Mirtazapine Flas Normogen 30 mg orodispersible tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the patient

Mirtazapine Flas Normogen 30 mg orodispersible tablets EFG

Mirtazapine

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, as 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 you should not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it may harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents

1. What Mirtazapine Flas Normogen is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

3. How to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Mirtazapine Flas Normogen is and what it is used for

Mirtazapine Flas Normogen belongs to a group of medicines called antidepressants.

Mirtazapine Flas Normogen is used to treat depression in adults.

It takes one to two weeks before Mirtazapine Flas Normogen starts to take effect. After 2 to 4 weeks, you may begin to feel better. You should consult your doctor if your condition worsens or if you do not improve after 2 to 4 weeks.

For more information, see section 3, “When you can expect to start feeling better”.

2. What you need to know before starting to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

Do not take or consult your doctor before starting Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

• If you are allergic to mirtazapine or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6). In this case, consult your doctor as soon as possible before taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen.
• If you are taking or have recently taken (within the last two weeks) medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
• If you have ever experienced a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blisters, or mouth sores after taking mirtazapine or other medicines.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen.

Children and adolescents

Mirtazapine should not normally be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as its efficacy has not been demonstrated. At the same time, you should know 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 behavior, and irritability) when taking this type of medicine. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe mirtazapine to a patient under 18 years of age if they consider it to be the most appropriate treatment. If your doctor has prescribed mirtazapine to a patient under 18 years of age and you wish to discuss this decision, please contact your doctor again. You must inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above appear or worsen in patients under 18 years of age who are taking mirtazapine. In addition, the long-term effects on safety related to growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioral development of mirtazapine in this age group are still unknown. A considerable weight gain has also been observed more frequently in this age group when treated with mirtazapine, compared to adults.

Suicidal thoughts and worsening depression

If you are depressed, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide. This may worsen when you first start taking antidepressants, as these medicines usually take time to work—typically two weeks or sometimes longer.

You may be more likely to have such 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 behavior in psychiatric patients under 25 years of age treated with an antidepressant.
• If at any time you have thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide, consult your doctor or go to a hospital immediately.

It may be helpful to tell a close relative or friend that you are depressed and ask them to read this leaflet. You may ask them to let you know if they think your depression is getting worse, or if they are concerned about changes in your behavior.

Also, take special care with Mirtazapine Flas Normogen:

• If you have or have ever had any of the following conditions:

→ Inform your doctor about these conditions before taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, if you have not already done so:

• seizures (epilepsy). If seizures occur or your seizures become more frequent, stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen and contact your doctor immediately;

• liver disease, including jaundice. If jaundice occurs, stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen and contact your doctor immediately;

• kidney disease;

• heart disease or low blood pressure;

• schizophrenia. If psychotic symptoms, such as paranoid thoughts, become more frequent or severe, contact your doctor immediately;

• bipolar depression (alternating periods of elevated mood/hyperactivity and periods of depression). If you start feeling overly cheerful or overexcited, stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen and contact your doctor immediately;

• diabetes (you may need to adjust your dose of insulin or other antidiabetic medicines);

• eye conditions, such as increased eye pressure (glaucoma);

• difficulty urinating, which could be due to an enlarged prostate.

• certain types of heart disease that may alter your heart rhythm, a recent heart attack, heart failure, or use of certain medicines that may affect heart rhythm.

  • If signs of infection appear, such as unexplained high fever, sore throat, and mouth ulcers;

• Stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen and contact your doctor immediately for a blood test.

  • Rarely, these symptoms may indicate disorders in blood cell production in the bone marrow. Although rare, these symptoms typically appear 4–6 weeks after starting treatment.

• If you are elderly. You may be more sensitive to the adverse effects of antidepressant medicines.

• Serious skin reactions have been reported with the use of mirtazapine, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Discontinue use and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the symptoms described in section 4 related to these serious skin reactions.

• If you have previously experienced serious skin reactions, re-initiation of treatment with mirtazapine is not recommended.

Other medicines and Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

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

Do not take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen together with:

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Also, do not take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen within two weeks after stopping MAOIs. If you stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, do not take MAOIs for the following two weeks.

Examples of MAOIs include moclobemide, tranylcypromine (both antidepressants), and selegiline (used for Parkinson's disease).

Be careful if you take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen together with:

• antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), venlafaxine and L-tryptophan or triptans (used for migraine), tramadol (for pain), linezolid (an antibiotic), lithium (used to treat certain psychiatric disorders), methylene blue (used to treat high levels of methemoglobin in the blood), and St. John's Wort – Hypericum perforatum (a herbal remedy for depression). In very rare cases, Mirtazapine Flas Normogen alone or in combination with these medicines may lead to a condition called serotonin syndrome. Some symptoms of this syndrome include: unexplained fever, sweating, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, uncontrollable muscle contractions, chills, exaggerated reflexes, agitation, mood changes, and loss of consciousness. If you experience a combination of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
• the antidepressant nefazodone. This may increase the amount of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking this medicine. It may be necessary to reduce the dose of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, or increase it again when stopping nefazodone.
• medicines for anxiety or insomnia, such as benzodiazepines.
• medicines for schizophrenia, such as olanzapine.
• medicines for allergies, such as cetirizine.
• medicines for severe pain, such as morphine.

When used in combination with these medicines, Mirtazapine Flas Normogen may increase the drowsiness caused by them.

• medicines for infections: antibacterial medicines (such as erythromycin), antifungal medicines (such as ketoconazole), medicines for HIV/AIDS (HIV protease inhibitors), and medicines for stomach ulcers (such as cimetidine).

If taken together with Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, these medicines may increase the amount of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking these medicines. It may be necessary to reduce the dose of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, or increase it again when stopping these medicines.

• medicines for epilepsy, such as carbamazepine and phenytoin;
• medicines for tuberculosis, such as rifampicin.

If taken together with Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, these medicines may reduce the amount of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking these medicines. It may be necessary to increase the dose of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, or decrease it again when stopping these medicines.

• medicines to prevent blood clotting, such as warfarin.

Mirtazapine Flas Normogen may enhance the effects of warfarin on the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking this medicine. If taken together, your doctor is advised to monitor your blood regularly.

• medicines that may affect heart rhythm, such as certain antibiotics and some antipsychotics.

Taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen with food and alcohol

You may feel drowsy if you drink alcohol while being treated with Mirtazapine Flas Normogen. It is recommended not to drink any alcohol. You may take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen with or without food.

Pregnancy and lactation

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.

Limited experience with the use of mirtazapine in pregnant women does not indicate an increased risk. However, caution should be exercised if used during pregnancy. If you take Mirtazapina Flas Normogen until or shortly before delivery, your baby will be monitored for possible adverse effects.

Similar medications (SSRIs) taken during pregnancy may increase the risk of newborns developing a serious condition 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 occurs in your baby, you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

Consult your doctor if you can breastfeed while taking Mirtazapina Flas Normogen.

Driving and using machines

During treatment with Mirtazapina Flas Normogen, you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate tools or machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Mirtazapina Flas Normogen contains glucose and aspartame

This medicine contains glucose. If your doctor has informed you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with him before taking this medicine.

This medicine contains 4 mg of aspartame per tablet.

Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine, which may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine accumulates because the body cannot eliminate it properly.

3. How to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

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

How much to take

The recommended starting dose is 15 mg or 30 mg per day. Your doctor may recommend increasing your dose after a few days to the amount that is best for you (between 15 mg and 45 mg per day). The dose is usually the same for all age groups. However, if you are elderly or have kidney or liver disease, your doctor may adjust your dose.

When to take it

→ Take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen at the same time each day.

It is best to take the dose of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen as a single dose before bedtime. However, your doctor may recommend splitting your dose, taking part in the morning and part before bedtime. The higher dose should be taken before going to bed.

How to take the orodispersible tablet

1. The tablets are taken by mouth. To avoid crushing the orodispersible tablet, gently press the tablet through the blister foil.
2. Take the orodispersible tablet with dry hands and place it on your tongue.

The orodispersible tablet will dissolve rapidly and can be swallowed without water.

When you can expect to feel better

Mirtazapine Flas Normogen usually starts to take effect after 1 or 2 weeks, and you may begin to feel better after 2 to 4 weeks.

It is important that during the first weeks of treatment you discuss the effects of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen with your doctor:

→ Between 2 and 4 weeks after starting Mirtazapine Flas Normogen, talk to your doctor about how this medicine has affected you.

If you still do not feel better, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose. In that case, speak to your doctor again after another 2–4 weeks.

You will usually need to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen until depressive symptoms have been absent for 4–6 months.

If you take more Mirtazapine Flas Normogen than you should

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

The most likely symptoms of an overdose of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen (without other medicines or alcohol) are drowsiness, confusion, and palpitations. Symptoms of a possible overdose may include changes in your heart rhythm (fast, irregular heartbeat) and/or fainting, which could be signs of a potentially life-threatening condition known as Torsade de pointes.

If you forget to take Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

If you are taking your dose once daily:

• Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Take the next dose at your usual time.

If you are taking your dose twice daily:

• If you forget the morning dose, simply take it together with your evening dose.
• If you forget the evening dose, do not take it the next morning; skip it and continue with your normal morning and evening doses.
• If you forget both doses, do not try to make them up. Skip both doses and resume your normal morning and evening dosing the next day.

If you stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

Stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen only if advised by your doctor.

Stopping too early may cause depression to return. When you start feeling better, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will decide when it is appropriate to stop treatment.

Do not stop taking Mirtazapine Flas Normogen abruptly, even if depression has resolved. If you stop Mirtazapine Flas Normogen suddenly, you may feel unwell, dizzy, agitated, or anxious, and may experience headaches. These symptoms can be avoided by stopping treatment gradually. Your doctor will advise you on how to reduce the dose step by step.

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 experiences them.

If you experience any of the following serious adverse effects, stop taking mirtazapine and inform your doctor immediately.

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

• feeling of exaggerated euphoria (mania).

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

• yellowing of the eyes or skin; this may suggest liver function abnormalities (jaundice).

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

• signs of infection such as unexplained and sudden high fever, sore throat, and mouth ulcers (agranulocytosis). In rare cases, mirtazapine may cause disturbances in blood cell production (bone marrow depression). Some people become less resistant to infections because mirtazapine may cause a temporary decrease in white blood cells (granulocytopenia). In rare cases, mirtazapine may also cause a decrease in red and white blood cells and platelets (aplastic anemia), a decrease in platelets (thrombocytopenia), or an increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood (eosinophilia),

• epileptic seizure (convulsions),

• a combination of symptoms such as unexplained fever, sweating, palpitations, diarrhoea, uncontrollable muscle contractions, chills, exaggerated reflexes, agitation, mood changes, loss of consciousness, and increased saliva production. In very rare cases, these symptoms may be signs of a disorder called "serotonin syndrome",

• thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide,

• severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis),

• red patches on the trunk, such as well-defined or circular macules, often with blisters in the center, skin peeling, and ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and eyes. These severe skin rashes may be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).

• Generalized erythema, elevated body temperature, and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).

Other possible adverse effects with mirtazapine are:

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

• increased appetite and weight gain,
• drowsiness,
• headache,
• dry mouth.

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

• lethargy,
• dizziness,
• tremor,
• nausea,
• diarrhoea,
• vomiting,
• constipation,
• hives or skin rashes (exanthema),
• joint pain (arthralgia) or muscle pain (myalgia),
• back pain,
• dizziness or fainting when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotension),
• swelling (usually in ankles or feet) due to fluid retention (edema),
• fatigue,
• vivid dreams,
• confusion,
• anxiety,
• difficulty sleeping.
• Memory problems, which in most cases resolved when treatment was discontinued.

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

• unusual skin sensations such as burning, prickling, tingling, or numbness (paraesthesia),
• involuntary restless leg movements during sleep,
• fainting (syncope),
• numbness sensation in the mouth (oral hypoesthesia),
• low blood pressure,
• nightmares,
• agitation,
• hallucinations,
• inability to remain still.

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

• muscle tics or contractions (myoclonus),
• aggression,
• abdominal pain, nausea; this may indicate inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

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

• abnormal sensations in the mouth (oral paraesthesia),
• swelling in the mouth (oral edema),
• swelling throughout the body (generalized edema),
• localized swelling,
• hyponatremia,
• inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone,
• severe skin reactions (bullous dermatitis, erythema multiforme),
• sleepwalking,
• speech disorder,
• increased levels of creatine kinase in the blood,
• difficulty urinating (urinary retention),
• muscle pain, stiffness and/or weakness, darkening or discoloration of urine (rhabdomyolysis).

Other adverse effects in children and adolescents

In patients under 18 years of age, the following adverse effects were commonly observed in clinical trials: considerable weight gain, urticaria, and increased blood triglyceride levels.

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 can also report them directly via the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Conservation of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date is 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. Dispose of empty containers and any unused medicines at a SIGRE collection point at your pharmacy. If you are in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of containers and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Mirtazapine Flas Normogen

• The active substance is mirtazapine.
• Each orodispersible tablet contains 30 mg of mirtazapine (as mirtazapine hemihydrate).
• The other components are: mannitol, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, aspartame, orange flavour (containing glucose in maltodextrin derived from corn), and vegetable magnesium stearate.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

White, round, flat, bevelled orodispersible tablet, marked with "30" on one side.

Pack size: 30 tablets in a pre-perforated unit-dose blister pack.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

LABORATORIOS NORMON, S.A.

Ronda de Valdecarrizo, 6 – 28760 Tres Cantos – Madrid (SPAIN)

Date of the most recent revision of this leaflet: September 2020

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

You can access detailed and up-to-date information about this medicine by scanning with your mobile phone (smartphone) the QR code included in the package leaflet and outer packaging. You can also access this information at the following internet address: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/84116/P_84116.html