Ursofalk 500mg Film-Coated Tablets
Ref: 1545/300715/1/F
Ursofalk ® 500mg film-coated tablets
(ursodeoxycholic acid)
Patient Information Leaflet
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.
Your medicine is called Ursofalk 500mg film-coated tablets but will be referred to as Ursofalk tablets throughout the rest of this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
Q What Ursofalk tablets are and what they are used for Q What you need to know before you take Ursofalk tablets Q How to take Ursofalk tablets Q Possible side effects Q How to store Ursofalk tablets ^ Contents of the pack and other information
O What Ursofalk tablets are and what they are used for
Ursofalk tablets contain the active substance ursodeoxycholic acid
(UDCA). Small amounts of UDCA are found in human bile.
Ursofalk tablets are used:
- for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) a condition where the bile ducts in the liver become damaged leading to a build-up of bile. This may cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis of the liver). The liver should not be so damaged that it is not functioning properly.
- to dissolve cholesterol gallstones. These stones must not be visible on a plain X-ray (radiolucent) and be no larger than 15 mm in diameter because they will not dissolve with UDCA. The gall bladder must still be working despite the gallstone(s).
- for liver disease associated with a condition called cystic fibrosis in children aged 6 to 18 years
Q What you need to know before you take Ursofalk tablets
Do NOT take Ursofalk tablets if:
- You are, or have been told you are, allergic (hypersensitive) to bile acids like UDCA or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- You have an acute inflammation of the gall bladder or biliary tract.
- You have a blockage of the common bile duct or cystic duct (obstruction of the biliary tract).
- You have frequent cramp-like upper abdomen pain (biliary colic).
- Your doctor has said you have calcified gallstones (they are visible on an x-ray).
- Your gall bladder does not work properly.
- You are a child with biliary atresia and have poor bile flow, even after surgery.
Please ask your doctor about the conditions mentioned above. You should also ask if you have previously had any of these conditions or if you are unsure whether you have any of them.
Warnings and precautions:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ursofalk tablets.
Your doctor should test your liver function regularly every 4 weeks for the first 3 months of treatment. After this time, it should be monitored at 3 month intervals.
When used in the treatment of PBC, in rare cases the symptoms may worsen at the beginning of treatment. If this happens, please speak to your doctor about reducing your initial dose.
When used to dissolve gallstones, your doctor should arrange for a scan of your gall bladder after the first 6-10 months of treatment.
Please talk to your doctor immediately if you have diarrhoea, as this may require a reduction in the dose or discontinuation of the treatment with Ursofalk tablets.
Other medicines and Ursofalk tablets
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
The effects of these medicines may be altered:
A reduction in the effects of the following medicines is possible when taking Ursofalk tablets:
- colestyramine, colestipol (to lower blood lipids) or antacids containing aluminium hydroxide or smectite (aluminium oxide). If you must take medication that contains any of these ingredients, it must be taken at least two hours before or after Ursofalk tablets.
- ciprofloxacin, dapsone (antibiotics), nitrendipine (used to treat high blood pressure) and other medicines which are metabolised in a similar way. It may be necessary for your doctor to alter the dose of these medicines.
A change in the effects of the following medicines is possible when taking Ursofalk tablets:
- ciclosporin (to reduce the activity of the immune system). If you are being treated with ciclosporin, your doctor should check the amount of ciclosporin in your blood. Your doctor will adjust its dose, if necessary.
- rosuvastatin (for high cholesterol and related conditions).
If you are taking Ursofalk tablets for the dissolution of gallstones, please inform your doctor in case you are taking any medicines that contain oestrogenic hormones or biood cholesterol lowering agents such as clofibrate. These medicines stimulate the formation of gallstones, which is a counter-effect to the treatment with Ursofalk.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, even if they are medicines obtainable without a prescription. Treatment with Ursofalk tablets may still be allowed. Your doctor will know what is right for you.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy: You should not take Ursofalk during pregnancy unless your doctor thinks it is absolutely necessary.
Women of child-bearing potential: Even if you are not pregnant, you should still discuss this possibility with your doctor. Before starting treatment with Ursofalk, your doctor will check that you are not pregnant and review your contraceptive method to make sure it is appropriate.
Breastfeeding: Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines:
No particular precautions are necessary.
Q How to take Ursofalk tablets
Always take Ursofalk tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
For the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (inflammation of the bile ducts)
Dosage
During the first 3 months of treatment, you should take Ursofalk tablets in divided doses during the day. As liver function tests improve, the total daily dose may be taken once a day in the evening.
|
Body weight BW (kg) |
Daily dose (mg/kg BW) |
Ursofalk 500mg Film-coated Tablets | |||
|
First 3 months |
Subsequently | ||||
|
Morning |
Midday |
Evening |
Evening (once daily) | ||
|
47 - 62 |
12 - 16 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
1/ |
|
63 - 78 |
13 - 16 |
/ |
/ |
1 |
2 |
|
79 - 93 |
13 - 16 |
/ |
1 |
1 |
2/ |
|
94 - 109 |
14 - 16 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
over 110 |
1 |
1 |
1/ |
3/ | |
How to take Ursofalk tablets
The tablet can be divided into equal doses. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water or other liquid. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take the tablets regularly.
Duration of treatment
Ursofalk tablets can be continued indefinitely in cases of PBC.
Patient Information Leaflet (continued)
To dissolve cholesterol gallstones Dosage
Approximately 10 mg per kg body weight (BW) daily, as follows: up to 60 kg 1 tablet 61 - 80 kg 1% tablets 81 - 100 kg 2 tablets over 100 kg 2% tablets
How to take Ursofalk tablets
The tablet can be divided into equal doses. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water or other liquid. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take the tablets in the evening at bedtime. Take the tablets regularly.
Duration of treatment
It generally takes 6 - 24 months to dissolve gallstones. If there is no reduction in the size of the gallstones after 12 months, therapy should be stopped.
Every 6 months, your doctor should check whether the treatment is working. At each of these follow-up examinations, it should be checked whether calcification of the stones has occurred since the last time. If this is the case, your doctor will stop the treatment.
Both indications:
Ursofalk capsules or Ursofalk suspension are available if you weigh less than 47 kg or cannot swallow tablets.
Use in elderly:
There is no evidence to suggest that any alteration in the adult dose is needed but the relevant precautions should be taken into account.
Use in children and adolescents:
There are no age limits to the use of Ursofalk tablets. The administration of Ursofalk tablets is based on body weight and the medical condition.
Use in children (6 to 18 years) for treatment of liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis
Dosage
The recommended daily dose is 20 mg per kg body weight, divided in 2-3 doses. Your doctor may want to increase the dose further to 30mg per kg body weight daily if necessary
|
Body weight BW (kg) |
Daily dose (mg/kg BW) |
Ursofalk 500mg Film-coated Tablets | ||
|
Morning |
Midday |
Evening | ||
|
20 - 29 |
17-25 |
% |
- |
% |
|
30 - 39 |
19-25 |
% |
% |
% |
|
40 - 49 |
20-25 |
% |
% |
1 |
|
50 - 59 |
21-25 |
% |
1 |
1 |
|
60 - 69 |
22-25 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
70 - 79 |
22-25 |
1 |
1 |
1% |
|
80 - 89 |
22-25 |
1 |
1% |
1% |
|
90 - 99 |
23-25 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
|
100 - 109 |
23-25 |
1% |
2 | |
|
>110 |
1% |
2 |
2 | |
How to take Ursofalk tablets
The tablet can be divided into equal doses. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water or other liquid. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Take the tablets regularly.
Duration of treatment
Treatment can be continued long term (up to 12 years) in children with cystic fibrosis associated hepatobiliary disorders.
If you feel that the effect of Ursofalk 500mg film-coated tablets is too strong or too weak, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more Ursofalk tablets than you should:
Diarrhoea may occur as a result of overdose. Please inform your doctor immediately if you have persistent diarrhoea. If you do suffer from diarrhoea, make sure you drink enough liquids to replace your fluid and salt balance.
If you forget to take Ursofalk tablets
Do not take more tablets the next time, but just continue the treatment with the prescribed dose.
If you stop taking Ursofalk tablets:
Always speak to your doctor before you decide to interrupt treatment with Ursofalk tablets or decide to stop your treatment early.
Q Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Ursofalk tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Common side effects (occurring in less than 1 in 10 but more than 1 in 100 patients):
- soft, loose stools or diarrhoea
Very rare side effects (occurring in less than 1 in 10,000 patients):
- during the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis: severe right-sided upper abdominal pain, severe worsening of liver cirrhosis which partially eases after treatment is discontinued
- hardening of gallstones due to build-up of calcium. There are no additional symptoms of this but it will show up in tests
- nettle rash (urticaria)
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: 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.
Q How to store Ursofalk tablets
KEEP OUT OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Do not take Ursofalk tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the blister label or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If your medicine becomes discoloured or shows any other signs of deterioration, consult your pharmacist who will tell you what to do. 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.
Q Contents of the pack and other information
What Ursofalk tablets contain:
The active ingredient is ursodeoxycholic acid.
Each film-coated tablet contains 500mg of ursodeoxycholic acid.
The other ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K25, crospovidone Type A, talc, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica and polysorbate 80.
Coating: talc, hypromellose and macrogol 6000.
What Ursofalk tablets look like and contents of the pack
Ursofalk tablets are white, oval, biconvex film-coated tablets with a breakline on both sides.
Each blister pack contains 100 film-coated tablets.
Manufacturer and Licence Holder
This medicine is manufactured by DR. FALK PHARMA GmbH, Leinenweberstrasse 5, D-79108 Freiburg, Germany and is procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence Holder: Lexon (UK) Limited, Unit 18, Oxleasow Road, East Moons Moat, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0RE.
POM PL 15184/1545 Ursofalk 500mg film-coated tablets Ursofalk is a registered trademark of Dr Falk Pharma GmbH.
Revision date: 30/07/15