Amantadine Hydrochloride 100mg Capsules
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine
• 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. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet has been divided into the following sections:
1. What Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules are and what they are taken for
2. Check before you take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
3. How to take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
6. Further information
1. What Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules are and what they are taken for
Amantadine is an antiviral drug. Amantadine capsules are used: • To prevent or treat a certain type of flu infection (influenza A).
| 2. Check before you take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Do not take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules:
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to amantadine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients of Amantadine capsules (see Section 6 Further information)
• if you suffer from fits (convulsions), for example epilepsy
• if you have ever had an ulcer in your stomach or small intestine
• if you suffer from any serious kidney disease
• if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant (see Section 2 Pregnancy and breast-feeding)
• if you are breast-feeding (see Section 2 Pregnancy and breast-feeding).
If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Amantadine capsules.
Take special care with Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Before you take Amantadine capsules tell your doctor if:
• you suffer from any liver or kidney disease
• you have a history of disease involving the heart and blood vessels
• you are currently suffering from heart problems or heart failure (heart problems which cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling)
• you have any mental illness for example, schizophrenia or dementia
• you have increased pressure in the eyes (glaucoma).
If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Amantadine capsules.
Abnormally low body temperatures (below 35°C) can occur particularly in children treated for influenza. In this case talk to your doctor straight away and stop taking Amantadine capsules.
Taking Other Medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following medicines as they may interfere with Amantadine capsules:
• anti-cholinergics - (used to treat Parkinson’s disease) such as procyclidine
• anti-spasmodics - (used to treat stomach spasms or cramps) such as hyoscine
• levodopa - used to treat Parkinson’s disease
• anti-psychotics - (used to improve thoughts, feelings and behaviour when these are disturbed in certain medical conditions) such as
chlorpromazine, haloperidol
• diuretics (water tablets) - (used to relieve water retention and reduce high blood pressure) such as hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride or triamterene. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Taking with food and drink
Be careful when drinking alcohol whilst taking Amantadine capsules, it may affect you more than usual.
Amantadine capsules should be taken with a glass of water.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Amantadine capsules if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Do not take Amantadine capsules if you are breast-feeding because Amantadine capsules passes into breast milk and could harm your baby.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Taking Amantadine capsules may make your vision blurred or make you feel dizzy. If you are affected you should not drive or use machines until the effect has worn off.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Amantadine capsules contain lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking Amantadine capsules.
| 3. How to take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Always take Amantadine capsules exactly as your doctor has told you to. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water.
The usual dose is different in the following circumstances:
Flu infections (influenza A)
Adults: 1 capsule (100 mg) a day.
Adults over 65 years: 1 capsule (100 mg) a day.
Children: (10 to 15 years): 1 capsule (100mg) a day.
Children (under 10 years): as directed by your doctor.
For the prevention of flu: Amantadine capsules should be used for as long as protection is needed. Usually about 6 weeks.
For the treatment of flu: Amantadine capsules should be taken for about 4 to 5 days.
If you have kidney problems, your doctor may give you a lower dose.
What to do if you take more Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules than you should
If you accidentally take too many capsules, or someone else takes any of your medicine, you should tell your doctor at once or contact the nearest accident and emergency department. Show any left-over medicines or the empty packet to the doctor.
If you forget to take Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Do not worry. If you miss a dose, take another as soon as you remember, unless it is amost time for your next dose. Then go on as before. Do not take a double dose.
If you stop taking Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
If you are taking anti-psychotics (used to treat mental disturbances) and you suddenly stop taking Amantadine capsules, you may develop a collection of symptoms including:
• fever • muscle stiffness (difficulty in movement)
• sweating • loss of bladder control (you may have a sudden urge to
• a rapid heart beat pass water).
If you develop any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| 4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Amantadine capsules can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These effects are often mild and may wear off after a few days treatment. If they are severe or last more than a few days, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
If any of the following symptoms occur you should tell your doctor or contact the nearest hospital straight away:
• dizziness or lightheadedness • convulsions (fits).
• fainting
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you think you have any of these or other problems with Amantadine capsules.
Very common side effects (that affect more than 1 person in 10):
• swollen ankles
• red blotchy spots on the skin.
Common side effects (that affect less than 1 person in 10):
• anxiety
• feeling overexcited
• headache
• feeling tired
• hallucinations
• nightmares
• difficulty in controlling movements
• slurred speech
• blurred vision
• difficulty concentrating
• feeling nervous
Rare side effects (that affect less than 1 person in 1000):
• confusion
• disorientation (not knowing where you are)
• disturbed thoughts or behaviour such as feeling paranoid
• shakiness
• difficulty moving
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS).
You may feel hot and have muscle stiffness
depression difficulty sleeping muscle pain
fast or irregular heartbeat
low blood pressure when standing up.
This may make you feel dizzy or faint
dry mouth
loss of appetite
feeling or being sick
constipation
sweating.
diarrhoea skin rash
problems with your eyes such as itchiness or redness loss of bladder control. You may have difficulty in passing water or have a sudden urge to pass water.
Very rare side effects (that affect less than 1 person in 10 000):
• heart problems which cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling
• reduction in the number of white blood cells which makes infections more likely
• changes in blood tests which show how the liver is working
• sensitivity to sunlight.
Abnormally low body temperature (bdow 35°C) has been observed especially in children.
If any of the side effects gets worse, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, pease tell your doctor or pharmacist.
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 (Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard). By reporting side effects, you can hep provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
| 5. How to store Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Amantadine capsules after the expiry date which is stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any unused medicine to the pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist on how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
| 6. Further information
What is in Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules?
The active ingredient in this medicine is amantadine hydrochloride.
Each capsule contains 100 mg of amantadine hydrochloride. The other ingredients are:
• lactose, povidone, magnesium stearate, red iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin and monogramming ink S-1-7085 white containing: titanium dioxide (E171), ammonium hydroxide 28%, propylene glycol (E1520), simethicone or SB-0007P white ink containing: shellac, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, povidone, titanium dioxide (E171).
What Amantadine hydrochloride 100 mg capsules look like and contents of the pack
Amantadine capsules are a brownish-red, hard gelatin capsule with SYMM printed on them in white. Amantadine capsules comes in boxes of 5 or 14 capsules.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The product licence holder is: Auden Mckenzie (Pharma Division) Ltd., Mckenzie House, Bury Street, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 7TL, UK.
Amantadine capsules are manufactured by: Chanelle Medical, Loughrea, Co. Gaway, Ireland.
The information in this leaflet applies only to Amantadine capsules.
If you have any questions or you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or a pharmacist.
This leaflet was last revised in: May 2015 A1000411/3 Auden Mckenzie
A1000411_3 V1 Amantadine 100mg PIL (flu).indd 2 15/05/2015 15:28