Tuesday 24 April 2012

Phenergan



Pronunciation: proe-METH-a-zeen
Generic Name: Promethazine
Brand Name: Phenergan

Phenergan should not be used in children younger than 2 years old. Potentially fatal side effects (eg, difficult or slowed breathing, drowsiness leading to coma) may occur in this age group when taking Phenergan.


Caution should be used when using Phenergan in children 2 years old and older. The lowest possible dose should be used in this age group, and it should not be used with other medicines that cause slowed breathing.


Phenergan is usually given as an injection into a muscle (IM) or a vein (IV). It should not be injected into an artery or under the skin. Serious tissue damage, including gangrene, may occur if it is injected into these areas. Tissue damage may also occur in some cases following injection into a vein. This may occur right away or up to several hours or days after you receive a dose. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice burning, pain, swelling, or blistering around the injection site.





Phenergan is used for:

Relieving allergy symptoms (eg, itching, hives). It is used to prevent and control nausea and vomiting during and after surgery. It is also used to help produce light sleep; treat motion sickness; or treat pain after surgery, in combination with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.


Phenergan is a phenothiazine antihistamine. It works by blocking histamine, which decreases the symptoms of allergies and helps decrease nausea and vomiting.


Do NOT use Phenergan if:


  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Phenergan

  • you have severe central nervous system depression or are in a coma

  • you have severe lung or breathing problems (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], sleep apnea)

  • you are also taking astemizole, cisapride, terfenadine, or tramadol

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.



Before using Phenergan:


Some medical conditions may interact with Phenergan. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:


  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

  • if you have a history of nervous system problems, bone marrow depression, heart problems, a blood disease, glaucoma, increased eye pressure, low blood pressure, liver problems, stomach problems (eg, ulcers), a blockage of your bladder or bowel, an enlarged prostate, Parkinson disease, seizures, or Reye syndrome

  • if you are dehydrated, regularly consume large amounts of alcohol, or you will be exposed to very high temperatures

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Phenergan. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:


  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), astemizole, cisapride, general anesthetics (eg, thiopental), methyldopa, terfenadine, or tramadol because side effects, such as low blood pressure and seizures, may occur

  • ACE inhibitors (eg, enalapril), haloperidol, lithium, meperidine, metrizamide, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), naltrexone, polypeptide antibiotics (eg, actinomycin), trazodone, or tretinoin because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Phenergan

  • Bromocriptine, epinephrine, levodopa, or pergolide because their effectiveness may be decreased by Phenergan

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Phenergan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


How to use Phenergan:


Use Phenergan as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.


  • Phenergan is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Phenergan at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Phenergan. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.

  • Phenergan should be given as an injection into a muscle or a vein. Do not inject Phenergan into an artery or under the skin.

  • Do not use Phenergan if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.

  • Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.

  • If you are using Phenergan for motion sickness, take a dose at least 30 to 60 minutes before you begin traveling.

  • If you miss a dose of Phenergan and you are using it regularly, use it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your health care provider. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Phenergan.



Important safety information:


  • Phenergan may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you use it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Phenergan with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

  • Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Phenergan; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.

  • Some of these products contain sulfites. Sulfites may cause an allergic reaction in some patients (eg, asthma patients). If you have ever had an allergic reaction to sulfites, ask your pharmacist if your product has sulfites in it.

  • Phenergan may increase your risk of seizures. Your risk may be greater if you also have certain medical conditions, use certain medicines, or if you use a lot of alcohol. Talk to your doctor to see if you may have a greater risk of seizures while taking Phenergan.

  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Phenergan. Symptoms may include fever; stiff muscles; confusion; abnormal thinking; fast or irregular heartbeat; and sweating. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.

  • Phenergan may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Phenergan. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.

  • Phenergan may cause the results of some pregnancy tests to be wrong. Check with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy test results.

  • Diabetes patients - Phenergan may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.

  • Use Phenergan with extreme caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially drowsiness.

  • Phenergan should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 2 years old. Serious, and sometimes fatal, side effects (difficult or slowed breathing, drowsiness leading to coma) have occurred when Phenergan has been used in children in this age group.

  • Phenergan should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN 2 years old or older. The lowest effective dose should be used in children 2 years old and older.

  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Phenergan while you are pregnant. It is not known if Phenergan is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while using Phenergan.


Possible side effects of Phenergan:


All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:



Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; nausea; vomiting; weakness.



Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; burning, pain, swelling, or blistering around the injection site; confusion; excessive sweating; fainting; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; hallucinations; loss of coordination; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, delirium, exaggerated sense of well-being, excitability, hysteria, nervousness); ringing in the ears; seizures; severe of persistent dizziness; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; slow or fast heartbeat; tremor; trouble sleeping; uncontrolled muscle movements (eg, arm or leg movements, twitching of the face or tongue, jerking or twisting); unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of the skin or eyes.



This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.


See also: Phenergan side effects (in more detail)


If OVERDOSE is suspected:


Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include convulsions; dry mouth; flushing; hallucinations; loss of consciousness; nightmares; seizures; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; unusual drowsiness or restlessness.


Proper storage of Phenergan:

Phenergan is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Phenergan at home, store Phenergan as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Phenergan out of the reach of children and away from pets.


General information:


  • If you have any questions about Phenergan, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

  • Phenergan is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

  • If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

  • Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Phenergan. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.



Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Phenergan resources


  • Phenergan Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Phenergan Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Drug Images
  • Phenergan Drug Interactions
  • Phenergan Support Group
  • 45 Reviews for Phenergan - Add your own review/rating


  • Phenergan Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Phenergan Consumer Overview

  • Phenergan Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Promethazine Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Antinaus 50 Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Phenadoz Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Phenadoz Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Promethazine Hydrochloride Monograph (AHFS DI)

  • Promethegan Prescribing Information (FDA)



Compare Phenergan with other medications


  • Allergic Reactions
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Hay Fever
  • Light Sedation
  • Motion Sickness
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Opiate Adjunct
  • Sedation
  • Urticaria
  • Vertigo

Monday 16 April 2012

Boots Nasal Spray





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Boots Blocked Nose Relief 0.05% w/v Nasal Spray


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition








Active ingredient




%w/v




Oxymetazoline hydrochloride




0.05%



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Nasal Spray



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



For the fast relief of stuffy noses due to head colds and hayfever.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration

Adults and children over 12 years


1-2 sprays up each nostril every 6-8 hours.



Children under 12 years



Not to be administered to children under 12 years.



Elderly



There is no need for dosage reduction in the elderly.



For nasal administration.



4.3 Contraindications



Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients, patients with cardiovascular disease, hyperthyroidism, angle closure glaucoma or prostatic enlargement.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Keep away from the eyes.



Not to be used for children under 12 years without medical advice.



The spray should not be used in excess of the stated dosage nor for longer than seven days without medical advice.



Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Boots Nasal Spray should not be given to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or within 14 days of ceasing such treatment.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



The safety of Boots Nasal Spray during pregnancy and lactation has not been established, but is not thought to constitute a hazard during these periods.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



No adverse effects known.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



Occasionally may cause local irritation and dryness of the mouth and throat. Prolonged use may cause rebound congestion and rhinitis medicamentosa.



4.9 Overdose



Overdosage may give rise to local irritation and rebound congestion. Treatment need only be symptomatic.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Oxymetazoline hydrochloride is a sympathomimetic amine having vasoconstrictor properties which are utilised in the relief of nasal congestion.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Oxymetazoline enters tissues rapidly and local vasoconstriction is normally achieved within 5-10 minutes of intranasal administration. The full effect lasts for 5-6 hours and then gradually subsides over the next 6 hours. Plasma half-life is 5-8 days with 30% of any absorbed drug being excreted in the urine unchanged and 10% being excreted in the faeces.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Monosodium phosphate fine cryst



Disodium phosphate cryst



Methyl hydroxybenzoate



Cetrimide



Levomenthol natural



Or Levomenthol synthetic



Camphor racemic



Eucalyptol



Alcohol 96%



Purified water



6.2 Incompatibilities



Not applicable



6.3 Shelf Life



18 months



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 25°C.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



A 22ml polypropylene bottle with a polythene plug and elongated nozzle dip tube fitted with a wadless polythene cap that fits the elongated nozzle.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



Not applicable.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



The Boots Company PLC



1 Thane Road West



Nottingham



NG2 3AA



Trading as: BCM



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



PL 00014/0292



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



24 July 1989



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



July 2011




Sunday 15 April 2012

Ibuprofen CF




Ibuprofen CF may be available in the countries listed below.


Ingredient matches for Ibuprofen CF



Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is reported as an ingredient of Ibuprofen CF in the following countries:


  • Netherlands

International Drug Name Search

Thursday 12 April 2012

Acetoxyl 20 Topical


Generic Name: benzoyl peroxide (Topical route)


BEN-zoe-il per-OX-ide


Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.


  • Acne

  • Acne 10 Gel

  • Acne Wash

  • Benzac

  • Benzagel

  • Benzashave

  • BenzEFoam Ultra

  • Benziq

  • Binora

  • BPO 4% Gel

  • BPO 8% Gel

  • Brevoxyl

In Canada


  • 10 Benzagel Acne Gel

  • 2.5 Benzagel Acne Gel

  • 2.5 Benzagel Acne Lotion

  • 5 Benzagel Acne Gel

  • 5 Benzagel Acne Lotion

  • 5 Benzagel Acne Wash

  • Acetoxyl 10

  • Acetoxyl 2.5

  • Acetoxyl 20

  • Acetoxyl 5

  • Acnomel Bp 5

  • Alquam-X Acne Therapy Gel

Available Dosage Forms:


  • Bar

  • Soap

  • Lotion

  • Solution

  • Cream

  • Gel/Jelly

  • Liquid

  • Pad

  • Foam

Therapeutic Class: Antiacne Antibacterial


Uses For Acetoxyl 20


Benzoyl peroxide is used to treat acne.


It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.


Some of these preparations are available only with your doctor's prescription.


Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, benzoyl peroxide is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:


  • Decubital ulcer (bed sores)

  • Stasis ulcer (a certain type of ulcer)

Before Using Acetoxyl 20


In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:


Allergies


Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.


Pediatric


For children up to 12 years of age: Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of benzoyl peroxide with use in other age groups. For children 12 years of age and older: Although there is no specific information comparing use of benzoyl peroxide in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children 12 years of age and older than it does in adults.


Geriatric


Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of benzoyl peroxide in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.


Interactions with Medicines


Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.


Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol


Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.


Other Medical Problems


The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:


  • Dermatitis, seborrheic or

  • Eczema or

  • Red or raw skin, including sunburned skin—Irritation will occur if benzoyl peroxide is used with these conditions

Proper Use of benzoyl peroxide

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain benzoyl peroxide. It may not be specific to Acetoxyl 20. Please read with care.


It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than recommended on the label, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. To do so may cause irritation of the skin.


Do not use this medicine in or around the eyes or lips, or inside the nose, or on sensitive areas of the neck. Spread the medicine away from these areas when applying. If the medicine gets on these areas, wash with water at once.


Do not apply this medicine to windburned or sunburned skin or on open wounds, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.


This medicine usually comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before using the medicine.


To use the cream, gel, lotion, or stick form of benzoyl peroxide:


  • Before applying, wash the affected area with nonmedicated soap and water or with a mild cleanser and then gently pat dry with a towel.

  • Apply enough medicine to cover the affected areas, and rub in gently.

To use the shave cream form of benzoyl peroxide:


  • Wet the area to be shaved.

  • Apply a small amount of the shave cream and gently rub over entire area.

  • Shave.

  • Rinse the area and pat dry.

  • After-shave lotions or other drying face products should not be used without checking with your doctor first.

To use the cleansing bar, cleansing lotion, or soap form of benzoyl peroxide:


  • Use to wash the affected areas as directed.

To use the facial mask form of benzoyl peroxide:


  • Before applying, wash the affected area with a nonmedicated cleanser. Then rinse and pat dry.

  • Using a circular motion, apply a thin layer of the mask evenly over the affected area.

  • Allow the mask to dry for 15 to 25 minutes.

  • Then rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.

After applying the medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that might remain on them.


Dosing


The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.


The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.


  • For acne:
    • For cleansing bar dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and over—Use two or three times a day, or as directed by your doctor.

      • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.


    • For cleansing lotion, cream, or gel dosage forms:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and over—Use on the affected area(s) of the skin one or two times a day.

      • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.


    • For lotion dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and over—Use on the affected area(s) of the skin one to four times a day.

      • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.


    • For facial mask dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and over—Use one time a week or as directed by your doctor.

      • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.


    • For stick dosage form:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and over—Use on the affected area(s) of the skin one to three times a day.

      • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.



Missed Dose


If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.


Storage


Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.


Keep out of the reach of children.


Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.


Precautions While Using Acetoxyl 20


During the first 3 weeks you are using benzoyl peroxide, your skin may become irritated. Also, your acne may seem to get worse before it gets better. If your skin problem has not improved within 4 to 6 weeks, check with your health care professional.


You should not wash the areas of the skin treated with benzoyl peroxide for at least 1 hour after application.


Avoid using any other topical medicine on the same area within 1 hour before or after using benzoyl peroxide. Otherwise, benzoyl peroxide may not work properly.


Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as benzoyl peroxide:


  • Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (such as resorcinol, salicylic acid, sulfur, or tretinoin);

  • Hair products that are irritating, such as permanents or hair removal products;

  • Skin products that cause sensitivity to the sun, such as those containing lime or spices;

  • Skin products containing a large amount of alcohol, such as astringents, shaving creams, or after-shave lotions; or

  • Skin products that are too drying or abrasive, such as some cosmetics, soaps, or skin cleansers.

Using these products along with benzoyl peroxide may cause mild to severe irritation of the skin. Although skin irritation can occur, some doctors sometimes allow benzoyl peroxide to be used with tretinoin to treat acne. Usually tretinoin is applied at night so that it doesn't cause a problem with any other topical products that you might use during the day. Check with your doctor before using any other topical medicines with benzoyl peroxide.


This medicine may bleach hair or colored fabrics.


Check with your doctor at any time your skin becomes too dry or irritated. Your health care professional can help you choose the right skin products for you to reduce skin dryness and irritation.


Acetoxyl 20 Side Effects


Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.


Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:


Less common or rare
  • Painful irritation of skin, including burning, blistering, crusting, itching, severe redness, or swelling

  • skin rash

Symptoms of overdose
  • Burning, itching, scaling, redness, or swelling of skin (severe)

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:


Less common
  • Dryness or peeling of skin (may occur after a few days)

  • feeling of warmth, mild stinging, and redness of skin

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.


Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Acetoxyl 20 Topical side effects (in more detail)



The information contained in the Thomson Reuters Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.


The use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Reuters Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Reuters Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products.


More Acetoxyl 20 Topical resources


  • Acetoxyl 20 Topical Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Acetoxyl 20 Topical Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Acetoxyl 20 Topical Drug Interactions
  • Acetoxyl 20 Topical Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Acetoxyl 20 Topical - Add your own review/rating


Compare Acetoxyl 20 Topical with other medications


  • Acne

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Amaryl



Generic Name: glimepiride (Oral route)

glye-MEP-ir-ide

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.


  • Amaryl

Available Dosage Forms:


  • Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Hypoglycemic


Chemical Class: 2nd Generation Sulfonylurea


Uses For Amaryl


Glimepiride is used to treat high blood sugar levels caused by a type of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, your body does not work properly to store excess sugar and the sugar remains in your bloodstream. Chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious health problems in the future.


Proper diet is the first step in managing type 2 diabetes, but often medicines are needed to help your body. Glimepiride belongs to a class of drugs called sulfonylureas. It causes your pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream. This medicine may be used alone, or in combination with insulin or another oral medicine such as metformin.


This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.


Before Using Amaryl


In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:


Allergies


Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.


Pediatric


Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of glimepiride in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.


Geriatric


Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of glimepiride in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver or kidney problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving glimepiride.


Pregnancy








Pregnancy CategoryExplanation
All TrimestersCAnimal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding


There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.


Interactions with Medicines


Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.


Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.


  • Alatrofloxacin

  • Balofloxacin

  • Ciprofloxacin

  • Clinafloxacin

  • Disopyramide

  • Enoxacin

  • Fleroxacin

  • Flumequine

  • Gatifloxacin

  • Gemifloxacin

  • Grepafloxacin

  • Levofloxacin

  • Lomefloxacin

  • Moxifloxacin

  • Norfloxacin

  • Ofloxacin

  • Pefloxacin

  • Prulifloxacin

  • Rufloxacin

  • Sparfloxacin

  • Temafloxacin

  • Tosufloxacin

  • Trovafloxacin Mesylate

  • Voriconazole

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.


  • Acebutolol

  • Aceclofenac

  • Acemetacin

  • Alclofenac

  • Alprenolol

  • Apazone

  • Atenolol

  • Benoxaprofen

  • Betaxolol

  • Bevantolol

  • Bisoprolol

  • Bitter Melon

  • Bromfenac

  • Bucindolol

  • Bufexamac

  • Carprofen

  • Carteolol

  • Carvedilol

  • Celiprolol

  • Clometacin

  • Clonixin

  • Clorgyline

  • Dexketoprofen

  • Diclofenac

  • Diflunisal

  • Dilevalol

  • Dipyrone

  • Droxicam

  • Esmolol

  • Etodolac

  • Etofenamate

  • Felbinac

  • Fenbufen

  • Fenofibrate

  • Fenoprofen

  • Fentiazac

  • Fenugreek

  • Floctafenine

  • Fluconazole

  • Flufenamic Acid

  • Flurbiprofen

  • Glucomannan

  • Guar Gum

  • Ibuprofen

  • Indomethacin

  • Indoprofen

  • Iproniazid

  • Isocarboxazid

  • Isoxicam

  • Ketoprofen

  • Ketorolac

  • Labetalol

  • Levobunolol

  • Lornoxicam

  • Meclofenamate

  • Mefenamic Acid

  • Meloxicam

  • Mepindolol

  • Metipranolol

  • Metoprolol

  • Moclobemide

  • Nabumetone

  • Nadolol

  • Naproxen

  • Nebivolol

  • Nialamide

  • Niflumic Acid

  • Nimesulide

  • Oxaprozin

  • Oxprenolol

  • Oxyphenbutazone

  • Pargyline

  • Penbutolol

  • Phenelzine

  • Phenylbutazone

  • Pindolol

  • Pirazolac

  • Piroxicam

  • Pirprofen

  • Procarbazine

  • Propranolol

  • Propyphenazone

  • Proquazone

  • Psyllium

  • Selegiline

  • Sotalol

  • Sulindac

  • Suprofen

  • Talinolol

  • Tenidap

  • Tenoxicam

  • Tertatolol

  • Tiaprofenic Acid

  • Timolol

  • Tolmetin

  • Toloxatone

  • Tranylcypromine

  • Zomepirac

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol


Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.


Other Medical Problems


The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:


  • Alcohol intoxication or

  • Underactive adrenal glands or

  • Underactive pituitary gland or

  • Undernourished condition or

  • Weakened physical condition or

  • Any other condition that causes low blood sugar—Patients with these conditions may be more likely to develop low blood sugar while taking glimepiride.

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

  • Fever or

  • Infection or

  • Surgery or

  • Trauma—These conditions may cause temporary problems with blood sugar control and your doctor may want to treat you temporarily with insulin.

  • Heart disease—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.

  • Kidney disease or

  • Liver disease—Higher blood levels of this medicine may occur, which may cause serious problems.

Proper Use of Amaryl


Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.


Dosing


The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.


The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.


  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • For oral dosage form (tablets):
      • Adults—At first, 1 to 2 milligrams (mg) once a day taken with breakfast or the first main meal. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. The dose is usually not more than 8 mg per day.

      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.



Missed Dose


If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.


Storage


Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.


Keep out of the reach of children.


Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.


Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.


Precautions While Using Amaryl


It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.


It is very important to follow carefully any instructions from your health care team about:


  • Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.

  • Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, patients with diabetes may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur in patients with diabetes during pregnancy.

  • Travel—Keep your recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.

  • In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.

Check with your doctor right away if you start having chest pain or discomfort; nausea; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back, or neck; shortness of breath; sweating; or vomiting while you are using this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious heart problem, including a heart attack.


Too much glimepiride can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when it is used under certain conditions. Symptoms of low blood sugar must be treated before they lead to unconsciousness (passing out). Different people may feel different symptoms of low blood sugar. It is important that you learn which symptoms of low blood sugar you usually have so that you can treat it quickly and call someone on your health care team right away when you need advice.


Symptoms of low blood sugar include anxiety; behavior change similar to being drunk; blurred vision; cold sweats; confusion; cool, pale skin; difficulty in thinking; drowsiness; excessive hunger; fast heartbeat; headache (continuing); nausea; nervousness; nightmares; restless sleep; shakiness; slurred speech; or unusual tiredness or weakness.


If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes; or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe or needle, and know how to use it. Members of your household also should know how to use it.


Amaryl Side Effects


Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.


Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:


Rare
  • Difficulty swallowing

  • dizziness

  • fast heartbeat

  • hives

  • itching

  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

  • shortness of breath

  • skin rash

  • tightness in the chest

  • unusual tiredness or weakness

  • wheezing

Incidence not known
  • Abdominal pain

  • agitation

  • bleeding gums

  • bloating of abdomen

  • blood in urine or stools

  • bloody, black, or tarry stools

  • chest pain

  • chills

  • coma

  • confusion

  • cough or hoarseness

  • dark urine

  • decreased urine output

  • depression

  • fever with or without chills

  • fluid-filled skin blisters

  • general tiredness and weakness

  • headache

  • high fever

  • hostility

  • irritability

  • lethargy

  • light-colored stools

  • lower back or side pain

  • muscle twitching

  • nausea and vomiting

  • painful or difficult urination

  • pale skin

  • pinpoint red spots on skin

  • rapid weight gain

  • seizures

  • sensitivity to the sun

  • skin thinness

  • sore throat

  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

  • stupor

  • swelling of face, ankles, or hands

  • swollen or painful glands

  • unusual bleeding or bruising

  • upper right abdominal pain

  • yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:


Symptoms of overdose
  • Anxiety

  • blurred vision

  • cold sweats

  • cool, pale skin

  • increased hunger

  • nervousness

  • nightmares

  • shakiness

  • slurred speech

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:


Less common
  • Lack or loss of strength

Incidence not known
  • Diarrhea

  • redness or other discoloration of skin

  • severe sunburn

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.


Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Amaryl side effects (in more detail)



The information contained in the Thomson Reuters Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.


The use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Reuters Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Reuters Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products.


More Amaryl resources


  • Amaryl Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Amaryl Dosage
  • Amaryl Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Drug Images
  • Amaryl Drug Interactions
  • Amaryl Support Group
  • 7 Reviews for Amaryl - Add your own review/rating


  • Amaryl Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Amaryl Consumer Overview

  • Amaryl Monograph (AHFS DI)

  • Amaryl MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Glimepiride Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Glimepiride Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)



Compare Amaryl with other medications


  • Diabetes, Type 2

Friday 6 April 2012

Hepsera 10 mg tablets





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Hepsera 10 mg tablets


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each tablet contains 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil.



Excipient(s):



Each tablet contains 113 mg lactose monohydrate.



For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Tablet.



White to off



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Hepsera is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults with:



• compensated liver disease with evidence of active viral replication, persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and histological evidence of active liver inflammation and fibrosis



• decompensated liver disease.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



Therapy should be initiated by a physician experienced in the management of chronic hepatitis B.



Adults: The recommended dose of Hepsera is 10 mg (one tablet) once daily taken orally with or without food.



Higher doses must not be administered.



The optimum duration of treatment is unknown. The relationship between treatment response and long



Patients should be monitored every six months for hepatitis B biochemical, virological and serological markers.



Treatment discontinuation may be considered as follows:



- In HBeAg positive patients without cirrhosis, treatment should be administered for at least 6



- In HBeAg negative patients without cirrhosis, treatment should be administered at least until HBs seroconversion or there is evidence of loss of efficacy. With prolonged treatment for more than 2 years, regular reassessment is recommended to confirm that continuing the selected therapy remains appropriate for the patient.



In patients with decompensated liver disease or cirrhosis, treatment cessation is not recommended (see section 4.4).



Children and adolescents: Hepsera is not recommended for use in children below the age of 18 years due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy (see section 5.1).



Elderly: No data are available to support a dose recommendation for patients over the age of 65 years (see section 4.4).



Renal insufficiency: Adefovir is eliminated by renal excretion and adjustments of the dosing interval are required in patients with a creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min or on dialysis. The recommended dosing frequency according to renal function must not be exceeded (see sections 4.4 and 5.2). The proposed dose interval modification is based on extrapolation of limited data in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and may not be optimal.



Patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 49 ml/min:



It is recommended to administer adefovir dipivoxil (one 10 mg tablet) every 48 hours in these patients. There are only limited data on the safety and efficacy of this dosing interval adjustment guideline. Therefore, clinical response to treatment and renal function should be closely monitored in these patients (see section 4.4).



Patients with creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min and dialysis patients:



There are no safety and efficacy data to support the use of adefovir dipivoxil in patients with a creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min or on dialysis. Therefore, use of adefovir dipivoxil is not recommended in these patients and should only be considered if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. In that case, the limited data available suggest that for patients with creatinine clearance between 10 and 29 ml/min, adefovir dipivoxil (one 10 mg tablet) may be administered every 72 hours; for haemodialysis patients, adefovir dipivoxil (one 10 mg tablet) may be administered every 7 days following 12 hours continuous dialysis (or 3 dialysis sessions, each of 4 hours duration). These patients should be closely monitored for possible adverse reactions and to ensure efficacy is maintained (see sections 4.4 and 4.8). No dosing interval recommendations are available for other dialysis patients (e.g. ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients) or non



Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment is required in patients with hepatic impairment (see section 5.2).



Clinical resistance: Lamivudine



In order to reduce the risk of resistance in patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy, a modification of treatment should be considered if serum HBV DNA remains above 1,000 copies/ml at or beyond 1 year of treatment.



4.3 Contraindications



• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Renal function: Adefovir is excreted renally, by a combination of glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion. Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil may result in renal impairment. While the overall risk of renal impairment in patients with adequate renal function is low, this is of special importance in patients at risk of, or having underlying renal dysfunction and in patients receiving medicinal products that may affect renal function.



It is recommended that creatinine clearance is calculated in all patients prior to initiating therapy with adefovir dipivoxil.



In patients who develop renal insufficiency and have advanced liver disease or cirrhosis, dosing interval adjustment of adefovir or switch to an alternative therapy for hepatitis B infection should be considered. Treatment cessation for chronic hepatitis B in these patients is not recommended.



Patients with normal renal function:



Patients with normal renal function should be monitored for changes in serum creatinine every 3 months and creatinine clearance calculated. In patients at risk of renal impairment (see section 4.8), consideration should be given to more frequent monitoring of renal function.



Patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 49 ml/min:



The dosing interval of adefovir dipivoxil should be adjusted in these patients (see section 4.2). In addition, renal function should be closely monitored with a frequency tailored to the individual patient's medical condition.



Patients with creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min and dialysis patients:



Adefovir dipivoxil is not recommended in patients with a creatinine clearance of < 30 ml/min or on dialysis. Administration of adefovir dipivoxil in these patients should only be considered if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. If treatment with adefovir dipivoxil is considered essential, then the dosing interval should be adjusted (see section 4.2). These patients should be closely monitored for possible adverse reactions and to ensure efficacy is maintained.



Patients receiving medicinal products that may affect renal function:



Adefovir dipivoxil should not be administered concurrently with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread).



Caution is advised in patients receiving other medicinal products that may affect renal function or are excreted renally (e.g. cyclosporin and tacrolimus, intravenous aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, foscarnet, pentamidine, vancomycin, or medicinal products which are secreted by the same renal transporter, human Organic Anion Transporter 1 (hOAT1), such as cidofovir). Co



For renal safety in patients pre



Hepatic function: Spontaneous exacerbations in chronic hepatitis B are relatively common and are characterised by transient increases in serum ALT. After initiating antiviral therapy, serum ALT may increase in some patients as serum HBV DNA levels decline. In patients with compensated liver disease, these increases in serum ALT are generally not accompanied by an increase in serum bilirubin concentrations or hepatic decompensation (see section 4.8). Patients with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis may be at a higher risk for hepatic decompensation following hepatitis exacerbation which may be fatal. In these patients, including patients with decompensated liver disease, treatment cessation is not recommended and these patients should be monitored closely during therapy.



In the event of these patients developing renal insufficiency, see above Renal function.



If treatment cessation is necessary, patients should be closely monitored for several months after stopping treatment as exacerbations of hepatitis have occurred after discontinuation of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil. These exacerbations occurred in the absence of HBeAg seroconversion and presented as serum ALT elevations and increases in serum HBV DNA. Elevations in serum ALT that occurred in patients with compensated liver function treated with 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil were not accompanied by clinical and laboratory changes associated with liver decompensation. Patients should be closely monitored after stopping treatment. Most post



Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis: Occurrences of lactic acidosis (in the absence of hypoxaemia), sometimes fatal, usually associated with severe hepatomegaly and hepatic steatosis, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues. As adefovir is structurally related to nucleoside analogues, this risk cannot be excluded. Treatment with nucleoside analogues should be discontinued when rapidly elevating aminotransferase levels, progressive hepatomegaly or metabolic/lactic acidosis of unknown aetiology occur. Benign digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, might be indicative of lactic acidosis development. Severe cases, sometimes with fatal outcome, were associated with pancreatitis, liver failure/hepatic steatosis, renal failure and higher levels of serum lactate. Caution should be exercised when prescribing nucleoside analogues to any patient (particularly obese women) with hepatomegaly, hepatitis or other known risk factors for liver disease. These patients should be followed closely.



To differentiate between elevations in transaminases due to response to treatment and increases potentially related to lactic acidosis, physicians should ensure that changes in ALT are associated with improvements in other laboratory markers of chronic hepatitis B.



Co There are no data on the efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil in patients co



Co Limited data are available on the safety and efficacy of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil in patients with chronic hepatitis B, co



As far as possible, treatment of hepatitis B by adefovir dipivoxil in an HIV co



Elderly: The clinical experience in patients> 65 years of age is very limited. Caution should be exercised when prescribing adefovir dipivoxil to the elderly, keeping in mind the greater frequency of decreased renal or cardiac function in these patients, and the increase in concomitant diseases or concomitant use of other medicinal products in the elderly.



Resistance: Resistance to adefovir dipivoxil (see section 5.1) can result in viral load rebound which may result in exacerbation of hepatitis B and, in the setting of diminished hepatic function, lead to liver decompensation and possible fatal outcome. Virological response should be closely monitored in patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil, with HBV DNA measured every 3 months. If viral rebound occurs, resistance testing should be performed. In case of emergence of resistance, treatment should be modified.



General: Patients should be advised that therapy with adefovir dipivoxil has not been proven to reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis B virus to others and therefore appropriate precautions should still be taken.



Hepsera contains lactose monohydrate. Consequently, patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.



The potential for CYP450 mediated interactions involving adefovir with other medicinal products is low, based on the results of in vitro experiments in which adefovir did not influence any of the common CYP isoforms known to be involved in human drug metabolism and based on the known elimination pathway of adefovir. A clinical study in liver



Concomitant administration of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil and 100 mg lamivudine did not alter the pharmacokinetic profile of either medicinal product.



Adefovir is excreted renally, by a combination of glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion. Co



Due to the high pharmacokinetic variability of pegylated interferon, no definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the effect of adefovir and pegylated interferon co



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Pregnancy: There are no adequate data on the use of adefovir dipivoxil in pregnant women.



Studies in animals administered adefovir intravenously have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). Studies in orally dosed animals do not indicate teratogenic or foetotoxic effects.



Adefovir dipivoxil should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus.



There are no data on the effect of adefovir dipivoxil on transmission of HBV from mother to infant. Therefore, the standard recommended procedures for immunisation of infants should be followed to prevent neonatal acquisition of HBV.



Given that the potential risks to developing human foetuses are unknown, it is recommended that women of child



Lactation: It is not known whether adefovir is excreted in human milk. Mothers should be instructed not to breast



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. However, based on the safety profile and mechanism of action, adefovir dipivoxil is expected to have no or negligible influence on these abilities.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



In patients with compensated liver disease, the most frequently reported adverse reactions during 48 weeks of adefovir dipivoxil therapy were asthenia (13 %), headache (9 %), abdominal pain (9 %) and nausea (5 %).



Assessment of adverse reactions is based on experience from post-marketing surveillance and from three pivotal clinical studies in patients with chronic hepatitis B:



• two placebo



• an open-label study in which pre



The adverse reactions considered at least possibly related to treatment are listed below, by body system organ class, and frequency. Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness. Frequencies are defined as very common (



Nervous system disorders:



Common (



Gastrointestinal disorders:



Common (



Frequency not known: pancreatitis.



Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:



Common (



Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders:



Frequency not known: myopathy, osteomalacia (both associated with proximal renal tubulopathy).



Renal and urinary disorders:



Very common (



Common (



Frequency not known: Fanconi syndrome, proximal renal tubulopathy.



General disorders and administration site conditions:



Very common (



Exacerbation of hepatitis:



Clinical and laboratory evidence of exacerbations of hepatitis have occurred after discontinuation of treatment with 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil (see section 4.4).



Long



In a long



In a long



Safety in patients with decompensated disease:



In patients with decompensated liver disease, the most frequently reported adverse reactions during up to 203 weeks of adefovir dipivoxil therapy were increased creatinine (7 %) and asthenia (5 %). Renal toxicity is an important feature of the safety profile of adefovir dipivoxil in patients with decompensated liver disease. In clinical studies of wait-listed and post-liver transplantation patients, four percent (19/467) of patients discontinued treatment with adefovir dipivoxil due to renal adverse events.



4.9 Overdose



Administration of 500 mg adefovir dipivoxil daily for 2 weeks and 250 mg daily for 12 weeks has been associated with the gastrointestinal disorders listed above and anorexia.



If overdose occurs, the patient must be monitored for evidence of toxicity, and standard supportive treatment applied as necessary.



Adefovir can be removed by haemodialysis; the median haemodialysis clearance of adefovir is 104 ml/min. The elimination of adefovir by peritoneal dialysis has not been studied.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Pharmacotherapeutic group: Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, ATC code: J05AF08.



Adefovir dipivoxil is an oral prodrug of adefovir, an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate analogue of adenosine monophosphate, which is actively transported into mammalian cells where it is converted by host enzymes to adefovir diphosphate. Adefovir diphosphate inhibits viral polymerases by competing for direct binding with the natural substrate (deoxyadenosine triphosphate) and, after incorporation into viral DNA, causes DNA chain termination. Adefovir diphosphate selectively inhibits HBV DNA polymerases at concentrations 12



Adefovir is active against hepadnaviruses in vitro, including all common forms of lamivudine-resistant HBV (rtL180M, rtM204I, rtM204V, rtL180M/rtM204V), famciclovir-associated mutations (rtV173L, rtP177L, rtL180M, rtT184S or rtV207I) and hepatitis B immunoglobulin escape mutations (rtT128N and rtW153Q), and in in vivo animal models of hepadnavirus replication.



Clinical experience: The demonstration of the benefit of adefovir dipivoxil is based on histological, virological, biochemical, and serological responses in adults with:



• HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B with compensated liver disease.



• lamivudine-resistant HBV with either compensated or decompensated liver disease, including patients pre



In these clinical studies patients had active viral replication (HBV DNA



Experience in patients with compensated liver disease: In two placebo-controlled studies (total n=522) in HBeAg positive or in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients with compensated liver disease, significantly more patients (p < 0.001) in the 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil groups (53 and 64 %, respectively) had histological improvement from baseline at week 48 than in the placebo groups (25 and 33 %). Improvement was defined as a reduction from baseline of two points or more in the Knodell necro-inflammatory score with no concurrent worsening in the Knodell fibrosis score. Histological improvement was seen regardless of baseline demographic and hepatitis B characteristics, including prior interferon10 copies/ml) were associated with greater histological improvement. Blinded, ranked assessments of both necro-inflammatory activity and fibrosis at baseline and week 48, demonstrated that patients treated with 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil had improved necro-inflammatory and fibrosis scores relative to placebo-treated patients.



Assessment of the change in fibrosis after 48 weeks treatment using the Knodell scores confirms that patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg had more regression and less progression of fibrosis than patients treated with placebo.



In the two studies mentioned above, treatment with 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil was associated with significant reductions in serum HBV DNA (3.52 and 3.91 log10 copies/ml, respectively, versus 0.55 and 1.35 log10 copies/ml), increased proportion of patients with normalisation of ALT (48 and 72 % versus 16 and 29 %) or increased proportion of patients with serum HBV DNA below the limits of quantification (< 400 copies/ml Roche Amplicor Monitor PCR assay) (21 and 51 % versus 0 %) when compared with placebo. In the study in HBeAg positive patients, HBeAg seroconversion (12 %) and HBeAg loss (24 %) was observed significantly more frequently in patients receiving 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil than in patients receiving placebo (6 % and 11 %, respectively) after 48 weeks of treatment.



In the HBeAg positive study, treatment beyond 48 weeks resulted in further reductions in serum HBV DNA levels and increases in the proportion of patients with ALT normalisation, HBeAg loss and seroconversion.



In the HBeAg negative study patients on adefovir dipivoxil (0



Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil resulted in improvement in the liver fibrosis from baseline to 96 weeks therapy when analysed using the Ishak score (median change: Δ=



Patients who completed the first 96 weeks of the HBeAg negative study and received adefovir dipivoxil treatment during weeks 49 to 96, were offered the opportunity to receive open-label treatment with adefovir dipivoxil from study week 97 through to week 240. Serum HBV DNA levels remained undetectable and ALT levels normalised in approximately two thirds of patients following treatment with adefovir dipivoxil for up to 240 weeks. Clinically and statistically significant improvement in fibrosis was seen in the changes in Ishak scores from the start of adefovir dipivoxil treatment to the end of the study (week 240) (median change: Δ=



Experience in patients pre In a clinical study in 394 chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV (pre10 copies/ml, respectively, at week 48. In the pre



In the pre



Experience in patients with compensated liver disease and lamivudine In a double10 copies/ml and 3.59 log10 copies/ml, respectively). The clinical significance of these observed changes in HBV DNA has not been established.



Experience in patients with decompensated liver disease and lamivudine In 40 HBeAg positive or HBeAg negative patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV and decompensated liver disease receiving treatment with 100 mg lamivudine, addition of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil treatment for 52 weeks resulted in a median reduction in HBV DNA of 4.6 log10 copies/ml. Improvement in liver function was also seen after one year of therapy.



Experience in patients with HIV co In an open-label investigator study in 35 chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV and co



In a second open3 (no patient had CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3). During therapy, serum HBV DNA levels were significantly lower compared to baseline for up to 48 weeks of treatment while ALT levels declined progressively from week 12. However, on



Paediatric population: The efficacy and safety of a daily dose of 0.25 mg/kg to 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil in children (aged from 2 to < 18 years) was examined in a double



Overall, the safety profile of adefovir dipivoxil in children was consistent with the known safety profile in adult patients. However, a signal towards a higher rate of decreased appetite and/or food intake was observed in the adefovir arm as compared to the placebo arm. At week 48 and 96, mean changes from baseline in weight and BMI Z scores tended to decrease in adefovir dipivoxil



The clinical data available are insufficient to draw definitive conclusions on the benefit/risk ratio of the adefovir treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B (see section 4.2).



Clinical resistance in patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil as monotherapy and in combination with lamivudine: In several clinical studies (HBeAg positive, HBeAg negative, pre



Clinical resistance in monotherapy studies in nucleoside naïve patients: In patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy (HBeAg negative study) the cumulative probability of developing adefovir



Clinical resistance in studies where adefovir dipivoxil was added to ongoing lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistance: In an open-label study of pre



The currently available data both in vitro and in patients suggest that HBV expressing the adefovir-associated resistance mutation rtN236T is susceptible to lamivudine. Preliminary clinical data suggest the adefovir-associated resistance mutation rtA181V may confer a reduced susceptibility to lamivudine, and the lamivudine



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Absorption: Adefovir dipivoxil is a dipivaloyloxymethyl ester prodrug of the active substance adefovir. The oral bioavailability of adefovir from 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil is 59 %. Following oral administration of a single dose of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil to chronic hepatitis B patients, the median (range) peak serum concentration (Cmax) was achieved after 1.75 h (0.58max and AUC0 values were 16.70 (9.66·h/ml, respectively. Systemic exposure to adefovir was not affected when 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil was taken with a high fat meal. The tmax was delayed by two hours.



Distribution: Preclinical studies show that after oral administration of adefovir dipivoxil, adefovir is distributed to most tissues with the highest concentrations occurring in kidney, liver and intestinal tissues. In vitro binding of adefovir to human plasma or human serum proteins is



Biotransformation: Following oral administration, adefovir dipivoxil is rapidly converted to adefovir. At concentrations substantially higher (> 4,000in vivo, adefovir did not inhibit any of the following human CYP450 isoforms, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4. Based on the results of these in vitro experiments and the known elimination pathway of adefovir, the potential for CYP450 mediated interactions involving adefovir with other medicinal products is low.



Elimination: Adefovir is excreted renally by a combination of glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion. The median (mincr> 80 ml/min) is 211 ml/min (172



Linearity/non The pharmacokinetics of adefovir are proportional to dose when given as adefovir dipivoxil over the dose range of 10 to 60 mg. Repeated dosing of adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg daily did not influence the pharmacokinetics of adefovir.



Gender, age and ethnicity: The pharmacokinetics of adefovir were similar in male and female patients. Pharmacokinetic studies have not been conducted in children or in the elderly. Pharmacokinetic studies were principally conducted in Caucasian patients. The available data do not appear to indicate any difference in pharmacokinetics with regard to race.



The pharmacokinetics of adefovir dipivoxil were studied in an efficacy and safety study of a daily dose of 0.25 mg/kg to 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil in children (aged 2 to < 18 years). Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that adefovir exposure was comparable among 3 age groups, 2 to 6 years (0.3 mg/kg), 7 to 11 years (0.25 mg/kg) and 12 to 17 years (10 mg) and all age groups achieved adefovir exposure in the target range (for efficacy results see section 5.1), which was based on adefovir plasma concentrations in adult patients with chronic hepatitis B with established safety and efficacy profiles.



Renal impairment: The mean (± SD) pharmacokinetic parameters of adefovir following administration of a single dose of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil to patients with varying degrees of renal impairment are described in the table below:


































Renal Function Group




Unimpaired




Mild




Moderate




Severe




Baseline Creatinine Clearance (ml/min)




> 80



(n=7)




50



(n=8)




30



(n=7)




10



(n=10)




Cmax (ng/ml)




17.8±3.2




22.4±4.0




28.5±8.6




51.6±10.3




AUC0 (ng· h/ml)




201±40.8




266±55.7




455±176




1240±629




CL/F (ml/min)




469±99.0




356±85.6




237±118




91.7±51.3




CLrenal (ml/min)




231±48.9




148±39.3




83.9±27.5




37.0±18.4



A four-hour period of haemodialysis removed approximately 35 % of the adefovir dose. The effect of peritoneal dialysis on adefovir removal has not been evaluated.



It is recommended that the dosing interval of 10 mg adefovir dipivoxil is modified in patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 49 ml/min. Adefovir dipivoxil is not recommended in patients with creatinine clearance of < 30 ml/min or in patients on dialysis (see section 4.2 and 4.4).



Hepatic impairment: Pharmacokinetic properties were similar in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment compared to healthy volunteers (see section 4.2).



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



The primary dose



No effects on male or female fertility, or reproductive performance, occurred in rats and there was no embryotoxicity or teratogenicity in rats or rabbits administered adefovir dipivoxil orally.



When adefovir was administered intravenously to pregnant rats at doses associated with notable maternal toxicity (systemic exposure 38 times that achieved in humans at the therapeutic dose) embryotoxicity and an increased incidence of foetal malformations (anasarca, depressed eye bulge, umbilical hernia and kinked tail) were observed. No adverse effects on development were seen at systemic exposures approximately 12 times that achieved in humans at the therapeutic dose.



Adefovir dipivoxil was mutagenic in the in vitro mouse lymphoma cell assay (with or without metabolic activation), but was not clastogenic in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.



Adefovir was not mutagenic in microbial mutagenicity assays involving Salmonella typhimurium (Ames) and Escherichia coli in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Adefovir induced chromosomal aberrations in the in vitro human peripheral blood lymphocyte assay without metabolic activation.



In long



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Pregelatinised starch



Croscarmellose sodium



Lactose monohydrate



Talc



Magnesium stearate



6.2 Incompatibilities



Not applicable.



6.3 Shelf Life



2 years.



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 30ºC. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



Hepsera is supplied in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles with a child



The following pack sizes are available: outer cartons containing 1 x 30 tablet and 3 x 30 tablet bottles. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



Gilead Sciences International Limited



Cambridge



CB21 6GT



United Kingdom



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



EU/1/03/251/001



EU/1/03/251/002



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



Date of first authorisation: 06 March 2003



Date of last renewal: 06 March 2008



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



06/2009



Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) http://www.emea.europa.eu/.