Gabapentin Brown & Burk 600mg Film-Coated Tablets
Out of date information, search anotherPackage leaflet: Information for the user
SEGOSANA 600mg film-coated tablets SEGOSANA 800mg film-coated tablets
Gabapentin
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 Segosana is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Segosana
3. How to take Segosana
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Segosana
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What segosana is and what it is used for
Segosana belongs to a group of medicines used to treat epilepsy and peripheral neuropathic pain (long
lasting pain caused by damage to the nerves).
The active substance in Segosana film-coated tablets is gabapentin.
Segosana is used to treat:
• Various forms of epilepsy (seizures that are initially limited to certain parts of the brain, whether the seizure spreads to other parts of the brain or not). Your doctor will prescribe Segosana for you to help treat your epilepsy when your current treatment is not fully controlling your condition. You should take Segosana in addition to your current treatment unless told otherwise. Segosana can also be used on its own to treat adults and children over 12 years of age.
• Peripheral neuropathic pain (long lasting pain caused by damage to the nerves).
A variety of different diseases can cause peripheral neuropathic pain (primarily occurring in the legs and/or arms), such as diabetes or shingles. Pain sensations may be described as hot, burning, throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, aching, tingling, numbness, pins and needles etc.
2. What you need to know before you take segosana Do not take Segosana:
• if you are allergic to Gabapentin or any of the other ingredients of Segosana film-coated tablets
(listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Segosana
1.3.1v2 1
• if you suffer from kidney problems your doctor may prescribe a different dosing schedule;
• if you are on haemodialysis (to remove waste products because of kidney failure), tell your doctor if you develop muscle pain and/or weakness;
• if you develop signs such as persistent stomach pain, feeling sick and being sick contact your doctor immediately as these may be symptoms of acute pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas).
Cases of abuse and dependence have been reported for Segosana from the post-marketing experience. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of abuse or dependence.
A small number of people being treated with anti-epileptics such as Segosana have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves. If at any time you have these thoughts, immediately contact your doctor.
Important information about potentially serious reactions
A small number of people taking Segosana get an allergic reaction or potentially serious skin reaction, which may develop into more serious problems if they are not treated. You need to know these symptoms to look out for while you are taking Segosana.
Read the description of these symptoms in section 4 of this leaflet under ‘Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking this medicine as they can be serious’
Muscle weakness, tenderness or pain and particularly, if at the same time, you feel unwell or have a high temperature it may be caused by an abnormal muscle breakdown which can be life-threatening and lead to kidney problems. You may also experience discoloration of your urine, and a change in blood test results (notably blood creatine phosphokinase increased). If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.
Other medicines and Segosana
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Medicines containing morphine
If you are taking any medicines containing morphine, please tell your doctor or pharmacist as morphine may increase the effect of Segosana.
Antacids for indigestion
If Segosana and antacids containing aluminium and magnesium are taken at the same time, absorption of Segosana from the stomach may be reduced. It is therefore recommended that Segosana is taken at the earliest two hours after taking an antacid.
Segosana:
• is not expected to interact with other antiepileptic drugs or the oral contraceptive pill;
• may interfere with some laboratory tests, if you require a urine test tell your doctor or hospital what you are taking;
Segosana with food and drink
Segosana can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
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.
Pregnancy
Segosana should not be taken during pregnancy, unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. Effective contraception must be used by women of child-bearing potential.
There have been no studies specifically looking at the use of Segosana in pregnant women, but other medications used to treat seizures have reported an increased risk of harm to the developing baby, particularly when more than one seizure medication is taken at the same time. Therefore, whenever possible, you should try to take only one seizure medication during pregnancy and only under the advice of your doctor.
Contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant while taking Segosana. Do not suddenly discontinue taking this medicine as this may lead to a breakthrough seizure, which could have serious consequences for you and your baby.
Breast feeding
Gabapentin, the active substance of Segosana, is passed on through human milk. Because the effect on the baby is unknown, it is not recommended to breast-feed while using Segosana.
Driving and using machines
Segosana may produce dizziness, drowsiness and tiredness. You should not drive, operate complex machinery or take part in other potentially hazardous activities until you know whether this medication affects your ability to perform these activities.
3. How to take segosana
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will determine what dose is appropriate for you.
Epilepsy, the usual dose is:
Adults and adolescents:
Take the number of tablets as instructed. Your doctor will usually build up your dose gradually. The starting dose will generally be between 300 mg and 900 mg each day. Thereafter, the dose may be increased as instructed by your doctor, up to a maximum of 3600 mg each day and your doctor will tell you to take this in 3 separate doses, i.e. once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening.
Children aged 6 years and above:
The dose to be given to your child will be decided by your doctor as it is calculated against your child’s weight. The treatment is started with a low initial dose which is gradually increased over a period of approximately 3 days. The usual dose to control epilepsy is 25-35 mg per kg of body weight per day. It is usually given in 3 separate doses, by taking the tablet(s) each day, usually once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening.
Segosana is not recommended for use in children below 6 years of age.
Peripheral Neuropathic Pain, the usual dose is:
Adults:
Take the number of tablets as instructed by your doctor. Your doctor will usually build up your dose gradually. The starting dose will generally be between 300mg and 900mg each day. Thereafter, the dose may be increased as instructed by your doctor, up to a maximum of 3600 mg each day and your doctor will tell you to take this in 3 separate doses, i.e. once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening.
If you have kidney problems or are receiving haemodialysis
Your doctor may prescribe a different dosing schedule and/or dose if you have problems with your kidneys or are undergoing haemodialysis.
If you are an elderly patient (over 65 years of age), you should take the normal dose of Segosana unless you have problems with your kidneys. Your doctor may prescribe a different dosing schedule and/or dose if you have problems with your kidneys.
If you have the impression that the effect of Segosana is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Method of administration
Segosana is for oral use. Always swallow the tablets with plenty of water. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.
Continue taking Segosana until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you take more Segosana than you should
Higher than recommended doses may result in an increase in side effects including loss of consciousness, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, drowsiness and diarrhoea. Call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency unit immediately if you take more Segosana than your doctor prescribed. Take along any tablets that you have not taken, together with the container and the label so that the hospital can easily tell what medicine you have taken.
If you forget to take Segosana
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Segosana
Do not stop taking Segosana unless your doctor tells you to. If your treatment is stopped it should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week. If you stop taking Segosana suddenly or before your doctor tells you, there is an increased risk of seizures.
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:
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after taking
this medicine as they can be serious:
• severe skin reactions that require immediate attention, swelling of the lips and face, skin rash and redness and/or hair loss (these may be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction);
• persistent stomach pain, feeling sick and being sick as these may be symptoms of acute pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas).
• Segosana may cause a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction that may affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or blood cells. You may or may not have rash when you get this type of reaction. It may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop Segosana.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
• skin rash
• hives
• fever
• swollen glands that do not go away
• swelling of your lip and tongue
• yellowing of your skin or of the whites of the eyes
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• severe fatigue or weakness
• unexpected muscle pain
• frequent infections
These symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. A doctor should examine you to decide if you should continue taking Segosana.
If you are on haemodialysis, tell your doctor if you develop muscle pain and/or weakness.
Other side effects include:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• Viral infection.
• Feeling drowsy, dizziness, lack of coordination.
• Feeling tired, fever.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• Pneumonia, respiratory infections, urinary tract infection, inflammation of the ear or other infections.
• Low white blood cell counts.
• Anorexia, increased appetite.
• Anger towards others, confusion, mood changes, depression, anxiety, nervousness, difficulty with thinking.
• Convulsions, jerky movements, difficulty with speaking, loss of memory, tremor, difficulty sleeping, headache, sensitive skin, decreased sensation (numbness), difficulty with coordination, unusual eye movement, increased, decreased or absent reflexes.
• Blurred vision, double vision.
• Vertigo.
• High blood pressure, flushing or dilation of blood vessels.
• Difficulty breathing, bronchitis, sore throat, cough, dry nose.
• Vomiting (being sick), nausea (feeling sick), problems with teeth, inflamed gums, diarrhoea, stomach pain, indigestion, constipation, dry mouth or throat, flatulence.
• Facial swelling, bruises, rash, itch, acne.
• Joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, twitching.
• Difficulties with erection (impotence).
• Swelling in the legs and arms, difficulty with walking, weakness, pain, feeling unwell, flu-like symptoms.
• Decrease in white blood cells, increase in weight.
• Accidental injury, fracture, abrasion.
Additionally in clinical studies in children, aggressive behaviour and jerky movements were reported.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Allergic reactions such as hives.
• Decreased movement.
• Racing heartbeat.
• Swelling that may involve the face, trunk and limbs.
• Abnormal blood test results suggesting problems with the liver.
After marketing Segosana the following side effects have been reported:
• Decreased platelets (blood clotting cells).
• Hallucinations.
• Problems with abnormal movements such as writhing, jerking movements and stiffness.
• Ringing in the ears.
• A group of side effects that could include swollen lymph nodes (isolated small raised lumps under the skin), fever, rash, and inflammation of liver occurring together.
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), inflammation of the liver.
• Acute kidney failure, incontinence.
• Increased breast tissue, breast enlargement.
• Adverse events following the abrupt discontinuation of Segosana (anxiety, difficulty sleeping, feeling sick, pain, sweating), chest pain
• Blood glucose fluctuations in patients with diabetes.
• Breakdown of muscl e fi bers (rhabdomyol ysi s)
• Change i n bl ood test resul ts (creati ne phosphoki nase i ncreased)
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 Yellow Card Scheme Website: 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 Segosana
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 pack 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 Segosana film-coated tablets contains
The active substance is Gabapentin.
Each film-coated tablet contains either 600 mg or 800 mg of gabapentin. The other ingredients are:
Tablet core:
Hydroxypropylcellulose Magnesium stearate
Film-coating:
Hydroxypropylcellulose
Talc
What Segosana film-coated tablets looks like and contents of the pack
The 600mg tablets are white to off white, oval, biconvex film-coated tablets, engraved with ‘600’ on one side and plain on the other. Tablet dimensions: 18.00 (length), 9.20 (width).
The 800mg tablets are white to off white, oval, biconvex, film-coated tablets, engraved with ‘800’ on one side and plain on the other. Tablet dimensions: 19.20 (length), 10.00 mm (width).
Supplied in blister packs of 10, 20, 30, 45, 50, 60, 84, 90, 100, 200 or 500 tablets.
Also supplied in plastic containers of 100 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Brown & Burk UK Ltd
5 Marryat Close
Hounslow West
Middlesex
TW4 5DQ
UK.
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
SE: Gabapentin Brown 600mg/800mg filmdragerade tabletter
UK: Segosana 600mg/800mg Film-coated Tablets
DE: Gabapentin-Micro Labs 600mg/800mg Filmtabletten
This leaflet was last approved on March 2015
7