Tramadol Hydrochloride/Paracetamol 37.5 Mg/325 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE PATIENT
TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE/ PARACETAMOL 37.5 mg/325 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS
(tramadol hydrochloride/paracetamol)
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 Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol is and what it is used for.
2. What you need to know before you take Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol.
3. How to take Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol.
4. Possible side effects.
5. How to store Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol.
6. Contents of the pack and other information.
1. WHAT TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE/ PARACETAMOL IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is a combination of two analgesics, tramadol and paracetamol, which act together to relieve your pain.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain when your doctor decides that a combination of tramadol and paracetamol is necessary.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol should only be taken by adults and adolescents 12 years of age and over.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE/PARACETAMOL
Do not take Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol:
• if you are allergic to paracetamol, tramadol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• in cases of acute alcohol poisoning
• if you are taking sleeping pills, pain relievers or medicines that affect mood and emotions
• if you are taking medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have taken MAOIs in the last 14 days before treatment with Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol. MAOIs are used in the treatment of depression or Parkinson's disease
• if you have a severe liver disorder
• if you suffer from epilepsy that is not adequately controlled by your current medicine.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol:
• if you take other medicines containing paracetamol or tramadol
• if you have severe kidney problems.
In this case the use of Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is not recommended
• if you have liver problems or liver disease or if you notice your eyes and skin turning yellow. This may suggest jaundice or problems with your bile ducts
• if you have severe difficulties in breathing, for example asthma or severe lung problems
• if you are dependent on any medicine (for example morphine)
• if you have recently suffered from a head injury, shock or severe headaches associated with vomiting (being sick)
• if you have epilepsy or have previously experienced fits or seizures
• if you take other medicines to treat pain that contain buprenorphine, nalbuphine or pentazocine
• if you are going to have an anaesthetic. Tell your doctor or dentist that you
are taking Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol.
Tramadol must not be taken as a substitute therapy in opioid-dependent patients, since it does not suppress morphine withdrawal symptoms.
Other medicines and Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol must not be taken in combination with:
• other medicines containing paracetamol or tramadol, so that you do not exceed the maximum daily doses
• MAOIs (used in the treatment of depression or Parkinson's disease), since this may cause serotoninergic syndrome. Symptoms of serotoninergic syndrome include diarrhoea, increased heartbeat, sweating, trembling, confusion and even coma. If you have recently taken an MAOI, you should wait 14 days before taking Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is not recommended with the following medicines as it may affect how well they work:
• carbamazepine (a medicine used to treat epilepsy or some types of pain)
• opioid-type painkillers (buprenorphine,nalbuphine, pentazocine).
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol may increase the risk of side effects if you also take the following medicines:
• certain antidepressants or triptans (used for migraine). Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol may interact with these medicines and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary, rhythmic contractions of muscles, including the muscles that control movement of the eye, agitation, excessive sweating, tremor, exaggeration of reflexes, increased muscle tension, body temperature above 38 °C
• phenobarbital, tranquilisers, sleeping pills and pain relievers such as morphine or codeine (also as cough medicines and substitutive treatments), baclofen
(a muscle relaxant), medicines used to lower blood pressure, antidepressants, antipsychotics, medicines to treat allergies or thalidomide (a medicine used to treat cancer of the bone marrow). You may feel drowsy or faint, or experience shallow breathing. If this happens, tell your doctor
• medicines which may cause convulsions (fits), such as certain antidepressants, antipsychotics, tetrahydrocannabinol (a constituent of cannabis) or bupropion (to help stop smoking). The risk of having a fit may increase if you take Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol at the same time. Your doctor will tell you whether Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol is suitable for you
• vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin or other anticoagulants, e.g. phenprocoumon (used for blood thinning). The effectiveness of such medicines may be altered and bleeding may occur. Any prolonged or unexpected bleeding should be reported to your doctor immediately.
The effectiveness of Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol may be altered if you also take the following medicines:
• metoclopramide, domperidone or ondansetron (medicines used to treat nausea and vomiting)
• cholestyramine (medicine used to reduce cholesterol in the blood)
• ketoconazole or erythromycin (medicines used against infections).
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol with drink and alcohol
Do not drink alcohol during your treatment with Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol, as you may feel drowsy.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
As Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol contains tramadol, do not take this medicine during pregnancy.
Do not take this medicine while you are breast-feeding, as small amounts of tramadol may pass into the breast-milk.
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.
Driving and using machines
If you feel drowsy or dizzy while taking Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol you must not drive or use machinery.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE/PARACETAMOL
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older
• The recommended dose is to start with 2 tablets, unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor.
• If required, further doses may be taken, as instructed by your doctor.
• The shortest time between doses must be at least 6 hours.
• The dosage should be adjusted to the intensity of your pain and your individual pain sensitivity. In general the lowest pain-relieving dose should be taken.
• Do not take more than 8 tablets per day. Older patients
In older patients (above 75 years) the excretion of tramadol may be delayed.
If this applies to you, your doctor may recommend prolonging the dosage interval.
Severe liver or kidney disease (insufficiency)/dialysis patients
Patients with severe liver and/or kidney insufficiency should not take Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol. If in your case the insufficiency is mild or moderate, your doctor may recommend prolonging the dosage interval.
Use in children under 12 years of age
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age.
Method of administration
• You have to take the tablets orally.
• Swallow the tablets whole, with a sufficient quantity of liquid. The tablets must not be broken or chewed.
• Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol can be taken with or without food.
Duration of treatment
Take Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol for as short a time as possible and no longer than your doctor has told you.
If you think that the effect of Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is too strong (you feel very drowsy or have difficulty breathing) or too weak (you do not have enough pain relief), contact your doctor.
If you take more Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol than you should
Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage.
In case of an overdose, you may experience nausea (feeling sick), blurred vision/difficulty focusing, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or discomfort, serious circulation failure (cardiovascular collapse), loss of consciousness including coma, convulsions, shallow breathing which can cause your breathing to stop (respiratory arrest), and pale skin.
Liver damage may appear 12 to 48 hours after ingestion. In severe poisoning, liver failure may lead to severe brain disease (encephalopathy), coma and death.
Acute kidney failure may develop, even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) have also been reported.
If you forget to take Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol
If you forget to take this medicine you can skip the missed dose and continue the treatment as normal, or you can take the missed tablet but you must keep a 6 hour interval between doses.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol
Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Generally, there will be no aftereffects when treatment with Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol is stopped.
Rarely, people who have been using a medicine containing tramadol may become dependent on it, making it hard to stop taking it. If you have been taking Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol for some time and want to stop, contact your doctor because your body may have become used to Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol.
People may:
• feel agitated, anxious, nervous or shaky
• be over active
• have difficulty sleeping
• have stomach or bowel disorders.
Very few people may also get:
• panic attacks
• hallucinations, unusual perceptions such as itching, tingling and numbness
• ringing in the ears.
If you experience any of these complaints after stopping Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol, please contact your doctor.
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 you think you may have any of the following side effects, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor or go to your nearest hospital emergency room immediately. These side effects are rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) but you may need medical attention:
• prolonged or unexpected bleeding, from the use of Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol with medicines used to thin the blood (e.g. warfarin, phenprocoumon)
• sudden signs of allergic reactions such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue and other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing, low blood pressure.
Other side effects include:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• dizziness, sleepiness
• nausea (feeling sick).
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• confusion, mood changes (anxiety, nervousness, elation), sleep disorders
• headache, shaking
• vomiting (being sick), constipation, dry mouth, diarrhoea, stomach pain or discomfort, indigestion, wind (flatulence)
• sweating, itching.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• depression, hallucinations, nightmares, memory loss
• involuntary muscle twitching, tingling, numbness or feeling of pins and needles in the limbs, ringing in the ears
• increase in pulse or blood pressure or heart rate
• disturbances of the electrical rhythm of the heart (arrhythmia)
• difficulty breathing
• difficulty in swallowing, blood in the stools
• increased levels of liver enzymes (seen on a blood test)
• skin reactions (e.g. rash, hives)
• protein in the urine (seen on a urine test), difficulty or pain when passing urine
• shivering, hot flushes, chest pain.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• drug dependence
• lack of coordination, fits (seizures)
• blurred vision.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
• drug abuse.
In addition, the following side effects have been reported by people using medicines that contain only tramadol or only paracetamol:
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• changes in appetite, muscle weakness and shallow breathing.
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data:
• decrease in blood sugar level
• feeling faint when getting up from a lying or sitting position, slow heart rate, fainting
• changes in the levels of blood cells (seen on a blood test) with frequent infections (fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers), or bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
• mood changes, changes in activity and changes in perception
• worsening of existing asthma.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: 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 TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE/PARACETAMOL
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, bottle and blister foil after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Bottles: Use within 100 days of opening
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 protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol contains:
• The active substances are tramadol hydrochloride and paracetamol. Each film-coated tablet contains 37.5 mg tramadol hydrochloride and 325 mg paracetamol.
• The other ingredients (excipients) are: Tablet core - maize starch, pregelatinised; povidone; crospovidone; stearic acid; silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate. Film-coating - hypromellose 6cP; lactose monohydrate (see section 2 'Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol contains lactose'); titanium dioxide (E171); macrogol 300; triacetin; iron oxide yellow (E172); macrogol 4000; hypromellose 15cP; hypromellose 3cP; hypromellose 50cP.
What Tramadol hydrochloride/ Paracetamol looks like and contents of the pack
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol are light yellow, oblong film-coated tablets with 'P/T' marked on one side of the tablet and 'M' on the other.
Tramadol hydrochloride/Paracetamol are packed in blisters containing 2, 5,
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 100 and 200 film-coated tablets, perforated unit dose blisters containing 20 x 1 and 60 x 1 film-coated tablet(s), bottles with child-resistant closures containing 100 film-coated tablets and bottles with screw cap closures containing 500 film-coated tablets (dispensing pack).
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Jenson Pharmaceutical Services Ltd, Carradine House, 237 Regent's Park Road, London, N3 3LF. United Kingdom.
Manufacturer
Gerard Laboratories, 35/36 Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Grange Road, Dublin 13, Ireland.
Mylan Hungary Kft, H-2900 Komarom, Mylan utca 1, Hungary.
Generics [UK] Ltd, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1TL, United Kingdom.
10005296
00000000
This leaflet was last revised in 02/2014