Patient leaflet - Dimethyl Fumarate 240 mg gastro-resistant hard capsules
What Dimethyl fumarate is and what it is used for
What Dimethyl fumarate is
Dimethyl fumarate is a medicine that contains the active substance dimethyl fumarate.
What Dimethyl fumarate is used for
Dimethyl fumarate is used to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients aged 13 years and older.
MS is a long-term condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and the spinal cord. Relapsing remitting MS is characterised by repeated attacks (relapses) of nervous system symptoms. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, but typically include walking difficulties, feeling off balance and visual difficulties (e.g. blurred or double vision). These symptoms may disappear completely when the relapse is over, but some problems may remain.
How Dimethyl fumarate works
Dimethyl fumarate seems to work by stopping the body’s defence system from damaging your brain and spinal cord. This may also help to delay future worsening of your MS.
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What you need to know before you take Dimethyl
| fumarate |
Do not take Dimethyl fumarate
•
if you are allergic to dimethyl fumarate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
•
if you are suspected to suffer from a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) or if PML has been confirmed.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Dimethyl fumarate
Dimethyl fumarate may affect your white blood cell counts, your kidneys and liver. Before you start Dimethyl fumarate, your doctor will do a blood test to count the number of your white blood cells and will check that your kidneys and liver are working properly. Your doctor will test these periodically during treatment. If your number of white blood cells decreases during treatment, your doctor may consider additional tests or discontinue your treatment.
Talk to your doctor before taking Dimethyl fumarate if you have:
•
severe
kidney disease
•
severe
liver disease
•
a disease of the
stomach or bowel
•
a serious
infection (such as pneumonia)
Herpes zoster (shingles) may occur with Dimethyl fumarate treatment. In some cases, serious complications have occurred. You should inform your doctor immediately if you suspect you have any symptoms of shingles.
If you believe your MS is getting worse (e.g. weakness or visual changes) or if you notice any new symptoms, talk to your doctor straight away because these may be the symptoms of a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is a serious condition that may lead to severe disability or death.
A rare but serious kidney disorder (Fanconi Syndrome) has been reported for a medicine containing dimethyl fumarate, in combination with other fumaric acid esters, used to treat psoriasis (a skin disease). If you notice you are passing more urine, are more thirsty and drinking more than normal, your muscles seem weaker, you break a bone, or just have aches and pains, talk to your doctor as soon as possible so that this can be investigated further.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children below 10 years of age because no data are available in this age group.
Other medicines and Dimethyl fumarate
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any medicines, in particular:
•
medicines that contain fumaric acid esters (fumarates) used to treat psoriasis
•
medicines that affect the body’s immune system including chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, or other medicines used to treat MS;
•
medicines that affect the kidneys including some antibiotics
(used to treat infections), “water tablets” (diuretics), certain types of painkillers (such as ibuprofen and other similar anti-inflammatories and medicines purchased without a doctor’s prescription) and medicines that contain lithium
•
Taking Dimethyl fumarate with certain types of vaccines (live vaccines) may cause you to get an infection and should, therefore, be avoided. Your doctor will advise whether other types of vaccines (non-live vaccines) should be given.
Dimethyl fumarate with alcohol
Consumption of more than a small amount (more than 50 ml) of strong alcoholic drinks (more than 30% alcohol by volume, e.g. spirits) should be avoided within an hour of taking Dimethyl fumarate, as alcohol can interact with this medicine. This could cause inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), especially in people already prone to gastritis.
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 or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
There is limited information about the effects of this medicine on the unborn child if used during pregnancy.
Do not use Dimethyl fumarate if you are pregnant unless you have discussed this with your doctor and this medicine is clearly necessary for you.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether the active substance of Dimethyl fumarate passes into breast milk. Your doctor will help you decide whether you should stop breast-feeding, or stop using Dimethyl fumarate. This involves balancing the benefit of breast-feeding for your child, and the benefit of therapy for you.
Driving and using machines
Dimethyl fumarate is not expected to affect your ability to drive and use machines.
Information on sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (less than 23 mg) per tablet, that is to say Dimethyl fumarate is essentially ‘sodium -free’.
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How to take Dimethyl fumarate
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Starting dose
120 mg twice a day.
Take this starting dose for the first 7 days, then take the regular dose.
Regular dose
240 mg twice a day.
Dimethyl fumarate is for oral use.
Swallow each capsule whole, with some water. Do not divide, crush, dissolve, suck or chew the capsule as this may increase some side effects.
Take Dimethyl fumarate with food – it may help to reduce some of the very common side effects (listed in section 4).
If you take more Dimethyl fumarate than you should
If you have taken too many capsules, talk to your doctor straight away. You may experience side effects similar to those described below in section 4.
If you forget to take Dimethyl fumarate
If you forget or miss a dose, do not take a double dose.
You may take the missed dose if you leave at least 4 hours between the doses. Otherwise wait until your next planned dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious effects
Dimethyl fumarate may lower lymphocyte counts (a type of white blood cell). Having a low white blood cell count can increase your risk of infection, including the risk of a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML may lead to severe disability or death. PML has occurred after 1 to 5 years of treatment and so your physician should continue to monitor your white blood cells throughout your treatment, and you should remain observant of any potential symptoms of PML as described below. The risk of PML may be higher if you have previously taken a medicine impairing the functionality of your body’s immune system.
Dimethyl Fumarate
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The symptoms of PML may be similar to an MS relapse. Symptoms may include new or worsening weakness on one side of the body; clumsiness; changes in vision, thinking, or memory; or confusion or personality changes, or speech and communication difficulties lasting for more than several days.
Therefore, if you believe your MS is getting worse or if you notice any new symptoms while you are on Dimethyl fumarate treatment, it is very important that you speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Also speak with your partner or caregivers and inform them about your treatment. Symptoms might arise that you might not become aware of by yourself.
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Call your doctor straight away if you experience any of these symptoms.
Severe Allergic reactions
The frequency of severe allergic reactions cannot be estimated from the available data (not known).
Reddening of the face or body (flushing) is a very common side effect. However, should flushing be accompanied by a red rash or hives and you get any of these symptoms:
•
swelling of the face, lips, mouth or tongue
(angioedema)
•
wheezing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (
dyspnoea, hypoxia)
•
dizziness or loss of consciousness (hypotension) then this may
represent a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
➔
Stop taking Dimethyl fumarate and call a doctor straight away.
Other side effects
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
•
reddening of the face or body feeling warm, hot, burning or itchy
(flushing)
•
loose stools (
diarrhoea)
•
feeling sick (
nausea)
•
stomach pain or stomach cramps
➔
Taking your medicine with food can help to reduce the side effects above.
Substances called ketones, which are naturally produced in the body, very commonly show up in urine tests while taking Dimethyl fumarate.
Talk to your doctor about how to manage these side effects. Your doctor may reduce your dose. Do not reduce your dose unless your doctor tells you to.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
•
inflammation of the lining of the intestines (
gastroenteritis)
•
being sick (
vomiting)
•
indigestion (
dyspepsia)
•
inflammation of the lining of the stomach (
gastritis)
•
gastrointestinal disorder
•
burning sensation
•
hot flush, feeling hot
•
itchy skin (
pruritus)
•
rash
•
pink or red blotches on the skin (
erythema)
•
hair loss (
alopecia)
Side effects which may show up in your blood or urine tests
•
low levels of white blood cells (
lymphopenia, leucopenia) in the blood. Reduced white blood cells could mean your body is less able to fight an infection. If you have a serious infection (such as pneumonia), talk to your doctor immediately
•
proteins (
albumin) in urine
•
increase in levels of liver enzymes (
ALT, AST) in the blood
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
•
Allergic reactions (
hypersensitivity)
•
reduction in blood platelets
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
-
liver inflammation and increase in levels of liver enzymes (ALT
or AST in combination with bilirubin)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
•
herpes zoster (shingles) with symptoms such as blisters,
burning, itching or pain of the skin, typically on one side of the upper body or the face, and other symptoms, like fever and weakness in the early stages of infection, followed by numbness, itching or red patches with severe pain
•
runny nose (
rhinorrhoea)
Children (13 years of age and above) and adolescents
The side effects listed above also apply to children and adolescents.
Some side effects were reported more frequently in children and adolescents than in adults, e.g, headache, stomach pain or stomach cramps, being sick (vomiting), throat pain, cough, and painful menstrual periods.
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 Yellow Card Scheme
Website: 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.
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How to store Dimethyl fumarate
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 medicinal product 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.
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Contents of the pack and other information
What Dimethyl fumarate contains
•
The active substance is dimethyl fumarate.
Each gastro-resistant hard capsule contains 120 mg dimethyl fumarate.
Each gastro-resistant hard capsule contains 240 mg dimethyl fumarate.
Capsule content: silicified microcrystalline cellulose (grade - 90), croscarmellose sodium, silica colloidal anhydrous, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid –methyl methacrylate copolymer (1:1), methacrylic acid – ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) dispersion 30percent (0.7% sodium lauril sulfate and 2.3% polysorbate 80), triethyl citrate, talc
Capsule shell:
Cap and Body:
FD&C blue 2 (E132) (240 mg only), iron oxide yellow (E172) (240 mg only), titanium dioxide (E171) (120 mg only), gelatin, purified water and sodium lauryl sulfate.
Printing ink: shellac (E904), black iron oxide (E172), potassium hydroxide (E525)
What Dimethyl fumarate look like and contents of the pack
Gastro-resistant capsules, hard
Dimethyl fumarate 120mg gastro-resistant hard capsules are white cap and white body, size ‘0’ hard gelatin capsules imprinted with “DMT 120” on the body with black ink. Each capsule contains three white to off white round, biconvex enteric coated tablets.
Dimethyl fumarate 240mg gastro-resistant hard capsules are green cap and green body, size ‘0’ hard gelatin capsules imprinted with “DMT 240” on the body with black ink. Each capsule contains six white to off white round, biconvex enteric coated tablets.
Dimethyl fumarate gastro-resistant hard capsules are available in blister pack.
Pack sizes:
Dimethyl fumarate 120 mg gastro-resistant hard capsules
Blister packs: 14 gastro-resistant capsules, hard
Dimethyl fumarate 240mg gastro-resistant hard capsules
Blister packs: 14, 28, 56, 60, 98, 100, 112, 120, 168 gastro-resistant capsules, hard
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park, Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited
HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far
Birzebbugia, BBG 3000
Malta
Generis Farmaceutica, S.A.,
Rua Joao De Deus, N 19, Venda Nova, Amadora, 2700-487, Portugal.
Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park, Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom
This leaflet was last revised in 06/2026
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