Maxepa Capsules
Maxepa Capsules
Patient Information Leaflet
What you need to know about your medicine
Please read this Patient Information Leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. This leaflet provides a summary of information about your medicine. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist) if you have any questions or are not sure about anything to do with this medicine. Keep this leaflet in a safe place, you may wish to refer to it later.
Your medicine
Your medicine is called Maxepa Capsules but will be referred to as Maxepa throughout this Patient Information Leaflet.
What are Maxepa capsules?
Maxepa Capsules belong to a group of fat lowering medicines. This medicine reduces the amount of fat (triglycerides) in the blood in those who have been told they may be at risk of heart disease and/or inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
DO NOT TAKE Maxepa Capsules if you:
• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients of Maxepa Capsules
• Suffer from non-insulin dependent diabetes and have aspirin sensitive asthma
Before taking Maxepa Capsules tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
• Suffer from non-insulin dependent diabetes
• Suffer with aspirin sensitive asthma (this is an allergy where taking aspirin or aspirin-like substances can bring on the symptoms of asthma)
• Suffer from haemophillia (a disorder that affects blood clotting)
• Suffer from liver problems
• Are taking any medicines, including those you have bought without a prescription
• Are taking any medicines that can thin your blood (e.g. warfarin, aspirin, cephalosporin)
• Are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast feeding
How to take Maxepa Capules
For adult use only.
For oral use.
Adults and the elderly
The usual dose is 5 capsules to be swallowed whole with water at meal times twice daily or as directed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, do not worry. Take the next dose at your usual time. Do not take this medicine twice to make up for a forgotten dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist before you stop your treatment with this medicine. If you are unsure about how to take this medicine or you have any other questions talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Side effects
As with all medicines there may be some side effects with Maxepa Capsules, although not everyone will get them. Maxepa Capsules can sometimes cause nausea (feeling sick) vomiting (being sick), fishy after-taste, wind, skin reactions (e.g. acne, eczema) and a slight increase in liver enzymes if you have high levels of fat in your blood (hypertriglyceridaemia), diarrhoea or constipation If any side effect becomes serious or you notice any side effects not listed on this label, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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.
What Maxepa Capsules look like:
They are a colourless, oblong shaped soft gelatin capsule containing clear golden oil.
Each plastic container holds 200 capsules.
What is in your medicine
Each capsule contains 170mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 115mg of docosahexaenoic acid as the active ingredients.
Excipients: Tocopheryl Acetate, Gelatin, Glycerol and citric acid.
Storage instructions:
• KEEP OUT OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN.
• Do not store above 25°C
• Do not refrigerate
• Protect from light
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date shown on the carton label.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine, return any unused capsules to your pharmacist (chemist) for safe disposal. Only keep this medicine, if your doctor tells you to.
If your capsules becomes discoloured or shows any other signs of deterioration, consult your pharmacist (chemist) who will tell you what to do.
Further information
The capsules are manufactured by Seven Seas Ltd, Hedon Road, Hull, HU9 5NJ, UK and are procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence Holder: Lexon (UK) Limited, Unit 18, Oxleasow Road, East Moons Moat, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0RE.
| P | PL 15184/0259 Maxepa Capsules
Revision date: 13/05/14
MAXEPA is a registered trademark of Merck Consumer Healthcare Limited.