Patient leaflet - Bricanyl tablets 5 mg
1. What Bricanyl Tablets are and what they are used for
Bricanyl Tablets contain a medicine called terbutaline sulfate. This belongs to a group of medicines called beta-agonists. These work by relaxing certain muscles. For example, they open up the airways in the lungs.
- Bricanyl Tablets are used for the regular treatment of breathing disorders such as asthma. They help to relieve tightening of the chest and difficulty breathing (bronchospasm). Bricanyl should not be used alone for the regular treatment of asthma or other breathing conditions. If you are using Bricanyl every day then your doctor should have also prescribed you another type of medication such as an “inhaled corticosteroid”, which helps reduce the swelling and inflammation in your lungs.
2. What you need to know before you take Bricanyl Tablets
Do not take Bricanyl Tablets:
- If you are allergic to terbutaline sulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6). Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Bricanyl Tablets if:
- You are pregnant and you have had problems with your pregnancy.
- You are diabetic. If so, you may need some additional blood sugar tests when you start taking Bricanyl Tablets.
- You have a history of heart disease, irregular heart rhythm or angina.
- You have an overactive thyroid gland.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Bricanyl Tablets. Other medicines and Bricanyl Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. Bricanyl Tablets can affect the way that some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Bricanyl Tablets.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Steroid medicines (such as prednisolone).
- Xanthine medicines (such as theophylline or aminophylline).
- Beta-blocker medicines (such as atenolol or propranolol), including eye drops (such as timolol).
- Water tablets, also known as diuretics (such as frusemide). If you are to undergo surgery with general anaesthetics it is important that you inform your doctor about all medicine you use, including Bricanyl to protect you from adverse effects (e.g. irregular heart beat).
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Bricanyl should be used with caution at the end of pregnancy since it relaxes the womb.
Driving and using machines
Bricanyl Tablets are not likely to affect you being able to drive or use machines.
Bricanyl Tablets contain Lactose
Bricanyl Tablets contain lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Bricanyl Tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The instructions on the label should remind you of what the doctor said.
For asthma and breathing problems
Adults and young people over 16 years
- The recommended starting dose is half a tablet three times in 24 hours. This dose is usually taken for the first 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your doctor may increase the dose to one tablet three times a day.
Use in Children (7 to 15 years)
- The recommended starting dose is half a tablet twice a day.
The doctor may increase the dose to half a tablet
three times a day.
Contact your doctor straight away if:
- Your breathing is getting worse.
- You often wake up at night with asthma.
- You start getting chest tightness.
- You are not getting relief from your current dose. These signs could mean your asthma is not being controlled and you may need different or additional treatment straight away.
PS22706
If you take more Bricanyl Tablets than you should
If you have accidentally taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
If you forget to take Bricanyl Tablets
If you forget to have a dose, have it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, wait until then and take the next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Bricanyl Tablets
Do not stop taking your medicine without first discussing it with your doctor.
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.
Important side effects to look out for:
- Allergic reactions. The signs may include a swollen face, skin rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure (feeling faint) and collapse. It is not known exactly how often this happens. If this happens to you, stop taking Bricanyl Tablets and see a doctor straight away.
- Sudden wheezing soon after taking Bricanyl Tablets. It is not known exactly how often this happens. If this happens to you, stop taking Bricanyl Tablets and see a doctor straight away.
Other possible side effects:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Trembling or shaking.
- Headache.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Fast heart beats.
- Pounding heart beats (palpitations).
- Cramp or feeling tense.
- Low levels of potassium in your blood which may cause muscle weakness, thirst, or ‘pins and needles’. Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Unusual or irregular heart beats.
- Chest pain (due to heart problems such as angina). Tell your doctor if you develop this symptom whilst receiving treatment with Bricanyl Tablets, but do not stop using this medicine unless told to.
- Feeling sick (nausea).
- Mouth and throat irritation.
- Changes in sleeping patterns and changes in behaviour, such as feeling agitated, restless or “hyperactive”. Do not be concerned by this list of side effects. You may not get any of them. If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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 report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Bricanyl Tablets
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not take this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
- Do not store above 25°C.
- 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.
6. Contents of the pack and other information What Bricanyl Tablets contain
The active substance is terbutaline sulfate. Each Bricanyl Tablet contains 5 mg of terbutaline sulfate.
The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate (see section 2 “Bricanyl Tablets contain Lactose”), maize starch, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate. What Bricanyl Tablets look like and the contents of the pack
Bricanyl Tablets are off-white. They have ‘A/BT’ and a score on one side and the symbol ‘5’ on the other side.
Bricanyl Tablets are available in glass bottles or securitainers of 100 and 500 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation for Bricanyl Tablets is held by AstraZeneca UK Limited, 1 Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0AA, UK.
Bricanyl Tablets are manufactured by AstraZeneca AB, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden.
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information: Product name Bricanyl Tablets
Reference number 17901/0116
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
This leaflet was last revised in July 2022.
Bricanyl is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. © AstraZeneca 2022
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