Neupro - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

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. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

• 1. What Neupro is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you use Neupro

• 3. How to use Neupro

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Neupro

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Neupro is and what it is used for

What Neupro is

Neupro contains the active substance rotigotine.

It belongs to a group of medicines called ‘dopamine agonists’. Dopamine is a messenger in the brain which is important for movement.

What Neupro is used for

Neupro is used in adults to treat the signs and symptoms of:

• Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) – this can be associated with discomfort in your legs or arms, urges to move around, sleep disturbance and feeling tired or sleepy during the day. These symptoms are either reduced or their duration is shortened with Neupro treatment.

2. What you need to know before you use Neupro

Do not use Neupro if:

• you are allergic to rotigotine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• you need to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (diagnostic pictures of the inside of the body, created using magnetic rather than x-ray energy)
• you need ‘cardioversion’ (specific treatment for abnormal heart beat).

You must take your Neupro patch off just before undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cardioversion to avoid skin burns because the patch contains aluminium. You can put a new patch on afterwards.

If any of the above apply to you, do not use Neupro. If you are not sure about this, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse first.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before using Neupro. This is because:

• your blood pressure needs checking regularly while using Neupro, especially at the start of the treatment. Neupro may affect your blood pressure.
• your eyes need checking regularly while using Neupro. If you notice any problems with your eyesight between checks, talk to your doctor straight away.
• if you have serious liver problems, your doctor may need to change the dose. If your liver problems get worse during treatment, talk to your doctor straight away.
• you may get skin problems caused by the patch – see ‘Skin problems caused by the patch’ in section 4.
• you may feel very sleepy or fall asleep suddenly – see ‘Driving and using machines’ in section 2.
• your symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome may start earlier than usual, be more intense and involve other limbs. If you experience such symptoms either before or after beginning treatment with Neupro, contact your doctor as your treatment may need to be adjusted.

Medicines used to treat Restless Legs Syndrome should be reduced or stopped gradually. Tell your doctor if after stopping or reducing your Neupro treatment you experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, sweating or pain.

Loss of consciousness can occur

Neupro can cause loss of consciousness. This can happen especially when you start using Neupro or when your dose is increased. Tell your doctor if you lose consciousness or feel dizzy.

Changes in behaviour and abnormal thinking

Neupro can cause side effects that change your behaviour (how you act). You may find it helpful to tell a member of your family or carer that you are using this medicine and ask them to read this leaflet. This is so that your family or carer can tell you, or your doctor, if they are worried about any changes in your behaviour. Tell your doctor if you or your family/carer notices you are using the drug excessively or developing craving for large doses of Neupro or other medicines used to treat Restless Legs Syndrome.

See ‘Changes to your behaviour and abnormal thinking ’ in section 4 for more information.

Children and adolescents

Do not give this medicine to children below 18 years of age because it is not known if it is safe or effective in this age group.

Other medicines and Neupro

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 and herbal medicines.

Do not take the following medicines while using Neupro – because they may decrease its effect:

• ‘anti-psychotic’ medicines – used to treat certain mental illnesses
• metoclopramide – used to treat nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting.

Talk to your doctor before using Neupro if you are taking:

• sedating medicines such as benzodiazepines or medicines used to treat mental illness or depression.
• medicines that lower blood pressure. Neupro may decrease blood pressure when you stand up -this effect may be worsened by the medicines used to lower blood pressure.

Your doctor will let you know if it is safe to keep taking these medicines while using Neupro.

Neupro with food, drink and alcohol

Because rotigotine enters your bloodstream through your skin, food or drink does not affect the way this medicine is absorbed by the body. You should discuss with your doctor if it is safe for you to drink alcohol while using Neupro.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Do not use Neupro if you are pregnant. This is because the effects of rotigotine on pregnancy and the unborn baby are not known.

Do not breast-feed during treatment with Neupro. This is because rotigotine may pass into your breast milk and affect your baby. It is also likely to lower the amount of milk you produce.

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.

Driving and using machines

Neupro may make you feel very sleepy and you may fall asleep very suddenly. If this happens, do not drive. In isolated cases, people have fallen asleep while driving and this has caused accidents.

Also do not use tools or machines if you feel very sleepy – or do anything else which may put others or yourself at risk of serious injury.

Neupro contains sodium metabisulphite (E223)

Sodium metabisulphite (E223) may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions and bronchospasm (breathing distress caused by narrowing of the airways).

3. How to use Neupro

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

Which strength patches to use

Neupro is available in different strength patches which release the medicine over 24 hours. The strengths are 1 mg/24 h, 2 mg/24 h and 3 mg/24 h for the treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome.

• Your starting dose will be one, 1 mg/24 h patch each day.
• From the second week, your daily dose may be increased by 1 mg each week until you get to the

right maintenance dose for you. This is when you and your doctor agree that the symptoms are being controlled well enough and the side effects of the medicines are acceptable.

• Please follow the instructions of the prescriber carefully.
• The maximum dose is 3 mg per day.

If you have to stop taking this medicine, see ‘If you stop using Neupro’ in section 3.

How to use the Neupro patches

Neupro is a patch that is put on the skin.

• Make sure that you take the old patch off before putting on a new one.
• Stick the new patch on a different area of the skin each day.
• Leave the patch on your skin for 24 hours, then take it off and put on a new one.
• Change the patches at about the same time every day.
• Do not cut the Neupro patches into pieces.

Where to stick the patch

Put the sticky side of the patch onto clean, dry, healthy skin on the following areas as shown in grey on the pictures opposite:

• Shoulder or upper arm.
• Belly.
• Flank (your side, between the ribs

and hips).

• Thigh or hip.

To avoid skin irritation

• Stick the patch onto a different area of skin each day. For example, put it on the right side of your body one day, then on the left side of your body the next day. Or on your upper body one day, then on your lower body the day after that.
• Do not stick Neupro on the same area of skin twice within 14 days.
• Do not stick the patch on broken or damaged skin – or on skin that is red or irritated.

If you still get problems with your skin because of the patch, please see ‘Skin problems caused by the patch’ in section 4 for more information.

To prevent the patch becoming loose or falling off

• Do not put the patch in an area where it can be rubbed by tight clothing.
• Do not use creams, oils, lotions, powders or other skin products where you will put the patch. Also do not use them on or near a patch you are already wearing.
• If you need to stick the patch to a hairy area of skin, you must shave the area at least 3 days before sticking the patch there.
• If the edges of the patch lift, the patch may be taped down with adhesive medical tape.

If the patch falls off, put on a new patch for the rest of the day – then replace the patch at the usual time.

• Do not let the area of the patch get hot – for example too much sunlight, saunas, hot baths,

heating pads or hot-water bottles. This is because the medicine may be released faster. If you think that too much heat has been applied, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

• Always check that the patch has not fallen off after activities such as bathing, showering or

exercising.

• If the patch has irritated your skin, keep that area protected from direct sunlight. This is

because it may change the colour of the skin.

How to use the patch

• Each patch is packed in a separate sachet.
• Before opening the sachet decide where you are going to stick this new patch and check you have removed any old patch.
• Stick the Neupro patch onto your skin as soon as you have opened the sachet and removed the release liner.

1.

To open the sachet, hold the sachet in both hands.

• 4.

Take the patch out of the sachet.

• 5.

The sticky side of the patch is covered by a transparent release liner.

• Hold the patch in both hands

with the release liner facing you.

• 6.

• Bend the patch in half.

This makes the S-shaped break in the liner open up.

• 7.

• Peel off one side of the release liner.
• Do not touch the sticky side of the patch with your fingers.

• 8.

• Hold the other half of the rigid release liner.
• Then put the sticky half of the patch onto your skin.
• Press the sticky side of the patch firmly into place.

• 9.

Fold back the other half of the patch and remove the other side of the release liner.

• 10.

• Press the patch down firmly with the palm of your hand.
• Keep it pressed for about 30 seconds.

This makes sure the patch is touching the skin and the edges stick down well.

• 11.

Wash your hands with soap and water straight after handling the patch.

How to take off a used patch

• Slowly and carefully peel off the used patch.
• Gently wash the area with warm water and mild soap. This will remove any stickiness that stays

on your skin. You can also use a little baby oil to remove any stickiness that will not wash off.

• Do not use alcohol or other dissolving liquids – such as nail polish remover. These may irritate your skin.

If you use more Neupro than you should

Using higher doses of Neupro than your doctor has prescribed may cause side effects such as feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting, low blood pressure, seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), feeling confused, very sleepy, having involuntary movements and convulsions. In such cases, contact your doctor or hospital straight away. They will tell you what to do.

If you forget to change the patch at your usual time

• If you have forgotten to change the patch at your usual time, change it as soon as you remember. Take off the old patch and use a new one.
• If you have forgotten to stick on a new patch after removing the old one, use a new patch as soon as you remember.

In both cases, use a new patch at the usual time on the following day. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop using Neupro

Do not stop using Neupro without talking to your doctor. A sudden stop could lead to a medical condition called ‘neuroleptic malignant syndrome’ which could be life-threatening. The signs include: loss of muscle movement (akinesia), rigid muscles, fever, unstable blood pressure, increased heart rate (tachycardia), confusion, low level of consciousness (such as a coma).

If your doctor says you should stop Neupro, the daily dose should be lowered gradually :

• Restless Legs Syndrome – lowered by 1 mg every other day.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor or pharmacist or nurse if you notice any side effects.

Side effects more likely at the start of treatment

You may feel sick (nausea) and vomit at the start of treatment. These effects are usually mild or moderate and only last for a short time. Talk to your doctor if they last for a long time or if you are worried about them.

Skin problems caused by the patch

• You may get redness and itching on the skin where the patch has been – these reactions are usually mild or moderate.
• The reactions normally go away after a few hours – once you remove the patch.
• Talk to your doctor if you have a skin reaction that lasts longer than a few days or is severe.

Also do this if it spreads outside the area of skin that was covered by the patch.

• Avoid sunlight and solarium exposure on areas of skin showing any kind of skin reaction caused by the patch.
• To help avoid the skin reactions, you should put the patch on a different area of skin every day, and only use the same area again after 14 days.

Loss of consciousness can occur

Neupro can cause loss of consciousness. This can happen especially when you start using Neupro or when your dose is increased. Tell your doctor if you lose consciousness or feel dizzy.

Changes in behaviour and abnormal thinking

Tell your doctor if you notice any changes in behaviour, thinking or both, that are listed below. They will discuss ways of managing or reducing symptoms.

You may find it helpful to also tell a member of your family or carer that you are using this medicine and ask them to read this leaflet. This is so that your family or carer can tell you, or your doctor, if they are worried about any changes in your behaviour. Neupro can cause unusual urges or cravings which you cannot resist such as the impulse, drive or temptation to do things that could harm yourself or others.

These may include:

• strong impulse to gamble too much – even if this seriously affects you or your family
• altered or increased sexual interest and behaviour which causes significant concern to you or others – for example, an increased sex drive
• uncontrolled shopping or spending too much
• binge eating (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time) or compulsive eating

(eating more food than normal and more than is needed to satisfy your hunger).

Neupro may cause other behaviours and abnormal thinking. These may include:

• abnormal thoughts about reality
• delusions and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real)
• confusion
• disorientation
• aggressive behaviour
• agitation
• delirium.

Tell your doctor if you notice any changes in behaviour, thinking or both that are listed above.

They will discuss ways of managing or reducing symptoms.

Allergic reactions

Contact your doctor if you notice signs of an allergic reaction – these can include swelling of the face, tongue or lips.

Side effects when using Neupro for Restless Legs Syndrome

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you get any of the following side effects:

Very common : may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• feeling weak (fatigue)
• skin irritations under the patch such as redness and itching

Common : may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• itching
• feeling irritable
• allergic reaction
• increased sex drive
• high blood pressure
• vomiting, heartburn
• swelling of legs and feet
• feeling sleepy, falling asleep suddenly without warning, difficulty in sleeping, sleep problems, having unusual dreams
• unable to resist the impulse to perform an action that is harmful involving excessive gambling, repetitive meaningless actions, uncontrolled shopping or spending too much
• binge eating (eating large amount of food in a short period of time) or compulsive eating (eating more food than normal and more than needed to satisfy hunger)

Uncommon : may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• feeling agitated
• feeling dizzy when standing up because of a fall in blood pressure

Rare : may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• being aggressive
• disorientation

Not known : it is not known how often these happen

• craving large doses of medicines like Neupro – more than needed for the illness. This is known as ‘dopamine dysregulation syndrome’ and can lead to use of too much Neupro
• seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
• nightmares
• paranoia
• confusion

psychotic disorders

delusion

delirium

feeling dizzy

loss of consciousness, involuntary movements (dyskinesia)

involuntary muscle spasms (convulsion)

blurry vision

visual disturbances such as seeing colours or lights

vertigo (sensation of whirling motion)

• feeling of heartbeat (palpitation)
• abnormal heart rhythm
• low blood pressure
• hiccups
• constipation, dry mouth
• stomach discomfort and pain
• diarrhoea
• redness, increased sweating
• generalised itching, skin irritation
• generalised rash
• unable to achieve or maintain an erection
• weight loss, weight increase
• increased or abnormal liver function test results
• increased heart rate
• increased levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (CPK is an enzyme found mainly in skeletal muscles)
• falling
• rhabdomyolysis (a rare severe muscle disorder which causes pain, tenderness and weakness of the muscles and may lead to kidney problems)

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the side effects listed above.

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 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 Neupro

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 label and box.

Do not store above 30°C.

What to do with the used and unused patches

• Used patches still contain the active substance ‘rotigotine’, which may be harmful to others. Fold the used patch with the sticky side inwards. Put the patch in the original sachet and then throw it away safely, out of the reach of children.
• 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 Neupro contains

The active substance is rotigotine.

• 1 mg/24 h:

Each patch releases 1 mg of rotigotine per 24 hours. Each patch of 5 cm2 contains 2.25 mg of rotigotine.

• 3 mg/24 h:

Each patch releases 3 mg of rotigotine per 24 hours. Each patch of 15 cm2 contains 6.75 mg of rotigotine.

The other ingredients are:

• Poly(dimethyl­siloxane, trimethylsilyl silicate)-copolymerisate, povidoneK90, sodium metabisulphite (E223), ascorbyl palmitate (E304) and DL-a-tocopherol (E307).
• Backing layer: Polyester film, siliconized, aluminized, colour coated with a pigment (titanium dioxide (E171), pigment yellow 95, pigment red 166) layer and imprinted (pigment red 144, pigment yellow 95, pigment black 7).
• Release liner: Transparent fluoropolymer coated polyester film.

What Neupro looks like and contents of the pack

Neupro is a transdermal patch. It is thin and has three layers. It is square-shaped with rounded edges. The outside is tan-coloured and is imprinted with Neupro 1 mg/24 h or 3 mg/24 h.

Neupro is available in the following pack-sizes:

Boxes containing 7, 14, 28, 30 or 84 (multipack containing 3 packs of 28) patches, which are individually sealed in sachets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

UCB Pharma S.A.

Allée de la Recherche 60

B-1070 Bruxelles

Belgium

Manufacturer

UCB Pharma S.A.

Chemin du Foriest

B-1420 Braine l’Alleud

Belgium

For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Belgie/Belgiqu­e/Belgien UCB Pharma SA/NV Tél/Tel: +32-(0)2 559 92 00 Efcarapua TO CH EH Etarapua EOOfl Tea.: +359-(0)2 962 30 49 Česká republika UCB s.r.o. Tel: +420–221 773 411 Danmark UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: +45–32 46 24 00 Deutschland UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: +49-(0) 2173 48 48 48

Lietuva UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358–92 514 4221 (Suomija) Luxembourg/Lu­xemburg UCB Pharma SA/NV Tel/Tel: +32-(0)2 559 92 00 Magyarorszag UCB Magyarorszag Kft. Tel.: +36-(1) 391 0060 Malta Pharmasud Ltd. Tel: +356–21 37 64 36 Nederland UCB Pharma B.V. Tel.: +31-(0)76–573 11 40

Eesti UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358–92 514 4221 (Soome)	Norge UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: +45–32 46 24 00
EMáSa UCB A.E. Tql: +30–2109974000	Österreich UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: +43-(0)1 291 80 00
España UCB Pharma S.A. Tel: +34–91 570 34 44	Polska UCB Pharma Sp. z o.o. Tel.: +48–22 696 99 20
France UCB Pharma S.A. Tél: +33-(0)1 47 29 44 35	Portugal BIAL-Portela & Ca, S.A. Tel: +351–22 986 61 00
Hrvatska Medis Adria d.o.o. Tel: +385-(0)1 230 34 46	Romania UCB Pharma Romania S.R.L. Tel: +40–21 300 29 04
Ireland UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd. Tel: +353-(0)1 46 37 395	Slovenija Medis, d.o.o. Tel: +386–1 589 69 00
Ísland Vistor hf. Sími: +354–535 7000	Slovenská republika UCB s.r.o., organizačná zložka Tel: +421-(0)2 5920 2020
Italia UCB Pharma S.p.A. Tel: +39–02 300 791	Suomi/Finland UCB Pharma Oy Finland Puh/Tel: +358–92 514 4221
Kúnpog Lifepharma (Z.A.M.) Ltd Tql: +357–22 05 63 00	Sverige UCB Nordic A/S Tel: +46-(0)40 29 49 00
Latvija UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358–92 514 4221 (Somija)	United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd Tel: + 353 / (0)1–46 37 395

This leaflet was last revised in {MM/YYYY}

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site:

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