Hirobriz Breezhaler - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. What Hirobriz Breezhaler is and what it is used for

What Hirobriz Breezhaler is

Hirobriz Breezhaler contains the active substance indacaterol which belongs to a group of medicines called bronchodilators. When you inhale it, it relaxes the muscles in the walls of the small air passages in the lungs. This helps open up the airways, making it easier to get air in and out.

What Hirobriz Breezhaler is used for

Hirobriz Breezhaler is used to make breathing easier for adult patients who have breathing difficulties due to a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In COPD the muscles around the airways tighten. This makes breathing difficult. This medicine relaxes these muscles in the lungs, making it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs.

2. What you need to know before you use Hirobriz Breezhaler

Do not use Hirobriz Breezhaler

• – if you are allergic to indacaterol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in

section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Hirobriz Breezhaler

• – if you have asthma (in this case you should not use Hirobriz Breezhaler).

• – if you have heart problems.

• – if you have epilepsy.

• – if you have thyroid gland problems (thyrotoxicosis).

• – if you have diabetes.

During treatment with Hirobriz Breezhaler,

• - Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor immediately if you get tightness of the chest, coughing, wheezing or breathlessness immediately after using the medicine. These may be signs of a condition called bronchospasm.

• - Tell your doctor immediately if your COPD symptoms (breathlessness, wheezing, cough) do not improve or get worse.

Children and adolescents

Hirobriz Breezhaler should not be given to children or adolescents below the age of 18 years.

Other medicines and Hirobriz Breezhaler

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

In particular, please tell your doctor if you are using:

• – medicines for breathing problems that are similar to Hirobriz Breezhaler (i.e. medicines such as salmeterol and formoterol). You may be more likely to get side effects.

• – medicines called beta blockers that are used for high blood pressure or other heart problems (such as propranolol), or for the eye problem called glaucoma (such as timolol).

• – medicines that lower the amount of potassium in your blood. These include:

o steroids (e.g. prednisolone),

o diuretics (water tablets) used for high blood pressure such as hydrochlorothi­azide, o medicines for breathing problems such as theophylline.

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 using this medicine.

You should not use Hirobriz Breezhaler unless your doctor tells you so.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

It is unlikely that Hirobriz Breezhaler will affect your ability to drive and use machines.

Hirobriz Breezhaler contains lactose

This medicine contains lactose (milk sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before using this medicine.

3. How to use Hirobriz Breezhaler

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How much Hirobriz Breezhaler to use

• – The usual dose is to inhale the content of one capsule each day. Your doctor may tell you to use the 150 microgram capsule or the 300 microgram capsule depending on your condition and on how you respond to the treatment. Do not use more than your doctor tells you to use.

• – Use your inhaler at the same time each day, the effects last for 24 hours. This ensures that there is always enough medicine in your body to help you breathe more easily throughout the day and night. It will also help you to remember to use it.

How to use Hirobriz Breezhaler

• – In this pack, you will find an inhaler and capsules (in blister) that contain the medicine as inhalation powder. The Hirobriz Breezhaler inhaler enables you to inhale the medicine contained in a capsule.

• – Only use the capsules with the inhaler provided in this pack (Hirobriz Breezhaler inhaler). The capsules should remain in the blister until you need to use them.

• – When you start a new pack, use the new Hirobriz Breezhaler inhaler that is supplied in the pack.

• – Dispose of each inhaler after 30 days of use.

• – Do not swallow the capsules.

• - Please read the instructions at the end of this leaflet for more information about how to

use the inhaler.

If you use more Hirobriz Breezhaler than you should

If you have inhaled too much Hirobriz Breezhaler or if someone else uses your capsules, tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency unit. Show the pack of Hirobriz Breezhaler. Medical attention may be needed. You may notice that your heart is beating faster than usual, or you may have a headache, feel drowsy, feel nauseous or have to vomit.

If you forget to use Hirobriz Breezhaler

If you forget to inhale a dose, inhale just one dose at the usual time the next day. Do not inhale a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

How long to continue your treatment with Hirobriz Breezhaler

• – Keep using your treatment with Hirobriz Breezhaler for as long as your doctor tells you.

• – COPD is a long-term disease and you should use Hirobriz Breezhaler every day and not only when you have breathing problems or other symptoms of COPD.

If you have questions about how long to continue your treatment with Hirobriz Breezhaler, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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 may be serious. Tell your doctor immediately

• if you get crushing chest pain, (common).
• if you get high levels of sugar in your blood (diabetes). You will feel tired, very thirsty and

hungry (without gaining weight) and will pass more urine than usual (common).

• if you get irregular heart beat (uncommon).
• if you get symptoms of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing or

swallowing, dizziness (uncommon).

• if you have difficulty breathing with wheezing or coughing (uncommon).

Other side effects may include:

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

• cold-like symptoms. You may get all or most of the following: sore throat, runny nose, blocked

nose, sneezing, coughing, headache.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• feeling of pressure or pain in the cheeks and forehead (inflammation of the sinuses)
• runny nose
• cough
• sore throat
• headache
• dizziness
• palpitations
• muscle spasm
• swollen hands, ankles and feet (oedema)
• itching/rash
• chest pain
• pain in muscles, bones or joints

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• fast heart beat
• tingling or numbness
• muscle pain

Some people occasionally cough soon after inhaling the medicine. Cough is a common symptom in COPD. If you experience coughing briefly after inhaling the medicine, do not worry. Check your inhaler to see if the capsule is empty and that you have received the full dose. If the capsule is empty, there is no need for concern. If the capsule is not empty then inhale again as directed.

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 Hirobriz Breezhaler

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.

Do not store above 30°C.

Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture and do not remove until immediately before use.

Do not use this medicine if you notice that the pack is damaged or show signs of tampering.

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 Hirobriz Breezhaler contains

• – Each Hirobriz Breezhaler 150 microgram capsule contains 150 microgram indacaterol as

indacaterol maleate. The other ingredients include lactose and the capsule is made of gelatin.

• – Each Hirobriz Breezhaler 300 microgram capsule contains 300 microgram indacaterol as

indacaterol maleate. The other ingredients include lactose and the capsule is made of gelatin.

What Hirobriz Breezhaler looks like and content of the pack

In this pack, you will find an inhaler, together with capsules in blister. The capsules are transparent (uncoloured) and contain a white powder.

• – Hirobriz Breezhaler 150 microgram capsules have a black product code “IDL 150 ” printed above a black bar and a black company logo (6) printed below the black bar.

• – Hirobriz Breezhaler 300 microgram capsules have a blue product code “IDL 300 ” printed above a blue bar and a blue company logo (&) printed below the blue bar.

The following pack sizes are available:

Carton containing 10 capsules and 1 inhaler.

Carton containing 30 capsules and 1 inhaler.

Multipack comprising 2 packs (each containing 30 capsules and 1 inhaler).

Multipack comprising 3 packs (each containing 30 capsules and 1 inhaler).

Multipack comprising 30 packs (each containing 10 capsules and 1 inhaler).

Not all pack sizes or strengths may be available in your country.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Novartis Europharm Limited

Vista Building

Elm Park, Merrion Road

Dublin 4

Ireland

Manufacturer

Novartis Pharma GmbH

RoonstraBe 25

D-90429 Nuremberg

Germany

Novartis Farmacéutica SA

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 764

08013 Barcelona

Spain

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
Et^rapaa Novartis Bulgaria EOOD Tea.: +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
EXXàôa Novartis (Hellas) A.E.B.E. Tqk +30 210 281 17 12	Österreich Novartis Pharma GmbH Tel: +43 1 86 6570
España Laboratorios Farmacéuticos ROVI, S.A. Tel.: +34 91 375 62 30	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 Novartis Farma – Produtos Farmacêuticos, S.A. Tel: +351 21 000 8600
Hrvatska Novartis Hrvatska d.o.o. Tel. +385 1 6274 220	România Novartis Pharma Services Romania SRL Tel: +40 21 31299 01
Ireland Novartis Ireland Limited Tel: +353 1 260 12 55	Slovenija Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Tel: +386 1 300 75 50
Island Vistor hf. Simi: +354 535 7000	Slovenská republika Novartis Slovakia s.r.o. Tel: +421 2 5542 5439
Italia Novartis Farma S.p.A. Tel: +39 02 96 54 1	Suomi/Finland Novartis Finland Oy Puh/Tel: +358 (0)10 6133 200
Kinpog Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Tqk +357 22 690 690	Sverige Novartis Sverige AB Tel: +46 8 732 32 00
Latvija SIA Novartis Baltics Tel: +371 67 887 070	United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) Novartis Ireland Limited 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 website:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF HIROBRIZ BREEZHALER INHALER

Instructions for Use

before using the Hirobriz Breezhaler.

Insert Pierce and release Inhale deeply Check capsule is empty

Important Information

• Hirobriz Breezhaler capsules must always be stored in the blister card and only removed immediately before use.
• Do not swallow the capsule.
• Do not use the Hirobriz Breezhaler capsules with any other inhaler.
• Do not use the Hirobriz 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 Hirobriz Breezhaler inhaler
• One or more blister cards, each containing either 6 or 10 Hirobriz Breezhaler capsules to be used in the inhaler

Capsule

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