Norprolac 75 Micrograms Tablets
Norprolac® 75 micrograms Tablets 16.11.13[2]
(quinagolide hydrochloride)
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet, you may need to use it again
- If you have further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist
- This medicine has been prescribed for you personally and you should not pass it on to others.
It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
This medication is available using as the above name but will be referred to as Norprolac throughout the following leaflet. This medicine is available in other strengths and this leaflet contains information regarding all the strengths.
In this leaflet:
1. What Norprolac is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Norprolac
3. How to take Norprolac
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Norprolac
6. Further information
1. WHAT NORPROLAC IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Norprolac is for oral use only. It is available in strengths of 25 micrograms, 50 micrograms and 75 micrograms. Norprolac contains quinagolide which decreases the production of the hormone prolactin.
Norprolac is used to treat conditions resulting from high levels of prolactin in the blood (hyperprolactinaemia) including:
- excess production of breast milk
- changes in menstrual bleeding patterns
- infertility
- reduced sexual drive.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE NORPROLAC Do not take Norprolac:
- if you have a medical condition affecting your liver or kidneys
- if you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed in Section 6
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, please refer to the pregnancy section of this leaflet.
Before taking Norprolac:
- please consult your doctor if you have ever had any mental illness.
- Norprolac may cause your blood pressure to drop when you stand up, particularly for the first few days of treatment or following an increase in your dosage. This may result in reduced alertness or fainting. To avoid this, stand up slowly from a sitting or lying down position. Your doctor will normally check your blood pressure during the first few days of treatment and when increasing your dosage.
- Inform your doctor if you or your family/carer notices that you are developing urges or cravings to behave in ways that are unusual for you and you cannot resist the impulse, drive or temptation to carry out certain activities that could harm yourself or others. These are called impulse control disorders and can include behaviours such as addictive gambling, excessive eating or spending, an abnormally high sex drive or an increase in sexual thoughts or feelings. Your doctor may need to adjust or stop your dose.
Taking/using other medicines:
Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or used any other medicines - even those not prescribed.
Taking Norprolac with drink:
Drinking alcohol may increase the side effects of Norprolac. If this happens, you should avoid drinking alcohol while you are on treatment with Norprolac.
Pregnancy:
- Fertility may be restored while you are on Norprolac, so women of childbearing age who do not wish to become pregnant should use a reliable method of contraception.
- If you are planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that Norprolac is stopped when pregnancy is confirmed. However, some patients may need to continue treatment with Norprolac during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while you are on Norprolac, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Breast-feeding:
Norprolac reduces production of breast-milk, so it is not normally possible to breast-feed while you are taking it. You should not breast-feed even if it is possible to do so. This is because it is not known whether the active ingredient in Norprolac passes into breast-milk.
Driving and using machines:
While you are on Norprolac, caution is advised if you drive or operate machinery. This is because Norprolac:
- may cause your blood pressure to drop, particularly during the first few days of treatment or following dosage increase. This may result in reduced alertness or fainting.
- may also cause somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness).
If you experience any of these effects, please do not drive or engage in any other activity (e.g. operating machinery) where impaired alertness may put you or others at risk of serious injury or death and please consult your doctor, as your dose may need to be adjusted.
Important information about some of the ingredients in Norprolac:
Norprolac contains the ingredient, lactose. Therefore, if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars (including lactose), contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE NORPROLAC
Treatment usually starts with a ‘starter pack' containing 3 tablets of 25 micrograms and 3 tablets of 50 micrograms in a single blister strip. This is then followed by treatment with 75 microgram tablets presented a pack of 30 tablets in blister strips of 10 tablets per strip.
Adults:
It is important to take your medicine as directed by your doctor. The label on your medicine should tell you how much to take and when to take it. If it does not, or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Elderly:
Take this medicine only if your doctor has decided that this is appropriate for you. Follow the instructions given to you very carefully.
The tablets should only be removed from the blister when it is time to take your medicine.
- Your treatment will normally begin with the ‘starter pack' and you will take one 25 micrograms tablet daily (one light pink tablet) for the first three days (marked Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 on the blister strip).
- This is followed by one 50 micrograms tablet daily (one very pale blue tablet) for the next three days (marked Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6 on the blister strip).
- From day 7, the recommended dose is one 75 micrograms tablet daily (one whitish tablet). Most patients require a daily dose of 75 to 150 micrograms.
Some patients require a daily dose of 300 micrograms or higher. Your doctor will tell you if you need a higher dose. You should not change the dose yourself.
Norprolac should be taken once daily at bedtime preferably with a snack. Remove the tablet from the blister by pushing it through the foil and place it in your mouth. Swallow it with a mouthful of water.
If you take more Norprolac than you should:
If you take more Norprolac than you should, tell you doctor immediately or go to your nearest casualty department.
If you forget to take Norprolac:
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you do not remember until it is nearly time for the next dose, take your next dose as usual and carry on as before. Do not take double doses to make up for a dose that you miss.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Norprolac can have side effects.
These are most common during the first few days of treatment and tend to go away on continuing treatment.
Very common side effects (affect more than 10 of every 100 patients treated):
- Nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness
- tiredness
Common side effects (affect between 1 and 10 of every 100 patients treated):
- Loss of appetite
- abdominal pain
- constipation or diarrhoea
- insomnia
- increased water retention
- flushing
- nasal congestion and a drop in blood pressure, which may result in fainting.
Rare side effects (affect between 1 and 10 of every 10,000 patients treated):
- Somnolence (drowsiness or sleepiness).
Very rare side effects (affect less than 1 of every 10,000 patients treated):
- Treatment with Norprolac has been associated with a change in mental status, which is reversible when treatment is stopped.
Other side effects include:
Inability to resist the impulse, drive or temptation to perform an action that could be harmful to you or others, which may include:
- strong impulse to gamble excessively despite serious personal or family consequences.
- altered or increased sexual interest and behaviour of significant concern to you or to others, for example, an increased sexual drive.
- uncontrollable excessive shopping or spending
- binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short time period) or compulsive eating (eating more food than normal and more than is needed to satisfy your hunger)
Tell your doctor if you experience any of these behaviors; they will discuss ways of managing or reducing the symptoms.
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.
5. HOW TO STORE NORPROLAC
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If your tablets become discoloured or shown any other sign of deterioration, please contact your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.
These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Norprolac contains
- The active ingredient is quinagolide (as quinagolide hydrochloride).
Each tablet contains 75 micrograms of quinagolide (as quinagolide hydrochloride).
- The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, hypromellose, magnesium stearate and colloidal anhydrous silica.
What Norprolac looks like
Norprolac tablets are white round imprinted with ‘NORPROLAC' on one side and ‘75' on the other.
MANUFACTURER AND PRODUCT LICENCE HOLDER Manufactured by Ferring GmbH, Wittland 11, D-24109 Kiel, Germany.
Procured from within the EU by Product Licence holder
Star Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 5 Sandridge Close, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 1XD.
Repackaged by Servipharm Ltd.
POM
PLPI 20636 / 2564
Leaflet revision and issue date (Ref) 16.11.13[2] Norprolac is a trademark of Ferring B.V.