Quetiapine 150mg Film-Coated Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Quetiapine 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg Film-coated Tablets
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. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1 What Quetiapine Film-coated Tablets are and what they are used for
2 What you need to know before you take 3| How to take
4 Possible side effects 5| How to store
6 Contents of the pack and other information
1 What Quetiapine Film-coated Tablets are and what they are used for
Quetiapine Film-coated Tablets contains a substance called quetiapine. This belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics.
Quetiapine can be used to treat several illnesses, such as:
• Bipolar depression: where you feel sad. You may find that you feel depressed, feel guilty, lack energy, lose your appetite or can't sleep.
• Mania: where you may feel very excited, elated, agitated, enthusiastic or hyperactive or have poor judgment including being aggressive or disruptive.
• Schizophrenia: where you may hear or feel things that are not there, believe things that are not true or feel unusually suspicious, anxious, confused, guilty, tense or depressed.
Your doctor may continue to prescribe Quetiapine even when you are feeling better.
2 What you need to know before you take
Do not take Quetiapine if you:
•are allergic to quetiapine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• are taking any of the following medicines
- Some medicines for HIV
- Azole' medicines (for fungal infections)
- Erythromycin or clarithromycin (for infections)
- Nefazodone (for depression).
Do not take Quetiapine if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Quetiapine.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Quetiapine.
Tell your doctor if you:
• or someone in your family, have or have had any heart problems, for example heart rhythm problems, weakening of the heart muscle or inflammation of the heart or if you are taking any medicines that may have an impact on the way your heart beats.
• have low blood pressure.
• have had a stroke, especially if you are elderly.
• have problems with your liver.
• have ever had a fit (seizure)
• have diabetes or have a risk of getting diabetes. If you do, your doctor may check your blood sugar levels while you are taking Quetiapine.
• know that you have had low levels of white blood cells in the past (which may or may not have been caused by other medicines)
• are an elderly person with dementia (loss of brain function). If you are, Quetiapine should not be taken because the group of medicines that Quetiapine belongs to may increase the risk of stroke, or in some cases the risk of death, in elderly people with dementia.
• or someone else in your family has a history of blood clots, as medicines like these have been associated with formation of blood clots.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following
after taking Quetiapine:
• A combination of fever, severe muscle stiffness, sweating or a lowered level of consciousness (a disorder called "neuroleptic malignant syndrome"). Immediate medical treatment may be needed.
• Uncontrollable movements, mainly of your face, tongue and jaw, facial grimacing, rapid eye blinking and uncontrollable movements of arms, legs, fingers and toes. These might be symptoms of'tardive dyskinesia.
• Dizziness or a severe sense of feeling sleepy. This could increase the risk of accidental injury (fall), especially in elderly patients.
• Fits (seizures)
• A long-lasting and painful erection (priapism)
These conditions can be caused by this type of medicine.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you have:
• A fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, or any other infection, as this could be a result of a very low white blood cell count, which may require Quetiapine to be stopped and/or treatment to be given.
• Constipation along with persistent abdominal pain, or constipation which has not responded to treatment, as this may lead to a more serious blockage of the bowel.
Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression
If you are depressed you may sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting treatment, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer. These thoughts may also be increased if you suddenly stop taking your medication.
You may be more likely to think like this if you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and/or suicidal behaviour in young adults aged less than 25 years with depression.
If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away. You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.
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Weight gain
Weight gain has been seen in patients taking Quetiapine You and your doctor should check your weight regularly.
Children and adolescents
Quetiapine is not for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age.
Other medicines and Quetiapine
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not take Quetiapine if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• Some medicines for HIV -'Azole'medicines (for fungal infections)
- Erythromycin or clarithromycin (for infections)
- Nefazodone (for depression).
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• Epilepsy medicines (like phenytoin or carbamazepine)
• High blood pressure medicines
• Medicines which act on the central nervous system (such as barbiturates, for difficulty sleeping) thioridazine or Lithium (other anti-psychotic medicines)
• Medicines that have an impact on the way your heart beats, for example, drugs that can cause an imbalance in electrolytes (low levels of potassium or magnesium) such as diuretics (water pills) or certain antibiotics (drugs to treat infections).
Medicines that can cause constipation.
Before you stop taking any of your medicines, please talk to your doctor first.
Quetiapine with food, drink and alcohol
Quetiapine can be taken with or without food.
Be careful how much alcohol you drink. This is because the combined effect of Quetiapine and alcohol can make you sleepy.
Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Quetiapine. It can affect the way the medicine works.
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.
• You should not take Quetiapine during pregnancy unless this has been discussed with your doctor.
• Quetiapine should not be taken if you are breast-feeding.
The following symptoms which can represent withdrawal may occur in new born babies, of mothers that have used Quetiapine in the last trimester (last three months of their pregnancy): shaking, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, sleepiness, agitation, breathing problems, and difficulty in feeding. If your baby develops any of these symptoms you may need to contact your doctor.
Driving and using machines
Your tablets may make you feel sleepy. Do not drive or use any tools or machines until you know how the tablets affect you.
Quetiapine contains lactose
Quetiapine contains lactose which is 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.
Effect on urine drug screens
If you are having a urine drug screen, taking Quetiapine may cause positive results for methadone or certain drugs for depression called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) when some test methods are used, even though you may not be taking methadone or TCAs. If this happens, a more specific test can be performed.
3 How to take
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Dosage
Your doctor will decide on your starting dose. The maintenance dose (daily dose) will depend on your illness and needs but will usually be between 150mg and 800mg.
Method of administration
• You will take your tablets once a day, at bedtime or twice a day, depending on your illness.
• Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water.
• You can take your tablets with or without food.
• Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Quetiapine. It can affect the way the medicine works.
• Do not stop taking your tablets even if you feel better, unless your doctor tells you.
Liver problems
If you have liver problems your doctor may change your dose.
Elderly people
If you are elderly your doctor may change your dose.
Use children and adolescents
Quetiapine should not be used by children and adolescents aged under18 years.
If you take more Quetiapine than you should
If you take more Quetiapine than prescribed by your doctor, you may feel sleepy, feel dizzy and experience abnormal heart beats. Contact your doctor or nearest hospital straight away. Take the tablets, leaflet and/or carton with you so the doctor will know what you took.
If you forget to take Quetiapine
If you miss a dose, take that dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time to take next dose, wait until then. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
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Quetiapine 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg & 300mg Tablets PIL - UK |
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If you stop taking Quetiapine
Do not stop taking your tablets even if you are feeling better, unless your doctor tells you. If you suddenly stop taking Quetiapine you may be unable to sleep (insomnia), or you may feel sick (nausea), or you may experience headache, diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), dizziness or irritability. Your doctor may suggest you reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
_4| Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any of the following occurs, stop taking Quetiapine and contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital straight away, as you may need urgent medical attention:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Allergic reactions that may include raised lumps (weals), swelling of the skin and swelling around the mouth
• Fits or seizures
• Uncontrollable movements, mainly of your tongue, mouth and jaw, but also of arms, legs, fingers and toes, facial grimacing and rapid eye blinking. These might be symptoms of a condition called 'tardive dyskinesia.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• A combination of high temperature (fever), sweating, stiff muscles, feeling very drowsy or faint, frequent change in blood pressure and fast heartbeat (a disorder called 'neuroleptic malignant syndrome')
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• A long-lasting and painful erection (priapism)
• Blood clots in the veins especially in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain and redness in the leg), which may travel through blood vessels to the lungs causing chest pain and difficulty in breathing
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Symptoms can include severe pain in the abdomen and back, nausea and vomiting.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
• A severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) which may cause difficulty in breathing or shock
• Rapid swelling of the skin, usually around the eyes, lips and throat (angioedema)
• A serious blistering condition of the skin, mouth eyes and gentials (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
• Abnormal muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) with symptoms such as muscle pain, weakness and swelling which can lead to kidney problems (urine can become dark).
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
• 'Serious, sudden allergic reaction with symptoms such as fever and blister on the skin and peeling of the skin (toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Skin rash with irregular red spots. (erythema multiforme)
Other possible side effects:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• Dizziness (may lead to falls), headache, dry mouth
• Feeling sleepy (this may go away with time, as you keep taking your Quetiapine) (may lead to falls)
• Discontinuation symptoms (symptoms which occur when you stop taking Quetiapine) include not being able to sleep (insomnia), feeling sick (nausea), headache, diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), dizziness, and irritability. Gradual withdrawal over a period of at least 1 to 2 weeks is advisable.
• Abnormal muscle movements. These include difficulty starting muscle movements, shaking, feeling restless or muscle stiffness without pain.
• Changes in the amount of certain fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) in the blood
• Putting on weight
• Decreased levels of a certain protein in red blood cells (haemoglobin).
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• Rapid heartbeat
• Feeling like your heart is pounding, racing or has skipped beats
• shortness of breath
• Low blood pressure when standing up, which may result in dizziness or feeling faint (may lead to falls)
• Constipation, upset stomach (indigestion)
• Vomiting (mainly in the elderly)
• Abnormal dreams and nightmares
• Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression
• Disturbance in speech and language
• Increases in the amount of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Increase in the hormone prolactin could in rare cases lead to the following:
- Men and women to have swelling of breast and unexpectedly produce breast milk.
- Women to have no monthly period or irregular periods.
• Blurred vision
• Feeling irritated
• Fever
• Increased levels of liver enzymes measured in the blood
• Changes in the amount of thyroid hormones (in your blood)
• Decrease in number of certain blood cells
• Increased levels of sugar in the blood
• Feeling weak
• Swelling of arms or legs.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Unpleasant sensation in the legs (also called restless legs syndrome)
• Difficulty swallowing
• Change in electrical activity of the heart seen on ECG (QT prolongation)
• Diabetes
• Sexual dysfunction
• Decreased number of red blood cells (anaemia) or platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia),
• Decrease in the amount of sodium in the blood (hyponatraemia)
• A slower than normal heart rate which may occur when starting treatment and which may be associated with low blood pressure and fainting.
• Stuffy nose
• Fainting (may lead to falls)
• Difficulty in passing urine
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Swelling of breasts and unexpected production of breast milk (galactorrhoea)
• Menstrual disorder
• A condition (Called "metabolic syndrome") where you may have a combination of 3 or more of the following:
- An increase in fat around your abdomen, a decrease in "good cholesterol" (HDL-C).
- An increase in a type of fat in your blood caller triglycerides, high blood pressure and an increase in your blood sugar.
• Walking, talking, eating or other activities while you are asleep.
• Body temperature decreases
• Combination of fever, flu-like symptoms, sore throat or any other infection with very low white blood cell count, a condition called agranulocytosis.
• Bowel obstruction
• Increased blood creatine phosphokinase (a substance from the muscles).
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
• Inappropriate secretion of hormone that controls urine volume can cause low sodium levels in your blood. That can lead to symptoms such as headache, nausea, confusion and weakness.
• Worsening of pre-existing diabetes
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Symptoms of withdrawal may occur in newborn babies of mothers that have used quetiapine during their pregnancy.
The class of medicines to which Quetiapine belongs can cause heart rhythm problems, which can be serious and in severe cases may be fatal.
Some side effects are only seen when a blood test is taken. These include changes in the amount of certain fats (triglycerides and total cholesterol) or sugar in the blood, changes in the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood, increased liver enzymes, decrease in the number of certain types of blood cells, decrease in the amount of red blood cells, increased blood creatine phosphokinase (substance in the muscles). Decrease in amount of sodium in the blood and increase in the amount of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Increases in the hormone prolactin could in rare cases lead to the following:
- Men and women to have swelling of breasts and unexpectedly produce breast milk
- Women to have no monthly period or irregular periods.
Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests from time to time.
Side effects in children and adolescents
The same side effects that may occur in adults may also occur in children and adolescents.
The following side effects have been seen more often in children and adolescents or have not been seen in adults:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• Increase in the amount of a hormone called prolactin, in the blood. Increases in the hormone prolactin could in rare cases lead to the following:
- Boys and girls to have swelling of breasts and unexpectedly produce breast milk.
- Girls to have no monthly period or irregular periods.
- Increased appetite
- Vomiting
- Abnormal muscle movements. These include difficulty starting muscle movements, shaking, feeling restless or muscle stiffness without pain.
- Increase in blood pressure
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• Feeling weak, fainting (may lead to falls)
• Stuffy nose
• Feeling irritated.
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
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, label and blister after 'EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6 Contents of the pack and other information
What Quetiapine contains
• The active substance is quetiapine. Quetiapine Film-Coated Tablets contain 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg quetiapine (as quetiapine fumarate).
• The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K29-32, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium starch glycolate (type A), lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate.
Tablet film-coating: Hypromellose 6cP (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), lactose monohydrate, macrogol 3350, triacetin, iron oxide yellow (E172) (in 25mg, 100mg and 150mg tablets) and iron oxide red (E172) (only in the 25mg tablets).
What Quetiapine looks like and contents of the pack
Quetiapine 25mg film-coated tablet is a round, biconvex, light orange tablet engraved with"Q" on one side.
Quetiapine 100mg film-coated tablet is a round, biconvex, yellow tablet engraved with"Q" on one side.
Quetiapine 150mg film-coated tablet is an oval, biconvex, pale yellow tablet engraved with"Q" on one side.
Quetiapine 200mg film-coated tablet is an oval, biconvex, white tablet engraved with "Q" on one side.
Quetiapine 300mg film-coated tablet is an oval, biconvex, white tablet engraved with "Q" on one side and engraved with "300"on the other side.
Pack sizes:
Blisters:
6, 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 90, 100 tablets Tablet containers:
100, 250 tablets
(25mg, 100mg, 150mg and 200mg film-coated tablets)
60, 100 and 250 tablets (300mg film-coated tablets)
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Actavis Group PTC ehf,
Reykjavikurvegur 76-78,
220 Hafnarfjordur,
Iceland
Manufacturer
Actavis Ltd, BLB 016 Bulebel Industrial Estate, Zejtun ZTN 3000, Malta This leaflet was last revised in February 2015
Actavis, Barnstaple, EX32 8NS, UK
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Quetiapine 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg & 300mg Tablets PIL - UK |
colours/plates: | ||
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1. Black | |||
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Actavis creating value In pharmaceuticals t 00441271311400 f 00441271311449 |
item no: AAAH4281 |
dimensions: 190 x 380 |
2. |
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print proof no: 7 |
pharmacode: |
3. | |
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4. | |||
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origination date: 17.11.14 |
min pt size: 7 |
5. | |
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originated by: SAnson |
6. | ||
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approved for print/date |
revision date: 09.03.15 |
Technical Approval |
Non Printing Colours |
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1. | |||
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revised by: jh |
date sent: n/a | ||
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2. | |||
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supplier: Actavis Malta Zejtun |
technically app. date: |
3. | |