TARGINACT 20 MG / 10 MG PROLONGED-RELEASE TABLETS - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

5. How to store Targinact tablets

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Targinact tablets look like and contents of the pack

The Targinact tablets are pink, oblong, film coated tablets, marked ‘OXN’ on one side and ‘20’ on the other.

Targinact tablets are available in blister packs containing 28 and 56 tablets.

S1740 LEAFLET Targinact 20210907

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

TARGINACT® 20mg/10mg PROLONGED-RELEASE TABLETS

(oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride) Your medicine is known as Targinact 20mg/10mg prolonged-release tablets but will be referred to as Targinact tablets throughout the following leaflet.

Information for other strengths of Targinact tablets may also be present in this leaflet.

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 Targinact tablets are and what they are used for

• 2. What you need to know before you take Targinact tablets

• 3. How to take Targinact tablets

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Targinact tablets

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what targinact tablets are and what it is used for

Targinact is a prolonged-release tablet, which means that its active substances are released over an extended period. Their action lasts for 12 hours.

These tablets are only for use in adults.

Pain relief

You have been prescribed Targinact tablets for the treatment of severe pain, which can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics. Naloxone hydrochloride is added to counteract constipation.

How these tablets work in pain relief

These tablets contain oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride as active substances. Oxycodone hydrochloride is responsible for the pain-killing effect of Targinact, and is a potent analgesic (“painkiller”) of the opioid group. The second active substance of Targinact tablets, naloxone hydrochloride, is intended to counteract constipation. Bowel dysfunction (e.g. constipation) is a typical side effect of treatment with opioid painkillers.

Restless legs syndrome

You have been prescribed Targinact tablets for the second line symptomatic treatment of severe to very severe restless legs syndrome in people who can’t be treated with dopamine medicines. People with restless legs syndrome have unpleasant sensations in their limbs. This can start as soon as they sit or lie down and is only relieved by an irresistible urge to move the legs, sometimes the arms and other parts of the body. It makes sitting still and sleeping very difficult. Naloxone hydrochloride is added to counteract constipation.

How these tablets work in restless legs syndrome

These tablets help to relieve the unpleasant sensations and so reduces the urge to move the limbs.

The second active substance of Targinact tablets, naloxone hydrochloride, is intended to counteract constipation. Bowel dysfunction (e.g. constipation) is a typical side effect of treatment with opioids.

2. what you need to know before you take targinact tabletsdo not take targinact tablets if you are allergic to oxycodone hydrochloride, naloxone hydrorochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),

• if your breathing is not able to supply enough oxygen to the blood, and get rid of carbon dioxide produced in the body (respiratory depression),
• if you suffer from a severe lung disease associated with narrowing of the airways (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD),
• if you suffer from a condition known as cor pulmonale. In this condition the right side of the heart becomes enlarged, due to increased pressure inside blood vessels in the lung etc (e.g. as a result of COPD – see above),
• if you suffer from severe bronchial asthma,
• if you have paralytic ileus (a type of bowel obstruction) not caused by opioids,
• if you have moderate to severe liver dysfunction.
• Additionally for restless legs syndrome
• if you have a history of opioid abuse

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Targinact

• in the case of elderly patients or debilitated (weak) patients,
• if you have paralytic ileus (a type of bowel obstruction) caused by opioids,
• if you have kidney impairment,
• if you have mild liver impairment,
• if you have severe lung impairment (i.e. reduced breathing capacity),
• if you suffer with a condition characterised by frequent breathing stops during the night which may make you feel very sleepy during the daytime (sleep apnoea),
• if you have myxoedema (a thyroid disorder, with dryness, coldness and swelling [‘puffiness’] of the skin, affecting the face and limbs),
• if your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones (underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism),
• if your adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones (adrenal insufficiency, or Addison’s disease),
• if you have a mental illness accompanied by a (partial) loss of reality (psychosis), due to alcohol or intoxication with other substances (substance-induced psychosis),
• if you suffer from gallstone problems,
• if your prostate gland is abnormally enlarged (prostate hypertrophy),
• if you suffer from alcoholism or delirium tremens,
• if your pancreas is inflamed (pancreatitis), if you have low blood pressure (hypotension), if you have high blood pressure (hypertension), if you have pre-existing cardiovascular disease, if you have a head injury (due to the risk of increased brain pressure),
• if you suffer from epilepsy or are prone to seizures,
• if you are also taking MAO inhibitors (used to treat depression or Parkinson’s di­sease), or you have taken this type of medicine in the last two weeks, e.g. medicines containing tranylcypromine, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, moclobemide and linezolid,
• if sleepiness or episodes of suddenly falling asleep occur.

This medicine can cause breathing problems while sleeping. These problems may include pauses in breathing during sleep, being awoken by shortness of breath, difficulty staying asleep or excessive daytime drowsiness. If you or someone else observes these symptoms contact your doctor. Your doctor may want to lower your dose.

Tell your doctor if any of the above has ever applied to you in the past. Also, please tell your doctor if you develop any of the above disorders while you are taking these tablets. The most serious result of opioid overdose is respiratory depression (slow and shallow breathing). This may also cause blood oxygen levels to fall, resulting in possible fainting, etc.

You must swallow the prolonged-release tablet whole, so as not to affect the slow release of oxycodone hydrochloride from the prolonged-release tablet. Do not break, chew or crush the tablets. Taking broken, chewed or crushed tablets may lead to the absorption of a potentially lethal dose of oxycodone hydrochloride (see section 3“lf you take more Targinact tablets than you should”). If you experience severe diarrhoea at the start of treatment, this may be due to the effect of naloxone. It may be a sign that bowel function is returning to normal. Such diarrhoea can occur within the first 3–5 days of treatment. If diarrhoea should persist after 3–5 days, or give you cause for concern, please contact your doctor.

If you have been using another opioid, withdrawal symptoms may occur when you initially switch to Targinact treatment, e.g. restlessness, bouts of sweating and muscle pain. If you experience such symptoms, you may need to be specially monitored by your doctor.

If taken over the long term, you may become tolerant to these tablets. This means you may need a higher dose to achieve the desired effect. Also, long-term use may lead to physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms may occur if treatment is stopped too suddenly (restlessness, bouts of sweating, muscle pain). If you no longer need treatment, you should reduce your daily dose gradually, in consultation with your doctor.

The active substance oxycodone hydrochloride alone has an abuse profile similar to other strong opioids (strong analgesics). There is potential for development of psychological dependence. Oxycodone hydrochloride containing products should be avoided in patients with a present or past abuse of alcohol, drugs or medicines.

Tell your doctor in case you have cancer associated to peritoneal metastases or beginning bowel obstruction in advanced stages of digestive and pelvic cancers. If you need to undergo surgery, please tell your doctors that you are taking Targinact.

Similar to other opioids, oxycodone may affect the normal production of hormones in the body such as cortisol or sex hormones, particularly if you have taken high doses for long periods of time. If you experience symptoms which persist, such as feeling or being sick (including vomiting), loss of appetite, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, changes in menstrual cycle, impotence, infertility or decreased sex drive, talk to your doctor as he/she may want to monitor your hormone levels.

This medicine may increase your sensitivity to pain particularly at high doses. Tell your doctor if this happens. A reduction in your dose or a change in your medicine may be necessary.

You may notice remnants of the prolonged-release tablet in your stools. Do not be alarmed, as the active substances (oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride) have already been released in the stomach and gut and absorbed into your body.

Incorrect use of Targinact tablets

These tablets are not suitable for withdrawal treatment.

Targinact should never be abused, particularly if you have a drug addiction. If you are addicted to substances such as heroin, morphine or methadone, severe withdrawal symptoms are likely if you abuse these tablets because they contain the ingredient naloxone. Pre-existing withdrawal symptoms may be made worse.

You should never misuse these tablets by dissolving and injecting them (e.g. into a blood vessel). In particular, they contain talc, which can cause destruction of local tissue (necrosis) and changes in lung tissue (lung granuloma). Such abuse can also have other serious consequences and may even be fatal.

The use of Targinact may produce positive results in doping controls.

The use of Targinact as a doping agent may become a health hazard.

Other medicines and Targinact tablets

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

The risk of side effects increases, if you use antidepressants (such as citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine). These medicines may interact with oxycodone and you may experience symptoms such as involuntary, rhythmic contractions of muscles, including the muscles that control movement of the eye, agitation, excessive sweating, tremor, exaggeration of reflexes, increased muscle tension, body temperature above 38°C. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms.

Concomitant use of opioids, including oxycodone hydrochloride and sedative medicines such as benzodiazepines or related drugs increases the risk of drowsiness, difficulties in breathing (respiratory depression), coma and may be life-threatening. Because of this, concomitant use should only be considered when other treatment options are not possible.

However, if your doctor does prescribe Targinact together with sedative medicines the dose and duration of concomitant treatment should be limited by your doctor.

Please tell your doctor about all sedative medicines you are taking, and follow your doctor’s dose recommendation closely. It could be helpful to inform friends or relatives to be aware of the signs and symptoms stated above. Contact your doctor when experiencing such symptoms. Examples of these sedatives or related medicines include:

• other potent painkillers (opioids);
• medicines to treat epilepsy, pain, and anxiety such as gabapentin and pregabalin.
• sleep medication and tranquilisers (sedatives including benzodiazepines, hypnotics, anxiolytics);
• medicines to treat depression;
• medicines used to treat allergies, travel sickness or nausea (antihistamines or antiemetics);
• medicines to treat psychiatric or mental disorders (antipsychotics which includes phenothiazines and neuroleptics).

If you take these tablets at the same time as you take other medicines, the effect of these tablets or the other medicine as described below may be changed.

Tell your doctor if you are taking:

• medicines that decrease the blood’s clotting ability (coumarin derivatives), this clotting time may be speeded up or slowed down;
• antibiotics of the macrolide type (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin or telithromycin);
• antifungal medicines of the -azole type (such as ketoconazole, voriconazole, itraconizole or posaconizole);
• a specific type of medicine known as a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV (examples include ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir or saquinavir);
• cimetidine (a medicine for stomach ulcers, indigestion or heartburn);
• rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis);
• carbamazepine (used to treat seizures, fits or convulsions and certain pain conditions);
• phenytoin (used to treat seizures, fits or convulsions);
• a herbal remedy called St John’s Wort (also known as Hypericum perforatum);
• quinidine (a medicine to treat an irregular heartbeat).

No interactions are expected between Targinact and paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid or naltrexone.

Targinact tablets with food, drink and alcohol

Drinking alcohol whilst taking Targinact may make you feel more sleepy or increase the risk of serious side effects such as shallow breathing with a risk of stopping breathing, and loss of consciousness. It is recommended not to drink alcohol while you’re taking Targinact.

You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking these tablets.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Pregnancy

Use of these tablets should be avoided to the extent possible during pregnancy. If used over prolonged periods during pregnancy, oxycodone hydrochloride may lead to withdrawal symptoms in newborn infants. If oxycodone hydrochloride is given during childbirth, respiratory depression (slow and shallow breathing) may occur in the newborn infant.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment with these tablets. Oxycodone hydrochloride passes into breast milk. It is not known whether naloxone hydrochloride also passes into breast milk. Therefore, a risk for the suckling infant cannot be excluded in particular following intake of multiple doses of Targinact.

Driving and using machines

Targinact may affect your ability to drive or operate machines. In particular, this is likely at the start of Targinact therapy, after a dose increase or after switching from a different medication. However, these side effects disappear once you are on a stable Targinact dose.

Targinact has been associated with sleepiness and episodes of suddenly falling asleep. If you experience these side effects, you must not drive or operate machinery. You should tell your doctor if this occurs.

• Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you.
• It is an offence to drive if this medicine affects your ability to drive.
• However you would not be committing an offence if:

o The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and

o You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber or in the information provided with the medicine and

o It was not affecting your ability to drive safely.

Ask your doctor whether you may drive or operate machines.

Targinact tablets contains lactose

This medicine contains lactose (milk sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking these tablets.

3. how to take targinact tablets

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

Targinact is a prolonged-release tablet, which means that its active substances are released over an extended period. Their action lasts for 12 hours.

You must swallow the prolonged-release tablet whole, so as not to affect the slow release of oxycodone hydrochloride from the prolonged-release tablet. Do not break, chew or crush the tablets. Taking broken, chewed or crushed tablets may lead to the absorption of a potentially lethal dose of oxycodone hydrochloride (see section 3 “If you take more Targinact tablets than you should”).

Unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor, the usual dose is:

To treat pain

Adults

The usual starting dose is 10 mg oxycodone hydrochloride / 5 mg naloxone hydrochloride as prolonged release tablet(s) every 12 hours.

Your doctor will decide how much you should take every day and how to divide your total daily dosage into morning and evening doses. Your doctor will also decide on any necessary dose adjustments during treatment. Your dose will be adjusted according to your level of pain and individual sensitivity. You should be given the lowest dose needed for pain relief. If you have already been treated with opioids, Targinact treatment can be started at a higher dose.

The maximum daily dose is 160 mg oxycodone hydrochloride and 80 mg naloxone hydrochloride. If you need a higher dose, your doctor may give you additional oxycodone hydrochloride without naloxone hydrochloride. However, the maximum daily dose of oxycodone hydrochloride should not exceed 400 mg. The beneficial effect of naloxone hydrochloride on bowel activity may be affected if additional oxycodone hydrochloride is given without additional naloxone hydrochloride.

If you are switched from these tablets to another opioid pain medication your bowel function will probably worsen.

If you experience pain between two doses of Targinact, you may need a rapid-acting painkiller. Targinact is not suitable for this. In this case, please talk to your doctor.

If you have the impression that the effect of these tablets is too strong or too weak, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

To treat restless legs syndrome

Adults

The usual starting dose is 5 mg oxycodone hydrochloride / 2.5 mg naloxone hydrochloride as prolonged-release tablet(s) every 12 hours.

Your doctor will decide how much Targinact you should take every day and how to divide your total daily dosage into morning and evening doses. He/she will also decide on any necessary dose adjustments during treatment. Your dose will be adjusted according to your individual sensitivity. You should be given the lowest dose needed to relieve your restless legs syndrome symptoms.

If you have the impression that the effect of Targinact is too strong or too weak, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The maximum daily dose is 60 mg oxycodone hydrochloride and 30 mg naloxone hydrochloride.

To treat pain or restless legs syndrome

Elderly patients

In general, no dose adjustment is necessary for elderly patients with normal kidney and/or liver function.

Liver or kidney impairment

If you have an impairment of your kidney function or a mild impairment of your liver function, your attending doctor will prescribe these tablets with special caution. If you have a moderate or severe impairment of liver function, these tablets should not be used (see also Section 2 “Do not take Targinact…” and “Warnings and precautions”).

Children and adolescents below 18 years of age

Targinact has not yet been studied in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Its safety and effectiveness have not been proven in children and adolescents. For this reason, Targinact use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age is not recommended.

Method of administration

Oral use

Swallow these tablets whole (without chewing), with sufficient liquid (% glass of water). You can take the prolonged-release tablets with or without food. Take the tablets every 12 hours, according to a fixed time schedule (e.g. at 8 o’clock in the morning and 8 o’clock in the evening). Do not break, chew or crush the prolonged-release tablets (see section 2 “Warnings and precautions”).

Duration of use

In general, you should not take these tablets for any longer than you need to. If you are on long-term treatment, your doctor should regularly check whether you still need these tablets.

If you take more Targinact tablets than you should

If you have taken more than the prescribed dose of these tablets you must inform your doctor immediately.

An overdose may result in:

• narrowed pupils
• slow and shallow breathing (respiratory depression)
• drowsiness up to loss of consciousness
• low muscle tone (hypotonia)
• reduced pulse rate, and
• a drop in blood pressure.

In severe cases, loss of consciousness (coma), fluid on the lungs and circulatory collapse may occur, which may be fatal in some cases. You should avoid situations which require a high level of alertness, e.g. driving.

If you forget to take Targinact

Or if you take a dose lower than the one prescribed, you may not feel any effect.

If you forget to take your dose, please follow the instructions below:

• If your next usual dose is due in 8 hours or more: Take the forgotten dose immediately and continue with your normal dosing schedule.
• If your next usual dose is due within less than 8 hours: Take the forgotten dose. Then, wait another 8 hours before taking your next dose. Try to get back on track with your original dosing schedule (e.g. 8 o’clock in the morning and 8 o’clock in the evening). Do not take more than one dose within any 8-hour period.

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

If you stop taking Targinact tablets

Do not stop your treatment without consulting your doctor.

If you do not require any further treatment, you must reduce the daily dose gradually after talking to your doctor. In this way, you will avoid withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, bouts of sweating and muscle pain. 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.

Important side effects to look out for and what to do if you are affected:

If you are affected by any of the following important side effects, consult your nearest doctor immediately.

Slow and shallow breathing (respiratory depression) is the main danger of an opioid overdose. It mostly occurs in elderly and debilitated (weak) patients. Opioids can also cause a severe drop in blood pressure in susceptible patients.

The following side effects have been seen in patients being treated for pain

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• abdominal pain
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• dry mouth
• indigestion
• vomit (be sick)
• feel sick
• flatulence (wind)
• decreased appetite up to loss of appetite
• a feeling of dizziness or ‘spinning’
• headache
• hot flushes
• a feeling of unusual weakness
• tiredness or exhaustion
• itchy skin
• skin reactions/rash
• sweating
• vertigo
• difficulty in sleeping
• drowsiness

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• abdominal bloating
• abnormal thoughts
• anxiety
• confusion
• depression
• nervousness
• chest tightness especially if you already have coronary heart disease
• drop in blood pressure
• withdrawal symptoms such as agitation
• fainting
• lack of energy

. thirst

• altered taste
• palpitations
• biliary colic
• chest pain
• generally feeling unwell
• pain
• swelling of hands, ankles or feet
• difficulties to concentrate
• impaired speaking
• shaking
• difficulties breathing
• restlessness
• chills
• hepatic enzymes increased
• rise in blood pressure
• reduced sexual drive
• runny nose
• cough
• hypersensitivi­ty/allergic reactions
• weight loss
• injuries from accidents
• increased urge to urinate
• muscle cramps
• muscle twitches
• muscle pain
• vision impairment
• epileptic seizures (especially in persons with epileptic disorder or predisposition to seizures)

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

• increase in pulse rate
• drug dependence
• dental changes
• weight gain
• yawning

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• euphoric mood
• severe drowsiness
• erectile dysfunction
• nightmares
• hallucinations
• shallow breathing
• difficulties in passing urine
• aggression
• tingling skin (pins and needles)
• belching
• problems with breathing during sleep (sleep apnoea syndrome), for more information see section 2 Warnings and precautions.

The active substance oxycodone hydrochloride, if not combined with naloxone hydrochloride, is known to have the following differing side-effects:

Oxycodone can cause breathing problems (respiratory depression), reduction in size of the pupil in the eye, cramping of the bronchial muscles and cramping of the smooth muscles, as well as depression of the cough reflex.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• altered mood and personality changes (e.g. depression, feeling of extreme happiness)
• decreased activity
• increased activity
• difficulties in passing urine
• hiccups

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• impaired concentration
• migraines
• increased muscle tension
• involuntary muscle contractions
• a condition where the bowel stops working properly (ileus)
• dry skin
• drug tolerance
• reduced sensitivity to pain or touch
• abnormal coordination
• vocal changes (dysphonia)
• water retention
• difficulties in hearing
• mouth ulcers
• difficulties in swallowing
• sore gums
• perception disturbances (e.g. hallucination, derealisation)
• flushing of skin
• dehydration
• agitation
• a decrease in sex hormone levels which may affect sperm production in men or the menstrual cycle in females

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

• itching rash (urticaria)
• infections such as cold sores or herpes (which may cause blisters around the mouth or genital area)
• increased appetite
• black (tarry) stools
• bleeding gums

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• acute generalized allergic reactions (anaphylactic reactions)
• an increase in sensitivity to pain
• absence of menstrual periods
• withdrawal symptoms in the newborn
• problems with bile flow
• tooth decay

The following side effects have been seen in patients being treated for restless legs syndrome

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

• headache
• drowsiness
• constipation
• feel sick
• sweating
• tiredness or exhaustion

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• decreased appetite up to loss of appetite
• difficulty in sleeping
• depression
• a feeling of dizziness or ‘spinning’
• difficulties to concentrate
• shaking
• tingling in hands or feet
• vision impairment
• vertigo
• hot flushes
• drop in blood pressure
• rise in blood pressure
• abdominal pain
• dry mouth
• vomit (be sick)
• hepatic enzymes increased (alanine aminotransferase increased, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased)
• itchy skin
• skin reactions/rash
• chest pain
• chills
• pain