Stesolid 5 mg rectal solution

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Stesolid 5 mg rectal solution

diazepam

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

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, consult 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, because it could harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents

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

1. What Stesolid 5 mg is and what it is used for

Diazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. It is indicated for the treatment of febrile seizures in children over 1 year of age (approximately 10 kg) and in epileptic seizures; in states of anxiety, distress, or tension; and as a sedative in minor surgery, diagnostic procedures, and endoscopic procedures.

2. What you need to know before using Stesolid 5 mg

Do not use Stesolid 5 mg

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substance or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the medicines known as "benzodiazepines".
• if you have the muscle disease called "myasthenia gravis".
• if you have respiratory problems such as sleep apnea syndrome (brief breathing pauses during sleep) or severe respiratory insufficiency.
• if you have severe liver disease (severe hepatic insufficiency).
• if you have closed-angle glaucoma (an eye condition causing increased pressure within the eyeball).
• if you have substance dependence, including alcohol. An exception to this is the treatment of acute withdrawal reactions.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to use Stesolid

• if you have used the medicine continuously for a long period of time, as it may lead to dependence. Chronic use as a daily anticonvulsant is not recommended, since after prolonged use, a certain degree of reduced effectiveness may be observed.
• if you have epilepsy. Please note that there have been reports of increased seizures in epileptic patients treated with diazepam.
• if you have porphyria, as diazepam may trigger a recurrence of the disease.
• if you have liver or kidney disorders. Your doctor will decide whether you should take a lower dose or avoid the medicine altogether.
• if you are an elderly patient. Due to its muscle-relaxant effect, there is a risk of falls and consequently fractures, especially when getting up at night. In these patients, a 5 mg dose is recommended, as indicated in section 3 of this leaflet.

If after taking the medicine you experience reactions such as: restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggression, delirium, rage attacks, nightmares, hallucinations, psychosis, inappropriate behavior, or other adverse behavioral effects, inform your doctor immediately. These reactions are more common in children and elderly patients.

After taking this medicine, ensure that you will be able to sleep uninterrupted for 7–8 hours. Otherwise, although this is rare, you may not remember parts of what happened while you were awake.

If you have had problems with drug or alcohol dependence, you should not use this medicine unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do so.

Diazepam may alter the results of the following laboratory tests:

• Blood: increase (biological) in cholesterol, estradiol, phenytoin, prolactin, and testosterone. Decrease (biological) in thyroxine.
• Urine: increase (analytical interference) in 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid. Decrease (analytical interference) in glucose.

Children and adolescents

Due to lack of studies on safety and efficacy, the use of Stesolid is not recommended in children under one year of age (weighing less than 10 kg), unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Other medicines and Stesolid

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently using, or have recently used, any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.

Taking Stesolid together with other medicines that act on the central nervous system—such as those used to treat insomnia, anxiety, depression, severe pain, psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and allergies, as well as certain anesthetics—may increase the effect of the medicine excessively. If you are taking any medicine for these conditions, you must inform your doctor.

Please note that these instructions may also apply to medicines taken previously or in the future.

Tell your doctor if you are taking or have taken any of the following medicines:

• amitriptyline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, lithium, haloperidol (medicines used to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders),
• clozapine (a medicine for treating schizophrenia),
• amprenavir, atazanavir, ritonavir (medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS infection),
• fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections),
• barbiturates (medicines used as sedatives or anesthetics),
• propranolol, metoprolol (medicines for treating high blood pressure),
• buprenorphine, fentanyl (pain medicines),
• centrally acting muscle relaxants such as baclofen, chlorphenesin, tizanidine, methocarbamol,
• cimetidine, omeprazole (medicines for preventing or treating stomach ulcers),
• digitalis medicines (heart medicines),
• ethinyl estradiol, mestranol (oral contraceptives),
• phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid (medicines for treating epilepsy),
• rifampicin, isoniazid (used to treat tuberculosis),
• propofol (an anesthetic),
• clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin (antibiotics),
• disulfiram (a medicine used to help treat chronic alcoholism),
• levodopa (a medicine used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease),
• ethanol,
• caffeine, theophylline,
• ginkgo, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), valerian.

Use of Stesolid 5 mg with food and drinks

You should not drink alcoholic beverages while using this medicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medicine.

You should not use this medicine during pregnancy unless your doctor considers it essential.

This medicine is excreted in breast milk, so breastfeeding should be discontinued if necessary.

Driving and using machines

Stesolid may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery, as it may cause drowsiness, reduce attention, or slow reaction times. These effects are more likely at the beginning of treatment or when the dose is increased. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any of these effects. The combined use with alcoholic drinks may enhance these effects.

Stesolid contains benzoic acid (E-210), sodium benzoate (E-211), benzyl alcohol, propylene glycol (E-1520), and ethanol

This medicine contains 2.5 mg of benzoic acid (equivalent to 1 mg/ml) and 122.5 mg of sodium benzoate (equivalent to 49 mg/ml) in each single-dose container. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate may cause local irritation. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate may increase the risk of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborns (up to 4 weeks of age).

This medicine contains 37.5 mg of benzyl alcohol in each single-dose container (equivalent to 15 mg/ml). Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions and moderate local irritation.

This medicine contains 1000 mg of propylene glycol in each single-dose container (equivalent to 400 mg/ml). Propylene glycol may cause skin irritation. Do not use this medicine in infants under 4 weeks of age with open wounds or large areas of damaged skin (such as burns) without first consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine contains 250 mg of ethanol in each single-dose container (equivalent to 100 mg/ml). It may cause a burning sensation on damaged skin. In newborns (premature infants and full-term newborns), high concentrations of ethanol may cause severe local reactions and systemic toxicity due to significant absorption through immature skin.

Seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist if your child is under 5 years of age, if you have liver or kidney disease, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because the excipients may cause adverse effects. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose if you or your child are using other medicines containing benzyl alcohol, propylene glycol, or alcohol.

3. How to use Stesolid 5 mg

Follow exactly the instructions for use of this medicine provided by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Stesolid 5 mg is administered rectally.

To ensure correct administration of Stesolid, follow the ADMINISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR STESOLID as indicated below:

The recommended dose is:

Children

• 5 mg for children weighing between 10–15 kg (approximately 1 to 3 years of age).
• 10 mg for children weighing more than 16 kg (approximately 3 years of age).

Your child should not receive more than one dose in a single day if under 5 years of age.

Stesolid 5 mg is not indicated for children under 1 year of age.

Adults

• 10 mg in most cases.

Elderly patients and patients with hepatic impairment

The recommended dose for elderly patients and patients with hepatic impairment is 5 mg.

Patients with renal impairment

Although it has not been demonstrated that doses should be reduced in patients with renal disease, caution is advised. If this applies to you, consult your doctor before using this medicine.

If you think that the effect of Stesolid is too strong or too weak, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

If you use more Stesolid 5 mg than you should

You may experience symptoms ranging from drowsiness to coma. However, due to the route of administration, overdose intoxication is unlikely.

If this occurs, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately or go to the nearest hospital, and bring this leaflet with you.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact the Toxicology Information Service, Telephone 91 562 04 20.

If you forget to use Stesolid 5 mg

Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you stop using Stesolid 5 mg

Your doctor will advise you on the duration of your treatment with Stesolid. Do not stop treatment earlier or abruptly, as your condition may recur or you may experience other symptoms.

If you stop using the medicine abruptly, you may experience the following symptoms: insomnia, headache or muscle pain, anxiety, tension, restlessness, confusion, and irritability. Treatment should be discontinued gradually, following your doctor's instructions.

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

Usually, with medicines containing diazepam, adverse effects such as drowsiness, apathy, reduced alertness, confusion, fatigue, headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, or double vision have been observed at the beginning of treatment. These effects normally disappear with continued treatment.

Occasionally, other adverse effects have been reported, such as gastrointestinal disturbances, skin reactions, or changes in sexual desire.

In general, the following adverse effects have been described after administration of diazepam:

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

Common (may affect between 1 and 10 in 100 patients)

Uncommon (may affect between 1 and 10 in 1,000 patients)

Rare (may affect between 1 and 10 in 10,000 patients)

Very rare (may affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 patients)

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Rare: neutropenia (reduced number of neutrophils) with prolonged administration of diazepam.
Very rare: anemia, pancytopenia (reduction in all cellular elements of the blood), decreased platelet count.

Immune system disorders

Very rare: allergies

Endocrine disorders

Very rare: cases of nipple milk secretion in women with normal serum prolactin levels, and breast enlargement in men who habitually took diazepam.

Benzodiazepines may decrease body temperature, probably in a dose-dependent manner; this effect has been observed in neonates of mothers who took benzodiazepines in the late stages of pregnancy.

Psychiatric disorders

Rare: depression, decreased sexual desire, paradoxical excitation which may lead to: hostility, aggression, and disinhibition, anxiety, hallucinations, insomnia, sleep disturbances. Mild mental disturbances: memory loss, slowed reaction time.

Very rare: difficulty remembering certain things.

Nervous system disorders

Very common: somnolence.

Common: headache, lack of muscle coordination, dizziness, confusion.

Uncommon: hyperactivity, speech disturbances, tremor.

Rare: rebound seizures.

Eye disorders

Rare: blurred vision, double vision, involuntary eye movements.

Diazepam has some anticholinergic activity, which could cause pupil dilation and thus exacerbate narrow-angle glaucoma.

Ear and labyrinth disorders

Uncommon: vertigo.

Cardiac disorders (only reported when administered intravenously):

Uncommon: changes in heart rhythm, inflammation of veins with thrombus formation.

With rapid intravenous administration

Uncommon: thrombus formation in veins, vein inflammation, local irritation, swelling.

Rare: severe hypotension, decreased heart rate, circulatory collapse.

Vascular disorders

Very rare: bullous vasculitis (purple skin rash due to small vessel damage).

Respiratory disorders

Common: respiratory depression.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Uncommon: gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, constipation, salivation disorders.

Hepatobiliary disorders

Very rare: yellowing of the skin, increased liver enzymes.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Uncommon: rash and urticaria, sweating, local irritation after rectal administration.

Very rare: a clinical condition characterized by fever, rashes, and blood abnormalities (Sweet's syndrome) has been reported.

Musculoskeletal disorders

Very rare: in patients with low blood sodium concentration, muscle pain and weakness may occur, which can become very severe.

Renal and urinary disorders

Uncommon: urinary retention, incontinence.

Reporting of adverse reactions

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

5. Storage of Stesolid 5 mg

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.

No special storage conditions are required.

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 will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Stesolid 5 mg

• The active substance is diazepam. Each 2.5 ml single-dose rectal solution container contains 5 mg of diazepam.
• The other components (excipients) are: benzoic acid (E-210), sodium benzoate (E-211), propylene glycol (E-1520), ethanol, benzyl alcohol, and purified water.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Stesolid 5 mg is a practically colourless, clear solution supplied in single-dose containers for rectal administration. Each single-dose container contains 2.5 ml of rectal solution.

It is available in cartons containing 2 and 5 single-dose containers.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Faes Farma, S.A.

Autonomia Etorbidea, 10

48940 Leioa (Bizkaia)

Spain

Manufacturer

Faes Farma, S.A.

Maximo Agirre Kalea, 14

48940 Leioa (Bizkaia)

Spain

Or

Faes Farma, S.A.

Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia

Ibaizabal Bidea, Edificio 901

48160 Derio (Bizkaia)

Spain

Date of the most recent revision of this leaflet: October 2024

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS): http://www.aemps.gob.es/