Out of date information, search another

Inspra 25mg Film-Coated Tablets

Out of date information, search another

Document: document 6 change

Inspra® 25mg film-coated tablets

(eplerenone)

Patient Information Leaflet

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

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

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

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

* If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Your medicine is called Inspra 25mg film-coated tablets but will be referred to as Inspra throughout this leaflet.

Please note that the leaflet also contains information about other strengths of the medicine, Inspra 50mg film-coated tablets.

In this leaflet:

Q What Inspra is and what it is used for Q What you need to know before you take Inspra Q How to take Inspra Q Possible side effects Q How to store Inspra Q Contents of the pack and other information

Ref: 1431/190614/1/F

O What Inspra is and what it is used for

Inspra belongs to a group of medicines known as selective aldosterone blocking agents. These blocking agents inhibit the action of aldosterone, a substance produced within the body, which controls your blood pressure and heart function. High levels of aldosterone can cause changes in your body that lead to heart failure.

Inspra is used to treat your heart failure to prevent worsening and reduce hospitalisations if you have:

1. had a recent heart attack, in combination with other drugs that are used to treat your heart failure, or

2. have persistent, mild symptoms despite the treatment you have been receiving so far.

O What you need to know before you take Inspra

Do not take Inspra

* if you are allergic to eplerenone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

* if you have high levels of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)

* if you are taking groups of drugs which help you to excrete excessive body fluid, (potassium sparing diuretics) or "salt tablets” (potassium supplements)

* if you have severe kidney disease

* if you have severe liver disease

* if you are taking medicines that are used to treat fungal infection (ketoconazole or itraconazole)

* if you are taking antiviral medication for treating HIV (nelfinavir or ritonavir)

* if you are taking antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections (clarithromycin or telithromycin)

* if you are taking nefazodone used to treat depression.

* if you are taking medicines used to treat certain heart conditions or hypertension (so called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)) together.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Inspra.

* if you have kidney or liver disease (see also "Do not take Inspra”)

* if you are taking lithium (usually given for manic depressive disorder, also called bipolar disorder)

* if you are taking tacrolimus or cyclosporin (used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, and to prevent rejection after organ transplantation)

Children and adolescents

The safety and efficiacy of eplerenone in children and adolescents have not

been established.

Other medicines and Inspra

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might

take any other medicines.

You must not take Inspra with the following medications (see section "Do not

take Inspra”):

* Itraconazole or ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections), ritonavir, nelfinavir (antiviral medication for treating HIV), clarithromycin, telithromycin (used to treat bacterial infections) or nefazodone (used to treat depression) as these drugs reduce the break-down of Inspra, thereby prolonging its effect on the body.

_* Potassium sparing diuretics (drugs which help you to excrete excess body fluid) and potassium supplements (salt tablets) as these drugs increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

_* Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) together (which are used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease or particular kidney conditions) as these drugs may increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

Please inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

* Lithium (usually given for manic depressive disorder, also called bipolar disorder). Use of lithium together with diuretics and ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease) has been shown to cause levels of lithium in the blood to become too high, which may cause side effects of: loss of appetite; visual impairment; tiredness; muscle weakness; muscle twitches.

* Cyclosporin or tacrolimus (used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema, and to prevent rejection after organ transplantation). These drugs can cause kidney problems and therefore increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

* Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs - certain pain killers such as ibuprofen, used to relieve pain, stiffness and inflammation). These drugs may lead to kidney problems and therefore increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

* Trimethoprim (used to treat bacterial infections) may increase the risk of high potassium levels in your blood.

* Alpha I blockers, such as prazosin or alfuzosin (used to treat high blood pressure and particular prostate conditions) may lead to a fall in blood pressure and dizziness upon standing.

* Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitryptyline or amoxapine

(for treatment of depressions), antipsychotics (also known as neuroleptics) such as chlorpromazine or haloperidol (for the treatment of psychiatric disorders), amifostine (used during cancer chemotherapy) and baclofen (used to treat muscle spasm). These drugs may lead to a fall in blood pressure and dizziness upon standing.

* Glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone or prednisone (used to treat inflammation and certain skin conditions) and tetracosactide (mainly used for diagnosing and treating disorders of the adrenal cortex) may reduce the blood-pressure lowering effect of Inspra.

* Digoxin (used in the treatment of heart conditions). Digoxin blood levels may be increased when taken together with Inspra.

_* Warfarin (an anti-clotting drug): Caution is warranted when taking warfarin because high levels of warfarin in the blood may cause changes in the effect of Inspra on the body.

* Erythromycin (used to treat bacterial infections), saquinavir (antiviral medication for treating HIV), fluconazole (used to treat fungal infections), amiodarone, diltiazem and verapamil (for the treatment of heart problems and high blood pressure) reduce the break-down of Inspra thereby prolonging the effect of Inspra on the body.

* St John's Wort (herbal medicinal product), rifampicin (used to treat bacterial infections), carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital (used, among others, to treat epilepsy) may increase the break-down of Inspra and thus decrease its effect.

Inspra with food and drink

Inspra may be taken with or without food.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. The effect of Inspra has not been evaluated during pregnancy in humans.

It is not known if eplerenone is excreted in human breast milk. A decision should be made with your doctor, whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue the drug.

Driving and using machines

You may feel dizzy after taking Inspra. If this should happen, do not drive or operate machinery.

Inspra contains lactose monohydrate

Inspra contains lactose monohydrate (a type of sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Q How to take Inspra

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Inspra tablets may be taken together with food or on an empty stomach. Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water.

Inspra is usually administered together with other medication for heart failure e.g., beta blockers. The usual starting dose is one 25 mg tablet once daily, increasing after about 4 weeks to 50 mg once daily (either as one 50 mg tablet or two 25 mg tablets). The maximum dose regimen is 50 mg daily.

Inspra® 25mg film-coated tablets (eplerenone)	Ref: 1431/190614/1/B
Patient Information Leaflet (continued)	_* sore throat _* flatulence
Blood potassium levels should be measured before starting Inspra therapy,	_* vomiting
within the first week and at one month after the start of treatment or after a	_* underactive thyroid
change in dose. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor, depending on	_* increase in blood glucose
the potassium levels in your blood.	_* reduced sense of touch _* increased sweating
If you have mild kidney disease, you should start on one 25 mg tablet every	_* back pain
day. And if you have moderate kidney disease, you should start on one 25	_* feeling weak and generally unwell
mg tablet every other day. These doses may be adjusted if your doctor	_* increased creatinine blood levels which may indicate kidney problems
recommends and according to your blood potassium levels.	_* kidney inflammation _* enlargement of breasts in men
In patients with severe kidney disease, Inspra is not recommended.	_* changes in some blood test results
In patients with mild-to-moderate liver disease no adjustment of the starting dose is required. If you have liver or kidney problems, you may need more frequent testing of your blood potassium levels (see also "Do not take Inspra”). For the elderly: no adjustment of the starting dose is required. For children and adolescents: Inspra is not recommended.	Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

If you take more Inspra than you should	G How to store Inspra
If you take more Inspra than you should, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately. If you have taken too much of your medicine, the most likely	Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
symptoms will be low blood pressure (expressed as a light feeling in your	This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
head, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, acute loss of consciousness) or hyperkalemia, high levels of potassium in the blood (expressed by muscle	Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the carton or
cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, dizziness or headache).	blister label. If your doctor tells you to stop taking the medicine, take any remaining medicine back to the pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep this
If you forget to take Inspra	medicine if your doctor tells you to.
If it is almost time for your next tablet, skip the tablet you missed and take your next tablet when it is due. Otherwise take the tablet as soon as you remember, providing there is more than 12 hours to when you are due to take your next tablet. Then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten tablet. If you stop taking Inspra	If your medicine becomes discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration, ask your pharmacist who will advise you what to do. Medicines should not be disposed of via waterwaste or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
	G Contents of the pack and other information
It is important to keep taking Inspra as prescribed unless your doctor tells you to stop your treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine ask your doctor
or pharmacist.	What Inspra contains The active substance of Inspra film-coated tablets is eplerenone.
	Each film-coated tablet contains 25 mg eplerenone.
Q Possible side effects	The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), croscarmellose sodium (E468), hypromellose (E464), sodium
Like all medicines this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.	lauril sulfate, talc (E553b) and magnesium stearate (E470b).
	The opadry yellow coating of Inspra 25 mg film-coated tablets contains
If you experience any of the following:	hypromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 400, polysorbate 80
You should seek immediate medical attention	(E433), iron oxide yellow (E172), iron oxide red (E172).
* swollen face, tongue or throat * difficulty swallowing	What Inspra looks like and the contents of the pack
* hives and difficulties breathing	Inspra 25 mg tablets are yellow, diamond-shaped film-coated tablets, marked
These are the symptoms of angioneurotic oedema.	"NSR" over "25" on one side of tablet and plain on the other.
Other reported side effects include:	Inspra 25 mg film-coated tablets are available in opaque PVC/Al perforated unit dose blisters containing 3 blisters of 10 tablets.
Common side-effects (occurs between 1 and 10 out of every 100 patients):
_* heart attack	Manufacturer and Licence Holder
* elevated potassium level in your blood (symptoms include muscle cramps,	This medicine is manufactured by Pfizer PGM, Zone Industrielle - 29 route
diarrhoea, nausea, dizziness or headache)	des Industries, 37530 Poce-sur-Cisse, France and procured from within the
* dizziness	EU and repackaged by the Product Licence Holder: Lexon (UK) Limited,
_* fainting	Unit 18, Oxleasow Road, East Moons Moat, Redditch, Worcestershire,
_* infection	B98 0RE.
_* cough _* constipation _* low blood pressure _* diarrhoea	IPOMI PL 15184/1431 Inspra is a registered trademark of C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V.
_* nausea
_* abnormal functioning of your kidney _* rash	Revision date: 19/06/2014
_* itching _* muscle spasm and pain _* increased urea level in the blood	Blind or partially sighted? Is this leaflet hard to see or read?
Uncommon side-effects (occurs between 1 and 10 out of every 1,000 patients):	Phone Lexon UK Limited
_* eosinophilia (increase in certain white blood cells) _* dehydration _* elevated quantity of cholesterol or triglycerides (fats) in your blood _* low sodium blood levels _* insomnia (difficulty sleeping) _* headache * heart complaints e.g., irregular heart beat, fast heart beat and heart failure _* inflammation of the gall bladder _* decreased blood pressure that can cause dizziness upon standing _* thrombosis (blood clot) in the leg	Tel: 01527 505414 for help.