Ebixa 20 mg film-coated tablets

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Ebixa 20 mg film-coated tablets

Memantine hydrochloride

Read the entire 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 questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only and must not be given to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you. It could harm them.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are adverse reactions not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the leaflet

1. What Ebixa is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before taking Ebixa
3. How to take Ebixa
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ebixa
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Ebixa is and what it is used for

Ebixa contains the active substance memantine hydrochloride. It belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-dementia drugs.

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is due to disturbances in brain signaling. The brain contains so-called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are involved in the transmission of nerve signals important for learning and memory. Ebixa belongs to a group of medicines called NMDA receptor antagonists. Ebixa works on these receptors, improving the transmission of nerve signals and memory.

Ebixa is used for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

2. What you need to know before starting to take Ebixa

Do not take Ebixa

if you are allergic to memantine or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Ebixa:

• if you have a history of epileptic seizures.
• if you have recently had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), if you suffer from congestive heart disease, or if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension).

In the above situations, treatment must be carefully monitored, and your doctor should regularly reassess the clinical benefit of Ebixa.

If you have renal impairment (kidney problems), your doctor should closely monitor kidney function and, if necessary, adjust the dose of memantine.

If you have renal tubular acidosis (RTA, excess acid-producing substances in the blood due to kidney dysfunction [kidney problem]) or severe urinary tract infections, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the medicine.

The use of memantine should be avoided together with other medicines such as amantadine (used to treat Parkinson's disease), ketamine (a drug generally used as an anesthetic), dextromethorphan (a cough medicine), and other NMDA antagonists.

Children and adolescents

The use of Ebixa is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Taking Ebixa with other medicines

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines.

Specifically, taking Ebixa may cause changes in the effects of the following medicines, so your doctor may need to adjust the dose:

• amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan,
• dantrolene, baclofen,
• cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine,
• hydrochlorothiazide (or any combination containing hydrochlorothiazide),
• anticholinergics (substances generally used to treat movement disorders or intestinal spasms),
• anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and stop seizures),
• barbiturates (substances generally used to induce sleep),
• dopaminergic agonists (substances such as L-dopa, bromocriptine),
• neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental illnesses),
• oral anticoagulants.

If you are admitted to hospital, inform your doctor that you are taking Ebixa.

Taking Ebixa with food and drink

You should inform your doctor if you have recently changed or intend to substantially change your diet (for example, from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet), as your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the medicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Pregnancy: The use of memantine is not recommended in pregnant women.

Breastfeeding: Women taking Ebixa must not breastfeed.

Driving and using machines

Your doctor will advise you whether your condition allows you to drive and use machines safely.

Furthermore, Ebixa may affect your reaction ability, so driving or operating machinery may be inappropriate.

3. How to take Ebixa

Follow exactly the instructions for use of this medicine as given by your doctor. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

The recommended dose of Ebixa for adults and elderly patients is 20 mg taken once daily.

To reduce the risk of adverse effects, this dose should be reached gradually according to a daily treatment regimen. Different strength tablets are available to adjust the dose.

At the beginning of treatment, you will start taking Ebixa 5 mg film-coated tablets once daily. This dose will be increased weekly by 5 mg until the recommended dose (maintenance dose) is reached. The recommended maintenance dose of 20 mg once daily is reached at the beginning of the fourth week.

Dosage for patients with renal impairment

If you have kidney problems, your doctor will decide the appropriate dose for your condition. In this case, your doctor should periodically monitor your kidney function.

Administration

Ebixa should be administered orally once daily. To get the maximum benefit from your medication, you must take it every day at the same time. The tablets should be swallowed with some water. The tablets may be taken with or without food.

Duration of treatment

Continue taking Ebixa for as long as it benefits you. Your doctor should periodically evaluate your treatment.

If you take more Ebixa than you should

• In general, taking an excessive amount of Ebixa should not cause you any harm. You may experience an increase in the symptoms described in section 4 “Possible side effects”.
• If you take an overdose of Ebixa, contact your doctor or seek medical advice, as you may require medical attention.

If you forget to take Ebixa

• If you realize you have forgotten to take your dose of Ebixa, wait and take the next dose at your usual time.

• Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

In general, adverse effects are classified as mild to moderate.

Common (affects between 1 and 10 in every 100 patients):

• Headache, drowsiness, constipation, elevated liver function tests, dizziness, loss of balance, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, and hypersensitivity to the medicine.

Uncommon (affects between 1 and 10 in every 1,000 patients):

• Fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, gait disturbance, heart failure, and formation of blood clots in the venous system (venous thrombosis/venous thromboembolism).

Very rare (affects less than 1 in every 10,000 patients):

• Seizures.

Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):

• Inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), and psychotic reactions.

Alzheimer's disease has been associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide. These events have been reported in patients treated with Ebixa.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly through the national reporting system listed in Annex V.

By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Ebixa

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and packaging that you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Ebixa

The active substance is memantine hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 20 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 16.62 mg of memantine.

The other components are microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, colloidal anhydrous silica, and magnesium stearate in the core; hypromellose, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E171), and yellow and red iron oxides (E172) in the film coating.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Ebixa 20 mg film-coated tablets are pale red to greyish red in colour and capsule-shaped, with the number “20” printed on one side and “MEM” on the other.

Ebixa film-coated tablets are available in blister packs containing 14, 28, 42, 49 x 1, 56, 56 x 1, 70, 84, 98, 98 x 1, 100 x 1, 112 or 840 (20 x 42) tablets. The pack sizes 49 x 1, 56 x 1, 98 x 1, and 100 x 1 are provided in unit-dose packaging.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

• Lundbeck A/S

Ottiliavej 9

2500 Valby

Denmark

Further information on this medicinal product is available upon request by contacting the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder.

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet: MM/YYYY

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency: http://www.ema.europa.eu.