VINORELBINE 20 MG SOFT CAPSULES - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Vinorelbine 20 mg soft capsules

Vinorelbine (as tartrate)

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. Vinorelbine is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you take Vinorelbine

• 3. How to take Vinorelbine

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Vinorelbine

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what vinorelbine is and what it is used for

This medicine contains the active substance vinorelbine (as tartrate), and belongs to a family of medicines used to treat cancer called the vinca-alkaloid family.

Vinorelbine is used to treat:

• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Advanced breast cancer that has not responded to other medicines.

It is not recommended for use by children or adolescents under 18 years old.

2. what you need to know before you take vinorelbine

Do not take Vinorelbine

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to vinorelbine, to any of the related family of cancer drugs called the vinca alkaloids, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are breast feeding.
• if you have a severe liver disease.
• if you have had an operation on your stomach or small bowel, or if you have gut a disorder which affects how you absorb food. These may affect how your body absorbs Vinorelbine.
• if you have a low white blood cell count (neutrophils, leucocytes) or a severe infection current or recent within two weeks.
• if you have a low blood platelet cell count (thrombocytopenia).
• if you plan to have a yellow fever vaccination or have just had one.
• if you require long-term oxygen therapy.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vinorelbine if:

• you have a history of heart attack or severe chest pain
• your ability to carry out activities of daily living is strongly reduced
• you have problems with your liver or you have received radiotherapy where the treatment field included the liver
• you have symptoms of infection (such as fever, chills, joint pain, and cough)
• you plan to have a vaccination. Many vaccines (live attenuated vaccines) are not recommended during treatment
• you have a severe hepatic disease unrelated to your cancer
• you are pregnant.

Before and during your treatment with Vinorelbine blood cell counts are performed to check that it is safe for you to receive treatment. If the results of this analysis are not satisfactory, your treatment may be delayed and further checks made until these values return to normal.

Children and adolescents

This medicine is not recommended for use by children or adolescents under 18 years old.

Other medicines and Vinorelbine

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Your doctor should take special attention if you are taking the following medicines:

• medicines used to thin your blood (anticoagulants)
• an anti-epileptic medicine called phenytoin
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole and ketoconazole
• anti-cancer medicines called mitomycin C or lapatinib
• medicines that impair your immune system such as ciclosporin and tacrolimus
• anti-tuberculosis medicine called rifampicin.

The combination of Vinorelbine with other medicines with known bone marrow toxicity (affecting your white and red blood cells and your platelet) could also worsen some side effects.

Vinorelbine with food and drink

Vinorelbine must be swallowed whole with water. It is recommended to administer the capsule with some food.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine because there are potential risks for the infant.

You should not breast-feed if you are taking Vinorelbine.

Women of child-bearing age must use effective contraception (birth control) during treatment and up to 3 months after treatment.

Men being treated with Vinorelbine are advised not to father a child during and up to 3 months after the last capsule. You should discuss sperm banking with your doctor before starting treatment with Vinorelbine as male fertility may be altered.

Driving and using machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.

However, as in all cases you should not drive if you feel unwell or if your doctor has advised you not to drive.

Vinorelbine contains sorbitol

This medicine contains 38.44 mg sorbitol in each 20 mg soft capsule, 59.85 mg sorbitol in each 30 mg soft capsule and 99.91 mg sorbitol in each 80 mg soft capsule.

Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If you doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you take or receive this medicine.

3. how to take vinorelbine

Before and during your treatment with Vinorelbine your doctor will check your blood cell count to determine when you receive your treatment and which dose is suitable for you. Your doctor will tell you the number and strength of capsules which you should take. This will depend on your body surface area which your doctor will calculate from your weight and body height.

The usual weekly dose, taken in a single dose, is 60 mg/m2 of body surface area for the first 3 doses. After the third dose, your doctor will decide if the dose will be increased to 80 mg/m2 of body surface area.

In any case, your doctor may adjust the dose of Vinorelbine.

If you are taking the capsules with another medicine to treat your cancer/condition, your doctor will decide on an appropriate dose for you.

THE TOTAL DOSE SHOULD NEVER EXCEED 160 MG PER WEEK.

YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE VINORELBINE MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK.

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

Before opening the blisters containing Vinorelbine, make sure that there are no damaged capsules because the liquid inside is an irritant and may be harmful if it comes into contact with your skin, eyes or mucosa. If it happens, wash the affected area immediately and thoroughly with water.

DO NOT SWALLOW ANY DAMAGED CAPSULES; return them to your doctor or pharmacist.

Taking Vinorelbine soft capsules:

• Swallow Vinorelbine whole with water, preferably with a light meal. It should not be taken with a hot drink as it will dissolve the capsule too quickly.
• Do not chew or suck the capsules.
• If you chew or suck a capsule by mistake, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and tell your doctor immediately.
• If you vomit within a few hours after taking your Vinorelbine, contact your doctor; do not repeat the dose.

If you take an anti-sickness medicine Vomiting can occur with Vinorelbine, (refer to section “4. Possible side effects”). If your doctor has prescribed an anti-sickness medication, always take it exactly as the doctor has told you.

Take Vinorelbine during a light meal; this will help to reduce the feeling of sickness.

If you take more Vinorelbine than you should If you have taken more Vinorelbine than the prescribed dose, contact a doctor immediately. Your body may sometimes react giving severe symptoms.Some of these symptoms may develop as signs of an infection (such as fever, chills, cough, joint pain). You may also become severely constipated. You must immediately contact your doctor if any of these severe symptoms occur.

If you forget to take Vinorelbine

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Contact your doctor who will take the decision about rescheduling your dose.

If you stop taking Vinorelbine

Your doctor will decide when you should stop your treatment. However, if you want to stop your treatment earlier, you should discuss other options with your doctor.

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.

• IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR WHILE TAKING VINORELBINE if you develop any of the following symptoms: signs of a major infection such as cough, fever and chills,
• severe constipation with abdominal pain when your bowels have not been open for several days,
• severe dizziness, light-headedness when you stand up, sign of severe reduced blood pressure,
• severe chest pain which is not normal for you, the symptoms may be due to disturbance in the heart function following insufficient blood flow, so called ischaemic heart disease,
• difficulty in breathing, dizziness, decreased blood pressure, rash affecting your whole body, or swelling of the eyelids, face, lips or throat which may be an allergic reaction.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• infections at different sites
• gastric disorders
• diarrhoea
• constipation, abdominal pain
• nausea, vomiting
• inflammation in the mouth
• a fall in red blood cells (anaemia) which can make the skin pale and cause weakness or breathlessness
• a fall in platelets which can increase the risk of bleeding or bruising
• loss of some reflex reactions, occasionally difference in the perception of touch
• a decrease in white blood cells which makes you more vulnerable to infection
• hair loss usually mild form
• tiredness
• fever
• malaise
• weight loss
• loss of appetite.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• difficulties to coordinate muscle movements
• differences in your eyesight
• shortness of breath, cough
• difficulties when urinating, other genitourinary symptoms;
• difficulty in sleeping
• headache
• dizziness
• a difference in your taste of flavours,
• inflammation of the gullet, difficulty when swallowing food or liquids
• skin reactions
• weight gain
• joint pain (arthralgia), jaw pain, muscle pain (myalgia), pain at different sites in your body and pain where your tumour is
• high blood pressure
• liver disorders (abnormal liver test).

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• heart failure which can cause shortness of breath and ankle swelling
• irregular heartbeats
• lack of muscle control may be associated with abnormal gait, speech changes and abnormalities in eyes movement (ataxia).

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• blood infections (sepsis) with symptoms such as high fever and deterioration in general health
• low blood levels of sodium in your blood. This low sodium level may be attributed in some cases to an overproduction of a hormone causing fluid retention resulting in weakness, muscle twitching, tiredness, confusion or unconsciousness (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone secretion – SIADH)
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: 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 vinorelbine

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C-8°C).

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and carton box after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

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 Vinorelbine contains

• The active substance is vinorelbine (as tartrate) 20 mg, 30 mg or 80 mg respectively.
• The other ingredients are:

What Vinorelbine looks like and contents of the pack

Vinorelbine 20 mg soft capsules are oval-shaped light brown coloured.

Vinorelbine 30 mg soft capsules are oblongshaped pink coloured.

Vinorelbine 80 mg soft capsules are oblongshaped pale yellow coloured.

Vinorelbine soft capsules are available as packs of 1 or 4 blisters of 1 soft capsule each.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Consilient Health Ltd., 5th floor, Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland

Manufacturer(s)

Consilient Health Limited, Block 2A Richview Office Park, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14, D14 Y0A5, Ireland

Pharmadox Healthcare Ltd.

KW20A Kordin Industrial Park, Paola PLA 3000, Malta

Adalvo Ltd

Malta Life Science Park

Building 1, Level 4

Sir Temi Zammit Buildings

San Gwann SGN 3000

Malta

This leaflet was last revised 11/2021.

Consilient

KJSS Health