Co-Amilozide 2.5/25 Mg
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PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Co-Amilozide 2.5/25 mg Tablets Co-Amilozide 5/50 mg Tablets
PLEASE READ THIS LEAFLET CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU START TAKING THIS MEDICINE
KEEP THIS LEAFLET UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED ALL THE PRESCRIBED COURSE OF CO-AMILOZIDE
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR MEDICINE ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST FOR MORE
INFORMATION
What is in your medicine?
The name of this medicine is Co-amilozide. Co-amilozide comes in two strengths:
'Co-amilozide 2.5/25' contains 2.85 mg Amiloride Hydrochloride BP (as dihydrate) and 25.00 mg Hydrochlorothiazide BP. 'Co-amilozide 5/50' contains 5.69 mg Amiloride Hydrochloride BP (as dihydrate) and 50.00 mg Hydrochlorothiazide BP.
Both strengths contain the following inactive ingredients: lactose, calcium hydrogen phosphate, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch, sodium starch glycollate and magnesium stearate.
Both strengths are cream coloured tablets engraved 'SYNURETIC' on one side.
Both strengths are available in containers and blister packs of 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 84, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
The manufacturer of Co-amilozide is either:
DDSA Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Chatfield Road, off York Road, London SW11 3SE or Meridian Healthcare (UK) Ltd, Rich Industrial Estate, Chatfield Road, off York Road, Battersea, London SW11 3SE.
The Product Licence holder is:
Chelonia Healthcare Limited, 11 Boumpoulinas, 3rd Floor, 1060 Nicosia, Cyprus
How does Co-amilozide work?
Co-amilozide belongs to a group of medicines known as potassium-sparing diuretics which increase the amount of urine you pass but without loss of potassium.
Why have you been prescribed Co-amilozide?
Your doctor has prescribed this medicine for you because he considers that you have one of the following conditions:
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Heart failure.
• Hepatic cirrhosis with ascites (liver disease causing accumulation of fluid in the abdomen).
If you are not sure why you have been prescribed Co-amilozide, then please ask your doctor.
Before taking your medicine
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
• You have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to Co-amilozide or any of the other ingredients in the tablet.
• You have experienced sensitive reactions to either Amiloride or Hydrochlorothiazide, or any other drugs used to lower your blood pressure or increase the amount of urine you pass.
• You are allergic to any foods, preservatives or dyes.
• You are pregnant, planning a baby, or are breastfeeding.
• You are taking potassium supplements, or eat a lot of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, prunes and raisins.
• You have an intolerance to some sugars, including lactose.
The presence of other medical conditions may affect the use of Co-amilozide. Inform your doctor and do not use Co-amilozide you have any of the following conditions:
• Too much potassium (hyperkalaemia) or calcium (hypercalcaemia) in the blood
• Difficulty passing urine
• Kidney failure or severe kidney disease
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Severe liver disease
• Addision's disease (a disorder characterised by a reduction in secretion of hormones from a gland called the adrenal cortex, causing a reduction in blood volume, blood pressure, muscular weakness and a reduction in the level of red blood cells).
It is also important to let your doctor know if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
• Diabetes
• Liver or kidney disease
• Lung problems (including asthma)
• Skin rashes or a condition known as Lupus erythematosus
• Gout
If you undergo any medical tests, particularly tests to determine whether you are diabetic, make sure the person conducting the tests is aware that you are taking Co-amilozide.
This medicine should not be taken by anyone under 18 years of age.
Use in pregnancy and while breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, planning a baby or breast-feeding do not take this medicine.
Can you take Co-amilozide with other medicines?
There are some medicines that can interfere with Co-amilozide. It is very important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines that you are taking, whether or not any medicines were prescribed by your doctor or bought without a prescription from the pharmacy or elsewhere. Your doctor will be able to identify medicines you should not take with Co-amilozide.
This medicine will add to the effect of other medicines that lower blood pressure, such as timolol and methyldopa.
Co-amilozide tablets should not be taken with:
• Other potassium-sparing diuretics, e.g. triamterene or Spironololactone )
• Lithium (used for psychiatric problems)
Co-amilozide tablets may interact with the following medicines:
• Other sulphonamide drugs
• Other diuretics - (water tablets)
• Certain other medicines for heart conditions (including ACE inhibitors e.g. Captopril; Angiotensin- II receptor antagonists e.g. Losartan; and medicines for irregular or rapid heartbeat e.g. sotalol).
• Ciclosporin or tacrolimus - used in organ transplants
• Amisulpride, pimozide or sertindole - for mental disorders.
• The group of drugs known as barbiturates, which includes phenobarbitone, amylobarbitone, butobarbitone, pentobarbitone.
• The group of drugs known as narcotics which include morphine and others
• NSAIDs - used to relieve pain, e.g. indometacin or ibuprofen
• Theophylline - for asthma
• The anti-fungal agents amphotericin or fluconazole
• Adrenaline - to raise blood pressure
• Reboxetine and other medicines used to treat depression
• Corticosteriods e.g.prednisolone
• Chlorpropramide - for diabetes
• Carbemazipine - for epilepsy
• Sources of potassium, calcium and vitamin D
• Toremifene or cisplatin - used to treat particular types of cancer
• Carbenoxolone for stomach problems including ulcers
• Medicines known as anion-exchange resins which are used for reducing cholesterol levels
• The contraceptive pill
• Alcohol
When and how to take Co-amilozide tablets
Co-amilozide tablets should be taken by mouth and only in the doses prescribed by your doctor. Your dosage will depend upon your response to treatment and whether you are taking other medicines. Do not take more of it, and do not take it more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
Usual doses are stated below:
Adults:
Hypertension (high blood pressure): Usually V2 Co-amilozide 5/50 tablet or 1 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablet once a day.
The dose may be increased by your doctor to 1 Co-amilozide 5/50 tablet or 2 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablets if necessary.
Co-amilozide may be prescribed alone or together with other blood pressure lowering drugs such as methyldopa or timolol maleate.
Congestive heart failure: Initially V Co-amilozide 5/50 tablet or 1 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablet a day, which will be adjusted as required but not exceeding 2 Co-amilozide 5/50 tablets or 4 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablets a day.
Hepatic cirrhosis with ascites (liver disease causing accumulation of fluid in the abdomen): Initially 1 Co-amilozide 5/50 tablet or 2 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablets a day, which will be adjusted as required but not exceeding 2 Co-amilozide 5/50 tablets or 4 Co-amilozide 2.5/25 tablets a day.
Your doctor may want to reduce your dose later on when your symptoms are under control.
Elderly: The doses are the same as for adults but particular care should be taken to ensure that an increase in potassium in the blood does not occur. Your doctor will do blood tests at regular intervals to check potassium levels.
What to do if too many tablets are taken at the same time
If you accidentally take more tablets than recommended contact your nearest doctor or hospital casualty department at once. Take any remaining tablets with you and keep in the original container or packaging so that they can be identified
What if you miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosage schedule. Do not take two doses at once. If you feel that this medicine is not working as well after you have taken it for a short time (1-2 weeks) do not increase the dose, instead check with your doctor. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose necessary to control your symptoms.
What side effects can Co-amilozide cause?
Along with its needed effects, the medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Common side effects among these include: Headache, weakness, fatigue, malaise (feeling generally unwell), chest pain, back pain, fainting attacks; irregular heartbeat, rapid heartbeat, feeling of dizziness and weakness when standing after a sitting position; angina pectoris, flatulence and thirst.
An imbalance of chemicals (such as sodium potassium, chlorine and magnesium) in your body.
Do not drive or operate machinery if affected by weakness, tiredness or dizziness.
Other side effects include:
• Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, changes in appetite, abdominal fullness, bleeding from the digestive system, hiccups
• Gout, dehydration
• Rash, itching, sudden feeling of warmth and redness of the skin known as flushing
• Muscle cramps, joint pain, neck ache, pains in hands and feet
• Dizziness, falling to one side (vertigo), tingling sensation in the arms, fingers, legs and toes, partial loss of consciousness
• Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), nervousness, mental confusion, depression, sleepiness
• Cough, difficulty in breathing
• Bad taste, visual disturbances, nasal congestion
• Reduced loss of sexual desire, difficulty in passing urine, or uncontrolled passing of urine, increased passing of urine at night
• Previously existing stomach or duodenal ulcer may be aggravated, yellowing of whites of eyeballs or skin (jaundice)
• Dry mouth, loss of hair, increased sweating
• Co-amilozide can reduce the number of certain types of blood cells. If you get a bad sore throat or high fever, or become gradually more tired and pale, or notice bruises or nose bleeds, stop taking Co-amilozide and contact your doctor
• Ringing in the ears, increased eyeball pressure
• Kidney inflammation
• Fever
If you notice any of the above reactions or side effects, or if you notice other unusual or worrying changes contact your doctor.
Storing your medicine
You must keep this medicine in a safe place where children cannot get hold of it. Your medicine could harm them.
Store below 25°C in a dry place. Keep containers securely closed. Keep the tablets in the containers in which they were given to you.
On the label you will find the words "Expiry Date" followed by numbers indicating the month and year.
This is the date when the medicine is no longer fit for use. Do not use Co-amilozide after this date, but return it to your doctor or pharmacist.
A reminder
REMEMBER this medicine is for you. Never give it to someone else, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
This leaflet does not contain the complete information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist who have access to additional information.
PL No's: 33414/30 and 0031
This leaflet was revised in January 2009.