Patient leaflet - Neomercazole 5
1. What NeoMercazole is and what it is used for
The name of your medicine is NeoMercazole 5 mg Tablets or NeoMercazole 20 mg Tablets (this will be referred to NeoMercazole throughout the leaflet). NeoMercazole contains the active substance carbimazole.
NeoMercazole belongs to a group of medicines called anti-thyroid agents. NeoMercazole is used to reduce the formation of thyroid hormones in adults and children with on overactive thyroid gland. The condition is called hyperthyroidism. NeoMercazole is also used in more serious cases, for example, to restore the normal function of the thyroid before its partial removal by surgery. It may also be used together with other treatments for hyperthyroidism.
2. What you need to know before you take Neomercazole
Do not take NeoMercazole
- If you are allergic to carbimazole or any of the ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- If you have a serious blood disord.
- If you have a severe liver disorder.
- If you had inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis) after administration of carbimazole or thiamazole in the past.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking NeoMercazole
- If you have a swelling in your neck called an 'intrathoracic goitre'.
- If you have bone marrow depression.
- If you are receiving radio-iodine (for thyroid problems).
- If you are of child-bearing potential.
- If you are allergic to thiamazole, methimazole or propylthiouracil (other thyroid medications).
- If you are unable to comply with the instructions for use or cannot be monitored regularly.
- If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.
- If you have mild or moderate liver problems.
- Tell your doctor straight away if you develop fever or abdominal pain, which may be signs of inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis). NeoMercazole may need to be discontinued.
- NeoMercazole can cause harm to an unborn baby. If you could get pregnant, use reliable contraception from the time you start treatment and during treatment.
If you are not sure if the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking NeoMercazole.
Children
Do not give this medicine to children under the age of two years because it may not be safe or effective.
Other medicines and NeoMercazole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because NeoMercazole can affect the way some medicines work. Also, some medicines can affect the way NeoMercazole works.
In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
- Theophylline used to treat asthma or breathing problems
- Medicines called anticoagulants, which are used to thin the blood e.g. warfarin
- Steroids such as prednisolone
- An antibiotic called erythromycin
- A medicine for heart failure called digitalis
- Medicines for high blood pressure called beta-blockers
- Any other medicine that could affect your white blood cell count.
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
NeoMercazole can cause harm to an unborn baby. If you could get pregnant, use reliable contraception from the time you start treatment and during treatment. However, to reduce the possibility of any effects on your baby:
- Your doctor should prescribe the lowest dose possible.
- Your treatment may be discontinued three to four weeks before you are due to give birth.
Your treatment with NeoMercazole may need to be continued during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to you and your unborn baby.
Breast-feeding
You should not breast-feed if you are using NeoMercazole. This is because small amounts may pass into the mother's milk.
Driving and using machines
You can drive when taking NeoMercazole, but do not drive until you know how it affects you.
NeoMercozole contains lactose and sucrose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. How to take NeoMercazole
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- The tablets should be taken by mouth.
You can take the tablets before, after or during meals.
- Each day's tablets may be divided into two (morning and evening) or three daily doses (morning, noon and night).
Adults and the elderly: The recommended starting dose is one to three 20 mg tablets, or four to twelve 5 mg tablets daily. Once control is achieved your doctor will gradually reduce your dose to one to three 5 mg tablets each day.
Use in children: The recommended starting dose is three 5 mg tablets daily.
The dosage will be decided by your doctor according to your individual needs, and may be changed at intervals during treatment.
Do not change the dosage without consulting your doctor first.
Your doctor may decide to add an additional tablet (I-thyroxine), to help control your condition.
Some improvement is usually felt within one to three weeks. However, full beneficial effects usually take four to eight weeks.
In order to maintain control of the thyroid gland, you may need to continue to take NeoMercazole tablets for several months. Your doctor will decide when treatment can be stopped. They may ask you to have occasional blood tests to help them to determine how you are responding to treatment.
Radio-iodine is another treatment for hyperthyroidism.
If you need radioiodine treatment, your doctor will tell you to stop taking NeoMercazole temporarily.
If you take more NeoMercazole than you should
If you take more NeoMercazole than you should, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Take the container and any remaining tablets with you.
If you forget to take NeoMercazole
If you forget to take NeoMercazole take the next dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is due, take both doses together.
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.
Allergic reactions
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking NeoMercazole and see a doctor straight away. The signs may include: sudden rash, swelling or difficulty breathing.
Stop taking NeoMercazole and see a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:
- sore throat
- mouth ulcers
- high temperature or fever
- significant tiredness
- increased bruising or bleeding tendency
- you are feeling generally unwell or think that you may have on infection
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a serious illness with blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals
- angioedema, a serious allergic reaction with symptoms that may include swollen tongue, lips, face or throat
In addition, if you experience any of these symptoms while taking NeoMercazole you should also contact your doctor immediately:
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Nerve pain
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Swelling of glands in your mouth
- Feeling faint (low blood sugar)
- Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes.
- Kidney problems, with symptoms that include a reduction in the amount of urine passed, fluid retention, blood in the urine.
These could be signs of muscle problems, jaundice or inflammation of the liver and under medical supervision your doctor may want you to stop taking the medicine and carry out some blood tests on you.
Do not stop taking NeoMercazole until you have consulted your doctor.
NeoMercazole can sometimes cause bone morrow depression which causes a reduction in the number of blood cells and reduces the ability to fight infection. If it is not treated as soon as it is detected the condition can become life-threatening. Your doctor should carry out tests to check for bone marrow depression before restarting your treatment.
The following side effects are reported with a not known frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
:
- feeling sick
- headache
- skin rashes, including urticaria (nettle rash)
- itching
- stomach upset
- painful joints.
- hair loss
- loss of taste
- inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
- lung problems, with symptoms that include shortness of breath or a cough
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 the 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.
5. How to store NeoMercazole
Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Do not store your tablets above 25°C. Store in the original package away from heat. Do not use after the expiry date which is printed on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What NeoMercazole contains
- The active substance is carbimazole. Each tablet contains 5 mg or 20 mg of carbimazole.
- The other ingredients are sucrose, lactose, acacia, talc, maize starch, magnesium stearate, gelatine and red iron oxide (EI72). NeoMercazole 20 mg also contains microcrystalline cellulose.
What NeoMercazole looks like and the contents of the pack
NeoMercazole 5 mg tablets are pink circular tablets with 'Neo 5' printed on one side and plain on the reverse. NeoMercazole 20 mg tablets are pink circular tablets with 'Neo 20' printed on one side and plain on the reverse.
NeoMercazole is available in plastic bottles of 100 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Amdipharm UK limited,
Dashwood House,
69 Old Broad Street,
London, EC2M 1QS,
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Cenexi SAS
52 Rue Marcel Et Jacques Gaucher
Fontenay Sous Bois
94120, France
This leaflet was last revised in November 2023