LUVENTA XL 24 MG PROLONGED-RELEASE CAPSULES HARD - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Luventa XL 8 mg prolonged-release capsules, hard

Galantamine

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.

What is in this leaflet:

1. What Luventa XL is and what it is used for 2. What you need to know before you take Luventa XL

• 3. How to take Luventa XL

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Luventa XL

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what luventa xl is and what it is used for

Luventa XL is an antidementia medicine used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderately severe dementia of the Alzheimer type, a disease that alters brain function.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include increasing memory loss, confusion and behavioral changes. As a result, it becomes more and more difficult to carry out normal daily activities.

These symptoms are believed to be due to a lack of acetylcholine, a substance responsible for sending messages between brain cells. Luventa XL increases the amount of acetylcholine in the brain and so could improve the symptoms of the disease.

2. what you need to know before you take luventa xl

Do not take Luventa XL

• If you are allergic to galantamine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have severe liver and/or severe kidney disease

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Luventa XL.

Luventa XL should be used in Alzheimer’s disease and not other forms of memory loss or confusion.

Luventa XL can cause serious skin reactions, heart problems and fits (seizures). You must be aware of these effects while you are taking Luventa XL. See “4. Possible side effects”.

• Medicines are not always suitable for everyone. Your doctor needs to know before you take Luventa XL if you suffer from or have suffered in the past from any of the following conditions: liver or kidney problems a heart condition (such as chest discomfort that is often brought on by physical activity, angina, heart attack, heart failure, slow or uneven heart beat, prolonged QTc interval)
• electrolyte disturbances (e.g. decreased/ increased blood potassium levels)
• peptic (stomach) ulcer disease
• acute abdominal pain
• a disorder of the nervous system (like epilepsy or Parkinson’s di­sease)
• a respiratory disease or infection that interferes with breathing (like asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, or pneumonia)
• if you recently had an operation on the gut or bladder
• if you have difficulties passing urine

If you need an operation which requires a general anaesthetic, you should inform the doctor that you are taking Luventa XL.

Your doctor will then decide whether treatment with Luventa XL is suitable for you or if the dose needs to be changed.

Other medicines and Luventa XL

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

• Luventa XL should not be used with medicines that work in a similar way, these include: donepezil or rivastigmine (for Alzheimer’s di­sease)
• ambenonium, neostigmine or pyridostigmine (for severe muscular weakness)
• pilocarpine (for dry mouth or dry eyes) if taken by mouth.

Some medicines can affect the way Luventa XL works, or Luventa XL itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time. These include:

• paroxetine or fluoxetine (antidepressants)
• quinidine (used for heart rhythm problems)
• ketoconazole (antifungal)
• erythromycin (antibiotic)
• ritonavir (antiviral – HIV protease inhibitor).

Your doctor may prescribe a smaller dose of Luventa XL if you are also taking any of the medicines listed above.

Some medicines can increase the number of side effects caused by Luventa XL, these include:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) which can increase the risk of ulcers
• medicines taken for heart disorders or high blood pressure (e.g. digoxin, amiodarone, atropine, beta-blockers, or calcium channel blocking agents). If you take medicines for an irregular heart-beat, your doctor may consider an electrocardio­gram (ECG).

Some medicines can make side effects more likely in people taking Luventa XL. These include:

• medicines affecting the QTc interval

If you need an operation which requires a general anaesthetic, you should inform the doctor that you are taking Luventa XL.

Your doctor will also check your weight regularly while you are taking Luventa XL.

If you have any questions, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Luventa XL with food and drink

Luventa XL should be taken with food if possible.

See section 3 of this leaflet for full details about how to take this medicine.

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.

You should not breastfeed while you are taking Luventa XL.

Driving and using machines

Luventa XL may cause dizziness or drowsiness, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive or use any tools or machinery.

3. how to take luventa xl

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

Luventa XL is started at a low dose. Your doctor may then tell you to slowly increase the dose of Luventa XL that you take to find the most suitable dose for you.

• 1. The treatment is started with 8 mg taken once daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, the dose is increased.

• 2. You would then take 16 mg once daily. After another 4 weeks of treatment at the earliest, your doctor may decide to increase the dose again.

• 3. You would then take 24 mg once daily.

Your doctor will explain what dose to start with and when the dose should be increased.

Your doctor will need to see you regularly to check that this medicine is working for you and to discuss how you are feeling.

Liver or kidney disease

• If you have mild liver or kidney disease, treatment is started with 8 mg capsule once daily in the morning.
• If you have moderate liver or kidney disease, treatment is started with 8 mg capsule once every other day in the morning. After one week, begin taking 8 mg capsule once daily in the morning. Do not take more than 16 mg once daily.
• If you have severe liver and/or kidney disease, do not take Luventa XL.

How do I switch from taking Galantamine immediate release tablets or oral solution to Galantamine prolonged release capsules?

If you are currently taking Galantamine immediate release tablets or oral solution, your doctor may decide to switch you to Galantamine prolonged-release capsules.

• Take your last dose of Galantamine immediate release tablets or oral solution in the evening
• The next morning, take your first dose of Galantamine prolonged-release capsules.

DO NOT take more than one capsule in a day. While you are taking once-daily Luventa XL, DO NOT take Galantamine immediate release tablets or oral solution.

Use in children

Luventa XL is not recommended for children.

Method of administration

Luventa XL should be swallowed whole, NOT chewed or crushed. Luventa XL should be taken in the morning, with water or other liquids, and preferably with food. Drink plenty of liquids during your treatment with Luventa XL, to keep yourself hydrated.

If you take more Luventa XL than you should

If you take too much Luventa XL, contact a doctor or hospital straight away. Take along any remaining capsules and the packaging with you. Signs or symptoms of overdose may include, among others: severe nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, slow heart beat, seizures and loss of consciousness.

If you forget to take Luventa XL

If you forget to take one dose, miss out the forgotten dose completely and take the next dose at the normal time.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you forget to take more than one dose, you should contact your doctor.

If you stop taking Luventa XL

You should consult your doctor before you stop taking Luventa XL. It is important to continue taking this medicine to treat your condition.

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 of these effects may be due to the disease itself.

Stop taking your medicine and see a doctor immediately if you experience;

• Skin reactions, including:

• – Severe rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)

• – Red rash covered with small pus-filled bumps that can spread over the body, sometimes with a fever (acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis)

• – Rash that may blister, with spots that look like small targets

These skin reactions are rare in people taking Luventa XL (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Heart problems including changes in heart beat (slow or irregular)
• Palpitations (pounding heart beat)
• Conditions like blackout
• An allergic reaction. The signs may include a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, or swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue

You must stop taking Luventa XL and get help immediately if you notice any of the side effects above.

Side effects include:

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

• Feeling sick and/or vomiting. If these undesired effects occur, they are mainly experienced early on in the treatment or when the dose is increased. They tend to disappear gradually as the body gets used to the treatment and generally will not last for more than a few days. If you have these effects, your doctor may recommend that you drink more liquids and, if necessary, may prescribe a medicine to stop you being sick.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Decreased appetite
• Slow heart beat
• Feeling faint
• Dizziness
• Trembling
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Abnormally tired
• Stomach pain or discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Indigestion
• Increased sweating
• Muscle spasms
• Falling
• High blood pressure
• Feeling weak
• General feeling of discomfort
• Seeing, feeling, or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
• Feeling sad (depression).

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Increased liver enzymes in the blood (laboratory test result that tells how well your liver is working)
• Possible skipped heart beat
• Disturbance in the mechanism of conducting impulses in the heart
• Sensation of abnormal heart beats (palpitations)
• Tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin
• Change in the sense of taste
• Excessive sleepiness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Feeling the need to vomit
• Muscle weakness
• Excessive water loss in the body
• Low blood pressure
• Reddening of the face
• Allergic reaction
• Fits (seizures)

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

• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store luventa xl

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 foil after the letters 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.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Luventa XL contains:

The active substance is galantamine.

• Each Luventa XL 8 mg prolonged-release capsules, hard contains 8 mg galantamine (as hydrobromide)
• Each Luventa XL 16 mg prolonged-release capsules, hard contains 16 mg galantamine (as hydrobromide)
• Each Luventa XL 24 mg prolonged-release capsules, hard contains 24 mg galantamine (as hydrobromide)

What Luventa XL looks like and contents of the pack

Luventa XL prolonged-release capsules, hard are available in three strengths, each of which can be recognised by its colour:

8 mg: White capsules containing one round biconvex prolonged-release tablet 16 mg: Pale pink capsules containing two round biconvex prolonged-release tablet 24 mg: Orange capsules containing three round biconvex prolonged-release tablets The capsules are made in a ‘prolonged-release’ form. This means that they release the medicine more slowly.

The capsules are available in the following blister packs:

7, 28, 30, 56, 84, 98, 100 prolonged release capsules

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Fontus Health Ltd

60 Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS4 2BX

Manufacturer Pharmathen S.A. Dervenakion 6, Pallini, Attiki, 153 51 Greece and Pharmathen International S.A.

Industrial Park Sapes, Rodopi Prefecture, Block No 5, Rodopi 69300 Greece

This leaflet was last revised in 02/2021.