Injection is always given slowly into the blood stream. The usual dose is one ampoule over 1 to 5 minutes. This can be repeated if the patient does not recover. Other emergency treatment is usually given at the same time.




Side-effects


Dicobalt Edetate Injection may make you sick. It may also cause your blood pressure to fall, making you feel faint, and increase the rate at which your heart is beating. After this you will recover. If you have swelling of the face and neck, chest pain, sweating, an irregular heartbeat or a rash this may mean that too much Dicobalt Edetate has been given. In this case it is very important that the doctor treating you knows about these side-effects straight away.


If you think that Dicobalt Edetate Injection has caused any other side-effects, please tell your doctor or pharmacist (chemist) about it.




Storing Dicobalt Edetate Injection


Dicobalt Edetate Injection should be stored at room temperature (below 25°C) away from light. It should be used before the expiry date printed on the ampoule and carton. All medicines should be kept out of the reach of children.



Date of preparation of this leaflet: July 2005





Candiplas




Candiplas may be available in the countries listed below.


Ingredient matches for Candiplas



Miconazole

Miconazole nitrate (a derivative of Miconazole) is reported as an ingredient of Candiplas in the following countries:


  • Bahrain

  • Oman

  • Sri Lanka

  • Taiwan

International Drug Name Search

Emselex 15mg prolonged release tablets






Emselex 15 mg prolonged-release tablets


Darifenacin



Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.


  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

  • This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

  • If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.




In this leaflet:


  • 1. What Emselex is and what it is used for

  • 2. Before you take Emselex

  • 3. How to take Emselex

  • 4. Possible side effects

  • 5. How to store Emselex

  • 6. Further information




What Emselex Is And What It Is Used For



How Emselex works


Emselex reduces the activity of an overactive bladder. This enables you to wait longer before you go to the toilet and it increases the amount of urine that your bladder can hold.




What Emselex can be used for


Emselex belongs to a class of medicines which relax the muscles of the bladder. It is used in adults for the treatment of the symptoms of overactive bladder conditions - such as a sudden urge to rush to the toilet, needing to go to the toilet frequently and/or not getting to the toilet in time and wetting yourself (urge incontinence).





Before You Take Emselex



Do not take Emselex:


  • if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to darifenacin or any of the other ingredients of Emselex.

  • if you suffer from urinary retention (inability to empty your bladder).

  • if you have gastric retention (problems emptying the contents of the stomach).

  • if you suffer from uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma (high pressure in the eyes with loss of eyesight that is not being adequately treated).

  • if you have myasthenia gravis (a disease marked by abnormal tiredness and weakness of selected muscles).

  • if you have severe ulcerative colitis or toxic megacolon (acute dilation of the colon due to complication of infection or inflammation).

  • if you have severe liver problems.

  • There are some medicines such as ciclosporin (a medicine used in transplantation to prevent organ rejection or for other conditions, e.g. rheumathoid arthritis or atopic dermatitis), verapamil (a medicine used to lower blood pressure, to correct heart rhythm or to treat angina pectoris), antifungal medicines (e.g. ketoconazole and itraconazole) and some antiviral medicines (e.g. ritonavir) that must not be taken with Emselex.



Take special care with Emselex:


  • if you have autonomic neuropathy (damage to the nerves that communicate between the brain and internal organs, muscles, skin, and blood vessels to regulate vital functions, including the heart rate, blood pressure and bowel function) - your doctor will have told you if you have this.

  • if you have heartburn and belching.

  • if you have difficulties in passing urine and a weak stream of urine.

  • if you have severe constipation (less than or equal to 2 bowel movements per week).

  • if you have a digestive motility disorder.

  • if you have an obstructive gastrointestinal disorder (any obstruction of the passage of intestinal or gastric contents, such as narrowing of the pylorus, the lower part of the stomach) - your doctor will have told you if you have this.

  • if you are taking medicinal products that can cause or worsen inflammation of the oesophagus such as oral bisphosphonates (a class of medicinal products that prevent the loss of bone mass and are used to treat osteoporosis).

  • if you are receiving treatment for narrow-angle glaucoma.

  • if you have liver problems.

  • if you have kidney problems.

If any of these apply to you, tell your doctor before you take Emselex.



Use in children (age below 18 years)


Emselex is not recommended for use in children.




Taking other medicines with Emselex


Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This is particularly important if you are taking any of the following as your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Emselex and/or the other product: certain antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin and rifampicin), antifungal medicines (e.g. ketoconazole and itraconazole), antipsychotic medicines (e.g. thioridazine), certain antidepressants (e.g. imipramine), antiviral medicines (e.g. nelfinavir and ritonavir), certain anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, barbiturates), certain medicines used to treat heart problems (e.g. flecainide, verapamil and digoxin) and other antimuscarinic medicines (e.g. tolterodine, oxybutynin and flavoxate). Please also inform your doctor if you are taking products containing St John’s wort.




Taking Emselex with food and drink


Eating food has no effect on Emselex. Grapefruit juice may interact with Emselex. However, the adjustment of Emselex doses is not necessary.




Pregnancy and breast-feeding


If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. Emselex is not recommended during pregnancy.


If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice. Emselex should be taken with caution while breastfeeding.




Driving and using machines


Emselex may cause effects such as dizziness, blurred vision, trouble sleeping or drowsiness. If you have any of these symptoms whilst taking Emselex, consult your doctor for advice on changing the dose or considering an alternative treatment. You should not drive or use machines if you are affected by these symptoms. For Emselex, these side effects have been reported to be uncommon (see section 4).





How To Take Emselex


Always take Emselex exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. If you have the impression that the effect of Emselex is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.



How much Emselex to take


The recommended starting dose, including for patients aged over 65 years, is 7.5 mg daily. Depending on your response to Emselex, your doctor may increase your dose to 15 mg daily, two weeks after starting therapy.


These doses are suitable for people with mild liver problems or people with kidney problems.


Take Emselex tablets once a day with water, at about the same time each day.


The tablet may be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, split or crush it.




How long to take Emselex


Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with Emselex will last. Do not stop treatment early because you do not see an immediate effect. Your bladder will need some time to adapt. Finish the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. If you have not noticed any effect by then, discuss it with your doctor.




If you take more Emselex than you should


If you have taken more tablets than you have been told to take, or if someone else accidentally takes your tablets, go to your doctor or hospital for advice immediately. When seeking medical advice, make sure that you take this leaflet and your remaining tablets with you to show them to the doctor. People who have taken an overdose may have dry mouth, constipation, headache, indigestion and nasal dryness. Overdose with Emselex may lead to severe symptoms requiring emergency treatment in hospital.




If you forget to take Emselex


If you forget to take Emselex at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is the time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.




If you stop taking Emselex


It has been shown that taking all doses at the appropriate times can greatly increase the effectiveness of your medicine. Therefore, it is important to keep taking Emselex correctly, as described above. Do not stop taking Emselex until your doctor tells you to. You should not experience any effects when you stop treatment.



If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.




Possible Side Effects


Like all medicines, Emselex can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects caused by Emselex are usually mild and temporary.


These side effects may occur with certain frequencies, which are defined as follows:


  • very common: affects more than 1 patient in 10

  • common: affects 1 to 10 patients in 100

  • uncommon: affects 1 to 10 patients in 1,000

  • rare: affects 1 to 10 patients in 10,000

  • very rare: affects less than 1 patient in 10,000

  • not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.


Some side effects could be serious


Serious allergic reactions including swelling, mainly of the face and throat.




Other side effects



Very common side effects


Dry mouth, constipation.



Common side effects


Headache, abdominal pain, indigestion, feeling sick, dry eyes.



Uncommon side effects


Fatigue, accidental injury, facial swelling, high blood pressure, diarrhoea, flatulence, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth, increased liver enzymes, swelling, dizziness, sleeplessness, drowsiness, abnormal thinking, runny nose (rhinitis), cough, shortness of breath, dry skin, itching, rash, sweating, visual disturbance including blurred vision, taste disturbance, urinary tract disorder or infection, impotence, discharge and itching in the vagina, bladder pain, inability to empty your bladder.



If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.




How To Store Emselex


  • Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

  • Do not use after the expiry date which is stated on the carton.

  • Keep the blister packs in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

  • Do not use if the pack is damaged or shows signs of tampering.



Further Information



What Emselex contains


  • The active substance is darifenacin (as hydrobromide). Each tablet contains 15 mg darifenacin.

  • The other ingredients are calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), hypromellose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E172) and yellow iron oxide (E172).



What Emselex looks like and contents of the pack


Emselex 15 mg prolonged-release tablets are round, convex light peach tablets and are debossed with “DF” on one side and “15” on the other.


The tablets are available in blister packs containing 7, 14, 28, 49, 56 or 98 tablets or in multipacks containing 140 (10x14) tablets. Not all pack sizes may be available in your country.




Marketing Authorisation Holder



Novartis Europharm Limited

Wimblehurst Road

Horsham

West Sussex

RH12 5AB

United Kingdom




Manufacturer



Novartis Pharma GmbH

Roonstraße 25

D-90429 Nuremberg

Germany



If you have any questions about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
































United Kingdom

Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.

Tel:+44 1276 698370




This leaflet was last approved in September 2009.





Zebinix 800mg tablets





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Zebinix 800 mg tablets


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each tablet contains 800 mg of eslicarbazepine acetate.



For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Tablet.



White oblong tablets, engraved 'ESL 800'on one side and scored on the other side. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Zebinix is indicated as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



Posology:



Zebinix must be added to existing anticonvulsant therapy. The recommended starting dose is 400 mg once daily which should be increased to 800 mg once daily after one or two weeks. Based on individual response, the dose may be increased to 1200 mg once daily (see section 5.1).



Elderly (over 65 years of age)



Caution should be exercised in the treatment of elderly patients as there is limited safety information on the use of Zebinix in these patients.



Paediatric population



The safety and efficacy of Zebinix in children below 18 years has not yet been established. No data are available.



Patients with renal impairment



Caution should be exercised in the treatment of patients with renal impairment and the dose should be adjusted according to creatinine clearance (CLCR) as follows:



- CLCR >60 ml/min: no dose adjustment required



- CLCR 30-60 ml/min: initial dose of 400 mg every other day for 2 weeks followed by a once daily dose of 400 mg. However, based on individual response, the dose may be increased.



- CLCR <30 ml/min: use is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment due to insufficient data



Patients with hepatic impairment



No dose adjustment is needed in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment.



The pharmacokinetics of eslicarbazepine has not been evaluated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section 4.4 and 5.2) and use in these patients is therefore not recommended.



Method of administration:



Zebinix may be taken with or without food.



4.3 Contraindications



Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to other carboxamide derivatives (e.g. carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine) or to any of the excipients.



Known second or third degree atrioventricular (AV) block.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Zebinix has been associated with some central nervous system adverse reactions, such as dizziness and somnolence, which could increase the occurrence of accidental injury.



Zebinix may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Additional non-hormonal forms of contraception are recommended when using Zebinix (see section 4.5 and 4.6).



As with other anti-epileptic medicinal products, if Zebinix is to be discontinued it is recommended to withdraw it gradually to minimise the potential of increased seizure frequency.



Concomitant use of Zebinix with oxcarbazepine is not recommended because this may cause overexposure to the active metabolites.



There is no experience regarding the withdrawal of concomitant use of anti-epileptic medicinal products during treatment with Zebinix (switch to monotherapy).



Rash developed as an adverse reaction in 1.1% of total population treated with Zebinix in placebo-controlled add-on studies in epileptic patients. If signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity develop, Zebinix must be discontinued.



No cases of serious cutaneous reactions have been reported with eslicarbazepine acetate. Presence of HLA-B*1502 allele in individuals of Han Chinese and Thai origin has been shown to be strongly associated with the risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) when treated with carbamazepine. Therefore, whenever possible, subjects of Han Chinese and Thai origin should be screened for this allele before starting treatment with carbamazepine or chemically-related compounds. The presence of HLA-B*1502 allele in other ethnicities is negligible. The allele HLA-B*1502 is not associated to SJS in the Caucasian population.



Hyponatraemia has been reported as an adverse reaction in less than 1% of patients treated with Zebinix. Hyponatraemia is asymptomatic in most cases, however, it may be accompanied by clinical symptoms like worsening of seizures, confusion, decreased consciousness. Frequency of hyponatraemia increased with increasing eslicarbazepine acetate dose. In patients with pre-existing renal disease leading to hyponatraemia, or in patients concomitantly treated with medicinal products which may themselves lead to hyponatraemia (e.g. diuretics, desmopressin), serum sodium levels should be examined before and during treatment with eslicarbazepine acetate. Furthermore, serum sodium levels should be determined if clinical signs of hyponatraemia occur. Apart from this, sodium levels should be determined during routine laboratory examination. If clinically relevant hyponatraemia develops, Zebinix should be discontinued.



The influence of Zebinix on primary generalised seizures has not been studied. Use is therefore not recommended in these patients.



Prolongations in PR interval have been observed in clinical studies with eslicarbazepine acetate. Caution should be exercised in patients with medical conditions (e.g. low levels of thyroxine, cardiac conduction abnormalities), or when taking concomitant medicinal products known to be associated with PR prolongation.



Caution should be exercised in the treatment of patients with renal impairment and the dose should be adjusted according to creatinine clearance (see section 4.2). In patients with CLCR <30 ml/min use is not recommended due to insufficient data.



As clinical data are limited in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment and pharmacokinetic and clinical data are missing in patients with severe hepatic impairment, Zebinix should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment and is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment.



Suicidal ideation and behaviour have been reported in patients treated with anti-epileptic active substances in several indications. A meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials of anti-epileptic medicinal products has also shown a small increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour. The mechanism of this risk is not known and the available data do not exclude the possibility of an increased risk for eslicarbazepine acetate. Therefore patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal ideation and behaviours and appropriate treatment should be considered. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be advised to seek medical advice should signs of suicidal ideation or behaviour emerge.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.



Eslicarbazepine acetate is extensively converted to eslicarbazepine, which is mainly eliminated by glucuronidation. In vitro eslicarbazepine is a weak inducer of CYP3A4 and UDP-glucuronyl transferases. In vivo eslicarbazepine showed an inducing effect on the metabolism of medicinal products that are mainly eliminated by metabolism through CYP3A4. Thus, an increase in the dose of the medicinal products that are mainly metabolised through CYP3A4 may be required, when used concomitantly with Zebinix. Eslicarbazepine in vivo may have an inducing effect on the metabolism of medicinal products that are mainly eliminated by conjugation through the UDP-glucuronyl transferases. When initiating or discontinuing treatment with Zebinix or changing the dose, it may take 2 to 3 weeks to reach the new level of enzyme activity. This time delay must be taken into account when Zebinix is being used just prior to or in combination with other medicines that require dose adjustment when co-administered with Zebinix. Eslicarbazepine has inhibiting properties with respect to CYP2C19. Thus, interactions can arise when co-administering high doses of eslicarbazepine acetate with medicinal products that are mainly metabolised by CYP2C19.



Interactions with other antiepileptic medicinal products



Carbamazepine



In a study in healthy subjects, concomitant administration of eslicarbazepine acetate 800 mg once daily and carbamazepine 400 mg twice daily resulted in an average decrease of 32% in exposure to the active metabolite eslicarbazepine, most likely caused by an induction of glucuronidation. No change in exposure to carbamazepine or its metabolite carbamazepine-epoxide was noted. Based on individual response, the dose of Zebinix may need to be increased if used concomitantly with carbamazepine. Results from patient studies showed that concomitant treatment increased the risk of the following adverse reactions: diplopia (11.4% of subjects with concomitant carbamazepine, 2.4% of subjects without concomitant carbamazepine), abnormal coordination (6.7% with concomitant carbamazepine, 2.7% without concomitant carbamazepine), and dizziness (30.0% with concomitant carbamazepine, 11.5% without concomitant carbamazepine). The risk of increase of other specific adverse reactions caused by co-administration of carbamazepine and eslicarbazepine acetate cannot be excluded.



Phenytoin



In a study in healthy subjects, concomitant administration of eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily and phenytoin resulted in an average decrease of 31-33% in exposure to the active metabolite, eslicarbazepine, most likely caused by an induction of glucuronidation, and an average increase of 31-35% in exposure to phenytoin, most likely caused by an inhibition of CYP2C19. Based on individual response, the dose of Zebinix may need to be increased and the dose of phenytoin may need to be decreased.



Lamotrigine



Glucuronidation is the major metabolic pathway for both eslicarbazepine and lamotrigine and therefore an interaction could be expected. A study in healthy subjects with eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily showed a minor average pharmacokinetic interaction (exposure of lamotrigine decreased 15%) between eslicarbazepine acetate and lamotrigine and consequently no dose adjustments are required. However, due to interindividual variability, the effect may be clinically relevant in some individuals.



Topiramate



In a study in healthy subjects, concomitant administration of eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily and topiramate showed no significant change in exposure to eslicarbazepine but an 18% decrease in exposure to topiramate, most likely caused by a reduced bioavailability of topiramate. No dose adjustment is required.



Valproate and levetiracetam



A population pharmacokinetics analysis of phase III studies in epileptic adult patients indicated that concomitant administration with valproate or levetiracetam did not affect the exposure to eslicarbazepine but this has not been verified by conventional interaction studies.



Other medicinal products



Oral contraceptives



Administration of eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily to female subjects using a combined oral contraceptive showed an average decrease of 37% and 42% in systemic exposure to levonorgestrel and ethinyloestradiol, respectively, most likely caused by an induction of CYP3A4. Therefore, women of childbearing potential must use adequate contraception during treatment with Zebinix, and up to the end of the current menstruation cycle after the treatment has been discontinued (see section 4.4 and 4.6).



Simvastatin



A study in healthy subjects showed an average decrease of 50% in systemic exposure to simvastatin when co-administered with eslicarbazepine acetate 800 mg once daily, most likely caused by an induction of CYP3A4. An increase of the simvastatin dose may be required when used concomitantly with eslicarbazepine acetate.



Warfarin



Co-administration of eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily with warfarin showed a small (23%) but statistically significant decrease in exposure to S-warfarin. There was no effect on the R-warfarin pharmacokinetics or on coagulation. However, due to inter-individual variability in the interaction, special attention on monitoring of INR should be performed the first weeks after initiation or ending concomitant treatment of warfarin and eslicarbazepine acetate.



Digoxin



A study in healthy subjects showed no effect of eslicarbazepine acetate 1,200 mg once daily on digoxin pharmacokinetics, suggesting that eslicarbazepine acetate has no effect on the transporter P-glycoprotein.



Monoamino Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)



Based on a structural relationship of eslicarbazepine acetate to tricyclic antidepressants, an interaction between eslicarbazepine acetate and MAOIs is theoretically possible.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Risk related to epilepsy and antiepileptic medicinal products in general



It has been shown that in the offspring of women with epilepsy, the prevalence of malformations is two to three times greater than the rate of approximately 3 % in the general population. Most frequently reported are cleft lip, cardiovascular malformations and neural tube defects. Multiple antiepileptic medicinal product Therapy may be associated with a higher risk of congenital malformations than monotherapy, therefore it is important that monotherapy is practised whenever possible. Specialist advice should be given to women who are likely to become pregnant or who are of child-bearing potential. The need for antiepileptic therapy should be reviewed when a woman is planning to become pregnant. No sudden discontinuation of antiepileptic therapy should be undertaken as this may lead to breakthrough seizures which could have serious consequences for both mother and child.



Pregnancy



There are no data from the use of eslicarbazepine acetate in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see Fertility). If women receiving eslicarbazepine acetate become pregnant or plan to become pregnant, the use of Zebinix should be carefully re-evaluated. Minimum effective doses should be given, and monotherapy whenever possible should be preferred at least during the first three months of pregnancy. Patients should be counselled regarding the possibility of an increased risk of malformations and given the opportunity to antenatal screening.



Monitoring and prevention



Antiepileptic medicinal products may contribute to folic acid deficiency, a possible contributory cause of foetal abnormality. Folic acid supplementation is recommended before and during pregnancy. As the efficacy of this supplementation is not proven, a specific antenatal diagnosis can be offered even for women with a supplementary treatment of folic acid.



In the newborn child



Bleeding disorders in the newborn caused by antiepileptic medicinal products have been reported. As a precaution, vitamin K1 should be administered as a preventive measure in the last few weeks of pregnancy and to the newborn.



Women of childbearing potential/contraception



Eslicarbazepine acetate adversely interacts with oral contraceptives. Therefore, an alternative, effective and safe method of contraception should be used during treatment and up to the end of the current menstrual cycle after treatment has been stopped.



Breastfeeding



It is unknown whether eslicarbazepine acetate is excreted in human breast milk. Animal studies have shown excretion of eslicarbazepine in breast milk. As a risk to the breast-fed child cannot be excluded breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment with Zebinix.



Fertility



Eslicarbazepine acetate was evaluated in rats and mice for potential adverse effects on fertility of the parental and F1 generation. In a fertility study in male and female rats, impairment of female fertility by eslicarbazepine acetate was shown. In a fertility study in mice, developmental effects were observed in embryos; however, effects could also result from lower corpora lutea count and thus show impairment of fertility. In the mouse, the overall incidence of major abnormalities and the incidence for major skeletal abnormalities were increased. No effects on F1 fertility parameters were observed in rats and mice.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Some patients might experience dizziness, somnolence or visual disorders, particularly on initiation of treatment. Therefore, patients should be advised that their physical and/ or mental abilities needed for operating machinery or driving may be impaired and they are recommended not to do so until it has been established that their ability to perform such activities is not affected.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



In placebo-controlled studies involving 1,192 adult patients with partial-onset seizures (856 patients treated with eslicarbazepine acetate and 336 treated with placebo), 45.3% of patients treated with eslicarbazepine acetate and 24.4% of patients treated with placebo experienced adverse reactions.



Adverse reactions were usually mild to moderate in intensity and occurred predominantly during the first weeks of treatment with eslicarbazepine acetate.



In the table below all adverse reactions, which occurred at an incidence greater than placebo and numerically present in more than 1 patient are listed by System Organ Class and frequency:



very common













































































































System Organ Class



(MedDRA terminology)




Very Common




Common




Uncommon




Very Rare




Blood and lymphatic system disorders



 

 


Anaemia




Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia




Immune system disorders



 

 


Hypersensitivity



 


Endocrine disorders



 

 


Hypothyroidism



 


Metabolism and nutrition disorders



 

 


Increased appetite, decreased appetite, hyponatraemia, electrolyte imbalance, cachexia, dehydration, obesity



 


Psychiatric disorders



 

 


Insomnia, apathy, depression, nervousness, agitation, irritability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, confusional state, mood swings, crying, psychomotor retardation, stress, psychotic disorder



 


Nervous system disorders




Dizziness*, somnolence




Headache, abnormal coordination *, disturbance in attention, tremor




Memory impairment, balance disorder, amnesia, hypersomnia, sedation, aphasia, dysaesthesia, dystonia, lethargy, parosmia, autonomic nervous system imbalance, cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar syndrome, grand mal convulsion, neuropathy peripheral, sleep phase rhythm disturbance, nystagmus, speech disorder, dysarthria, hypoaesthesia, ageusia, burning sensation



 


Eye disorders



 


Diplopia*, vision blurred




Vision disturbance, oscillopsia, binocular eye movement disorder, ocular hyperaemia, saccadic eye movement, eye pain



 


Ear and labyrinth disorders



 


Vertigo




Ear pain, hypoacusis, tinnitus



 


Cardiac disorders



 

 


Palpitations, bradycardia, sinus bradycardia



 


Vascular disorders



 

 


Hypertension, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension



 


Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders



 

 


Dysphonia, epistaxis, chest pain



 


Gastrointestinal disorders



 


Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea




Dyspepsia, gastritis, abdominal pain, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, abdominal distension, duodenitis, epigastric discomfort, gingival hyperplasia, gingivitis irritable bowel syndrome, melaena, odynophagia, stomach discomfort, stomatitis, toothache




Pancreatitis




Hepatobiliary disorders



 

 


Liver disorder



 


Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders



 


Rash




Alopecia, dry skin, hyperhidrosis, erythema, nail disorder, skin disorder



 


Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders



 

 


Myalgia, back pain, neck pain



 


Renal and urinary disorders



 

 


Nocturia, urinary tract infection



 


Reproductive system and breast disorders



 

 


Menstruation irregular



 


General disorders and administration site conditions



 


Fatigue, gait disturbance




Asthenia, malaise, chills, oedema peripheral, adverse drug reaction, peripheral coldness



 


Investigations



 

 


Blood pressure decreased, weight decreased, blood pressure diastolic decreased, blood pressure increased, blood pressure systolic decreased, blood sodium decreased, haematocrit decreased, haemoglobin decreased, heart rate increased, transaminases increased, triglycerides increased, triiodothyronine (T3) free decreased, thyroxine (T4) free decreased



 


Injury, poisoning and procedural complications



 

 


Drug toxicity, fall, joint injury, poisoning, skin injury



 


* In patients concomitantly treated with carbamazepine and eslicarbazepine acetate in placebo-controlled studies, diplopia, abnormal coordination and dizziness were reported more frequently.



The use of eslicarbazepine acetate is associated with increase in the PR interval. Adverse reactions associated with PR interval prolongation (e.g. AV block, syncope, bradycardia) may occur. No second or higher degree AV block was seen in eslicarbazepine acetate treated patients.



Rare adverse reactions such as bone marrow depression, anaphylactic reactions, severe cutaneous reactions (e.g. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome), systemic lupus erythematosus or serious cardiac arrhythmias did not occur during the placebo-controlled studies of the epilepsy program with eslicarbazepine acetate. However, they have been reported with oxcarbazepine. Therefore, their occurrence after treatment with Zebinix cannot be excluded.



4.9 Overdose



Central nervous symptoms such as vertigo, walking instability and hemi-paresis have been observed with accidental Zebinix overdose. There is no known specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment should be administered as appropriate. Eslicarbazepine acetate metabolites can effectively be cleared by haemodialysis, if necessary (see section 5.2).



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiepileptics, Carboxamide derivatives, ATC code: N03AF04



Mechanism of action



The precise mechanisms of action of eslicarbazepine acetate are unknown. However, in vitro electrophysiological studies indicate that both eslicarbazepine acetate and its metabolites stabilise the inactivated state of voltage-gated sodium channels, preventing their return to the activated state and thereby sustaining repetitive neuronal firing.



Pharmacodynamic effect



Eslicarbazepine acetate and its active metabolites prevented the development of seizures in nonclinical models predictive of anticonvulsant efficacy in man. In humans, the pharmacological activity of eslicarbazepine acetate is primarily exerted through the active metabolite eslicarbazepine.



Clinical efficacy and safety



The efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate has been demonstrated in three phase III double-blind placebo-controlled studies in 1,049 adult patients with partial epilepsy refractory to treatment with one to three concomitant anti-epileptic medicinal products. Oxcarbazepine and felbamate were not allowed as concomitant medicinal products in these studies. Eslicarbazepine acetate was tested at doses of 400 mg, 800 mg and 1200 mg, once daily. Eslicarbazepine acetate 800 mg once daily and 1200 mg once daily were significantly more effective than placebo in reducing seizure frequency over a 12-week maintenance period. The percentage of subjects with a 50% reduction in seizure frequency over all phase III studies was 19% for placebo, 21% for eslicarbazepine acetate 400 mg, 34% for eslicarbazepine acetate 800 mg and 36% for eslicarbazepine acetate 1200 mg daily.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Absorption



Eslicarbazepine acetate is extensively converted to eslicarbazepine. Plasma levels of eslicarbazepine acetate usually remain below the limit of quantification, following oral administration. Eslicarbazepine tmax is attained at 2 to 3 h post-dose. Bioavailability may be assumed as high because the amount of metabolites recovered in urine corresponded to more than 90% of an eslicarbazepine acetate dose.



Distribution



The binding of eslicarbazepine to plasma proteins is relatively low (<40%) and independent from concentration. In vitro studies have shown that plasma protein binding was not relevantly affected by the presence of warfarin, diazepam, digoxin, phenytoin and tolbutamide. The binding of warfarin, diazepam, digoxin, phenytoin and tolbutamide was not significantly affected by the presence of eslicarbazepine.



Biotransformation



Eslicarbazepine acetate is rapidly and extensively biotransformed to its major active metabolite eslicarbazepine by hydrolytic first-pass metabolism. Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of eslicarbazepine are attained at 2-3 hours post-dose and steady state plasma concentrations are attained after 4 to 5 days of once daily dosing, consistent with an effective half-life in the order of 20-24 h. In studies in healthy subjects and epileptic adult patients, the apparent half-life of eslicarbazepine was 10-20 h and 13-20 h, respectively. Minor metabolites in plasma are R-licarbazepine and oxcarbazepine, which were shown to be active, and the glucuronic acid conjugates of eslicarbazepine acetate, eslicarbazepine, R-licarbazepine and oxcarbazepine.



Eslicarbazepine acetate does not affect its own metabolism or clearance.



In studies with eslicarbazepine in fresh human hepatocytes a mild activation of UGT1A1 mediated glucuronidation was observed.



Excretion



Eslicarbazepine acetate metabolites are eliminated from the systemic circulation primarily by renal excretion, in the unchanged and glucuronide conjugate forms. In total, eslicarbazepine and its glucuronide correspond to more than 90% of total metabolites excreted in urine, approximately two thirds in the unchanged form and one third as glucuronide conjugate.



Linearity / non-linearity



The pharmacokinetics of eslicarbazepine is linear and dose-proportional in the range 400-1200 mg both in healthy subjects and patients.



Elderly (over 65 years of age)



The pharmacokinetic profile of eslicarbazepine acetate is unaffected in the elderly patients with creatinine clearance >60 ml/min (see section 4.2).



Renal impairment



Eslicarbazepine acetate metabolites are eliminated from the systemic circulation primarily by renal excretion. A study in patients with mild to severe renal impairment showed that clearance is dependent on renal function. During treatment with Zebinix dose adjustment is recommended in patients with creatinine clearance <60 ml/min (see section 4.2).



Haemodialysis removes eslicarbazepine acetate metabolites from plasma.



Hepatic impairment



The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of eslicarbazepine acetate were evaluated in healthy subjects and moderately liver-impaired patients after multiple oral doses. Moderate hepatic impairment did not affect the pharmacokinetics of eslicarbazepine acetate. No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild to moderate liver impairment (see section 4.2).



The pharmacokinetics of eslicarbazepine has not been evaluated in patients with severe hepatic impairment.



Gender



Studies in healthy subjects and patients showed that pharmacokinetics of eslicarbazepine acetate were not affected by gender.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Adverse affects observed in animal studies occurred at exposure levels appreciably lower than the clinical exposure levels to eslicarbazepine (the principal and pharmacologically active metabolite of eslicarbazepine acetate). Safety margins based on comparative exposure have thus not been established.



Evidence of nephrotoxicity was observed in repeated dose toxicity studies in the rat, but was not seen in studies in mice or dogs, and is consistent with an exacerbation of spontaneous chronic progressive nephropathy in this species.



Liver centrilobular hypertrophy was seen in repeated dose toxicity studies in mice and rats and an increased incidence of liver tumours was observed in the carcinogenicity study in mice; these findings are consistent with an induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes, an effect which has not been observed in patients receiving eslicarbazepine acetate.



Genotoxicity studies with eslicarbazepine acetate indicate no special hazards for humans.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Povidone K 29/32



Croscarmellose sodium



Magnesium stearate



6.2 Incompatibilities



Not applicable.



6.3 Shelf Life



3 years.



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



Zebinix 800 mg tablets are packed in ALU/ALU or ALU/PVC blisters placed into cardboard boxes containing 20, 30, 60 or 90 tablets.



Zebinix 800 mg tablets are packed in HDPE bottles with polypropylene child resistant closure, placed into cardboard boxes, containing 90 tablets.



Not all pack sizes may be marketed.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



No special requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



BIAL - Portela & Cª , SA



À Av. da Siderurgia Nacional 4745-457 S. Mamede do Coronado - Portugal



tel: +351 22 986 61 00



fax: +351 22 986 61 99



e-mail: info@bial.com



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



800mg: EU/1/09/514/012-020



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



Date of first authorisation: 21.04.2009



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



10th November 2011



Detailed information on this product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu.



11. LEGAL CATEGORY


POM - Medicinal product subject to medical prescription




Laxadin




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Betamethasone

Betamethasone 21-(disodium phosphate) (a derivative of Betamethasone) is reported as an ingredient of Rinderon Eye Drop in the following countries:


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Mephanol




Mephanol may be available in the countries listed below.


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Allopurinol

Allopurinol is reported as an ingredient of Mephanol in the following countries:


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Zibor 2500IU





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



ZIBOR


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Bemiparin sodium: 2500 IU (anti Factor Xa*) per 0.2 ml pre-filled syringe (equivalent to 12500 IU (antiFactor Xa*) per millilitre solution for injection)



Potency is described in International anti-Factor Xa activity units (IU) of the 1st International Low Molecular Weight Heparin Reference Standard



For excipients, see 6.1



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Solution for injection in pre-filled syringe.



(Colourless or slightly yellowish, clear solution, free of visible particles)



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Prevention of thromboembolic disease in patients undergoing general surgery.



Prevention of clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during haemodialysis.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration




WARNING: The different low molecular weight heparins are not necessarily equivalent. Therefore compliance with the dosage regimen and the specific method of use for each of these medicinal products is required.


Adults:



General surgery with moderate risk of venous thromboembolism:



On the day of the surgical procedure, 2,500 IU anti-Xa is to be administered by subcutaneous route (sc), 2 hours before or 6 hours after surgery. On subsequent days, 2,500 IU anti-Xa sc is to be administered every 24 hours.



Prophylactic treatment must be followed in accordance with the physician's opinion during the period of risk or until the patient is mobilised. As a general rule, it is considered necessary to maintain prophylactic treatment for at least 7 – 10 days after the surgical procedure and until the risk of thromboembolic disease has decreased



Prevention of clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during haemodialysis:



For patients undergoing repeated haemodialysis of no longer than 4 hours in duration and with no risk of bleeding, the prevention of clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during haemodialysis is obtained by injecting a single dose in the form of bolus into the arterial line at the beginning of the dialysis session. For patients weighing less than 60 kg, the dose will be 2,500 IU, whereas for patients weighing more than 60 kg, the dose will be 3,500 IU.



Children: The safety and efficacy of the use of bemiparin in children has not been established, therefore the usage in children is not recommended.



Elderly: No dose adjustment required.



Renal and hepatic impairment: There are insufficient data to recommend a dose adjustment of bemiparin in this group of patients.



Method of administration. Subcutaneous injection technique:



The pre-filled syringes are ready for immediate use and must not be purged before the subcutaneous injection. When ZIBOR is administered subcutaneously, the injection should be given in the subcutaneous cell tissue of the anterolateral or posterolateral abdominal waist, alternately on the left and right sides. The needle should be fully inserted, perpendicularly and not tangentially, into the thick part of a skin fold held between the thumb and the forefinger; the skin fold should be held throughout the whole injection. Do not rub the injection site.



4.3 Contraindications



Hypersensitivity to bemiparin sodium, heparin or substances derived from pigs.



History of confirmed or suspected immunologically mediated heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) (see 4.4: Special warnings and precautions for use).



Active haemorrhage or increased risk of bleeding due to impairment of haemostasis.



Severe impairment of liver and pancreas function



Injuries to and operations on the central nervous system, eyes and ears



Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) attributable to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.



Acute bacterial endocarditis and endocarditis lenta



Organic lesion with high risk of bleeding (e.g. active peptic ulcer, haemorragic stroke, cerebral aneurysm or cerebral neoplasms).



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Do not administer by the intramuscular route.



Due to the risk of haematoma during bemiparin administration the intramuscular injection of other agents should be avoided



Caution should be exercised in patients with liver or renal failure, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, history of gastro-duodenal ulcer disease, thrombocytopenia, nephrolithiasis and/or urethrolithiasis, choroid and retinal vascular disease, or any other organic lesion with an increased risk of bleeding complications, or in patients undergoing spinal or epidural anaesthesia and/or lumbar puncture.



Bemiparin, like other LMWHs, can suppress adrenal secretion of aldosterone leading to hyperkalaemia, particularly in patients such as those with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, pre-existing metabolic acidosis, a raised plasma potassium or taking potassium sparing drugs. The risk of hyperkalaemia appears to increase with the duration of therapy but is usually reversible. Serum electrolytes should be measured in patients at risk before starting bemiparin therapy and monitored regularly thereafter particularly if treatment is prolonged beyond about 7 days.



Occasionally a mild transient thrombocytopenia (type I) at the beginning of therapy with heparin with platelet counts between 100,000/mm3 and 150,000/mm3 due to temporary platelet activation has been observed (see 4.8: Undesirable effects). As a rule, no complications occur, therefore treatment can be continued.



In rare cases antibody-mediated severe thrombocytopenia (type II) with platelet counts clearly below 100,000/mm3 has been observed (see 4.8: Undesirable effects). This effect usually occurs within 5 to 21 days after the beginning of treatment; in patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia this may occur sooner.



Platelet counts are recommended before administration of bemiparin, on the first day of therapy and then regularly 3 to 4 days and at the end of therapy with bemiparin. In practice, treatment must be discontinued immediately and an alternative therapy initiated if a significantly reduced platelet count is observed (30 to 50 %) ,associated with positive or unknown results of in-vitro tests for anti-platelet antibody in the presence of bemiparin or other LMWHs and /or heparins.



As with other heparins, cases of cutaneous necrosis, sometimes preceded by purpura or painful erythematous blotches have been reported with bemiparin (see 4.8: Undesirable effects). In such cases, treatment should be discontinued immediately.



In patients undergoing epidural or spinal anaesthesia or lumbar puncture, the prophylactic use of heparin may very rarely be associated with epidural or spinal haematoma, resulting in prolonged or permanent paralysis (see 4.8: Undesirable effects). The risk is increased by the use of an epidural or spinal catheter for anaesthesia, by the concomitant use of drugs affecting haemostasis such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), platelet inhibitors or anticoagulants (see 4.5: Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction), and by traumatic or repeated puncture.



When reaching a decision as to the interval between the last heparin administration at prophylactic doses and the placement or removal of an epidural or spinal catheter, the product characteristics and the patient profile should be taken into account. The subsequent dose of bemiparin should not take place until at least four hours after removal of the catheter. The subsequent dose should be delayed until the surgical procedure is completed.



Should a physician decide to administer anticoagulation treatment in the context of epidural or spinal anaesthesia, extreme vigilance and frequent monitoring must be exercised to detect any signs and symptoms of neurological impairment, such as back pain, sensory and motor deficits (numbness and weakness in lower limbs) and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Nurses should be trained to detect such signs and symptoms. Patients should be instructed to inform a nurse or a clinician immediately if they experience any of these symptoms.



If signs or symptoms of epidural or spinal haematoma are suspected, urgent diagnosis and treatment including medullary decompression should be initiated.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Bemiparin interactions with other medicinal products have not been investigated and the information given on this section is derived from data available from other LMWH



The concomitant administration of bemiparin and the following medicinal products is not advisable:



Vitamin K antagonists and other anticoagulants, acetyl salicylic acid and other salicylates and NSAIDs, ticlopidine, clopidogrel and other platelet inhibitors systemic glucocorticoids and dextran .



All these drugs increase the pharmacological effect of bemiparin by interfering with its action on coagulation and/or platelet function and increasing the risk of bleeding.



If the combination cannot be avoided, it should be used with careful clinical and laboratory monitoring.



Medicinal products that increase the serum potassium concentration should only be taken concomitantly under especially careful medical supervision



Interaction of heparin with intravenous nitroglycerine (which can result in a decrease in efficacy) cannot be ruled out for bemiparin.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Pregnancy: Animal studies have not shown any evidence of teratogenic effects with the use of bemiparin (see 5.3: Preclinical safety data). For bemiparin, no clinical data on exposed pregnancies are available. Therefore, caution should be exercised when prescribing to pregnant women. It is unknown whether bemiparin crosses placental barrier.



Lactation: Insufficient information is available as to whether bemiparin passes into breast milk. Therefore, where it is necessary for lactating mothers to receive ZIBOR, they should be advised to avoid breast-feeding.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



Bemiparin has no influence on the ability to drive and use precision or dangerous machinery.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



The most commonly reported adverse reaction is haematoma and/or ecchymosis at the injection site, occurring in approximately 15 % of patients receiving ZIBOR.



Osteoporosis has been associated with long-term heparin treatment.



The frequency of AEs reported with bemiparin are similar to those reported with other LMWHs and is as follows:



Very common ( >1/10):



- Ecchymosis at injection site



Common (>1/100, <1/10):



- Haematoma and pain at injection site.



- Bleeding complications (skin, mucous membranes, wounds, gastro-intestinal tract, urogenital tract).



- Mild and transient elevations of transaminases (ASAT, ALAT) and gamma-GT levels.



Uncommon (>1/1000, <1/100):



- Cutaneous allergic reactions (urticaria, pruritus)



- Mild and transient thrombocytopenia (type I) (see 4.4: Special warnings and precautions for use).



Rare (<1/1000):



- Anaphylactic reactions (nausea, vomiting, fever, dyspnoea, bronchospasm, glottis oedema, hypotension, urticaria, pruritus).



- Severe thrombocytopenia (type II) (see 4.4: Special warnings and precautions for use).



- Cutaneous necrosis at the injection site (see 4.4: Special warnings and precautions for use).



- Epidural and spinal haematoma following epidural or spinal anaesthesia and lumbar puncture. These haematomas have caused various degrees of neurological impairment, including prolonged or permanent paralysis (see 4.4: Special warnings and precautions for use).



4.9 Overdose



Bleeding is the main symptom of overdose. Bemiparin should be discontinued depending on the severity of the haemorrhage and the risk of thrombosis.



Minor haemorrhages rarely need specific treatment. In case of major haemorrhages, administration of protamine sulphate may be needed.



The neutralisation of bemiparin with protamine sulphate has been studied in-vitro and in-vivo, with the aim of observing the reduction of anti-Xa activity and the effect on the APTT. Protamine sulphate exerts a partial decrease on anti-Xa activity for 2 hours after its intravenous administration, at a dose of 1.4 mg of protamine sulphate each 100 IU anti-Xa administered.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Pharmacotherapeutic group: antithrombotic agent, heparin group. ATC code B01AB12.



Bemiparin sodium is a LMWH obtained by depolymerization of heparin sodium from porcine intestinal mucosa. Its mean molecular weight (MW) is approximately 3,600 daltons. The percentage of chains with MW lower than 2,000 daltons is less than 35%. The percentage of chains with MW from 2,000 to 6,000 daltons ranges between 50-75%. The percentage of chains with MW higher than 6,000 daltons is less than 15%.



The anti-Xa activity ranges between 80 and 120 anti-Xa IU per mg and the anti-IIa activity ranges between 5 and 20 anti-IIa IU per mg, calculated in relation to dry matter. The anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio is approximately 8.



In animal experiment models, bemiparin has shown antithrombotic activity and moderate haemorrhagic effect.



In humans, bemiparin has confirmed its antithrombotic activity and, at the recommended doses, it does not significantly prolong global clotting tests.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



The pharmacokinetic properties of bemiparin have been determined by measuring the plasma anti-Xa activity using the amydolitic method; it is based on reference to the W.H.O. First International Low Molecular Weight Heparin Reference Standard (NIBSC).



The absorption and elimination processes follow a linear kinetic of the 1st order.



Absorption: Bemiparin sodium is rapidly absorbed following subcutaneous injection and the bioavailability is estimated to be 96%. The maximum plasma anti-Xa effect at prophylactic doses of 2,500 IU and 3,500 IU occurs 2 to 3 hours after subcutaneous injection of bemiparin, reaching peak activities in the order of 0.34 + 0.08 and 0.45 + 0.07 IU anti-Xa/ml, respectively. Anti-IIa activity was not detected at these doses. The maximum plasma anti-Xa effect at treatment doses of 5,000 IU, 7,500 IU, 10,000 IU and 12,500 IU occurs 3 to 4 hours after subcutaneous injection of bemiparin, reaching peak activities in the order of 0.54 + 0.06, 1.22 + 0.27, 1.42 + 0.19 and 2.03 + 0.25 IU anti-Xa/ml, respectively. Anti-IIa activity of 0.01 IU/ ml was detected at doses of 7,500 IU, 10,000 IU and 12,500 IU.



Elimination: Bemiparin administered in the dose range of 2,500 IU to 12,500 IU has an approximate half-life of between 5 and 6 hours, and should therefore be administered once daily.



There are currently no data available with regards to plasma protein binding, metabolism and excretion of bemiparin in humans.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Preclinical data for bemiparin reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, single and repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity and reproduction toxicity.



Acute and repeated dose toxicity studies following subcutaneous administration of bemiparin in animals have revealed alterations consisting essentially in reversible, dose-dependent haemorragic lesions at the injection site. These were considered to result from exaggerated pharmacological activity.



In the studies of reproductive toxicity performed with bemiparin in pregnant rats and rabbits, between days 6 and 18 of the pregnancy, no mortality was recorded among the females treated with bemiparin. The main clinical signs recorded were subcutaneous haematomas that were attributable to a pharmacological effect of the test item. No treatment-related embryotoxic effect neither external, skeletal and/or visceral alterations were recorded in the examination of fetuses



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Water for injections



6.2 Incompatibilities



ZIBOR should not be mixed with any other injections or infusions.



6.3 Shelf Life



2 years.



After first opening, ZIBOR should be used immediately



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 30º C. Do not freeze



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



0.2 ml solution in pre-filled syringe (Type I glass) with a plunger rod (polypropylene), rubber plunger stopper (chlorobutyl) and injection needle (stainless steel). Packs of 2, 6, 10, 30 and 100 syringes.



Note: Not all pack sizes may be marketed



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



Single-dose container. Discard any unused content. Do not use if the protective package is opened or damaged. Only clear and colourless or slightly yellowish solutions, free of visible particles, should be used. Any unused product and injection needles should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



ROVI IMAGING S.L.



Rufino González, 50



28037 MADRID – SPAIN



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



ZIBOR 2,500 IU Registration number: PL 30417/0001



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



18 March 2002



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



June 2007