Sominex
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Sominex
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Promethazine hydrochloride EP 20mg/tab
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Tablet
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
As a night-time sleep aid, for the correction of temporary disturbances of sleep pattern where there is difficulty in going to sleep or staying asleep, caused for example by specific dislocation of normal routine.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Oral
For bedtime use only.
Adults: one tablet at bedtime. May be taken up to one hour after going to bed when sleep is difficult to achieve.
Not to be given to children under the age of 16 years except on medical advice.
Elderly: the normal adult dose may be taken.
4.3 Contraindications
Known hypersensitivity to promethazine or phenothiazines. Patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of taking MAOIs. Patients with any form of CNS depression.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery.
Not to be used for more than 7 days without medical advice.
Concomitant use of alcohol should be avoided.
In patients with asthma or other respiratory disorders (eg bronchitis or bronchiectasis), glaucoma, epilepsy, urinary retention, prostatic hypertrophy, hepatic or renal impairment, cardiovascular problems or pyloroduodenal obstruction the product should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
This product should be used with caution in patients with seizure disorders or in patients receiving medication which may affect the seizure threshold because of risk of convulsions.
Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Promethazine hydrochloride may potentiate the action of alcohol and other centrally acting depressants such as sedatives (barbiturates), opiod analgesics, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, hypnotics and anxiolytics. MAOIs may enhance the antimuscarinic effects of antihistamines.
Antihistamines have an added antimuscarinic effect with other antimuscarinic drugs such as atropine and tricyclic antidepressants. Promethazine may interfere with immunologic urine pregnancy tests to produce false positive or negative results.
Promethazine hydrochloride should be discontinued at least 72 hours before the start of skin tests as it may inhibit the cutaneous histamine response thus producing false negative results.
4.6 Pregnancy and lactation
The advice of a doctor should be sought before use.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
This product causes drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Agranulocytosis, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia. Blood dycrasias occur rarely. Psychiatric disorders
Sedation, paradoxical reactions such as hyperexcitability and abnormal movements, drowsiness, confusion, disorientation, restlessness, insomnia.
Nervous system disorders
Convulsive seizures, headache, psychomotor impairment, antimuscarinic effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention). Dizziness, tremor and extrapyramidal effects are rare side effects.
Eye disorders
Angle closure glaucoma occurs rarely.
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Tinnitus.
Heart rate and rhythm disorders
Palpitations, arrhythmias.
Vascular disorders
Hypotension.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Nasal stuffiness. Bronchospasm occurs rarely.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea, vomiting.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Jaundice occurs rarely.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Photosensitivity. Angioedema and rashes occur rarely.
General disorders and administration site conditions
Anaphylaxis occurs rarely.
The elderly are particularly susceptible to the anticholinergic effects and confusion due to promethazine.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme; website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9 Overdose
Common features include:
nausea, vomiting, flushing, dilated pupils, dry mouth and tongue, hot dry skin, fever, sinus tachycardia, hypertension, ataxia, nystagmus, drowsiness, delirium, agitation and visual hallucinations.
Uncommon systemic features include:
myoclonic jerking, coma, convulsions, cardiac conduction abnormalities and dysrhythmias, cardiovascular collapse, paralytic ileus, urinary retention and cardiorespiratory depression.
Patients who have been unconscious may be hypothermic.
In cases of unintentional exposure:
Children may also experience combinations of excitation, ataxia, incoordination, athetosis and hallucinations.
Treatment:
Gastric lavage or activated charcoal is only recommended if the patient presents within 1 hour of ingestion of a potentially toxic amount.
Treatment is otherwise supportive with attention to maintenance of adequate respiratory and circulatory status. Convulsions should be treated with diazepam or other suitable anticonvulsants.
Forced diuresis, haemodialysis and haemoperfusion are of no value
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Promethazine hydrochloride - sedative. The drug is an antihistamine with
anticholinergic activity.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Promethazine hydrochloride is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, but undergoes extensive first pass metabolism in the liver. With only 25% of the oral dose reaching the systemic circulation unchanged. After oral therapy therapeutic effects are identifiable at 15-30 minutes and peak plasma concentrations at 2 to 3 hours. Estimates of terminal half-life in blood plasma have been quoted as 4-6 hours. It is extensively plasma protein bound. It is eliminated mainly as metabolites, predominantly by the faecal (via biliary) route, with <1% of the parent compound and CA 10% as the sulfoxide metabolite being excreted in the urine over a 72 hour period.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
None stated.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Lactose, maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate.
Incompatibilities
6.2
None known.
6.3 Shelf life
60 months unopened.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
None.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Opaque blister strip of polyvinylchloride/polyvinylidine chloride. Backed with aluminium foil. Each strip contains 8 tablets. One or two strips are packed into each cardboard carton.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
None.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Actavis Group PTC ehf Reykjavikurvegi 76-78 220 Hafnarfjordur Iceland.
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 30306/0080
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
6th September 2002
10/07/2015