Trankimazin Retard 1 mg prolonged-release tablets

Spain
Brand name Trankimazin Retard 1 mg prolonged-release tablets
Form tablets, prolonged-release
Active substance / Dosage
ALPRAZOLAM · 1 mg
Prescription type Psychotropic Medicine. Prescription Only
Registration number 61151
Trankimazin Retard 1 mg prolonged-release tablets tablets, prolonged-release

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

TRANKIMAZIN RETARD 1mg tablets

Alprazolam

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

1. What Trankimazin Retard is and what it is used for

Trankimazin Retard contains the active substance alprazolam. It belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines (anxiolytic medicines).

Trankimazin Retard is used in adults for the treatment of anxiety symptoms that are severe, disabling, or causing significant distress to the patient. This medicine is intended for short-term use only.

2. What you need to know before starting to take Trankimazin Retard

Do not take Trankimazin Retard

  • if you are allergic to alprazolam, to benzodiazepines, or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6)
  • if you suffer from breathing difficulties, with or without sleep-related apnea (sleep apnea)
  • if you have a disease called myasthenia gravis, characterized by muscle weakness
  • if you have severe liver problems

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Trankimazin Retard

  • If you have any lung, kidney, or liver problems.
  • If you have felt or currently feel so depressed that you have had thoughts or ideas about suicide.
  • After prolonged use of alprazolam, a certain loss of effectiveness (tolerance) may occur.
  • There is a risk of developing addiction/dependence when using Trankimazin.
  • If during treatment you notice symptoms of mania (a state of overexcitement, feelings of euphoria, or hyperirritability) or hypomania (a state of exaggerated excitement and activity).

Treatment with benzodiazepines, including alprazolam, may lead to dependence, primarily after long-term, uninterrupted use. To minimize the risk of dependence, the following precautions should be observed:

  • Benzodiazepines should only be taken on a doctor's prescription (never because they worked for other patients) and should never be recommended to others.

  • Do not increase the doses prescribed by your doctor in any way, nor extend the treatment beyond the recommended duration.

  • Consult your doctor regularly so they can decide whether you should continue treatment.

  • Do not combine multiple benzodiazepines, regardless of their indication.

  • When stopping treatment with alprazolam, symptoms similar to those that led you to start Trankimazin Retard may reappear (rebound effect). To avoid this, it is recommended not to stop treatment abruptly, but to gradually reduce the dose according to your doctor's instructions (see section "If you stop taking Trankimazin Retard").

  • Using alprazolam together with opioid-type medications may cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

  • Benzodiazepines may cause memory loss and reactions such as: restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggressiveness, delirium, rage attacks, nightmares, hallucinations, psychosis, inappropriate behavior, and other adverse behavioral effects. If any of these occur, you must stop treatment and consult your doctor.

  • It is very important that you inform your doctor if you have a history of drug or alcohol use.

Taking Trankimazin Retard with other medicines

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

Alprazolam may interact with other medicines. Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

  • Central nervous system depressants, as they may enhance the sedative effect of Trankimazin Retard:

  • Major tranquilizers (antipsychotics).

  • Sleep-inducing agents (hypnotics).

  • Medicines used to treat depression.

  • Medicines used for epilepsy treatment (antiepileptics).

  • Narcotic analgesics and opioids (morphine derivatives), as they may increase feelings of euphoria, potentially increasing psychological dependence.

  • Medicines used for anxiety treatment (anxiolytics/sedatives).

  • Anesthetics.

  • Sedating antihistamines (medicines for treating allergies).

  • Concomitant use of Trankimazin Retard and opioids (strong analgesics, medications for substitution therapy (opioid addiction treatment), and some cough medicines) increases the risk of drowsiness, difficulty breathing (respiratory depression), coma, and may be potentially fatal. Because of this, concomitant use should only be considered when no other treatment options are available.

  • However, if your doctor prescribes Trankimazin Retard together with opioids, the dose and duration of concomitant treatment must be limited by your doctor.

  • Inform your doctor about all opioid medicines you are taking and closely follow your doctor's dosage recommendations. It may be helpful to inform friends or family members so they are aware of the signs and symptoms mentioned above. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

  • Certain groups of medicines that act on the body (cytochrome P450 inhibitors) may interact with Trankimazin Retard and, in some cases, increase its activity. Some medicines that may interact with Trankimazin Retard include:

  • Medicines used to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole. Concurrent use with Trankimazin Retard is not recommended.

  • The following antidepressants: nefazodone, fluvoxamine, and fluoxetine.

  • Gastric protectants such as cimetidine.

  • Dextropropoxyphene (a narcotic analgesic).

  • Oral contraceptives.

  • Diltiazem (an antihypertensive).

  • Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin.

  • Medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS such as ritonavir, etc.

  • Digoxin (a medicine used to suppress or prevent heart rhythm disturbances).

Taking Trankimazin Retard with food, drinks, and alcohol

During treatment, avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol may enhance sedation, which could affect your alertness (see section "Driving and use of machines").

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

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

Use of Trankimazin Retard is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, unless in the doctor's opinion the benefit outweighs the risk to the child.

If Trankimazin Retard is administered during late pregnancy or during childbirth, effects in the newborn may include decreased body temperature (hypothermia), reduced muscle tone (hypotonia), and moderate respiratory depression.

Infants born to mothers who chronically take benzodiazepines during the last stage of pregnancy may develop physical dependence and may experience withdrawal symptoms in the postnatal period.

Use in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age)

Alprazolam is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Benzodiazepines should not be given to children unless strictly necessary and prescribed by a doctor. The efficacy and safety of alprazolam have not been established in individuals under 18 years of age.

Use in elderly patients (over 65 years of age)

Trankimazin Retard may affect this group of patients more than younger patients. If you belong to this group, your doctor may reduce your dose and monitor your response to treatment. Please follow their instructions carefully (see section "How to take Trankimazin Retard").

Benzodiazepines and related products should be used with caution in elderly patients due to the risk of sedation and/or musculoskeletal weakness, which may lead to falls, often with serious consequences in this population.

Special patient groups

If your liver or kidneys are not functioning properly, consult your doctor, who may advise you to use a lower dose of Trankimazin Retard.

If you suffer from respiratory disorders, inform your doctor.

Driving and use of machines

Trankimazin Retard may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery, as it may cause drowsiness, reduce your attention, or decrease your reaction capacity. 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.

These effects may be intensified if alcohol is consumed simultaneously.

Trankimazin Retard contains lactose

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

3. How to take Trankimazin Retard

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

Dosing:

Trankimazin Retard tablets should be taken whole, with the help of a small amount of liquid. They must not be chewed, crushed, or divided. If a single daily dose is prescribed, it is preferable to take it in the morning.

Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate Trankimazin Retard formulation based on the dose you require.

The usual doses are as follows:

  • The initial dose is 1 mg of alprazolam per day, divided into one or two doses.
  • The usual dose ranges between 0.5 mg and 4 mg per day, divided into one or two doses.

In elderly patients, those with chronic respiratory insufficiency, or with liver or kidney impairment, the initially recommended dose is 0.5 mg to 1 mg of alprazolam per day, divided into one or two doses, which may be increased by your doctor if necessary and well tolerated.

Each individual dose must not exceed the limits indicated, nor must the total daily dose, unless your doctor specifically instructs otherwise.

Duration and discontinuation of treatment:

The maximum duration of treatment should not exceed 2–4 weeks. Long-term treatment is not recommended. If your doctor considers it necessary to extend the treatment in your case, it will be done for limited periods, and your condition will be frequently monitored.

You must never stop treatment abruptly. Your doctor will determine the duration of treatment depending on the progression of your condition and will explain how you should gradually reduce the dose until treatment is completed.

If you feel that the effect of Trankimazin Retard is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more Trankimazin Retard than you should

If you have taken more Trankimazin Retard than you should, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or go to the nearest hospital, taking this leaflet with you.

Overdose with benzodiazepines generally manifests as varying degrees of central nervous system depression, ranging from drowsiness to coma.

Symptoms include drowsiness (sedation), speech disorders (dysarthria), coordination disturbances, confusion, lethargy (state of deep and prolonged drowsiness), decreased muscle tone, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, rarely coma, and very rarely death. Serious sequelae are rare unless alprazolam is taken together with other drugs or alcohol.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact the Toxicology Information Service at telephone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Trankimazin Retard

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. If the missed dose was recent, take your dose immediately; otherwise, wait until the next scheduled dose and do not take a double dose to compensate.

If you stop treatment with Trankimazin Retard

Treatment with alprazolam may lead to dependence; therefore, abruptly stopping Trankimazin Retard may cause withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms that may occur include: headache, muscle pain, anxiety, tension, restlessness, confusion, irritability, general feeling of discomfort (dysphoria), insomnia, sensitivity to light, sounds, and physical contact, tingling and cramps in the limbs and abdomen, vomiting, sweating, tremor, depersonalization, hallucinations, and seizures. If this occurs, you should consult your doctor immediately.

If you have any further questions about using 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.

The adverse effects that may occur during treatment with Trankimazin Retard occur predominantly at the beginning of treatment and usually disappear with continued administration or after a dose reduction.

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

  • Depression.
  • Sedation, somnolence, coordination disorder (ataxia), memory impairment, difficulty speaking (dysarthria), dizziness, headache.
  • Constipation, dry mouth.
  • Fatigue, irritability.

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

  • Confusion, disorientation, altered sexual desire (libido), anxiety, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), nervousness.
  • Abnormal coordination, impaired balance, difficulty concentrating, excessive sleepiness (hypersomnia), prolonged drowsiness (lethargy), tremor.
  • Nausea, decreased appetite.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Dermatitis.
  • Sexual dysfunction.
  • Weight changes.

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

  • Mental and behavioural disorders (mania), hallucinations, angry reactions, agitation, dependence.
  • Memory loss (amnesia).
  • Loss of muscle strength.
  • Inability to retain urine in the bladder (urinary incontinence).
  • Irregular menstruation.
  • Withdrawal symptoms.

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

  • Increased blood levels of prolactin (a hormone responsible for stimulating and maintaining lactation after childbirth).
  • Mental and behavioural disorders (hypomania), aggression, hostility, abnormal thinking, psychomotor hyperactivity, drug abuse.
  • Autonomic nervous system imbalance, involuntary muscle contractions (dystonia).
  • Gastrointestinal disorder, hepatitis, liver function abnormalities, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
  • Peripheral edema.
  • Angioedema (swelling beneath the skin surface).
  • Photosensitivity (exaggerated response to light).
  • Urinary retention in the bladder.
  • Increased intraocular pressure.

With the use of benzodiazepines, the following may occur:

  • Somnolence, lack of response to emotional stimuli (emotional blunting), reduced alertness, confusion, fatigue, headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, ataxia, or double vision. These phenomena occur predominantly at the beginning of treatment and usually disappear with continued administration. Gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in sexual desire, or skin reactions may occasionally occur.
  • Memory loss (amnesia) may develop, which may be associated with inappropriate behaviour.
  • The use of benzodiazepines may unmask pre-existing depression.
  • When using benzodiazepines or similar compounds, reactions such as restlessness, agitation, irritability, aggression, delirium, rage attacks, nightmares, hallucinations, psychosis, inappropriate behaviour, and other behavioural disturbances may occur. These reactions may be severe and occur more frequently in children and elderly patients.
  • Administration of the product (even at usual doses) may lead to physical dependence. Discontinuation of treatment may lead to withdrawal or rebound phenomena. Psychological dependence may occur. Cases of abuse have been reported.

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 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 Trankimazin Retard

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

Do not store above 30 °C.

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.

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

6. Contents of the container and additional information

Composition of Trankimazin Retard

  • The active substance is alprazolam; each tablet contains 1 mg.
  • The other components are: monohydrate lactose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

It is presented as white, round, convex tablets, with the imprint VLE 59 on one side. Each pack (blister) contains 30 tablets.

Other presentations:

  • Trankimazin Retard 0.5 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin Retard 2 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin Retard 3 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin 0.25 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin 0.50 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin 1 mg in packages of 30 tablets.
  • Trankimazin 2 mg in packages of 30 and 50 tablets.
  • Trankimazin 0.75 mg/ml oral drops in solution.

Only certain package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Viatris Healthcare Limited
Damastown Industrial Park
Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
Dublin
Ireland

Manufacturer

Pfizer Italia S.r.L.
Località Marino del Tronto,
63100 Ascoli Piceno (AP)
Italy

or

Mylan Hungary Kft.
Mylan utca 1
Komárom, 2900
Hungary

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

Viatris Pharmaceuticals, S.L.
C/ General Aranaz, 86
28027 Madrid
Spain

Date of latest review of this leaflet: November 2021

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