Escitalopram Tecnigen 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Escitalopram TecniGen 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG

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 questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• 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 effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if the effects are not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents:

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

1. What Escitalopram TecniGen is and what it is used for

Escitalopram TecniGen contains the active substance escitalopram and is used for the treatment of depression (major depressive episodes) and anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Escitalopram belongs to a group of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicines act on the serotonin system in the brain by increasing serotonin levels. Alterations in the serotonin system are considered an important factor in the development of depression and related conditions.

2. What you need to know before taking Escitalopram TecniGen

Do not take Escitalopram TecniGen

• If you are allergic to escitalopram or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are taking other medicines belonging to the group called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), including selegiline (used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease), moclobemide (used for the treatment of depression), and linezolid (an antibiotic).
• If you have a congenital heart rhythm disorder or have ever experienced an episode of this type (this can be detected by electrocardiogram, a test used to assess heart function).
• If you are taking medicines for heart rhythm disorders or medicines that may affect heart rhythm (see section 2 “Taking Escitalopram TecniGen with other medicines”).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to take Escitalopram TecniGen.

Please inform your doctor if you have any other disorders or illnesses, as your doctor may need to consider them. Specifically, tell your doctor:

• If you have epilepsy. Treatment with Escitalopram should be discontinued if seizures occur or if you notice an increase in seizure frequency (see also section 4 “Possible side effects”).
• If you have hepatic or renal insufficiency. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
• If you have diabetes. Escitalopram treatment may alter glycaemic control. A dose adjustment of insulin and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents may be necessary.
• If you have low blood sodium levels.
• If you are prone to bleeding or bruising easily, or if you are pregnant (see “Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility”).
• If you are receiving electroconvulsive therapy.
• If you have coronary artery disease.
• If you have or have had heart problems or have recently had a heart attack.
• If your heart beats slowly at rest and/or you suspect your body may be losing salts, for example due to severe diarrhoea and vomiting over several days (feeling unwell) or because you are taking diuretics (medicines for urination).
• If you have noticed rapid or irregular heartbeats, or have experienced fainting or dizziness when standing up from a sitting or lying position. This could indicate a heart rhythm disorder.
• If you have eye problems such as certain types of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).

Some medicines in the same group as Escitalopram TecniGen (called SSRIs/SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after stopping treatment.

Please note:

Some patients with bipolar disorder may enter a manic phase. This is characterized by unusual and rapid changes in thinking, excessive happiness, and excessive physical activity. If you experience this, contact your doctor.

Symptoms such as restlessness or difficulty sitting or standing still may also occur during the first few weeks of treatment. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Suicidal thoughts and worsening of depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or suffer from an anxiety disorder, you may occasionally have thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide. These thoughts may increase when starting antidepressants, as all these medicines require time to begin working—usually about two weeks, although in some cases it may take longer.

You are more likely to have these types of thoughts:

• If you have previously had suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm.
• If you are a young adult. Clinical trial data have shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in psychiatric patients under 25 years of age treated with an antidepressant.

If at any time you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, contact your doctor or go directly to a hospital.

It may be helpful for you to tell a close family member or friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder and ask them to read this leaflet. You may ask them whether they think your depression or anxiety disorder has worsened, or if they are concerned about changes in your behaviour.

Use in children and adolescents under 18 years

Escitalopram should not normally be used to treat children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Also, be aware that in patients under 18 years of age, there is an increased risk of adverse effects such as suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, and hostility (mainly aggression, confrontation behaviour, and irritability) when taking this type of medicine. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe Escitalopram to patients under 18 years of age if they decide it is the most appropriate treatment. If your doctor has prescribed Escitalopram to a patient under 18 years of age and you wish to discuss this decision, please consult your doctor again. You must inform your doctor if any of the symptoms described above worsen or become complicated while patients under 18 years of age are taking Escitalopram. In addition, the long-term effects on safety, as well as on growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioural development of Escitalopram in this age group, have not yet been established.

Taking Escitalopram TecniGen with other medicines

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

Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• “Non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)” containing phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, or tranylcypromine as active ingredients. If you have taken any of these medicines, you must wait 14 days before starting Escitalopram. After stopping Escitalopram, 7 days must pass before taking any of these medicines.
• “Reversible selective MAO-A inhibitors” containing moclobemide (used for the treatment of depression).
• “Irreversible MAO-B inhibitors” containing selegiline (used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease). These increase the risk of side effects.
• The antibiotic linezolid.
• Lithium (used for the treatment of bipolar disorder) and tryptophan.
• Imipramine and desipramine (both used for the treatment of depression).
• Sumatriptan and similar medicines (used for the treatment of migraine) and tramadol (used for severe pain). These increase the risk of side effects.
• Medicines that reduce blood potassium and magnesium levels, as they may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders.
• Cimetidine, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole (used for the treatment of stomach ulcers), fluconazole (used to treat fungal infections), fluvoxamine (an antidepressant), and ticlopidine (used to reduce the risk of stroke). These may increase blood levels of Escitalopram.
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) – a herbal remedy used for depression.
• Acetylsalicylic acid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (medicines used to relieve pain or reduce the risk of thrombosis, also called anticoagulants).
• Warfarin, dipyridamole, and phenprocoumon (medicines used to reduce the risk of thrombosis, also called anticoagulants). Your doctor will likely monitor your blood clotting time at the beginning and end of Escitalopram treatment to ensure the anticoagulant dose remains appropriate.
• Mefloquine (used for the treatment of malaria), bupropion (used for the treatment of depression), and tramadol (used for the treatment of severe pain), due to a possible risk of lowering the seizure threshold.
• Neuroleptics (medicines used for the treatment of schizophrenia, psychosis), due to a possible risk of lowering the seizure threshold, and antidepressants.
• Flecainide, propafenone, and metoprolol (used for cardiovascular diseases), clomipramine and nortriptyline (antidepressants), and risperidone, thioridazine, and haloperidol (antipsychotics). The dose of Escitalopram may need to be adjusted.

DO NOT TAKE Escitalopram TecniGen if you are taking medicines for heart rhythm disorders or medicines that may affect heart rhythm, such as class IA and III antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics (e.g. phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, certain antimicrobial agents (sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, intravenous erythromycin, pentamidine, antimalarials particularly halofantrine), and certain antihistamines (astemizole, mizolastine). If you have any doubts about this, consult your doctor.

Taking Escitalopram TecniGen with food, drinks, and alcohol

Escitalopram TecniGen can be taken with or without food (see section 3 “How to take Escitalopram TecniGen”).

As with many medicines, combining Escitalopram TecniGen with alcohol is not recommended, although no interaction between Escitalopram TecniGen and alcohol is expected.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not take Escitalopram if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

If you take escitalopram in the late stages of pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after delivery, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should be aware that you are taking escitalopram so they can advise you.

If you take Escitalopram during the last three months of pregnancy, be aware that the following effects may occur in the newborn baby: breathing difficulties, bluish skin, seizures, changes in body temperature, feeding difficulties, vomiting, low blood sugar, muscle stiffness or floppiness, strong reflexes, tremors, restlessness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, drowsiness, and difficulty sleeping. If your newborn baby shows any of these symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.

Ensure that your doctor or midwife knows you are taking Escitalopram. When taken during pregnancy, particularly during the last three months, medicines like Escitalopram may increase the risk of a serious condition in newborns called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which causes the baby to breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin within the first 24 hours after birth. If this happens to your baby, inform your doctor or midwife immediately.

If Escitalopram TecniGen is used during pregnancy, it should never be stopped abruptly.

Citalopram, a medicine similar to escitalopram, has shown in animal studies to reduce sperm quality. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but no effect on human fertility has been observed so far.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medicine.

Driving and using machines

During treatment with Escitalopram, you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate tools or machinery until you know how Escitalopram affects you.

Escitalopram TecniGen contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Escitalopram TecniGen

Follow exactly the instructions for using this medicine as given by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Adults

Depression

The normally recommended dose of Escitalopram TecniGen is 10 mg taken as a single daily dose. Your doctor may increase it up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Panic disorder

The initial dose of Escitalopram TecniGen is 5 mg as a single daily dose for the first week before increasing the dose to 10 mg per day. Your doctor may subsequently increase it up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Social anxiety disorder

The normally recommended dose of Escitalopram TecniGen is 10 mg taken as a single daily dose. Your doctor may reduce your dose to 5 mg per day or increase the dose up to a maximum of 20 mg per day, depending on how you respond to the medicine.

Generalized anxiety disorder

The normally recommended dose of Escitalopram TecniGen is 10 mg taken as a single daily dose. The dose may be increased by your doctor up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

The normally recommended dose of Escitalopram TecniGen is 10 mg taken as a single daily dose. The dose may be increased by your doctor up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Elderly patients (over 65 years of age)

It is recommended to start with a dose of Escitalopram TecniGen of 5 mg per day. If necessary, your doctor may increase this dose up to a maximum of 10 mg per day.

Children and adolescents (under 18 years of age)

Escitalopram TecniGen should not normally be given to children and adolescents. For further information, please see section 2 “What you need to know before taking Escitalopram TecniGen”.

You may take Escitalopram 15 mg tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets with water. Do not chew them, as they have a bitter taste.

If necessary, you may split the tablets by placing the tablet on a flat surface with the score facing upwards. The tablets can be broken by pressing down on each end of the tablet with your two index fingers.

Duration of treatment

It may take a few weeks before you start to feel better. Continue taking Escitalopram TecniGen even if you start to feel better before the expected time.

Do not change the dose of the medicine without first speaking to your doctor.

Continue taking Escitalopram TecniGen for the length of time recommended by your doctor. If you stop treatment too early, your symptoms may return. It is recommended that treatment continues for at least 6 months after you feel well again.

If you take more Escitalopram TecniGen than you should

If you take more Escitalopram TecniGen than prescribed, contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do this even if you do not notice any discomfort. Signs of overdose may include dizziness, tremor, agitation, seizures, coma, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and disturbances in the body's fluid and electrolyte balance.

Take any remaining tablets and the packaging with you when you go to the doctor or hospital, even if the packaging is empty.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service at telephone number: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Escitalopram TecniGen

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. If you forget to take a dose and remember before going to bed, take it immediately. Then continue as usual the next day. If you remember during the night or the following day, skip the missed dose and continue as usual.

If you stop taking Escitalopram TecniGen

Do not stop taking Escitalopram TecniGen unless your doctor tells you to. When you have completed your course of treatment, it is generally recommended that the dose of escitalopram be gradually reduced over several weeks.

When you stop taking Escitalopram, especially if abruptly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These are common when treatment with Escitalopram is stopped. The risk is greater when Escitalopram has been used for a long time, at high doses, or when the dose is reduced too quickly. Most people find that these symptoms are mild and disappear on their own within two weeks. However, in some patients they may be severe or prolonged (2–3 months or more). If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms when stopping Escitalopram, please contact your doctor. They may ask you to resume taking your tablets and then stop more slowly.

Withdrawal symptoms include: dizziness (feeling unsteady or off balance), tingling sensations, burning sensations, and (less frequently) electric shock-like sensations, even in the head; sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep); restlessness; headache; dizziness (nausea); sweating (including night sweats); feelings of uneasiness or agitation; tremor (shakiness); feelings of confusion or disorientation; feelings of emotional upset or irritability; diarrhoea (loose stools); visual disturbances; rapid pulse or palpitations.

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

4. Possible adverse effects

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

Adverse effects usually disappear after a few weeks of treatment. Please be aware that many of these effects may be symptoms of your illness and will therefore improve as you start to feel better.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following adverse effects during treatment:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Unusual bleeding, including gastrointestinal bleeding

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• If you notice swelling of the skin, tongue, lips, or face, or have difficulty breathing or swallowing (allergic reaction), contact your doctor or go to hospital immediately.
• If you have high fever, agitation, confusion, tremors, and sudden muscle contractions, these may be signs of a rare condition called serotonin syndrome. If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor.

If you experience any of the following adverse effects, you must contact your doctor or go to hospital immediately:

• Difficulty urinating
• Seizures (fits), see also section “Warnings and precautions”
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, signs of liver dysfunction/hepatitis
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat or feeling faint, symptoms that may indicate a life-threatening condition known as Torsade de Pointes.

In addition to the above, the following adverse effects have been reported:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Headache
• Feeling dizzy (nausea)

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (sinusitis)
• Decreased or increased appetite
• Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, difficulty falling asleep, feeling drowsy, dizziness, yawning, tremors, and itching or tingling of the skin
• Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth
• Increased sweating
• Muscle and joint pain (arthralgia and myalgia)
• Sexual disturbances (delayed ejaculation, problems with erection, decreased sexual drive, and women may experience difficulty achieving orgasm)
• Fatigue, fever
• Weight gain

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Persistent itching (urticaria), skin rash, itching (pruritus)
• Involuntary teeth grinding, agitation, nervousness, panic attacks, confusion
• Taste disturbances, sleep disturbances, fainting (syncope)
• Dilated pupils (mydriasis), visual disturbances, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Hair loss
• Vaginal bleeding
• Weight loss
• Rapid heartbeat
• Swelling of arms and legs
• Nosebleeds

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• Aggression, depersonalization, hallucinations
• Slow heart rate

Some patients have reported (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):

• Thoughts of harming yourself or suicidal thoughts, see also section “Warnings and precautions”
• Decreased sodium levels in the blood (symptoms include dizziness and malaise with muscle weakness or confusion)
• Dizziness upon standing due to low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension)
• Abnormal liver function tests (increased liver enzymes in the blood)
• Movement disorders (involuntary muscle movements)
• Painful erections (priapism)
• Bleeding disorders including skin and mucous membrane bleeding (ecchymosis) and low platelet count in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
• Sudden swelling of the skin or mucous membranes (angioedema)
• Increased urine output (inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion)
• Milk flow in women who are not breastfeeding
• Mania
• An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients taking this type of medicine
• Changes in heart rhythm (called QT interval prolongation), observed on ECG, the heart's electrical activity
• Heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth (postpartum haemorrhage), see “Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility” in section 2 for more information.

In addition, other adverse effects are known to occur with medicines that act similarly to escitalopram (the active substance in Escitalopram TecniGen). These include:

• Increased urine output (inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion)
• Milk flow in women who are not breastfeeding

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any adverse effect, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly via the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Medicines: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Escitalopram TecniGen

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging after "EXP". The expiry date is the last day of the month indicated.

Store below 25 °C.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of empty containers and unused medicines at the SIGRE collection point at your pharmacy. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist how to properly dispose of containers and unused medicines. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Escitalopram TecniGen

• The active substance is escitalopram. Each film-coated tablet contains 15 mg of escitalopram (as escitalopram oxalate).
• The other components are:

Core: microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, talc, anhydrous colloidal silica, and magnesium stearate.

Coating: hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), and macrogol.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Escitalopram TecniGen 15 mg tablets are oblong, white, biconvex, and scored on one side.

Escitalopram TecniGen 15 mg film-coated tablets are available in blister packs of 28 and 56 tablets.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Tecnimede España Industria Farmacéutica, S.A.

Avda. de Bruselas, 13, 3º D. Edificio América. Polígono Arroyo de la Vega, 28108 Alcobendas (Madrid) SPAIN

Manufacturer

Atlantic Pharma – Produções Farmacêuticas, S.A.

Rua da Tapada Grande, n.º 2; Abrunheira, 2710-089 Sintra, Portugal

This leaflet was last revised in February 2016

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.es