Memantine vipharm

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Memantine Vipharm, 10 mg, coated tablets
Memantine Vipharm, 20 mg, coated tablets
Memantini hydrochloridum
Please read this leaflet carefully before taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor.
• This medicine has been prescribed for a specific person. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same.
• If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Contents of the leaflet

1. What Memantine Vipharm is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before taking Memantine Vipharm
3. How to take Memantine Vipharm
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Memantine Vipharm
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Memantine Vipharm is and what it is used for

How Memantine Vipharm works
Memantine Vipharm contains the active substance memantine hydrochloride (Memantini hydrochloridum). It belongs to a group of medicines called anti-dementia drugs.
Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is caused by disturbances in the transmission of nerve impulses carrying information in the brain. In the brain there are so-called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are involved in transmitting nerve signals important for learning and memory processes. Memantine Vipharm belongs to a group of medicines known as NMDA receptor antagonists. By acting on NMDA receptors, Memantine Vipharm improves the transmission of nerve impulses and memory.

What Memantine Vipharm is used for
Memantine Vipharm is used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

2. Important information before using Memantine Vipharm

When not to use Memantine Vipharm

• if the patient is allergic to memantine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Memantine Vipharm, discuss this with your doctor or
pharmacist:

• if the patient has ever had seizures (epileptic fits);
• if the patient has recently suffered a myocardial infarction (heart attack), or suffers from congestive heart failure or uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).

In the above situations, treatment with Memantine Vipharm should be carried out under strict
supervision of the attending physician, who should regularly assess the benefits of ongoing therapy.
When administering memantine to patients with renal impairment (kidney problems),
the treating physician should closely monitor kidney function and, if necessary,
adjust the dose of the medicine accordingly.
Concomitant use of the following medicines should be avoided: amantadine (used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease), ketamine (a substance usually used as an anaesthetic), dextromethorphan (commonly used to treat cough), and other medicines belonging to the group of NMDA antagonists.
The treating physician should be informed if the patient has recently made or plans to make significant changes in diet (e.g. switching from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet), or if the patient has been diagnosed with renal tubular acidosis (excessive concentration of acidic substances in the blood caused by kidney dysfunction (impaired kidney function)) or severe urinary tract infection (infection of the structures through which urine flows). In the above cases, it may be necessary for the physician to modify the dosage regimen.

Children and adolescents
Memantine Vipharm is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Memantine Vipharm and other medicines
Inform your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines the patient is currently taking or has recently taken, as well as any medicines the patient intends to take.
Memantine Vipharm may alter the effects of, and necessitate dosage adjustment by the physician for the following medicines:

• amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan;
• dantrolene, baclofen;
• cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine;
• hydrochlorothiazide (and all combination medicines containing hydrochlorothiazide);
• anticholinergic agents (substances usually used in the treatment of movement disorders or intestinal spasms);
• anticonvulsant medicines (substances used to prevent or stop seizures);
• barbiturates (substances used mainly as sedatives);
• dopaminergic agonists (such as L-dopa, bromocriptine);
• neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders);
• oral anticoagulants.

If hospitalised, inform the doctor that the patient is taking Memantine Vipharm.

Memantine Vipharm with food and drink
Inform the treating physician if the patient has recently made or plans to make significant changes in diet (e.g. switching from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet) or if the patient has been diagnosed with renal tubular acidosis (excessive concentration of acidic substances in the blood caused by kidney dysfunction (impaired kidney function)) or severe urinary tract infection (infection of the structures through which urine flows). In the above cases, it may be necessary for the physician to modify the dosage regimen.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, suspects she may be pregnant, or is planning to become pregnant, she should consult her doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Pregnancy
Administration of memantine to pregnant women is not recommended.

Breastfeeding
Women taking Memantine Vipharm should not breastfeed.

Driving and operating machinery
The doctor should advise the patient whether the disease allows him or her to drive safely and operate machinery.
Memantine may also affect reaction speed, thus driving vehicles or operating machinery may be inappropriate.

Memantine Vipharm contains lactose
If the patient has previously been diagnosed with intolerance to certain sugars, the patient should contact the doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to use Memantine Vipharm

This medicine should always be used exactly as directed by the physician. If in doubt, consult
your doctor or pharmacist.
Recommended dose
10 mg
The recommended dose of Memantine Vipharm for adults and elderly patients is 20 mg once daily.
To reduce the risk of adverse effects, the dose should be increased gradually according to the following scheme:

The usual dosing starts with half a tablet once daily (1 x 5 mg) for the first week of treatment. During the second week, the dose is increased to one tablet once daily (1 x 10 mg), and to one and a half tablets once daily during the third week of treatment. Starting from the fourth week, the usual dose is two tablets once daily (1 x 20 mg).
20 mg
The recommended dose of Memantine Vipharm for adults and elderly patients is 20 mg once daily.
To reduce the risk of adverse reactions, the dose should be increased gradually according to the treatment schedule. Other tablet strengths are available to allow gradual dose escalation.
Treatment starts with 5 mg of memantine once daily (half a 10 mg tablet). This dose should be increased weekly by 5 mg until the recommended maintenance dose is reached. The recommended maintenance dose is 20 mg once daily, achieved at the beginning of week 4.
Dosing in patients with renal impairment
For patients with impaired renal function, the appropriate dose should be determined by the treating physician. In such cases, regular monitoring of renal function at specified intervals, as directed by the treating physician, is necessary.
10 mg and 20 mg
Tablet splitting
Place the tablet with its rounded side on a hard surface, with the break line facing upwards. Press with the thumb and index finger of the same hand on both sides of the break line and press downwards until the tablet breaks, as shown in the illustration.

Administration method
Memantine Vipharm should be taken orally, once daily. For effective treatment, the medicine should be taken regularly every day at the same time. Tablets should be swallowed whole with water. Tablets may be taken with food or independently of meals.
Duration of treatment
Treatment with Memantine Vipharm should be continued as long as beneficial effects are observed. The treating physician should regularly evaluate the treatment course.
Accidental overdose of Memantine Vipharm
Generally, taking an excessive dose of Memantine Vipharm does not pose a serious health risk. In such cases, the symptoms described in section 4, "Possible side effects," may become intensified.
In case of significant overdose, contact the treating physician or another doctor, as appropriate management may become necessary.
Missed dose of Memantine Vipharm
If a patient forgets to take the medicine, they should wait and take the next dose at the usual time.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If there are any further doubts regarding the use of this medicine, consult a physician or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody will experience them.
Generally observed side effects are mild to moderate in severity.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• headache, somnolence, constipation, increased liver enzyme levels, dizziness, balance disorders, high blood pressure, shallow breathing, hypersensitivity to the medicine.

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

• fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, abnormal gait, heart failure, venous thromboembolism (thrombosis, thromboembolism).

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

• seizures.

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

• pancreatitis, hepatitis, psychotic reactions.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide. Such cases have been reported in patients treated with memantine.
Reporting of side effects
If any side effects occur, including any not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products:
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C
02-222 Warsaw
tel.: 22 49-21-301
fax: 22 49-21-309
e-mail: [email protected].
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
Reporting side effects helps provide more information on the safety of the medicine.

5. How to store Memantine Vipharm

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 pack following:
"EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of the specified month.
There are no special requirements for storage of this medicinal product.
Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Memantine Vipharm contains

• The active substance is memantine hydrochloride. Each coated tablet contains 10 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 8.31 mg of memantine. Each coated tablet contains 20 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 16.62 mg of memantine.
• Other ingredients are: Tablet core Monohydrate lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, talc, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.

Coating
10 mg
Monohydrate lactose, hypromellose 15 cps, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 4000.
20 mg
Monohydrate lactose, hypromellose 15 cps, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 4000, iron oxide
yellow (E172), iron oxide red (E172).

What Memantine Vipharm looks like and contents of the pack
10 mg
10 mg coated tablets are white, round (8 mm), biconvex tablets with a score line on one side and
imprinted with "M9MN" and "10" on the other side. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Memantine Vipharm is available in blister packs containing 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 42, 50, 56,
60, 90, 98, 100, 112 or 120 coated tablets and in a blister pack containing a single dose of 30x1
tablet.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

20 mg
20 mg coated tablets are pink, oval-shaped (13.5 x 6.6 mm), biconvex tablets with a score line on one side and imprinted with "M9MN 20" on the other side. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Memantine Vipharm is available in blister packs containing 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 42, 50, 56,
60, 90, 98, 100, 112 or 120 coated tablets and in a blister pack containing a single dose of 30x1
tablet.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder
Vipharm S.A.
ul. A. i F. Radziwiłłów 9
05-850 Ożarów Mazowiecki
tel: (+4822) 679-51-35
fax: (+4822) 678-92-87
e-mail: [email protected]
Poland

Manufacturer
Vipharm S.A.
ul. A. i F. Radziwiłłów 9
05-850 Ożarów Mazowiecki
Poland
Synthon BV
Microweg 22
6545 CM, Nijmegen
The Netherlands
Synthon Hispania SL
C/ Castelló 1, Polígono Las Salinas
Sant Boi de Llobregat
08830 Barcelona
Spain
Genericon Pharma Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Hafnerstrasse 211
A-8054 Graz
Austria
Industria Química y Farmacéutica Vir, S.A
C/ Laguna 66-70
Polígono Industrial Urtinsa II
28923 Alcorcón (Madrid)
Spain

This medicinal product is authorised in the European Economic Area countries under the following names:
Austria Memantin Genericon 10 mg Filmtabletten
Memantin Genericon 20 mg Filmtabletten
Czech Republic Memantine Vipharm 10 mg potahované tablety
Memantine Vipharm 20 mg potahované tablety
Finland Adaxor 10 mg
Adaxor 20 mg
Greece Memantine Synthon Ariti 10 mg
Memantine Synthon Ariti 20 mg
Iceland ZALATINE 10 mg filmuhúðuð tafla
ZALATINE 20 mg filmuhúðuð tafla
The Netherlands Memantine Synthon 10 mg, tabletten
Memantine Synthon 20 mg, tabletten
Poland Memantine Vipharm
Portugal Memantina Synthon
Slovakia Memantine Vipharm 10 mg filmom obalené tablety
Memantine Vipharm 20 mg filmom obalené tablety
Spain Memantina Vir 10 mg comprimidos recubierto con película EFG
Memantina Vir 20 mg comprimidos recubierto con película EFG
Hungary Memantine Vipharm 10 mg filmtabletta
Memantine Vipharm 20 mg filmtabletta
United Kingdom Memantine Synthon 10 mg film-coated tablets
Memantine Synthon 20 mg film-coated tablets