Patient leaflet - Bemrist Breezhaler
1. What Bemrist Breezhaler is and what it is used for
What Bemrist Breezhaler is and how it works
Bemrist Breezhaler contains two active substances called indacaterol and mometasone furoate.
Indacaterol belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators. It relaxes the muscles of the small airways in the lungs. This helps to open the airways and makes it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. When it is taken regularly, it helps the small airways to remain open.
Mometasone furoate belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids (or steroids).
Corticosteroids reduce the swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the small airways in the lungs and so gradually ease breathing problems. Corticosteroids also help to prevent attacks of asthma.
What Bemrist Breezhaler is used for
Bemrist Breezhaler is used regularly as treatment for asthma in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older).
Asthma is a serious, long-term lung disease where the muscles surrounding the smaller airways become tight (bronchoconstriction) and inflamed. Symptoms come and go and include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and cough.
You should use Bemrist Breezhaler every day and not only when you have breathing problems or other symptoms of asthma. This will ensure that it controls your asthma properly. Do not use this medicine to relieve a sudden attack of breathlessness or wheezing.
If you have any questions about how Bemrist Breezhaler works or why this medicine has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor.
2. What you need to know before you use Bemrist Breezhaler
Follow all the doctor’s instructions carefully.
Do not use Bemrist Breezhaler
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– if you are allergic to indacaterol, mometasone furoate or any of the other ingredients of this
medicine (listed in section 6). If you think you may be allergic, ask your doctor for advice.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Bemrist Breezhaler if any of the following applies to you:
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– if you have heart problems, including an irregular or fast heartbeat.
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– if you have thyroid gland problems.
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– if you have ever been told you have diabetes or high blood sugar.
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– if you suffer from seizures or fits.
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– if you have a low level of potassium in your blood.
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– if you have severe liver problems.
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– if you have tuberculosis (TB) of the lung, or any long-standing or untreated infections.
During treatment with Bemrist Breezhaler
Stop using this medicine and get medical help immediately if you have any of the following:
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– tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after using Bemrist
Breezhaler (signs the medicine is unexpectedly tightening the airways, known as paradoxical bronchospasm).
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– difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the tongue, lips or face, skin rash, itching and
hives (signs of allergic reaction).
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children below 12 years of age because it has not been studied in this age group.
Other medicines and Bemrist Breezhaler
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using:
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– medicines that decrease the level of potassium in your blood. These include diuretics (which
increase urine production and can be used to treat high blood pressure, e.g.
hydrochlorothiazide), other bronchodilators such as methylxanthines used for breathing problems (e.g. theophylline) or corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone).
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– tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (medicines used in the treatment of
depression).
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– any medicines that may be similar to Bemrist Breezhaler (contain similar active substances);
using them together may increase the risk of possible side effects.
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– medicines called beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure or other heart problems (e.g.
propranolol) or to treat glaucoma (e.g. timolol).
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– ketoconazole or itraconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections)
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– ritonavir, nelfinavir or cobicistat (medicines used to treat HIV infection).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will discuss with you whether you can use Bemrist Breezhaler.
Driving and using machines
It is unlikely that this medicine will affect your ability to drive and use machines.
Bemrist Breezhaler contains lactose
This medicine contains about 25 mg of lactose per capsule. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, speak with your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to use Bemrist Breezhaler
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
How much Bemrist Breezhaler to inhale
There are three different strengths of Bemrist Breezhaler capsules. Your doctor will decide which is best for you.
The usual dose is to inhale the content of one capsule each day. You only need to use the medicine once a day. Do not use more than your doctor tells you to use.
You should use Bemrist Breezhaler every day, even when your asthma is not troubling you.
When to inhale Bemrist Breezhaler
Inhale Bemrist Breezhaler at the same time each day. This will help control your symptoms throughout the day and night. It will also help you to remember to use it.
How to inhale Bemrist Breezhaler
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– Bemrist Breezhaler is for inhalation use.
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– In this pack, you will find an inhaler and capsules that contain the medicine. The inhaler enables
you to inhale the medicine in the capsule. Only use the capsules with the inhaler provided in this pack. The capsules should remain in the blister until you need to use them.
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– Peel the backing away from the blister to open it, do not push the capsule through the foil.
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– When you start a new pack, use the new inhaler supplied in this new pack.
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– Dispose of the inhaler in each pack after all capsules in that pack have been used.
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– Do not swallow the capsules.
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–
Please read the instructions for use on the other side of this leaflet for more information
on how to use the inhaler.
If your symptoms do not improve
If your asthma is not getting better or if it gets worse after you have started using Bemrist Breezhaler, talk to your doctor.
If you use more Bemrist Breezhaler than you should
If you accidently inhale too much of this medicine, contact your doctor or hospital for advice immediately. You may need medical attention.
If you forget to use Bemrist Breezhaler
If you forget to inhale a dose at the usual time, inhale one as soon as possible on that day. Then inhale the next dose at the usual time on the next day. Do not inhale two doses on the same day.
If you stop using Bemrist Breezhaler
Do not stop using Bemrist Breezhaler unless your doctor tells you to. Your asthma symptoms may come back if you stop using it.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Some side effects could be serious
Stop using Bemrist Breezhaler and get medical help immediately if you have any of the following:
Common: may affect up to 1 in every 10 people
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– difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the tongue, lips, or face, skin rash, itching and
hives (signs of allergic reaction).
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in every 100 people
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– swelling mainly of the tongue, lips, face or throat (possible signs of angioedema).
Other side effects
Other side effects include the following listed below. If these side effects become severe, please tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
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– sore throat
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– runny nose
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– sudden difficulty breathing and feeling of tightness in chest with wheezing or coughing
Common: may affect up to 1 in every 10 people
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– voice alteration (hoarseness)
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– blocked nose
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– sneezing, cough
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– headache
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– pain in muscles, bones or joints (signs of musculoskeletal pain)
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in every 100 people
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– fast heart beat
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– oral thrush (sign of candidiasis)
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– high level of sugar in the blood
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– muscle spasm
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– skin itching
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– rash
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– clouding of the lens of your eyes (signs of cataract)
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– blurred vision
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Bemrist Breezhaler
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– Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
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– 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.
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– Do not store above 30°C.
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– Store the capsules in the original blister in order to protect from light and moisture, and do not
remove until immediately before use.
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– Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away
medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Bemrist Breezhaler contains
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– The active substances are indacaterol (as acetate) and mometasone furoate.
Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/62.5 micrograms
Each capsule contains 173 micrograms of indacaterol acetate (equivalent to 150 micrograms of indacaterol) and 80 micrograms of mometasone furoate. The delivered dose (the dose that leaves the mouthpiece of the inhaler) is equivalent to 125 micrograms of indacaterol and 62.5 micrograms of mometasone furoate.
Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/127.5 micrograms
Each capsule contains 173 micrograms of indacaterol acetate (equivalent to 150 micrograms of indacaterol) and 160 micrograms of mometasone furoate. The delivered dose (the dose that leaves the mouthpiece of the inhaler) is equivalent to 125 micrograms of indacaterol and 127.5 micrograms of mometasone furoate.
Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/260 micrograms
Each capsule contains 173 micrograms of indacaterol acetate (equivalent to 150 micrograms of indacaterol) and 320 micrograms of mometasone furoate. The delivered dose (the dose that leaves the mouthpiece of the inhaler) is equivalent to 125 micrograms of indacaterol and 260 micrograms of mometasone furoate.
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– The other ingredient is lactose monohydrate (see “Bemrist Breezhaler contains lactose” in
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section 2).
What Bemrist Breezhaler looks like and content of the pack
In this pack, you will find an inhaler together with capsules in blisters. The capsules are transparent and contain a white powder.
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– Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/62.5 micrograms capsules have a blue product code
“IM150–80” printed above one blue bar on the body with a logo printed in blue and surrounded by two blue bars on the cap.
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– Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/127.5 micrograms capsules have a grey product code
“IM150–160” printed on the body with a logo printed in grey on the cap.
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– Bemrist Breezhaler 125 micrograms/260 micrograms capsules have a black product code
“IM150–320” printed above two black bars on the body with a logo printed in black and surrounded by two black bars on the cap.
The following pack sizes are available:
Single pack containing 10 × 1 or 30 × 1 hard capsules, together with 1 inhaler.
Multipacks comprising 3 cartons, each containing 30 × 1 hard capsules together with 1 inhaler. Multipacks comprising 15 cartons, each containing 10 × 1 hard capsules together with 1 inhaler.
Not all pack sizes may be available in your country.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Novartis Europharm Limited
Vista Building
Elm Park, Merrion Road
Dublin 4
Ireland
Manufacturer
Novartis Farmacéutica, S.A.
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 764
08013 Barcelona
Spain
Novartis Pharma GmbH
RoonstraBe 25
D-90429 Nuremberg
Germany
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
België/Belgique/Belgien Novartis Pharma N.V. Tél/Tel: +32 2 246 16 11 | Lietuva SIA Novartis Baltics Lietuvos filialas Tel: +370 5 269 16 50 |
Efc^rapufl Novartis Bulgaria EOOD Ten: +359 2 489 98 28 | Luxembourg/Luxemburg Novartis Pharma N.V. Tél/Tel: +32 2 246 16 11 |
Česká republika Novartis s.r.o. Tel: +420 225 775 111 | Magyarorszag Novartis Hungaria Kft. Tel.: +36 1 457 65 00 |
Danmark Novartis Healthcare A/S Tlf: +45 39 16 84 00 | Malta Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Tel: +356 2122 2872 |
Deutschland Novartis Pharma GmbH Tel: +49 911 273 0 | Nederland Novartis Pharma B.V. Tel: +31 88 04 52 111 |
Eesti SIA Novartis Baltics Eesti filiaal Tel: +372 66 30 810 | Norge Novartis Norge AS Tlf: +47 23 05 20 00 |
EÀÀàôa Novartis (Hellas) A.E.B.E. Tql: +30 210 281 17 12 | Österreich Novartis Pharma GmbH Tel: +43 1 86 6570 |
España Laboratorios Gebro Pharma, S.A. Tel: +34 93 205 86 86 | Polska Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o. Tel.: +48 22 375 4888 |
France Novartis Pharma S.A.S. Tél: +33 1 55 47 66 00 | Portugal Laboratorio Medinfar – Produtos Farmacêuticos, S.A. Tel: +351 21 499 7400 |
Hrvatska Novartis Hrvatska d.o.o. Tel. +385 1 6274 220 | România Novartis Pharma Services Romania SRL Tel: +40 21 31299 01 |
Ireland | Slovenija |
Novartis Ireland Limited | Novartis Pharma Services Inc. |
Tel: +353 1 260 12 55 | Tel: +386 1 300 75 50 |
Island | Slovenská republika |
Vistor hf. | Novartis Slovakia s.r.o. |
Simi: +354 535 7000 | Tel: +421 2 5542 5439 |
Italia | Suomi/Finland |
Novartis Farma S.p.A. | Novartis Finland Oy |
Tel: +39 02 96 54 1 | Puh/Tel: +358 (0)10 6133 200 |
Knnpoç | Sverige |
Novartis Pharma Services Inc. | Novartis Sverige AB |
Tql: +357 22 690 690 | Tel: +46 8 732 32 00 |
Latvija | United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) |
SIA Novartis Baltics | Novartis Ireland Limited |
Tel: +371 67 887 070 | Tel: +44 1276 698370 |
This leaflet was last revised in
Other sources of information
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site:
.
Instructions for Use of Bemrist Breezhaler
Please read full instructions for use of Bemrist Breezhaler inhaler before use.
Pierce and release
Inhale deeply Check capsule is empty
Insert
Step 1a:
Pull off cap
Step 2a:
Pierce capsule once Hold the inhaler upright. Pierce capsule by firmly pressing both side buttons at the same time.
Step 3a:
Breathe out fully
Do not blow into the inhaler.
Step 1b:
Open inhaler
You should hear a noise as the capsule is pierced. Only pierce the capsule once.
Step 2b:
Release side buttons
Step 3b:
Inhale medicine deeply Hold the inhaler as shown in the picture.
Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips firmly around it.
Do not press the side buttons.
Check capsule is empty Open the inhaler to see if any powder is left in the capsule.
If there is powder left in the capsule:
- Close the inhaler.
- Repeat steps 3a to 3d.
Powder Empty
remaining
Breathe in quickly and as deeply as you can.
During inhalation you will hear a whirring noise.
You may taste the medicine as you inhale.
Step 1c:
Remove capsule
Separate one of the blisters from the blister card.
Peel open the blister and remove the capsule.
Do not push the capsule through the foil.
Do not swallow the capsule.
Step 3c:
Hold breath
Hold your breath for up to 5 seconds.
Remove empty capsule Put the empty capsule in your household waste. Close the inhaler and replace the cap.
Step 3d :
Rinse mouth
Rinse your mouth with water after each dose and spit it out.
Step 1d:
Insert capsule
Never place a capsule directly into the mouthpiece.
Step 1e:
Close inhaler
Important Information
- Bemrist Breezhaler capsules must always be stored in the blister card and only removed immediately before use.
- Do not push the capsule through the foil to remove it from the blister.
- Do not swallow the capsule.
- Do not use the Bemrist Breezhaler capsules with any other inhaler.
- Do not use the Bemrist Breezhaler inhaler to take any other capsule medicine.
- Never place the capsule into your mouth or the mouthpiece of the inhaler.
- Do not press the side buttons more than once.
- Do not blow into the mouthpiece.
- Do not press the side buttons while inhaling through the mouthpiece.
- Do not handle capsules with wet hands.
- Never wash your inhaler with water.
- One Bemrist Breezhaler inhaler
- One or more blister cards, each containing
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