Furosemide 4mg/Ml Oral Solution
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Furosemide 4mg/ml Oral Solution
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
The active substance is furosemide.
4mg/ml: Each ml of oral solution contains 4mg furosemide.
Excipients with known effect:
Each ml of solution contains 0.2ml liquid maltitol (E965) and 83.2mg ethanol (alcohol).
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral Solution
Clear, colourless, greenish yellow to pale brown coloured solution with cherry flavour.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Furosemide is indicated in all conditions requiring prompt diuresis in patients who are unable to take solid dose forms. Indications include cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic and renal oedema, peripheral oedema due to mechanical obstruction or venous insufficiency and hypertension.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
The medication should be administered in the morning to avoid nocturnal diuresis.
Adults (more than 18 years of age):
The usual initial daily dose is 40mg. This may be adjusted until an effective dose is achieved.
Elderly
In the elderly, furosemide is generally eliminated more slowly. Dosage should be titrated until the required response is achieved.
Paediatric population
This product should not be used in children below 18 years of age (see section 4.4). This product should not be mixed with food or beverages before use.
Method of administration
For oral administration only
The syringe adaptor should be placed in the neck of the bottle and the required dose should be drawn from the container into the graduated oral syringe provided. The open end of the syringe should be placed in the mouth of the patient, and the piston slowly depressed to release the contents.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypovolaemia or dehydration. Anuria. Renal failure with anuria not responding to furosemide, or as a result of poisoning by nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic agents, or associated with hepatic coma. Severe hyperokalaemia, hyperkalaemia and severe hyponatraemia. Pre-comatose and comatose states associated with hepatic encephalopathy. Breast feeding.
Contra-indicated in hypersensitivity to Furosemide, sulphonamides or any of the excipients listed.
Patients allergic to sulphonamides may show cross-sensitivity to furosemide.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
This product should not be given to children because its ethanol content may affect their CNS.
Caution is required in patients liable to electrolyte deficiency. Regular monitoring of serum sodium, potassium and creatinine is generally recommended during furosemide therapy; particularly close monitoring is required in patients at high risk of developing electrolyte imbalances or in case of significant additional fluid loss. Hypovolaemia or dehydration as well as any significant electrolyte and acid-base disturbances must be corrected. This may require temporary discontinuation of furosemide. Where indicated, steps should be taken to correct hypotension or hypovolaemia before commencing therapy.
Urinary output must be secured. Patients with partial obstructions of urinary outflow for example patients with prostatic hypertrophy or impairment of micturition have an increased risk of developing acute urinary retention and require careful monitoring.
Particularly careful monitoring is necessary in:
• Patients with hypotension
• Patients who are at risk from a pronounced fall in blood pressure
• Patients with gout
• Patients with hepatorenal syndrome
• Patients with hypoproteinaemia, e.g. associated with nephrotic syndrome (the effect of furosemide may be weakened and its ototoxicity potentiated).
Symptomatic hypotension leading to dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness can occur in patients treated with furosemide, particularly in the elderly, patients on other medications which can cause hypotension and patients with other medical conditions that are risks for hypotension.
Cautious dose titration is required
• Patients that might manifest latent diabetes
• Diabetic patients who might show increased insulin requirements
The use of some diuretics is considered to be unsafe in acute porphyria therefore caution should be exercised.
Excipient Warnings
This product contains:
Ethanol (alcohol): Each ml of oral solution contains 83.2mg ethanol (alcohol) i.e daily dose of 40mg furosemide would include 832mg ethanol (alcohol), equivalent to 20.8ml of beer or 8.67ml of wine.
Harmful for those suffering from alcoholism. To be taken into account in pregnant or breast-feeding women and high-risk groups such as patients with liver disease, epilepsy. Because of its ethanol content this product should also not be given to children.
Liquid maltitol (E965): Patients with a rare hereditary problem of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
ACE Inhibitors: Enhanced hypotensive effect when given with diuretics. A marked fall in blood pressure and deterioration in renal function may be seen when ACE inhibitors are added to furosemide therapy. The dose of furosemide should be reduced for at least three days, or the drug stopped, before initiating the ACE inhibitor or increasing the dose of an ACE inhibitor.
Alpha-blockers: Enhanced hypotensive effect when diuretics are given with alpha-blockers, also increased risk of first dose hypotension with post-synaptic alpha-blockers such as prazosin.
Analgesics: Diuretics can increase the risk of nephrotoxicity of NSAIDs, also antagonism of diuretic effect. Antagonism of diuretic effect (especially with indomethacin and ketorolac). Salicylic toxicity may be increased by furosemide.
Angiotensin -II Receptor Antagonists: Enhanced hypotensive effect when diuretics given with angiotensin-II receptor antagonists.
Anti-arrhythmics: Hypokalaemia caused by loop diuretics increases cardiac toxicity with amiodarone, disopyramide, flecainide, and antagonises the action of lidocaine and mexiletine.
Antibacterials: Avoid the use of diuretics in lymecycline treatment. There is an increased risk of ototoxicity when loop diuretics are given with aminoglycosides, polymyxins or vancomycin. Since this may lead to irreversible damage, these drugs must only be used with furosemide if there are compelling medical reasons. Impairment of renal function may develop in patients receiving concurrent treatment with furosemide and high doses of certain cephalosporins.
Antidepressants: Possible increase of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with reboxetine. There is an enhanced hypotensive effect when diuretics are given with MAOIs. There is an increased risk of postural hypotension when diuretics are given with tricyclic antidepressants.
Antiepileptics: There is an increased risk of hyponatraemia when diuretics are given with carbemazepine. The effects of furosemide are antagonised by phenytoin.
Antifungals: There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with amphotericin.
Antipsychotics: Hypokalaemia caused by diuretics increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias with amisulpiride or sertindole. An enhanced hypotensive effect may be seen when diuretics are given with phenothiazines. Hypokalaemia caused by diuretics increases risk of ventricular arrhythmias with pimozide (avoid concomitant use).
Antivirals: Plasma concentration of diuretics may be increased by nelfinavir, ritonavir or saquinavir.
Atomoxetine: Hypokalaemia caused by diuretics increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias with atomoxetine.
Barbiturates: Plasma concentrations of diuretics may be decreased. There may be an increased risk of osteomalacia when diuretics are taken in combination with Phenobarbital.
Beta-blockers: There is an enhanced hypotensive effect when diuretics are given with beta-blockers. Hypokalaemia caused by loop diuretics increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias with sotalol.
Cardiac glycosides: Hypokalaemia caused by loop diuretics increases cardiac toxicity with cardiac glycosides.
Ciclosporin: there is an increased risk of nephrotoxicity and possibly hypermagnesaemia when diuretics are given with ciclosporin.
Cisplatin: There is a risk of increased ototoxic effects if cisplatin and furosemide are given concomitantly. In addition, nephrotoxicity of cisplatin may be enhanced if furosemide is not given in low doses (e.g. 40mg in patients with normal renal function) and with positive fluid balance when used to achieve forced diuresis during cisplatin treatment.
Corticosteroids: The diuretic effect of diuretics is antagonized by corticosteroids. There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with corticosteroids.
Other Diuretics: There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with acetazolamide. Profound diuresis is possible when metolazone is given with furosemide. There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with thiazides and related diuretics.
Lithium: Loop diuretics reduce the excretion of lithium, which may lead to increased plasma concentrations and a risk of toxicity. Therefore, it is recommended that lithium levels are carefully monitored and where necessary the lithium dosage is adjusted in patients receiving this combination.
Potassium salts: There is an increased risk of hyperkalaemia when given with potassium salts.
Sucralfate: Furosemide and sucralfate must not be taken within 2 hours of each other as sucralfate decreases the absorption of furosemide from the intestine and so reduces its effect.
Sympathomimetics, Beta2: There is an increased risk of hypokalameia when loop diuretics are given with high doses of beta2 synpathomimetics.
Tacrolimus: There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when given with tacrolimus.
Theophylline: There is an increased risk of hypokalaemia when loop diuretics are given with theophylline.
Carbenoxolone, prolonged use of laxatives, liquorice: May increase the risk of developing hypokalaemia.
Warfarin and clofibrate: Warfarin and clofibrate compete with furosemide in the binding to serum albumin. This may have clinical significance in patients with low serum albumin levels (e.g. in nephrotic syndrome). Furosemide does not change the pharmacokinetics of warfarin to a significant extent, but a strong diuresis with associated dehydration may weaken the antithrombotic effect of warfarin.
Probenecid, methotrexate and other drugs which, like furosemide, undergo significant renal tubular secretion may reduce the effect of furosemide. Conversely, furosemide may decrease renal elimination of these drugs. In case of high-dose treatment (in particular, of both furosemide and the other drugs), this may lead to increased serum levels and an increased risk of adverse effects due to furosemide or the concomitant medication.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation Pregnancy:
Results of animal work, in general, show no hazardous effect of furosemide in pregnancy. There is clinical evidence of safety of the drug in the third trimester of human pregnancy; however, furosemide crosses the placental barrier. It must not be given during pregnancy unless there are compelling medical reasons. Treatment during pregnancy requires monitoring of fetal growth.
Lactation:
Furosemide passes into breast milk and may inhibit lactation. Breastfeeding must be avoided during treatment with furosemide.
Fertility:
No human data on the effect of furosemide on fertility are available. In rats, there was no effect on mating or fertility with furosemide treatment.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Mental alertness may be reduced and the ability to drive or operate machinery may be impaired.
4.8 Undesirable effects
The frequencies of adverse events are ranked according to the following: 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),
Very Rare (< 1/10,000),
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
|
System Organ Class |
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) |
Very rare (<1/10,000) |
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data) |
|
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Bone marrow depression, (necessitates withdrawal of treatment), leucopenia, eosinophilia |
agranulocyt osis, aplastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia |
Thrombocytop enia | |||
|
Cardiac disorders |
Cardiac arrhythmias | |||||
|
Congenital, familial and genetic disorders |
Patent ductus arteriosus |
Patent ductus arteriosus | ||||
|
Ear and labyrinth disorders |
Deafness (sometimes irreversible) |
Tinnitus, reversible or irreversible loss of hearing (although usually transitory, particularly in patients with renal failure, hypoproteinaem ia (e.g. in nephritic syndrome) and/or when intravenous furosemide has been given too rapidly) |
Tinnitus, reversible or irreversible loss of hearing (although Usually transitory, particularly in patients with renal failure, hypoprotein aemia (e.g. in nephritic syndrome) and/or when intravenous furosemide has been given too rapidly) | |||
|
Eye disorders |
visual disturbance | |||||
|
Gastrointestin al disorders |
dry mouth, thirst, nausea, bowel motility disturbances, |
Acute Pancreatitis |
Acute Pancreatitis |
|
vomiting, diarrhea, constipation | ||||||
|
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Fatigue |
Malaise, Fever |
Malaise, Fever | |||
|
Hepato biliary disorders |
Pure Intrahepatic Cholestasis, Hepatic function abnormal, Jaundice |
Pure Intrahepatic Cholestasis, Hepatic function abnormal, Jaundice | ||||
|
Investigations |
creatinine increased, blood urea increased |
Transaminases increased, blood |
Transaminases increased, blood | |||
|
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
dehydration, hyponatraemia , pre-existing hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis may be agravated, hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia 5 hypomagnese mia (incidences of the last three are reduced by triamterene) |
dehydration, hyponatraemia, pre -existing hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis may be agravated, hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesem ia (incidences of the last three are reduced by triamterene) |
Impaired glucose tolerance (by hypokalaemia ), hyperuricaemi a, gout, reduction of serum HDL cholesterol, elevation of serum LDL cholesterol, elevation of serum triglycerides, metabolic acidosis |
Tetany | ||
|
Musculoskele ta l and connective tissue disorders |
muscle cramps, muscle weakness | |||||
|
Nervous system disorders |
Paraesthesia, Confusion |
Dizziness, fainting and los: of consciousnes (caused by symptomatic hypotension). | ||||
|
Psychiatric |
Psychiatric |
|
disorders |
disorders NOC | |||||
|
Renal and urinary disorders |
Reduced diuresis, urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction (in patients with hyperplasia of the prostate, bladder inability to empty, urethral stricture unspecified) |
nephrocalcinosi s (in pre-term infants treated With Furosemide), Interstitial nephritis, acute renal failure |
nephrocalci nosis (in pre-term infants treated with Furosemide), interstitial nephritis, acute renal failure | |||
|
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Rash, photosensitivity |
Rash, photosensiti vity |
Urticaria, purpura, erythema multiforme , exfoliative dermatitis, itching, bullou lesions, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) | |||
|
Vascular disorders |
Decreased blood pressure, (which, if pronounced may cause signs and symptoms such as impairment of concentration and reactions, lightheadedness, sensations of pressure in the head, headache, |
decreased blood pressure, (which, if pronounced may cause signs and symptoms such as impairment of concentration and reactions, lightheadedness, sensations of pressure in the head, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, |
Hypotension, hypovolaemia |
Vasculitis, Thrombosis, shock |
Vasculitis, Thrombosis , shock |
|
dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, disorders of vision, dry mouth, orthostatic intolerance) |
weakness, disorders of vision, dry mouth, orthostatic intolerance) | |||||
|
Immune system disorders |
Severe anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions |
Premature infants
In general, if furosemide is administered to premature infants during the first weeks of life, it may increase the risk of persistence of patent ductus arteriosus. Risk of nephrocalcinosis/ nephroliathisis (see Tetany and reduced serum calcium and section 4.4).
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
Overdosing may lead to dehydration and electrolyte depletion through excessive diuresis. Severe potassium loss may lead to serious cardiac arrhythmias.
Treatment of overdose consists of fluid replacement and electrolyte imbalance correction.
No specific antidote to furosemide is known. If ingestion has only just taken place, attempts may be made to limit further systemic absorption of the active ingredient by measures such as gastric lavage or those designated to reduce absorption (e.g. activated charcoal).
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: High-Ceiling Diuretic Sulfonamide ATC code: C03CA01
Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic which inhibits sodium and chloride reabsorption at the Loop of Henle. The drug eliminates both positive and negative free water production. Furosemide acts at the luminal face of the epithelial cells by inhibiting co-transport mechanisms for the entry of sodium and chloride. Furosemide gains access to its site of action by being transported through the secretory pathway for organic acids in the proximal tubule. It reduces the renal excretion of uric acid. Furosemide causes an increased loss of potassium in the urine and also increases the excretion of ammonia by the kidney.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Furosemide is a weak carboxylic acid which exists mainly in the dissociated form in the gastro-intestinal tract. Furosemide is rapidly but incompletely absorbed (60-70%) on oral administration and its effect is largely over within four hours. The optimal absorption site is the upper duodenum at pH 5.0. Regardless of route of administration, 69-97% of activity from a radio-labelled dose is excreted in the first 4 hours after the drug is given. Furosemide is mainly eliminated via the kidneys (80-90%); a small fraction of the dose undergoes biliary elimination and 10-15% of the activity can be recovered from the faeces.
When oral doses of Furosemide are given to normal subjects the mean bioavailability of the drug is approximately 52% but the range is wide. In plasma, Furosemide is extensively bound to proteins mainly to albumin. The unbound fraction in plasma averages 2 - 4% at therapeutic concentrations. The volume of distribution ranges between 170 - 270ml/Kg. The half life of the B phase ranges from 45 - 60 min. The total plasma clearance is about 200ml/min. Renal excretion of unchanged drug and elimination by metabolism plus faecal excretion contribute almost equally to the total plasma clearance. Furosemide is in part cleared by the kidneys in the form of the glucuronide conjugate.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Citric acid monohydrate (E330)
Ethanol (96% v/v)
Sodium hydroxide (E524)
Liquid maltitol (E965)
Cherry flavour [containing propylene glycol (E1520)] Disodium phosphate, anhydrous (E339)
Purified water
6.2 Incompatibilities
In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
6.3 Shelf life
12 months
Discard 60 days after first opening.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C.
For storage conditions after first opening of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Bottle: Ph.Eur Type III Amber glass
Closure: Tamper evident, child resistant, plastic (Polypropylene/Polyethylene) cap with an EPE liner.
Dosing Device: 10ml oral syringe with 0.5ml graduation mark supplied with an LDPE syringe adaptor.
Pack size: 100ml, 150ml and 300ml
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
7
Syri Limited t/a Thame Laboratories, Unit 4, Bradfield Road,
Ruislip, Middlesex,
HA4 0NU, UK
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 39307/0047
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
15/09/2015
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
17/05/2016