ATOMOXETINE SANDOZ 80 MG CAPSULES HARD - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Patient leaflet - ATOMOXETINE SANDOZ 80 MG CAPSULES HARD

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Atomoxetine 10 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 18 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 25 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 40 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 60 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 80 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine 100 mg Capsules, hard

Atomoxetine

Read all of this 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 further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
1. What Atomoxetine is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Atomoxetine

A SANDOZ
3. How to take Atomoxetine
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Atomoxetine
6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Atomoxetine is and what it is used for

What it is used for

Atomoxetine contains atomoxetine and is used to treat attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is used: in children over six years of age in adolescents in adults

It is used only as a part of the total treatment of the disease which also requires treatments which do not involve medicines, such as counselling and behavioural therapy.

It is not for use as a treatment for ADHD in children under 6 years of age as it is not known if the medicine works or is safe in these people. In adults, this medicine is used to treat ADHD when the symptoms are very troublesome and affect your work or social life and when you have had symptoms of the disease as a child.

How it works

This medicine increases the amount of noradrenaline in the brain. This is a chemical that is produced naturally, and increases attention and decreases impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD. This medicine has been prescribed to help control the symptoms of ADHD. This medicine is not a stimulant and is therefore not addictive. It may take a few weeks after you start the medicine for your symptoms to fully improve.

About ADHD

Children and adolescents with ADHD find it:

hard to sit still and hard to concentrate.

It is not their fault that they cannot do these things. Many children and adolescents struggle to do these things.

However, with ADHD this can cause problems with everyday life. Children and adolescents with ADHD may have difficulty learning and doing homework. They find it hard to behave well at home, at school or in other places. ADHD does not affect the intelligence of a child or adolescent.

Adults with ADHD find it difficult to do all the things that children find difficult; however this may mean they have problems with:

work
relationships
low self esteem
education

What you need to know before you take Atomoxetine

Do not take Atomoxetine if you:

are allergic to atomoxetine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
took a medicine known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for example phenelzine, in the last two weeks. An MAOI is sometimes used for depression and other mental-health problems; taking Atomoxetine with an MAOI could cause serious side effects or be life-threatening. You also need to wait at least 14 days after you stop taking this medicine before you take an MAOI.
have an eye disease called narrow-angle glaucoma (increased pressure in your eye).
have serious problems with your heart which may be affected by an increase in heart rate and/or blood pressure, as this may be an effect of Atomoxetine.
have serious problems with the blood vessels in your brain – such as a stroke, swelling and weakening of part of a blood vessel (aneurysm) or narrow or blocked blood vessels.
have a tumour of your adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma).

Do not take Atomoxetine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take this medicine. This is because this medicine can make these problems worse.

Warnings and precautions

Both adult and children should be aware of the following warnings and precautions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atomoxetine if you have:

thoughts about killing yourself or trying to kill yourself.
problems with your heart (including heart defects) or an increased heartbeat. Atomoxetine can increase your heart rate (pulse). Sudden death has been reported in patients with heart defects.
high blood pressure. Atomoxetine can increase blood pressure.
low blood pressure. Atomoxetine can cause dizziness or fainting in people with low blood pressure.
problems with sudden changes in your blood pressure or your heart rate.
cardiovascular disease or past medical history of stroke.
liver problems. You may need a lower dose.
psychotic symptoms including hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things which are not there), believing things that are not true or being suspicious.
mania (feeling elated or over-excited, which causes unusual behaviour) and agitation.
aggressive feelings.
unfriendly and angry (hostility) feelings.
a history of epilepsy or have had seizures for any other reason. Atomoxetine might lead to an increase in seizure frequency.
different moods than usual (mood swings) or feel very unhappy.
hard-to-control, repeated twitching of any parts of the body or you repeat sounds and words.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the above applies to you before starting treatment. This is because Atomoxetine can make these problems worse. Your doctor will want to monitor how the medicine affects you.

Checks that your doctor will make before you start to take Atomoxetine

These checks are to decide if Atomoxetine is the correct medicine for you.

Your doctor will measure your:

blood pressure and your heart rate (pulse) before and during the time you take Atomoxetine
your height and weight if you are a child or teenager during the time you take Atomoxetine

Your doctor will talk to you about:

any other medicines you are taking
whether there is any family history of sudden unexplained death
any other medical problems (such as heart problems) you or your family may have

It is important that you provide as much information as you can. This will help your doctor decide if Atomoxetine is the correct medicine for you. Your doctor may decide that other medical tests are needed before you start taking this medicine.

Important information about the content of the capsules Do not open Atomoxetine capsules because the contents of the capsule can irritate the eye. If the contents of the capsules come into contact with the eye, the affected eye should be flushed immediately with water, and medical advice obtained. Hands and any other part of the body that may have come into contact with the capsule contents should also be washed as soon as possible.

Other medicines and Atomoxetine

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes non-prescription medicines. Your doctor will decide if you can take Atomoxetine with your other medicines and in some cases your doctor may need to adjust your dose or increase your dose much more slowly.

Do not take Atomoxetine with medicines called MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) used for depression. See section 2 “Do not take Atomoxetine”.

If you are taking other medicines, Atomoxetine may affect how well they work or may cause side effects.

If you are taking any of the following medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atomoxetine:

medicines that increase blood pressure or are used to control blood pressure
medicines such as antidepressants, for example imipramine, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, fluoxetine and paroxetine
some cough and cold remedies which contain medicines that can affect blood pressure. It is important to check with your pharmacist when you get any of these products.
some medicines used to treat mental health conditions
medicines that are known to increase the risk of seizures
some medicines that cause Atomoxetine to stay in the body for longer than normal (such as quinidine and terbinafine)
salbutamol (a medicine to treat asthma) when taken by mouth or injected may make you feel as if your heart is racing, but this will not make your asthma worse

The medicines below may lead to an increased risk of an abnormal rhythm of the heart when taken with Atomoxetine:

medicines used to control the rhythm of the heart
medicines which change the concentration of salts in the blood
medicines for malaria prevention and treatment
some antibiotic medicines (such as erythromycin and moxifloxacin)

If you are not sure about whether any medicines you are taking are included in the list above, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atomoxetine.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

It is not known if this medicine can affect an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.

This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, unless your doctor has advised you to do so.
You should either avoid taking this medicine if you are breast-feeding or discontinue breast-feeding.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, are planning to have a baby or planning to breast-feeding your baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

You may feel tired, sleepy or dizzy after taking Atomoxetine.

You should be careful if you are driving a car or operating machinery until you know how Atomoxetine affects you.

If you feel tired, sleepy or dizzy you should not drive or operate machinery.

How to take Atomoxetine

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. This is usually one or two times a day (morning and late afternoon or early evening).
Children should not take this medicine without the help from an adult.
If you are taking Atomoxetine once a day and experience sleepiness or feel sick, your doctor may change your treatment schedule to twice a day.
Oral use.
The capsules should be swallowed whole, either with or without food.
The capsules should not be opened and the contents inside the capsules should not be removed and taken in any other way.
Taking the medicine at the same time each day may help you remember to take it.

How much to take

If you are a child or adolescent (6 years or older):

Your doctor will tell you how much Atomoxetine you should take and will calculate this according to your weight. Your doctor will normally start you on a lower dose before increasing the amount of Atomoxetine you need to take according to your body weight.

Body weight up to 70 kg: a starting total daily dose of 0.5 mg per kg of body weight for a minimum of 7 days. Your doctor may then decide to increase this to the usual maintenance dose of about 1.2 mg per kg of body weight daily.
Body weight over 70 kg: a starting total daily dose of 40 mg for a minimum of 7 days. Your doctor may then decide to increase this to the usual maintenance dose of 80 mg daily. The maximum daily dose your doctor will prescribe is 100 mg.
Atomoxetine should be started at a total daily dose of 40 mg for a minimum of 7 days. Your doctor may then decide to increase this to the usual maintenance dose of 80 mg-100 mg daily. The maximum daily dose your doctor will prescribe is 100 mg.

If you have problems with your liver your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.

Things your doctor will do when you are on treatment

Your doctor will do some tests

before you start – to make sure that Atomoxetine is safe and will be of benefit.
after you start – they will be done at least every

6 months, but possibly more often.

They will also be done when the dose is changed.

These tests will include:

measuring height and weight in children and adolescents
measuring blood pressure and heart rate
checking whether you have any problems or if side effects have got worse while taking Atomoxetine.

Long-term treatment

Atomoxetine does not need to be taken for ever. If you take Atomoxetine for more than a year, your doctor will review your treatment, to see if the medicine is still needed.

If you take more Atomoxetine than you should contact your doctor or the nearest hospital casualty department immediately and tell them how many capsules you have taken. The most commonly reported symptoms accompanying overdoses are gastrointestinal symptoms, sleepiness, dizziness, tremor, and abnormal behaviour.

If you forget to take Atomoxetine

If you miss a dose, you should take it as soon as possible, but you should not take more than your total daily dose in any 24-hour period. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Atomoxetine

If you stop taking Atomoxetine there are usually no side effects but your ADHD symptoms may return. You should talk to your doctor first before you stop treatment.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Although some people get side effects most people find that Atomoxetine helps them. Your doctor will talk to you about these side effects.

Some side effects could be serious. If you have any of the side effects below, see a doctor straight away.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

feeling or having a very fast heartbeat, abnormal rhythms of the heart
thinking about or feeling like killing yourself
feeling aggressive
feeling unfriendly and angry (hostility)
mood swings or mood changes
serious allergic reaction with symptoms of
– swelling of the face and throat
– difficulty breathing
– hives (small raised, itchy patches of skin)

seizures
psychotic symptoms including hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things which are not there), believing things that are not true or being suspicious
thinking about or feeling like killing yourself (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
mood swings or mood changes (may affect up to 1 in

10 people)

Adults have a reduced risk (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) of side effects such as:

seizures
psychotic symptoms including hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things which are not there), believing things that are not true or being suspicious

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

liver injury

You should stop taking Atomoxetine and call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:

dark urine
yellow skin or yellow eyes
tummy pain which is sore when you press it (tenderness) on the right side just below your ribs
a feeling of sickness (nausea) that is unexplained
tiredness
itching
feeling that you are coming down with flu

Other side effects reported include the following. If they get serious, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

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

CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS over 6 years

headache
pain in the stomach
decreased appetite (not feeling hungry)
feeling or being sick
sleepiness
increased blood pressure
increased heart rate (pulse)

These effects may disappear after a while in most patients.

ADULTS

feeling sick
dry mouth
headache
decreased appetite (not feeling hungry)
problems getting to sleep, staying asleep and waking early
increased blood pressure
increased heart rate (pulse)

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS over 6 years

being irritable or agitated
problems sleeping including waking early
depression
feeling sad or hopeless
feeling anxious
tics
large pupils (the dark centre of the eye)
dizziness
constipation
loss of appetite
upset stomach, indigestion
swollen, reddened and itchy skin
rash
feeling lazy (lethargy)
chest pain
tiredness
weight loss
feeling agitated
decreased interest in sex
sleep disturbance
depression
feeling sad or hopeless
feeling anxious
dizziness
an abnormal taste or change in taste that will not go away
tremor
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
sleepiness, drowsy, feeling tired
constipation
stomach ache
indigestion
wind (flatulence)
being sick
hot flush or flushing
feeling or having a very fast heartbeat
swollen, reddened and itchy skin
increased sweating
rash
problems going to the toilet such as not be able to urinate, frequent or hesitant urinating, pain on urinating
inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis)
genital pain in men
failure to obtain an erection
ejaculation disorder
difficulty maintaining an erection
menstrual cramps
lack of strength or energy
tiredness
feeling lazy (lethargy)
chills
feeling, irritable, jittery
feeling thirsty
weight loss
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS over 6 years fainting tremor
migraine
blurred vision
abnormal skin sensation, such as burning, prickling, itching, or tingling
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
seizure (fits)
feeling or having a very fast heartbeat (QT prolongation)
shortness of breath
increased sweating
itchy skin
lack of strength or energy
restlessness
tics
fainting
migraine
blurred vision
heart rhythm abnormal (QT prolongation)
feeling cold in fingers and toes
chest pain
shortness of breath
raised red itchy rashes (hives)
muscle spasms
an urge to urinate
abnormal or absence of orgasm
irregular menstruation
ejaculation failure

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS over 6 years

poor blood circulation which makes toes and fingers numb and pale (Raynaud’s disease)
problems going to the toilet such as frequent or hesitant urinating, pain on urinating
prolonged and painful erections
genital pain in males
poor blood circulation which makes toes and fingers numb and pale (Raynaud’s disease)
prolonged and painful erections

Effects on growth

Some children experience reduced growth (weight and height) when they start taking Atomoxetine. However, with long-term treatment, children recover to the weight and height for their age range. Your doctor will watch your child’s height and weight over time. If your child is not growing or gaining weight as expected, your doctor may change your child’s dose or decide to stop Atomoxetine temporarily.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme (). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

How to store Atomoxetine

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Contents of the pack and other information