Mirtazapine Teva-Ratio 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG

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, pharmacist or nurse.

• 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, pharmacist or nurse, even if these are adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the leaflet

1. What Mirtazapine Teva-ratio is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before taking Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

3. How to take Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

4. Possible side effects

5. Storage of Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Mirtazapine Teva-ratio is and what it is used for

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio contains the active substance mirtazapine and belongs to a group of medicines called antidepressants.

Mirtazapine is used to treat depression in adults.

It takes 1 to 2 weeks before mirtazapine 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 feel better”.

2. What you need to know before taking Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

Do not take Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

• if you are allergic to mirtazapine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). In this case, consult your doctor as soon as possible before taking mirtazapine.
• If you are taking or have recently taken (within the last two weeks) medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting mirtazapine.

DO NOT TAKE OR CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING mirtazapine:

If you have ever had a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blisters, or mouth sores after taking mirtazapine or other medicines.

Children and adolescents

Generally, mirtazapine should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years of age because its efficacy has not been demonstrated. Also, 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 (predominantly aggression, confrontational behavior, and anger) when taking this type of medicine. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe mirtazapine to patients under 18 years of age if they decide it is in the patient's best interest. If your doctor has prescribed mirtazapine to a patient under 18 years of age and you wish to discuss this decision, please return to your doctor. 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 in patients in this age group taking mirtazapine are still unknown. Furthermore, a significant weight gain has 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 about two weeks or sometimes longer to take effect.

You may be more likely to have such thoughts if:

• you have previously had suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm.
• 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 family member or friend that you are depressed and ask them to read this leaflet. You may ask them to inform you if they think your depression is getting worse or if they are concerned about changes in your behavior.

Also, take special care with mirtazapine

If you have or have ever had any of the following conditions.

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

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

• liver disease, including jaundice. If jaundice occurs, stop taking mirtazapine 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 (periods of elevated mood/hyperactivity alternate with periods of depression). If you start feeling elated or overexcited, stop taking mirtazapine and contact your doctor immediately;

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

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

• difficulty urinating, which may be due to an enlarged prostate;

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

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

Stop taking mirtazapine and contact your doctor immediately for a blood test.

Rarely, these symptoms may indicate disturbances 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 such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) have been reported with the use of mirtazapine. Stop taking it 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, mirtazapine treatment should not be restarted.

Other medicines and Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

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

Do not take mirtazapine together with:

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Also, do not take mirtazapine during the two weeks following discontinuation of MAOIs. If you stop taking mirtazapine, do not take MAOIs for the following two weeks.

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

Be careful if you take mirtazapine 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 alone or in combination with these medicines may lead to a condition called serotonin syndrome. Some symptoms of this syndrome include: unexplained fever, sweating, palpitations, 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. It may increase the amount of mirtazapine in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking this medicine. It may be necessary to reduce the dose of mirtazapine, 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. In combination with these medicines, mirtazapine may increase the drowsiness caused by these medicines.

• medicines for infections: medicines for bacterial infections (such as erythromycin), medicines for fungal infections (such as ketoconazole), and medicines for HIV/AIDS (HIV protease inhibitors) and medicines for stomach ulcers (such as cimetidine). If taken together with mirtazapine, these medicines may increase the amount of mirtazapine in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking these medicines. It may be necessary to reduce the dose of mirtazapine, 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, these medicines may reduce the amount of mirtazapine in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking these medicines. It may be necessary to increase the dose of mirtazapine, or reduce it again when stopping these medicines.

• medicines to prevent blood clotting such as warfarin. Mirtazapine may enhance the effects of warfarin in the blood. Inform your doctor if you are taking this medicine. If taken together, it is recommended that your doctor perform regular blood tests.
• medicines that may affect heart rhythm, such as certain antibiotics and some antipsychotics.

Taking Mirtazapine Teva-ratio with food and alcohol

You may feel drowsy if you drink alcohol while being treated with mirtazapine. It is recommended not to drink any alcohol.

You may take mirtazapine with or without food.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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

Pregnancy

Limited experience with mirtazapine administration in pregnant women does not indicate an increased risk. However, caution should be exercised if used during pregnancy. If you take mirtazapine up to or shortly before delivery, your baby will be examined for possible adverse effects.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know that you are taking mirtazapine. When taken during pregnancy, similar medicines (SSRIs) may increase the risk of a serious condition in newborns called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), causing the baby to breathe faster and appear blue. These symptoms usually begin within the first 24 hours after the baby's birth. If this happens to your baby, contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

Breastfeeding

Consult your doctor if you can breastfeed while taking mirtazapine.

Driving and using machines

Mirtazapine may affect your concentration or alertness. Make sure your abilities are not impaired before driving or operating machinery. If your doctor has prescribed mirtazapine to a patient under 18 years of age, ensure that concentration and alertness are not affected before engaging in activities such as cycling.

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio contains lactose

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

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio contains sodium

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

3. How to take Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

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

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

When to take Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

Take mirtazapine at the same time each day. It is best to take the dose as a single dose before going to bed. However, your doctor may recommend that you divide your daily dose, taking part in the morning and part in the evening before going to bed. The higher dose should be taken before bedtime. The tablets are taken orally. Take the prescribed dose of mirtazapine without chewing, with water or juice.

The tablet may be divided into equal doses.

When to expect improvement

Mirtazapine 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 speak with your doctor about the effects of mirtazapine:

→ Between 2 and 4 weeks after starting mirtazapine, 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 continue taking mirtazapine until depressive symptoms have been absent for 4–6 months.

If you take more Mirtazapine Teva-ratio than you should

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

If you or someone else takes too much mirtazapine, consult a doctor immediately. The most likely symptoms of an overdose of mirtazapine (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 Teva-ratio

If you are supposed to take your dose once daily:

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

If you are supposed to take 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 recover them. Skip both doses and the next day continue with your normal morning and evening doses.

If you stop taking Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

Stop taking mirtazapine only after consulting your doctor.

If you stop too early, depression may return. When you start feeling better, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will decide when you can stop treatment.

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

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 may cause adverse effects, although not everybody will experience them.

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

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

• Feeling of exaggerated elation (mania).

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

• Yellowing of the eyes or skin; may indicate liver dysfunction (jaundice).

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

• Signs of infection such as sudden unexplained 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 very rare cases, mirtazapine may also cause a decrease in red and white blood cells and platelets (aplastic anaemia), a decrease in platelets (thrombocytopenia), or an increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood (eosinophilia).
• 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 indicate a disorder called "serotonin syndrome".
• Thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide.
• Red spots on the trunk, appearing 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 (oedema)
• Fatigue
• Vivid dreams
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Memory problems, which in most cases resolved when treatment was discontinued

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

• Abnormal skin sensations such as burning, pricking, tingling, or numbness (paraesthesia)
• Restless legs syndrome
• 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):

• Tics or muscle 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 oedema)
• Swelling throughout the body (generalized oedema)
• Localized swelling
• Low sodium levels which may cause headache, fatigue, seizures, and coma (hyponatraemia)
• Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone
• Severe skin reactions (bullous dermatitis, erythema multiforme)
• Sleepwalking (somnambulism)
• Speech disorder
• Increased blood creatine kinase levels
• Difficulty urinating (urinary retention)
• Muscle pain, stiffness and/or weakness, darkening or discoloration of urine (rhabdomyolysis)
• Increased levels of prolactin hormone in the blood (hyperprolactinaemia, including symptoms such as breast enlargement and/or milky nipple discharge)
• Painful and prolonged penile erection

Additional adverse effects in children and adolescents

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

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any adverse effect, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through 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. Storage of Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

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

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

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

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of unused medicines and their containers at the SIGRE collection point at your pharmacy. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and containers you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Mirtazapine Teva-ratio

• The active substance is mirtazapine.

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG contains 15 mg of mirtazapine per film-coated tablet.

• The other components are:

Tablet core: monohydrate lactose, pregelatinized maize starch, anhydrous colloidal silica (E551), sodium croscarmellose (E468), magnesium stearate (E470b).

Tablet coating: hypromellose (E464), macrogol 8000 (E1521), titanium dioxide (E171), talc.

The film coating of Mirtazapine Teva-ratio 15 mg film-coated tablets EFG also contains yellow iron oxide (E172) and red iron oxide (E172).

Nature of the product and pack contents

Mirtazapine Teva-ratio is film-coated tablets.

Yellow, biconvex, oval film-coated tablets, scored on both sides, 10 x 5.2 mm in diameter. Marked with “I” on one side. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.

Pack sizes:

10, 20, 30, 50, 60 and 100 tablets in blister packs.

100 tablets in HDPE bottles with PE caps.

Only certain pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Teva B.V.

Swensweg 5,

2031GA Haarlem,

The Netherlands

Manufacturer:

Actavis Ltd

BLB 015, BLB 016,

Bulebel Industrial Estate

ZTN3000 Zejtun

Malta

or

Actavis Group PTC ehf

Dalshraun 1, 220

Hafnarfjörður

Iceland

or

Balkanpharma-Dupnitsa AD

3 Samokovsko Shosse Str.

Dupnitsa, 2600

Bulgaria

For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:

Teva Pharma, S.L.U.

C/ Anabel Segura 11, Edificio Albatros B, 1st floor

28108 Alcobendas (Madrid)

Spain

This medicinal product is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area <and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)> under the following names:

Germany Mirtazapin-ratiopharm 15 mg Filmtabletten

Denmark Mirtazapin Teva B.V.

Spain Mirtazapina Teva-ratio 15 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG

Finland Mirtazapin Teva 15 mg tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen

Luxembourg Mirtazapin-ratiopharm 15 mg Filmtabletten

Portugal Mirtazapina Refta

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet: March 2023

Other sources of information

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

You can access detailed and up-to-date information on this medicinal product by scanning the QR code included on the packaging with your mobile phone (smartphone). You can also access this information at the following internet address: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/88858/P_88858.html