Venlafaxine prolonged-release Normogen 150 mg hard capsules EFG: detailed information

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen 150 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG

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

Contents of the leaflet

What Venlafaxine Retard Normogen is and what it is used for
What you need to know before taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen
How to take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen
Possible side effects
How to store Venlafaxine Retard Normogen
Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Venlafaxine Retard Normogen is and what it is used for

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen contains the active substance venlafaxine.

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This group of medicines is used to treat depression and other conditions such as anxiety disorders. The way antidepressants work is not fully understood, but they may help increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

Venlafaxine is a treatment for adults with depression. It is also a treatment for adults with the following anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (fear or avoidance of social situations), panic disorder (panic attacks). Properly treating depressive and anxiety disorders is important to help you feel better. If left untreated, your condition may not go away or may worsen and become more difficult to treat.

2. What you need to know before taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

Do not take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

If you are allergic to venlafaxine or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If you are also taking, or have taken within the last 14 days, a medicine known as an irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease. Taking an irreversible MAOI together with venlafaxine may cause serious, even potentially life-threatening, adverse effects. In addition, you must wait at least 7 days after stopping venlafaxine before starting any MAOI (see also section “Other medicines and Venlafaxine Retard Normogen” and the information in that section on “Serotonin Syndrome”).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting Venlafaxine Retard Normogen:

If you are using other medicines that, when taken with venlafaxine, could increase the risk of developing serotonin syndrome (see section “Other medicines and Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).
If you have eye problems, such as certain types of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
If you have a history of high blood pressure.
If you have a history of heart problems.
If you have been told that your heart rhythm is abnormal.
If you have a history of seizures (fits).
If you have a history of low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatraemia).
If you have a history of bleeding disorders (tendency to develop bruises or tendency to bleed easily), or if you are taking other medicines that may increase the risk of bleeding, e.g., warfarin (used to prevent blood clots), or if you are pregnant (see section Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility).
If you have a history of, or if someone in your family has had, mania or bipolar disorder (feeling overly excited or euphoric).
If you have a history of aggressive behaviour.

Venlafaxine may cause a feeling of restlessness or difficulty sitting or staying still during the first weeks of treatment. You should consult your doctor if this happens to you.

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with Venlafaxine Retard Normogen, as it may cause extreme drowsiness and unconsciousness. Taking it together with certain medicines and/or alcohol may worsen symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

Suicidal thoughts and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide. These thoughts may increase when you first start taking antidepressants, as all these medicines take time to work—usually about two weeks, although sometimes longer. These thoughts may also occur when your dose is reduced or during discontinuation of treatment with venlafaxine.

This is more likely to happen if:

You have previously had thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself.
You are a young adult. Clinical trial data have shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in young adults (under 25 years of age) with psychiatric disorders treated with antidepressants.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or of suicide at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital immediately.

You may find it helpful 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 also ask them to inform you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are concerned about changes in your behaviour.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth has been reported in 10% of patients treated with venlafaxine. This may increase the risk of tooth decay (caries). Therefore, you should take care with your dental hygiene.

Diabetes

Your blood glucose levels may be altered by venlafaxine. Therefore, the doses of your diabetes medications may need to be adjusted.

Sexual problems

Some medicines in the group to which venlafaxine belongs (called SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after stopping treatment.

Children and adolescents

Venlafaxine should not normally be used to treat children and adolescents under 18 years of age. In addition, you should know that in patients under 18 years of age, there is an increased risk of adverse effects such as suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and hostility (predominantly aggression, confrontational behaviour, and irritability) when taking this type of medicine. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe this medicine to patients under 18 years of age if they decide it is best for the patient. If your doctor has prescribed this medicine to a patient under 18 years of age and you wish to discuss this decision, please consult your doctor again. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen while these patients under 18 years of age are taking venlafaxine.

In addition, long-term safety with regard to growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioural development has not been established.

Other medicines and Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might need to use any other medicines.

Your doctor must decide whether you can take venlafaxine with other medicines.

Do not start or stop taking any medicine, including those available without a prescription, herbal remedies, or plant-based products, without first checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) used to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease must not be taken with venlafaxine. Tell your doctor if you have taken any of these medicines within the last 14 days. (MAOIs: see section “What you need to know before taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).
Serotonin syndrome:

A potentially life-threatening condition, or reactions resembling Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) (see section “Possible side effects”), may occur with venlafaxine treatment, particularly when taken with other medicines.

Examples of these medicines include:

Triptans (used for migraine).
Other medicines for treating depression, e.g., SNRIs, SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, or medicines containing lithium.
Medicines containing amphetamines (used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], narcolepsy, and obesity).
Medicines containing the antibiotic linezolid (used to treat infections).
Medicines containing moclobemide, an MAOI (used to treat depression).
Medicines containing sibutramine (used for weight loss).
Medicines containing opioids (e.g., buprenorphine, tramadol, fentanyl, tapentadol, meperidine, or pentazocine), used to treat severe pain.
Medicines containing dextromethorphan (used to treat cough).
Medicines containing methadone (used for opioid addiction treatment or for treating severe pain).
Medicines containing methylene blue (used to treat elevated levels of methaemoglobin in blood).
Products containing St. John’s wort (also called “Hypericum perforatum”, a herbal or plant-based remedy used to treat mild depression).
Products containing tryptophan (used for problems such as sleep and depression).
Antipsychotics (used to treat a disease with symptoms such as hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there, false beliefs, unusual suspiciousness, unclear thinking, and tendency to withdraw).

Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include a combination of the following:

restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhoea, coma, nausea, vomiting.

In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome may resemble neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle rigidity, confusion, and increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).

Contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you think you are experiencing serotonin syndrome.

Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines that may affect your heart rhythm.

Some examples of these medicines include:

Antiarrhythmics such as quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, or dofetilide (used to treat abnormal heart rhythm).
Antipsychotics such as thioridazine (see also serotonin syndrome above).
Antibiotics such as erythromycin or moxifloxacin (used to treat bacterial infections).
Antihistamines (used to treat allergy).

The following medicines may also interact with venlafaxine and should be used with caution. It is especially important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing:

Ketoconazole (an antifungal medicine).
Haloperidol or risperidone (for treating psychiatric conditions).
Metoprolol (a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems).

Taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen with food, drinks and alcohol

Venlafaxine should be taken with food (see section 3 “How to take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with Venlafaxine Retard Normogen. Taking it together with alcohol may cause extreme drowsiness and unconsciousness, and may worsen symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

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. You should only take venlafaxine after discussing with your doctor the possible benefits and possible risks to the unborn child.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor knows that you are taking venlafaxine. Medicines similar to venlafaxine (SSRIs) taken during pregnancy 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 birth. If this happens to your baby, contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

If you take venlafaxine 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 know you are taking venlafaxine so they can advise you.

If you take this medicine during pregnancy, in addition to breathing problems, another symptom your baby may have at birth is feeding difficulties. If your baby has these symptoms at birth and you are concerned, contact your doctor and/or midwife, who can advise you.

Venlafaxine passes into breast milk. There is a risk of effects on the baby. Therefore, you should discuss this with your doctor, who will decide whether you should stop breastfeeding or stop treatment with this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or operate tools or machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen contains Allura Red AC (E129) and Orange Yellow S (E110)

This medicine may cause allergic-type reactions.

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen contains sodium

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

3. How to take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

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

The usual recommended starting dose for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder is 75 mg per day. Your doctor may gradually increase the dose and, if necessary, further up to a maximum of 375 mg per day for depression. If you are being treated for panic disorder, your doctor will start with a lower dose (37.5 mg) and then gradually increase the dose. The maximum dose for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder is 225 mg/day.

Take venlafaxine at approximately the same time each day, either in the morning or in the evening. The capsules must be swallowed whole with liquid and must not be opened, crushed, chewed, or dissolved.

Venlafaxine should be taken with food.

If you have liver or kidney problems, speak with your doctor, as your dose of this medicine may need to be adjusted.

Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor (see section “If you stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).

If you take more Venlafaxine Retard Normogen than you should

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

Overdose can be life-threatening, especially when taken simultaneously with certain medicines and/or alcohol (see “Other medicines and Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).

Symptoms of a possible overdose may include palpitations, changes in level of consciousness (ranging from drowsiness to coma), blurred vision, seizures or fits, and vomiting.

If you forget to take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is already time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Do not take more than the daily amount of venlafaxine prescribed for you in one day.

If you stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

Do not stop taking this medicine or reduce the dose without consulting your doctor, even if you feel better. If your doctor considers that you no longer need venlafaxine, they may instruct you to gradually reduce the dose before stopping treatment completely. Adverse effects are known to occur when people stop using this medicine, especially when it is stopped suddenly or when the dose is reduced too quickly. Some patients may experience symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, aggression, fatigue, dizziness, lack of coordination, headache, insomnia, nightmares, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, agitation, confusion, tinnitus, tingling sensations, or, rarely, electric shock-like sensations, weakness, sweating, seizures, flu-like symptoms, vision problems, and increased blood pressure (which may cause headache, dizziness, tinnitus, sweating, etc.).

Your doctor will advise you on how to gradually discontinue treatment with venlafaxine. This process may take several weeks or months. In some patients, discontinuation may need to be very gradual over months or longer. If you experience any of these or other bothersome symptoms, consult your doctor for advice.

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 will experience them.

If any of the following effects occur, stop taking venlafaxine immediately. Contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

Swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, throat, hands or feet and/or swollen itchy rash, difficulty swallowing or breathing.

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

Chest tightness, noisy breathing, difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Severe skin rash, itching or hives (raised areas of pale or red skin that often itch).
Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which may include agitation, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, hyperactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, vomiting. In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome may resemble neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle rigidity, confusion, and increased muscle enzymes (detected by blood test).
Signs of infection, such as increased temperature, chills, shivering, headache, sweating, or flu-like symptoms. This may be due to a blood disorder that can lead to an increased risk of infection.
Severe rash, which may progress to the formation of severe blisters and skin peeling.
Unexplained muscle pain, discomfort, or weakness. This may be a sign of rhabdomyolysis.

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data)

Signs and symptoms of a condition called "stress cardiomyopathy" (also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy), which may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting, or irregular heartbeats.

Other adverse effects you should report to your doctor are (the frequency of these adverse effects are included in the list below “Other adverse effects that may occur”):

Cough, noisy breathing, and difficulty breathing, which may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
Tarry stools or blood in the stool.
Itching, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, which are symptoms of liver inflammation (hepatitis).
Heart problems, such as rapid or irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure.
Eye problems, such as blurred vision, dilated pupils.
Nerve problems, such as dizziness, tingling, movement disorders (muscle spasms and stiffness), seizures or fits.
Psychiatric problems, such as hyperactivity (unusual feeling of being overexcited).
Withdrawal effects (see section “How to take Venlafaxine Retard Normogen, if you stop treatment with Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).
Prolonged bleeding—if you cut yourself or sustain a wound, it may take longer than normal for the bleeding to stop.

Do not be concerned if you notice white beads or small granules in your stools after taking this medicine. Inside the Venlafaxine Retard Normogen capsules there are spheroids (small white beads) that contain the active substance (venlafaxine). These spheroids are released from the capsule in the stomach. As they pass through the stomach and intestines, venlafaxine is slowly released. The spheroid "shell" does not dissolve and is excreted in the faeces. Therefore, even if you see spheroids in your stools, the dose of the medicine has been absorbed.

Other adverse effects that may occur

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

Dizziness, headache, drowsiness.
Insomnia.
Nausea, dry mouth, constipation.
Excessive sweating (including night sweats).

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

Decreased appetite.
Confusion, feeling strange, inability to achieve orgasm, decreased libido, agitation, restlessness, abnormal dreams.
Tremor, a feeling of restlessness or inability to sit still or remain motionless, tingling, altered taste perception, increased muscle tone.
Visual disturbances including blurred vision, dilated pupils, inability of the eye to automatically adjust focus from distant to near objects.
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Rapid heartbeat, palpitations.
Increased blood pressure, hot flushes.
Difficulty breathing, yawning.
Vomiting, diarrhoea.
Mild skin rash, itching.
Increased frequency of urination, inability to urinate, difficulty urinating.
Menstrual irregularities, such as increased bleeding or increased irregular bleeding, abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (in men), erectile dysfunction (impotence).
Weakness (asthenia), fatigue, chills.
Weight gain or weight loss.
Increased cholesterol.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

Hyperactivity, racing thoughts, and reduced need for sleep (mania).
Hallucinations, feeling detached from reality, abnormal orgasm, lack of feelings or emotions, feeling overexcited, teeth grinding.
Fainting, involuntary muscle movements, disturbance in coordination and balance.
Feeling dizzy (especially when getting up too quickly), decreased blood pressure.
Vomiting blood, tarry stools (faeces), or blood in the stools, which may be a sign of internal bleeding.
Sensitivity to sunlight, bruising, abnormal hair loss.
Inability to control urine.
Muscle stiffness, spasms, and involuntary muscle movements.
Slight changes in blood levels of liver enzymes.

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

Seizures or fits.

Cough, noisy breathing, and shortness of breath, which may be accompanied by high temperature.
Disorientation and confusion, often accompanied by hallucinations (delirium).
Excessive water intake (known as SIADH).
Decreased levels of sodium in the blood.
Severe eye pain and reduced or blurred vision.
Abnormal, rapid or irregular heartbeat, which may lead to fainting.
Severe abdominal or back pain (which may indicate a serious problem in the intestine, liver, or pancreas).
Itching, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, flu-like symptoms, which are signs of liver inflammation (hepatitis).

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

Prolonged bleeding, which may be due to a reduced number of platelets in the blood, leading to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding.
Abnormal production of breast milk.
Unexpected bleeding, for example, bleeding gums, blood in urine or vomit, or the appearance of unexpected bruises or broken blood vessels (broken veins).

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data)

Suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviour—cases of suicidal thoughts and behaviour have been reported during treatment with venlafaxine or shortly after discontinuation of treatment (see section 2 “What you need to know before taking Venlafaxine Retard Normogen”).
Aggression.
Vertigo.
Heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth (postpartum haemorrhage)—see “Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility” in section 2 for more information.

Venlafaxine sometimes causes unwanted effects that you may not be aware of, such as increases in blood pressure or an abnormal heartbeat; slight changes in blood levels of liver enzymes, sodium, or cholesterol. Less frequently, venlafaxine may reduce the function of blood platelets, leading to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding. Therefore, your doctor may wish to carry out occasional blood tests, particularly if you have been taking venlafaxine for a long time.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are possible adverse effects 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 Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

No special storage conditions are required.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of empty containers and unused medicines at a SIGRE collection point at your pharmacy. If in doubt, please 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 Venlafaxine Retard Normogen

The active substance is venlafaxine.

Each prolonged-release capsule contains 150 mg of venlafaxine in the form of hydrochloride.

The other components are:

Capsule contents: microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, talc, anhydrous colloidal silica, magnesium stearate, ethylcellulose, copovidone.

Capsule shell: gelatin, brilliant blue (E133), allura red AC (E129), orange yellow S (E110), titanium dioxide (E171).

Printing ink on the capsule: shellac, sodium hydroxide, povidone, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E171).

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen 150 mg are hard gelatin capsules, opaque and dark orange in colour, size '0', with an approximate length of 21.40 mm, featuring a wide and a narrow circular band printed in white ink on both the body and cap of the capsule. Inside the capsule are white or almost white, round, biconvex, film-coated mini-tablets.

Venlafaxine Retard Normogen is available in:

Blister packs containing 30 hard capsules.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

LABORATORIOS NORMON, S.A.
Ronda de Valdecarrizo, 6 – 28760 Tres Cantos – Madrid (SPAIN)

You can request further information about your condition by contacting a patient organization. Please consult your doctor.

Date of latest review of this leaflet: February 2024

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