Patient leaflet - Pregabalin Ascend 25 mg hard capsules
1. What Pregabalin Ascend is and what it is used for
Pregabalin Ascend belongs to a group of medicines used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults.
Peripheral and central neuropathic pain: This medicine is used to treat long lasting pain caused by damage to the nerves. A variety of diseases can cause peripheral neuropathic pain, such as diabetes or shingles. Pain sensations may be described as hot, burning, throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, aching, tingling, numbness, pins and needles. Peripheral and central neuropathic pain may also be associated with mood changes, sleep disturbance, fatigue (tiredness), and can have an impact on physical and social functioning and overall quality of life.
Epilepsy:
This medicine is used to treat a certain form of epilepsy (partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation) in adults. Your doctor will prescribe Pregabalin for you to help treat your epilepsy when your current treatment is not controlling your condition. You should take Pregabalin in addition to your current treatment. Pregabalin is not intended to be used alone, but should always be used in combination with other anti-epileptic treatment.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder:
This medicine is used to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The symptoms of GAD are prolonged excessive anxiety and worry that are difficult to control. GAD can also cause restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, being easily fatigued (tired), having difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, feeling irritable, having muscle tension or sleep disturbance. This is different to the stresses and strains of everyday life.
2. What you need to know before you take Pregabalin Ascend
Do not take Pregabalin Ascend
if you are allergic to pregabalin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Pregabalin.
Some patients taking Pregabalin have reported symptoms suggesting an allergic reaction.
These symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat, as well as diffuse skin rash. Should you experience any of these reactions, you should contact your physician immediately.
Pregabalin has been associated with dizziness and sleepiness, which could increase the
occurrence of accidental injury (fall) in elderly patients. Therefore, you should be careful until you are used to any effect the medicine might have.
Pregabalin may cause blurring or loss of vision, or other changes in eyesight, many of which
are temporary. You should immediately tell your doctor if you experience any changes in your vision.
Some patients with diabetes who gain weight while taking pregabalin may need an alteration
in their diabetic medicines.
Certain side effects may be more common, such as sleepiness, because patients with spinal
cord injury may be taking other medicines to treat, for example, pain or spasticity, that have similar side effects to Pregabalin and the severity of these effects may be increased when taken together.
There have been reports of heart failure in some patients when taking Pregabalin; these
patients were mostly elderly with cardiovascular conditions. Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease.
There have been reports of kidney failure in some patients when taking Pregabalin. If while
taking Pregabalin you notice decreased urination, you should tell your doctor as stopping the medicine may improve this.
A small number of people being treated with anti-epileptics such as Pregabalin have had
thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor.
When Pregabalin is taken with other medicines that may cause constipation (such as some
types of pain medicines) it is possible that gastrointestinal problems may occur (e.g. constipation, blocked or paralysed bowel). Tell your doctor if you experience constipation, especially if you are prone to this problem.
Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have a history of alcoholism or
any drug abuse or dependence. Do not take more medicine than prescribed.
There have been reports of convulsions when taking Pregabalin or shortly after stopping
Pregabalin. If you experience a convulsion, contact your doctor immediately.
There have been reports of reduction in brain function (encephalopathy) in some patients
taking Pregabalin when they have other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of any serious medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease.
Children and adolescents
The safety and efficacy in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age) has not been established and therefore, pregabalin should not be used in this age group.
Other medicines and Pregabalin Ascend
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Pregabalin Ascend and certain other medicines may influence each other (interaction). When taken with certain other medicines, Pregabalin may potentiate the side effects seen with these medicines, including respiratory failure and coma. The degree of dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration may be increased if Pregabalin is taken together with medicinal products containing:
- Oxycodone – (used as a pain-killer)
- Lorazepam – (used for treating anxiety)
- Alcohol
Pregabalin may be taken with oral contraceptives.
Pregabalin Ascend with food, drink and alcohol
This medicine may be taken with or without food.
It is advised not to drink alcohol while taking this medicine.
Folding Size: 140 x 30 mm
Size: (L x H) 280 x 480 mm
Reason for Issue: Text change
Product: Pregabalin capsules
Date of Initiation: 23/09/2019
Modification Date:
Substrate: 40 gsm Bible Paper
Market: Ascend, UK
Barcode: NA
Mfg Location: Daman
Superseed No: PT 3107-04
Pack Size: NA
Change Control No:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregabalin Ascend should not be taken during pregnancy or when breast-feeding, unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. Effective contraception must be used by women of child-bearing potential. 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.
Driving and using machines
Pregabalin may produce dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration. You should not drive, operate complex machinery or engage in other potentially hazardous activities until you know whether this medicine affects your ability to perform these activities.
3. How to take Pregabalin Ascend
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will determine what dose is appropriate for you.
Pregabalin is for oral use only.
Peripheral and central neuropathic pain, epilepsy or Generalised Anxiety Disorder:
- Take the number of capsules as instructed by your doctor.
- The dose, which has been adjusted for you and your condition, will generally be between 150 mg and 600 mg each day.
- Your doctor will tell you to take Pregabalin either twice or three times a day. For twice a day take Pregabalin once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day. For three times a day take Pregabalin once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.
If you have the impression that the effect of Pregabalin is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Use in elderly patients
If you are an elderly patient (over 65 years of age), you should take Pregabalin normally except if you have problems with your kidneys.
Use in patients with kidney problems
Your doctor may prescribe a different dosing schedule and/or dose if you have problems with your kidneys.
Swallow the capsule whole with water.
Continue taking Pregabalin until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you take more Pregabalin Ascend than you should
Call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency unit immediately. Take your box or bottle of Pregabalin capsules with you. You may feel sleepy, confused, agitated, or restless as a result of taking more Pregabalin than you should. Fits have also been reported.
If you forget to take Pregabalin Ascend
It is important to take your Pregabalin capsules regularly at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. In that case, just carry on with the next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Pregabalin Ascend
Do not stop taking Pregabalin unless your doctor tells you to. If your treatment is stopped it should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week.
After stopping long and short-term Pregabalin treatment, you need to know that you may experience certain side effects. These include, trouble sleeping, headache, nausea, feeling anxious, diarrhoea, flu-like symptoms, convulsions, nervousness, depression, pain, sweating, and dizziness. These symptoms may occur more commonly or severely if you have been taking Pregabalin for a longer period of time.
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.
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Dizziness, drowsiness, headache.
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Increased appetite.
- Feeling of elation, confusion, disorientation, decrease in sexual interest, irritability.
- Disturbance in attention, clumsiness, memory impairment, loss of memory, tremor, difficulty with speaking, tingling feeling, numbness, sedation, lethargy, insomnia, fatigue, feeling abnormal.
- Blurred vision, double vision.
- Vertigo (feeling of dizziness or “spinning”), problems with balance, fall.
- Dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, swollen abdomen.
- Difficulties with erection.
- Swelling of the body including extremities.
- Feeling drunk, abnormal style of walking.
- Weight gain.
- Muscle cramp, joint pain, back pain, pain in limb.
- Sore throat.
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, low blood sugar, high blood sugar.
- Change in perception of self, restlessness, depression, agitation, mood swings, difficulty finding words, hallucinations, abnormal dreams, panic attacks, apathy, aggression, elevated mood, mental impairment, difficulty with thinking, increase in sexual interest, problems with sexual functioning including inability to achieve a sexual climax, delayed ejaculation.
- Changes in eyesight, unusual eye movement, changes in vision including tunnel vision, flashes of light, jerky movements, reduced reflexes, increased activity, dizziness on standing, sensitive skin, loss of taste, burning sensation, tremor on movement, decreased consciousness, loss of consciousness, fainting, increased sensitivity to noise, feeling unwell.
- Dry eyes, eye swelling, eye pain, weak eyes, watery eyes, eye irritation.
- Heart rhythm disturbances, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, changes in heartbeat, heart failure.
- Flushing, hot flushes.
- Difficulty breathing, dry nose, nasal congestion.
- Increased saliva production, heartburn, numb around mouth.
- Sweating, rash, chills, fever.
- Muscle twitching, joint swelling, muscle stiffness, pain including muscle pain, neck pain.
- Breast pain.
- Difficulty with or painful urination, incontinence.
- Weakness, thirst, chest tightness.
- Changes in blood and liver test results (blood creatinine phosphokinase increased, alanine amino transferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, platelet count decreased, neutropaenia, increase in blood creatinine, decrease in blood potassium).
- Hypersensitivity, swollen face, itchiness, hives, runny nose, nose bleed, cough, snoring.
- Painful menstrual periods.
- Coldness of hands and feet.
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
- Abnormal sense of smell, swinging vision, altered perception of depth, visual brightness, vision loss.
- Dilated pupils, cross eyes.
- Cold sweat, tightness of the throat, swollen tongue.
- Inflammation of the pancreas.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Slow or reduced movement of the body.
- Difficulty with writing properly.
- Increased fluid in the abdomen.
- Fluid in the lungs.
- Convulsions(fits)
- Changes in the recording of electrical changes (ECG) in the heart which correspond to heart rhythm disturbances.
- Muscle damage.
- Breast discharge, abnormal breast growth, breast growth in males.
- Interrupted menstrual periods.
Kidney failure, reduced urine volume, urinary retention.
3550
Back
280 mm
- Decrease in white blood cell count.
- Inappropriate behaviour.
Allergic reactions (which may include difficulty breathing, inflammation of the eyes
(keratitis) and a serious skin reaction characterized by rash, blisters, peeling skin and pain).
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- Liver failure.
- Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
If you experience swollen face or tongue or if your skin turns red and starts to blister or peel, you should seek immediate medical advice.
Certain side effects may be more common, such as sleepiness, because patients with spinal cord injury may be taking other medicines to treat, for example, pain or spasticity, that have similar side effects to Pregabalin and the severity of these effects may be increased when taken together.
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 at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Pregabalin Ascend
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 or bottle after 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 Pregabalin capsules contain
The active substance is pregabalin. Each hard capsule contains either 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 225 mg or 300 mg pregabalin.
The other ingredients are: pregelatinized starch, talc, gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), sodium lauryl sulphate and black ink (which contains shellac, black iron oxide (E172), propylene glycol and potassium hydroxide).
The 75 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 225 mg and 300 mg capsules also contain red iron oxide (E172) and yellow iron oxide (E172).
The Pregabalin capsules 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 225 mg or 300 mg are supplied in packs of:
- Alu-Alu blister pack –pack of 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 60, 70 (Pregabalin 75 mg hard capsules), 84, 91, 98 or 100 capsules
- HDPE bottle pack fitted with child resistant cap and containing desiccant canister silica gel 1 g – 30's capsules
HDPE bottle pack fitted with non-child resistant cap and containing canister SORB-IT 3 g
- 500's capsules
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Ascend Laboratories (UK) Ltd.
4th floor, Elsley Court 20-22
Great Titchfield Street
London, W1W 8BE
United Kingdom
Tel: 0800 047 0073
Manufacturer:
Ascend Laboratories (UK) Ltd.
4th Floor, Cavendish House,
369 Burnt Oak Broadway
Edgware HA8 5AW
United Kingdom
and/or
Wave Pharma Limited
4th Floor, Cavendish House,
369 Burnt Oak Broadway
Edgware HA8 5AW
United Kingdom
Distributed by:
Ascend Laboratories (UK) Limited
United Kingdom.
This leaflet was last revised in 09/2019.
PT 3107-05 5 mm
| What Pregabalin capsules look like and contents of the pack | |
| 25 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 14.40 mm size hard gelatin capsules, white opaque cap imprinted with 'A007' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 25' with black ink. |
| 50 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 15.80 mm size hard gelatin capsules, white opaque cap imprinted with 'A008' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 50' with black ink. |
| 75 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 14.40 mm size hard gelatin capsules, orange opaque cap imprinted with 'A009' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 75' with black ink. |
| 100 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 15.80 mm size hard gelatin capsules, orange opaque cap imprinted with 'A010' with black ink and orange opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 100' with black ink. |
| 150 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 17.80 mm size hard gelatin capsules, white opaque cap imprinted with 'A011' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 150' with black ink. |
| 200 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 19.30 mm size hard gelatin capsules, light orange opaque cap imprinted with 'A012' with black ink and light orange opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 200' with black ink. |
| 225 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 19.30 mm size hard gelatin capsules, light orange opaque cap imprinted with 'A013' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 225' with black ink. |
| 300 mg capsules | White to off white powder filled in approximately 21.40 mm size hard gelatin capsules, light orange opaque cap imprinted with 'A014' with black ink and white opaque body imprinted with 'PREG 300' with black ink. |