NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Difflam 0.15% w/v Sore Throat Rinse.

2    QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE    COMPOSITION

Benzydamine Hydrochloride 0.15% w/v.

Contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate and Ethanol.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3    PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Solution for use as a gargle/oral rinse.

4    CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1    Therapeutic indications

Difflam 0.15% Sore Throat Rinse is    a    locally    acting    analgesic    and anti

inflammatory treatment for the relief of painful inflammatory conditions of the throat including pharyngitis.

4.2    Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults: Rinse or gargle with 15ml (using measuring cup provided) every 1% to 3 hours as required for pain relief.

Children: Not suitable for children aged 12 years or under.

Elderly: No special dosage recommendations are made for elderly patients.

Method of administration Rinse or gargle.

The solution should be expelled from the mouth after use.

Difflam Sore Throat Rinse should generally be used undiluted, but if ‘stinging’ occurs the rinse may be diluted with water.

Uninterrupted treatment should not exceed seven days, except under medical supervision.

4.3 Contraindications

Difflam 0.15% w/v Sore Throat Rinse is contra-indicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the active substance benzydamine hydrochloride or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

4.4    Special warnings and precautions for use

Benzydamine use is not advisable in patients with hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid or other NSAIDs.

Bronchospasm may be precipitated in patients suffering from or with a previous history of bronchial asthma. Caution should be exercised in these patients.

Difflam Sore Throat Rinse should generally be used undiluted, but if ‘stinging’ occurs the rinse may be diluted with water. Avoid contact with the eyes.

This medicinal product contains 10 vol % ethanol.

Methyl hydroxybenzoate may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed)

4.5    Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Difflam 0.15% w/v Sore Throat Rinse should not be used in pregnancy unless considered essential by the physician. There is no evidence of a teratogenic effect in animal studies.

Breast-feeding

Difflam 0.15% w/v Sore Throat Rinse should not be used in lactation unless considered essential by the physician.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not applicable.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness

The following rate values have been used: Very common (> 1/10), Common (> 1/100 to <1/10), Uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100), Rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000) and Very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

The most common side effects are numbness and a stinging feeling in the mouth.

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Very rare: Laryngospasm or bronchospasm.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Uncommon: Oral numbness (hypoesthesia) and a stinging feeling in the mouth (oral pain).

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Very rare: Hypersensitivity reactions which may be associated with pruritus, urticaria, photosensitivity reaction and rash

Frequency not known: Angioedema

Immune system disorders

Frequency not known: Anaphylactic reaction which can be potentially life-threatening.

Methyl parahydroxybenzoate may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). 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

Difflam Sore Throat Rinse is unlikely to cause adverse systemic effects, even if accidental ingestion should occur. Intoxication is only to be expected if large quantities of Difflam Sore Throat Rinse are swallowed.

Symptoms associated with ingested overdose of benzydamine are mainly gastrointestinal symptoms and symptoms of the central nervous system. Most frequent gastrointestinal symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and esophageal irritation. Symptoms of the central nervous system include dizziness, hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, and irritability.

In acute overdose only symptomatic treatment is possible. Patients should be kept under close observation and supportive treatment should be given. Adequate hydration must be maintained.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Other anti-inflammatory and antrheumatic agents, non-steroids /Anti-inflammatory preparations, non-steroids for topical use, ATC code: M01AX07/M02AA05

Mechanism of action

The indazole analogue benzydamine has physicochemical properties and pharmacological activities which differ from those of the aspirin-like NSAIDs. Unlike aspirin-like NSAIDs which are acids or metabolised to acids, benzydamine is a weak base. In further contrast, benzydamine is a weak inhibitor of the prostaglandin synthesis. Only at concentration of 1mM and above benzydamine effectively inhibits cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase enzyme activity. It mostly exerts its effects through inhibition of the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines including tumour_necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and Interleukin-ip (IL-ip) without significantly affecting other proinflammatory (IL-6 and 8) or anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-1 receptor antagonist). Further mechanisms of action are hypothesised including the inhibition of the oxidative burst of neutrophils as well as membrane stabilisation as demonstrated by the inhibition of granule release from neutrophils and the stabilization of lysosomes. The local anaesthetic activity of the compound has been related to an interaction with cationic channels

Pharmacodynamic effects

Benzydamine specifically acts on the local mechanisms of inflammation such as pain, oedema or granuloma. Benzydamine topically applied demonstrates anti-inflammatory activity reducing oedema as well as exudate and granuloma formation. Further, it exhibits analgesic properties if pain is caused by an inflammatory condition and local anaesthetic activity. Hyperthermia, which is indicative of systemic functional involvement, is poorly affected by benzydamine

Clinical efficacy and safety

In a clinical study in 24 patients with pharyngitis following tonsillectomy rinsing with Difflam 0.15% 5 times a day for 6 days significantly better and more rapidly relieved throat pain, difficulty in swallowing and improved clinical signs including hyperaemia and oedema versus placebo on day 7. Similar results were found in other studies in patients with tonsillitis or pharyngitis or following dental surgery. The gargling with 30 ml 0.075% benzydamine prior to the induction of anaesthesia in 58 adults undergoing general anaesthesia with endotracheal tube intubation significantly reduced postoperative sore throat versus water control for the first 24 hours whereas aspirin gargles reduced it for 4 hours.

In a clinical study with 48 patients rinsing four times daily with 0.15% benzydamine during a 3 to 5 week radiotherapy of oral cancer provided significant pain relief and reduction of size and severity of mucositis in the oropharynx. Similar effects were seen in a study in patients undergoing chemotherapy for oral cancer. In a study in 67 patients with severe oropharyngeal mucositis following radiotherapy who rinsed with benzydamine solution pain with swallowing, hyperaemia and severity of mucositis were significantly reduced compared to placebo treatment within the first three treatment days.

A higher incidence of transient numbness and stinging was noted among the patients using benzydamine that was attributed to the medication’s local anaesthetic effect.

The topical application of Difflam cream 3% 3 times daily for 6 days in 50 patients with soft tissue injuries significantly better relieved pain, tenderness, erythema, functional impairment and swelling compared to placebo on day 6.

Overall, benzydamine was well tolerated in clinical trials.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Oral doses of benzydamine are well absorbed and plasma drug concentrations reach a peak fairly rapidly and then decline with a half-life of about 13 hours. Less than 20% of the drug is bound to plasma proteins.

Although local drug concentrations are relatively large, the systemic absorption of mouthwash-gargle doses of benzydamine is relatively low compared to oral doses. This low absorption should greatly diminish the potential for any systemic drug side-effects when benzydamine is administered by this route. Benzydamine is metabolized primarily by oxidation, conjugation and dealkylation.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Non-Clinical Data reveal no special hazards for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated toxicity, genotoxicity, cardiogenic potential, and toxicity to reproduction.

6    PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1    List of excipients

Ethanol (96% v/v) BP Glycerol Ph Eur, Saccharin Sodium BP, Mouthwash Flavour, 52 503/T, Polysorbate 20 Ph Eur, Methyl Hydroxybenzoate Ph Eur, Quinoline Yellow (E104), Patent Blue V (E131), Purified Water Ph Eur.

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3 Shelf life

36 months.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Store between 5°C and 30°C; do not freeze; do not leave uncartonned bottle in direct sunlight.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Clear glass bottle with screw cap containing 200 ml.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

No special requirements

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Meda Pharmaceuticals Ltd Skyway House Parsonage Road Takeley

Bishop’s Stortford CM22 6PU

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 15142/0047

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

20/10/1995 / 31/10/2005

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

06/06/2016