PARACETAMOL 500 MG SUPPOSITORIES - summary of medicine characteristics

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Paracetamol 500mg Suppositories

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each suppository contains 500mg Paracetamol

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Suppository

White, torpedo shaped, suppository

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

For the treatment of mild to moderate pain and fever in children from the age of 6 years.

Paracetamol suppositories may be especially useful in patients unable to take oral forms of paracetamol e.g. Post-operative patients or patients with nausea and/or vomiting.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

For rectal use only

500mg Suppository

Children aged 10–12 years (30 – 40kg): 1 suppository

12 years and over: 1–2 suppositories.

The dosage should be based on the child’s age and weight. These doses may be repeated up to a maximum of 4 times in 24 hours. The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every 4 hours. The recommended dose should not be exceeded. The product should not be used for more than 3 days, except on the advice of a doctor. Higher doses do not produce any increase in analgesic effect. Only whole suppositories should be administered – do not break the suppository before administration.

4.3 Contraindications

Patients who are hypersensitive to paracetamol or any of the other constituents.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Paracetamol suppositories should not be combined with other analgesic medications that contain paracetamol.

Paracetamol suppositories should be administered with care to patients with impaired kidney or liver function. The hazards of overdose are greater in those with non-cirrhotic liver disease.

Label and leaflet should state the following warnings:

Label

Do not exceed the stated dose.

If symptoms persist consult your doctor.

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Leave at least 4 hours between doses.

Immediate medical advice should be sought in the case of an overdose, even if the child seems well.

Do not give with other Paracetamol containing products.

Leaflet

Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if the child seems well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The anti-coagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarins may be enhanced by prolonged regular use of paracetamol with increased risk of bleeding. Occasional doses have no significant effect.

Drugs which induce hepatic microsomal enzymes such as alcohol, barbiturates and other anticonvulsants, may increase the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, particularly after over-dosage. In addition, the risk of liver damage during treatment with maximum recommended doses of paracetamol will be higher in patients being treated with enzyme-inducing agents.

4.6 Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy: A large amount of data on pregnant women indicate neither malformative, nor feto/neonatal toxicity. Epidemiological studies on neurodevelopment in children exposed to paracetamol in utero show inconclusive results. If clinically needed, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy however it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and the lowest possible frequency.

Lactation: Paracetamol Suppositories can be used during breast feeding.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

None known

4.8 Undesirable effects

Paracetamol is usually well tolerated in normal use.

Adverse effects of paracetamol are rare but hypersensitivity including skin rashes may occur. Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.

There have been reports of blood dyscrasias including thromocytopenia and agranulocytosis, but these were not necessarily causally related to paracetamol.

Cases of liver damage have been reported rarely. Hepatic necrosis may occur after paracetamol overdose (see Section 4.9).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions:

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

4.9 Overdose

Liver damage is possible in adults who have taken 10g or more of paracetamol. Ingestion of 5g or more of paracetamol may lead to liver damage if the patient has risk factors (see below).

Risk factors

If the patient

a. Is on long term treatment with carabamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone, rifampicin, St John’s Wort or other drugs that induce liver enzymes.

Or

b. Regularly consumes ethanol in excess of recommended amounts.

Or

c. Is likely to be glutathione deplete e.g. eating disorders, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection, starvation, cachexia

Symptoms

Symptoms of paracetamol overdosage in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 48 hours after ingestion and clinical symptoms generally culminate after 4–6 days. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. In severe poisoning, hepatic failure may progress to encephalopathy, coma and death. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.

Management

Immediate treatment is essential in the management of paracetamol overdose. Despite a lack of significant early symptoms, patients should be referred to hospital urgently for immediate medical attention. Symptoms may be limited to nausea or vomiting and may not reflect the severity of overdose or the risk of organ damage. Management should be in accordance with established treatment guidelines, see BNF overdose section.

Treatment with activated charcoal should be considered if the overdose has been taken within 1 hour. Plasma paracetamol concentration should be measured at 4 hours or later after ingestion (earlier concentrations are unreliable). Treatment with N-acetylcysteine may be used up to 24 hours after ingestion of paracetamol, however, the maximum protective effect is obtained up to 8 hours post-ingestion. The effectiveness of the antidote declines sharply after this time. If required the patient should be given intravenous N-acetylcysteine, in line with the established dosage schedule. If vomiting is not a problem, oral methionine may be a suitable alternative for remote areas, outside hospital. Management of patients who present with serious hepatic dysfunction beyond 24h from ingestion should be discussed with the NPIS or a liver unit.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Anilides, ATC Code: N02 BE01

Paracetamol is an aniline derivative with analgesic and antipyretic actions similar to those of aspirin but with no demonstrable anti-inflammatory activity. It does not affect thrombocyte aggregation or bleeding time. Paracetamol is generally well tolerated by patients hypersensitive to acetylsalicylic acid. It produces analgesia by elevation of the pain threshold and antipyresis through action on the hypothalamic heat-regulation center.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Paracetamol is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Peak plasma concentrations occur about 2 to 3 hours after rectal administration. Usual analgesic doses produce total serum concentrations of 5 to 20mcg/ml. Paracetamol is primarily metabolised in the liver by conjugation to glucuronide and sulphate. A small amount (about 310% of a therapeutic dose) is metabolised by oxidation and the reactive intermediate metabolite thus formed is bound preferentially to the liver glutathione and excreted as cystein and mercapturic acid conjugates.

Paracetamol is excreted in the urine mostly as metabolites; 2–4% is excreted unchanged. The average elimination half life is 1 to 4 hours; half life is slightly prolonged in neonates (2.2 to 5 hours) and in cirrhotics.

The overall elimination rate constant for paracetamol in children, from birth to 12 years of age, is the same as for adults but neonates have diminished capacity to form glucuronide conjugates of paracetamol.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Conventional studies using the currently accepted standards for the evaluation of toxicity to reproduction and development are not available.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Hard fat

Macrogol cetostearyl ether

Glyceryl ricinoleate

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf life

2 years.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 250C.

Store in the original package

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Ten suppositories packed in white/opaque PVC/PE film.

Each suppository is packed separately. Due to the perforations of the welds an individual suppository can be torn out.

Two strips, each containing five suppositories, are packed into a cardboard carton.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

The suppository should only be removed from the blister packaging immediately before use.