Perindopril 4 Mg Tablets
Sandoz Limited
Perindopril 4 mg Tablets
Package Leaflet_
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Package Leaflet: Information for the user Perindopril 4 mg Tablets
perindopril tert-butylamine
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking the medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or your pharmacist
In this leaflet:
1. What Perindopril is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Perindopril
3. How to take Perindopril
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Perindopril
6. Further information
1. What Perindopril is and what it is used for
Perindopril belongs to a class of medicines called ACE inhibitors. These work by widening
the blood vessels, which makes it easier for your heart to pump blood through them.
Perindopril tablets are used:
• to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
• to treat heart failure (a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs).
• to reduce the risk of cardiac events, such as heart attack, in patients with stable coronary artery disease (a condition where the blood supply to the heart is reduced or blocked) and who have already had a heart attack and/or an operation to improve the blood supply to the heart by widening the vessels that supply it.
2. Before you take Perindopril
Do not take Perindopril
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to Perindopril or any of the other ingredients in the tablet or any other ACE inhibitor (see section 6).
• if you have had symptoms such as wheezing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, intense itching, skin rashes, fainting or dizziness with previous ACE inhibitor treatment or have had these symptoms in any other circumstances (this is a condition called angioedema).
• if you have hereditary tendency to tissue swelling or tissue swelling of unknown origin (hereditary or idiopathic angioedema).
• if you have diabetes or impaired kidney function and you are treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren.
• if you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is also better to avoid Perindopril in early pregnancy - see pregnancy section).
If you think any of the above situations applies to you do not take the tablets. Consult your doctor and take his/her advice.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Perindopril:
• if you are in risk of an excessive fall in the blood pressure. This may be case, among others, if you suffer from heart failure, impaired renal function or disorders in the salt and fluid balance, e.g. because you take diuretics (medicines that increase urine production) or keep low-salt diet or as a consequence of vomiting or diarrhoea.
• if you have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the main blood vessel leading from the heart), mitral valve stenosis (narrowing of heart’s mitral valve), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (cardiac muscle disease) or renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the artery supplying the kidney with blood).
• if you have hypersensitivity reactions or tissue swelling (angioedema) during treatment with perindopril or other ACE inhibitors. Angioneurotic oedema more frequently occur in patients with black skin colour than in patients with non-black skin colour.
• if you have a heart problem.
• if you have a liver problem.
• if you have a kidney problem.
• if you are receiving dialysis.
• if you suffer from a collagen disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma.
• if you are on a salt restricted diet or use salt substitutes which contain potassium.
• if you suffer from a diabetes which is not well controlled.
• if you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure:
- an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARBs) (also known as sartans - for example valsartan, telmisartan, irbesartan), in particular if you have diabetes-related kidney problems.
- aliskiren.
• Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading “Do not take Perindopril”.
• if you are taking any of the following medicines, the risk of angioedema is increased:
- racecadotril (used to treat diarrhoea)
- sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus and other drugs belonging to the class of so-called mTor inhibitors (used to avoid rejection of transplanted organs)
• if you are breast-feeding.
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Perindopril is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section).
Perindopril tablets are not recommended for children.
You should also inform your doctor or medical staff that you are taking Perindopril
• if you had an episode of chest pains (angina pectoris).
• if you are to undergo anaesthesia and/or surgery.
• if you have suffered from recent diarrhoea or vomiting.
• if you are going to have desensitization treatment to reduce the effects of an allergy to bee or wasp stings.
• if you are to undergo LDL apheresis (which is removal of cholesterol from your blood by a machine).
• if your blood pressure is not sufficiently lowered due to your ethnic affiliation (particularly in patients with black skin colour).
• if you have persistent dry cough.
Other medicines and Perindopril
Tell your doctor or pharmacist, if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
In particular, you should check with your doctor if you are taking any of the following to be sure that it is safe to take Perindopril:
• other medicines for treating high blood pressure including diuretics (water tablets)
• potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g. spironolactone, triamterene or amiloride); potassium supplements and potassium-containing salt substitutes
• medicines for the treatment of diabetes (insulin or tablets) to lower blood sugar
• lithium for treatment of mania or depression
• medicines for the treatment of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or other psychoses
• allopurinol used for the treatment of gout
• immunosuppressants used for the treatment of auto-immune disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) or following transplant surgery
• procainamide, a treatment for irregular heartbeat
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) medications for pain relief, including aspirin (if dose is higher or equal to 3g/day)
• medicines used for the treatment of low blood pressure, shock or asthma (e.g. ephedrine, noradrenaline or adrenaline)
• vasodilators including nitrates (product that make the blood vessels become wider)
• heparin (blood thinning medication)
• gold (sodium aurothiomalate), for the treatment of arthritis
• medicines, which is most often used to treat diarrhoea (racecadotril) or avoid rejection of transplanted organs (sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus and other drugs belonging to the class of so-called mTor inhibitors). See section “Warnings and precautions”.
Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions:
If you are taking an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or aliskiren (see also information under the headings “Do not take Perindopril” and “Warnings and precautions”).
Ask your doctor if you are not sure what these medicines are.
Tell your doctor or dentist before having an anaesthetic or surgery, because your blood pressure may fall suddenly during the anaesthesia.
Taking Perindopril with food and drink
It is recommended that Perindopril should be taken before a meal with sufficient amount of fluid (e.g. water) in order to reduce the influence of food on the way in which the medicine works.
Potassium containing food additives or salt substitutes should not be used if you use Perindopril. The blood potassium concentration can be elevated too high. Also large amounts of (plain) salt (NaCl) in the diet may reduce the antihypertensive effect of Perindopril.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregnancy
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Perindopril before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Perindopril. Perindopril is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Perindopril is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.
However, Perindopril does not affect alertness but different reactions such as dizziness or weakness in relation to the decrease in blood pressure may occur in certain patients, especially in the beginning of treatment or when increasing the dose. If affected, your ability to drive or to operate machinery may be impaired.
3. How to take Perindopril
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor told you. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Perindopril may be used on its own or with other medicines which lower blood pressure.
The usual dosages for Perindopril are as follows:
High blood pressure: the usual starting and maintenance dose for treatment in adults is 4 mg once a day. After a month, this can be increased to 8 mg a day which is the maximum recommended dose.
If you are 65 or over, the usual starting dose is 2 mg once a day. After a month, this can be increased to 4 mg a day and if necessary to 8 mg a day.
Heart failure: treatment should be started under close medical supervision with 2 mg once a day. After two weeks, it can be increased to 4 mg a day if required.
Stable coronary artery disease: the usual starting dose is 4 mg once daily. After two weeks and if 4 mg is well tolerated, this can be increased to 8 mg once daily.
If you are 65 or over, the usual starting dose is 2 mg once daily. After one week, this can be increased to 4 mg once daily and after a further week to 8 mg once daily.
Your doctor may give you a blood test to check that your kidneys are working properly before increasing the dose to 8 mg.
In case of impaired renal function, your doctor will adjust the dose of Perindopril for you. Treatment of these conditions is usually life-long.
Take your tablet(s) with a glass of water, preferably at the same time each day, in the morning, before a meal. If you are taking water tablets (diuretics), your doctor may decide to reduce or even discontinue these at beginning of your treatment with Perindopril.
Perindopril is not suitable for use in children.
If you take more Perindopril than you should
If you take too many tablets, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately. The most likely effect in case of overdose is low blood pressure. If marked low blood pressure occurs (symptoms such as dizziness or faintness), lying down with the legs raised can help.
If you forget to take Perindopril
It is important to take your medicine every day. However, if you forget to take one or more doses, take another as soon as you remember and then go on as prescribed. Do not take a double dose.
If you stop taking Perindopril
Always consult your doctor, if you wish to stop taking this medicine. Even if you feel well, it may be necessary to continue taking this medicine.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
This side effect occurs uncommonly (affecting less then 1 in every 100 people). However, if you notice any of the following side effects, contact your doctor immediately:
• swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
• difficulty in breathing
• dizziness or fainting
• unusually fast or irregular heart beat
These are symptoms of a serious reaction (angioedema) which can occur with all other drugs of this type (ACE inhibitors). It must be treated immediately, usually in hospital.
Other possible side effects
Common (affecting less than 1 in every 10 people):
• cough, shortness of breath
• light-headedness due to low blood pressure (particularly after the first few doses, if the dose is increased or when water tablets are also taken)
• headache, dizziness, vertigo, tiredness, pins and needles, muscle cramps, visual disturbances (e.g. blurred vision, eye pain), tinnitus (sensation of noises in the ears)
• nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, changes in your sense of taste, feeling of indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation
• skin rashes, itching
Uncommon (affecting less than 1 in every 100 people):
• changes in mood or sleep
• bronchospasm (tightening of the chest, wheezing and shortness of breath)
• dry mouth
• kidney problems
• impotence
• sweating
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people):
• psoriasis worsening
Very rare (affecting less than 1 in every 10.000 people):
• confusion
• irregular heart beat, heart attack and stroke (these have been reported with ACE inhibitors in association with low blood pressure)
• angina pectoris (chest tightness)
• eosinophilic pneumonia (a rare type of pneumonia), rhinitis (blocked up or runny nose)
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
• erythema multiforme (skin reaction disorder resulting from allergic reaction provoked by many different causes)
• changes in the blood cell count: your doctor may decide to carry out blood tests at intervals to monitor for this.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
• hypoglycaemia (very low blood sugar level)
• vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme (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 Perindopril
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Perindopril after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C.
Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
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 Perindopril contains:
The active substance is: perindopril tert-butylamine.
Perindopril 4 mg Tablets:
Each tablet contains, 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine, equivalent to 3.338 mg perindopril.
The other ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, polacrillin potassium, silicone dioxide, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate and hydroxypropylbetadex.
What Perindopril looks like and contents of the pack
Perindopril 4 mg Tablets are white, round, biconvex tablet scored on one side and debossed with 4 on the reverse side. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.
Aluminium/Aluminium blister.
Pack sizes: 7, 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 90, 100, 112 and 500 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and Manufacturer Marketing authorization holder:
Sandoz Ltd, Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 7SR, UK Manufacturer:
Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Verovskova 57, 1526 Ljubljana, Slovenia or
LEK S.A., ul. Podlipie 16, 95-010 Strykow, Poland or
LEK S.A.,ul. Domaniewska 50 C, 02-672 Warsaw, Poland or
Salutas Pharma GmbH, Otto-von-Guericke-Allee 1, 39179 Barleben, Germany or
Salutas Pharma GmbH, Dieselstrasse 5, 70839 Gerlingen, Germany or Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d
Verovskova 57, 1526 Ljubljana, Slovenia with manufacturing site at: Trimlini 2D, 9220 Lendava ,
Slovenia
This leaflet was last revised in 09/2016.
PIL. 0762.005.0d 27/09/2016 V035G: SPC,PIL&Label update in line with AR
PSUSA & ADR with QRD version 3.0