Boots Max Strength Sinus Pressure & Pain Relief Day & Night Capsules Hard
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Paramed Max Strength Sinus Relief Day & Night Capsules, hard
Boots Max Strength Sinus Pressure & Pain Relief Day & Night Capsules, hard
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
DAY CAPSULE
Active Ingredient mg/Capsule
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 6.1
NIGHT CAPSULE
Active Ingredient mg/Capsule
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 6.1
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Hard capsule.
Red/blue (Day) and dark blue/light blue (Night) hard gelatin capsules containing the drug products, which are off-white powders.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Day Capsule
For the relief of symptoms associated with the pain and congestion of sinusitis, including relief of aches and pains, headache, fatigue and drowsiness, nasal congestion and lowering of temperature.
Night Capsule
For the relief of symptoms associated with the common cold and influenza, including relief of aches and pains, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion and lowering of temperature.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
For oral use.
Swallow whole with water. Do not chew.
Each blister contains 6 red/blue Day capsules and 2 dark blue/light blue Night capsules.
Adults and Children over 12 years
2 red/blue capsules every 4 - 6 hours during the day as required, followed by 2 dark blue/ light blue capsules at bedtime.
Leave at least 4 hours between doses.
Do not take more than 8 capsules in 24 hours.
Not recommended for children under 12 years of age.
Note: Does not contain a sleep aid.
4.3 Contraindications
PARACETAMOL
Hypersensitivity to paracetamol or any of the other constituents.
CAFFEINE (day capsule only):
Should be given with care to patients with a history of peptic ulcer.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Severe coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disorders. Hypertension. Hyperthyroidism. Contraindicated in patients currently receiving or within two weeks of stopping therapy with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Care is advised in the administration of paracetamol to patients with severe renal or severe hepatic impairment. The hazards of overdose are greater in those with noncirrhotic alcoholic liver disease.
Use with caution in patients with Raynaud’s Phenomenon and diabetes mellitus.
The following warnings will appear on the pack:-
CONTAINS PARACETAMOL
If symptoms persist consult your doctor.
- Do not exceed the stated dose.
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Do not take with any other paracetamol-containing products.
The Label shall say:
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if you feel well.
The Leaflet shall say:
Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
If you are pregnant or being prescribed medicine by your doctor, seek your doctor’s advice before taking this product.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
PARACETAMOL
The speed of absorption of paracetamol may be increased by metoclopramide or domperidone and absorption reduced by colestyramine.
The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular use of paracetamol with increased risk of bleeding; occasional doses have no significant effect.
Drugs which induce hepatic microsomal enzymes, such as alcohol, barbiturates, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, may increase the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, particularly after overdosage. Contraindicated in patients currently receiving or within two weeks of stopping therapy with monoamine oxidase inhibitors because of a risk of hypertensive crisis.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Phenylephrine may adversely interact with other sympathomimetics, vasodilators and beta blockers.
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
PARACETAMOL
Epidemiological studies in human pregnancy have shown no ill effects due to paracetamol used in the recommended dosage, but patients should follow the advice of their doctor regarding its use.
Paracetamol is excreted in breast milk but not in a clinically significant amount. Available published data do not contraindicate breast feeding.
CAFFEINE (Day capsule only)
Taken during pregnancy, it appears that the half-life of caffeine is prolonged. This is a possible contributing factor in hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness).
Caffeine appears in breast milk. Irritability and poor sleeping pattern in the infant have been reported.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Due to the vasoconstrictive properties of phenylephrine the product should be used with caution in patients with a history of pre-eclampsia. Phenylephrine may reduce placental perfusion and the product should be used in pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh this risk. There is no information on use in lactation
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known
4.8 Undesirable effects
PARACETAMOL
Adverse effects of paracetamol are rare but hypersensitivity including skin rash may occur.
There have been reports of blood dyscrasias including thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis, but these were not necessarily causally related to paracetamol.
Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
CAFFEINE (Day capsule only)
Nausea and insomnia have been noted.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Phenylephrine hydrochloride may elevate blood pressure with headache, vomiting and rarely palpitations; tachycardia or reflex bradycardia; tingling and coolness of the skin. There have been rare reports of allergic reactions.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9 Overdose
PARACETAMOL
Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).
Risk factors If the patient
a) Is on long term treatment with carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St John’s Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes.
Or
b) Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts.
Or
c) Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, haemorrhage, hypoglycaemia, cerebral oedema, and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, strongly suggested by loin pain, haematuria and proteinuria, may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.
Management
Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose. Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see British National Formulary (BNF) overdose section.
Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24 hours from ingestion should be discussed with the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) or a liver unit.
CAFFEINE (Day capsule only)
Doses over 1g are probably necessary to induce toxicity, 2 - 5g to produce severe toxicity and 5 - 10g is likely to be lethal.
Symptoms include: epigastric pain, vomiting, diuresis, tachycardia, CNS stimulation (insomnia, restlessness, excitement, agitation, jitteriness, tremors, convulsions).
No specific antidote is available, reduce or stop dosage and avoid excessive intake of coffee or tea.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Severe overdosage may produce hypertension and associated reflex bradycardia. Treatment measures include early gastric lavage and symptomatic and supportive measures. The hypertensive effects may be treated with an alpha-receptor blocking agent (such as phentolamine mesylate 6 - 10 mg) given intravenously, and the bradycardia treated with atropine, preferably only after the pressure has been controlled.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Other analgesics and antipyretics &
Other cold combination preparations
NO2B E51
ATC Code:
PARACETAMOL
Analgesic:
The mechanism of analgesic action has not been fully determined. Paracetamol may act predominantly by inhibiting a prostaglandin synthesis in the central nervous system (CNS) and to a lesser extent through a peripheral action by blocking pain-impulse generation. The peripheral action may also be due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis or to inhibition of the synthesis or actions of other substances that sensitise pain receptors to mechanical or chemical stimulation.
Antipyretic:
Paracetamol probably produces antipyresis by acting on the hypothalamic heatregulating centre to produce peripheral vasodilation resulting in increased blood flow through the skin, sweating and heat loss. The central action probably involves inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the hypothalamus.
CAFFEINE (Day capsule only)
Central nervous system stimulant - Caffeine stimulates all levels of the CNS, although its cortical effects are milder and of shorter duration than those of amfetamines.
Analgesia Adjunct:
Caffeine constricts cerebral vasculature with an accompanying decrease in cerebral blood flow and in the oxygen tension of the brain. It is believed that caffeine helps to relieve headache by providing a more rapid onset of action and/or enhanced pain relief with lower doses of analgesic. Recent studies with ergotamine indicate that the enhancement of effect by the addition of caffeine may also be due to improved gastrointestinal absorption of ergotamine when administered with caffeine.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Sympathomimetic amines, such as phenylephrine, act on alpha-adrenergic receptors of the respiratory tract to produce vasoconstriction, which temporarily reduces the swelling associated with inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal and sinus passages. This allows the free drainage of the sinusoidal fluid from the sinuses.
In addition to reducing mucosal lining swelling, decongestants also suppress the production of mucus, therefore preventing a build up of fluid within the cavities which could otherwise lead to pressure and pain.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
PARACETAMOL
Absorption and Fate
Paracetamol is rapidly absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract with peak plasma concentrations occurring between 10 and 120 minutes after oral administration. It is metabolised in the liver and excreted in the urine mainly as the glucuronide and sulphate conjugates. Less than 5% is excreted as unchanged paracetamol. The elimination half-life varies from about 1 to 4 hours.
Plasma-protein binding is negligible at usual therapeutic concentrations but increases with increasing concentrations.
A minor hydroxylated metabolite which is usually produced in very small amounts by mixed-function oxidases in the liver and which is usually detoxified by conjugation with liver glutathione may accumulate following paracetamol overdose and cause liver damage.
CAFFEINE (Day capsule only)
Absorption and Fate
Caffeine is absorbed readily after oral administration and is widely distributed throughout the body. Caffeine is metabolised almost completely via oxidation, demethylation, and acetylation, and is excreted in the urine as 1-methyluric acid, 1-methylxanthine, 7-methylxanthine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine), 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil (AFMU), and other metabolites with only about 1% unchanged.
PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Absorption and Fate
Phenylephrine has reduced bioavailability from the gastro-intestinal tract owing to irregular absorption and first-pass metabolism by monoamine oxidase in the gut and liver.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber additional to that already covered in other sections of the SPC.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
DAY CAPSULE
Maize starch Croscarmellose sodium Sodium laurilsulfate Magnesium stearate
Talc
Gelatin
Titanium dioxide Quinoline yellow Patent blue V Erythrosine Indigo carmine
E171
E104
E131
E127
E132
NIGHT CAPSULE
Maize starch Croscarmellose sodium Sodium laurilsulfate Magnesium stearate Talc Gelatin
6.2 Incompatibilities
None known
6.3 Shelf life
36 months.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Blister packs of white opaque 250 micron PVC/30 micron hard temper pyramidal aluminium foil, heat-seal coated, contained in an outer cardboard carton.
Pack sizes:
16 capsules comprising two blisters each containing 6 red/blue Day capsules and 2 light blue/dark blue Night capsules.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
None
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Wrafton Laboratories Limited
Wrafton
Braunton
North Devon
EX33 2DL
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 12063/0074
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
13/11/2007
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
26/08/2015