Panitaz 5 Micrograms/H Transdermal Patches
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Panitaz 5 micrograms/h, 10 micrograms/h, 20 micrograms/h Transdermal Patches
Buprenorphine
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using 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 Panitaz is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Panitaz
3. How to use Panitaz
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Panitaz
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Panitaz is and what it is used for
Panitaz patches contain the active ingredient buprenorphine which belongs to a group of medicines called strong analgesics or ‘painkillers’. They have been prescribed for you by your doctor to relieve moderate, long-lasting pain that requires the use of a strong painkiller.
Panitaz patches should not be used to relieve acute pain.
Panitaz patches act through the skin. After application, buprenorphine passes through the skin into the blood. Each patch lasts for seven days.
2. What you need to know before you use Panitaz
Do not use Panitaz:
• if you are allergic to buprenorphine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have breathing problems
• if you are addicted to drugs
• if you are taking a type of medicine known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (examples include tranylcypromide, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, moclobamide and linezolid), or you have taken this type of medicine in the last two weeks
• if you suffer from myasthenia gravis (a condition in which the muscles become weak)
• if you have previously suffered from withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, shaking or sweating upon stopping taking alcohol.
Panitaz must not be used to treat symptoms associated with drug withdrawal.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before using Panitaz:
• if you suffer from seizures, fits or convulsions
• if you have a severe headache or feel sick due to a head injury or increased pressure in your skull (for instance due to brain disease). This is because the patches may make symptoms worse or hide the extent of a head injury
• if you are feeling light-headed or faint
• if you have severe liver problems
• if you have ever been addicted to drugs
• if you have a high temperature, as this may lead to larger quantities of the active ingredient being absorbed into the blood than normal.
If you have recently had an operation, please speak to your doctor before using these patches.
Do not expose the patch to extreme heat (e.g. heating pads, electric blanket, heat lamps, sauna, hot tubs,
heated water beds, hot water bottle etc) as this may lead to larger quantities of the active ingredient being
absorbed into the blood than normal. External heat may also prevent the patch from sticking properly.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children below 18 years.
Other medicines and Panitaz
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
• Panitaz patches must not be used together with a type of medicine known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (examples include tranylcypromide, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, moclobamide and linezolid), or if you have taken this type of medicine in the last two weeks.
• If you take some medicines such as phenobarbital or phenytoin (medicines commonly used to treat seizures, fits or convulsions), carbamazepine (a medicine to treat seizures, fits or convulsions and certain pain conditions), or rifampicin (a medicine to treat tuberculosis) the effects of Panitaz patches may be reduced.
• Panitaz patches may make some people feel drowsy, sick or faint or make them breathe more slowly or weakly. These side effects may be made worse if other medicines that produce the same effects are taken at the same time. These include certain medicines to treat pain, depression, anxiety, psychiatric or mental disorders, medicines to help you sleep, medicines to treat high blood pressure such as clonidine, other opioids (which may be found in painkillers or certain cough mixtures e.g. morphine, dextropropoxyphene, codeine, dextromethorphan, noscapine), antihistamines which make you drowsy, or anaesthetics such as halothane.
• Panitaz patches must be used with caution if you are also taking benzodiazepines (medicines used to treat anxiety or to help you sleep). This combination may cause serious breathing problems which could be fatal in case of overdose. Tell your doctor if you are taking this combination.
Panitaz with food, drink and alcohol
Alcohol may make some of the side effects worse and you may feel unwell if you drink alcohol whilst wearing
Panitaz patches. Drinking alcohol whilst using Panitaz patches may also affect your reaction time.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not use Panitaz patches if you are pregnant or are breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or re planning to have a baby.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Panitaz patches may affect your reactions to such an extent that you may not react adequately or quickly enough in the event of unexpected or sudden occurrences. This applies particularly:
• at the beginning of treatment
• if you are taking medicines to treat anxiety or help you sleep
• if your dose is increased.
If you are affected, you should not drive or operate machinery whilst using Panitaz patches, or for 24 hours after removing the patch.
The medicine can affect your ability to drive as it may make you sleepy or dizzy.
• Do not drive while taking this medicine until you know how it affects you.
• It is an offence to drive while you have this medicine in your body over a specified limit unless you have a
defence (called the ‘statutory defence’).
• This defence applies when:
- The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem; and
- You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided
with the medicine.
- Please note that it is still an offence to drive if you are unfit because of the medicine (i.e. your ability to drive is being affected).
Details regarding a new driving offence concerning driving after drugs have been taken in the UK may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive while taking this medicine.
3. How to use Panitaz
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Different strengths of Panitaz patches are available. Your doctor will decide which strength of Panitaz patch will suit you best.
During treatment, your doctor may change the patch you use to a smaller or larger one if necessary, or tell you to use a combination of up to two patches. You should not apply more than two patches at the same time, regardless of the patch strength.
Adults and elderly patients
Unless your doctor has told you differently, attach one Panitaz patch (as described in detail below) and change it every seventh day, preferably at the same time of day. Your doctor may wish to adjust the dose after 3-7 days until the correct level of pain control has been found. If your doctor has advised you to take other painkillers in addition to the patch, strictly follow the doctor’s instructions, otherwise you will not fully benefit from treatment with the Panitaz patch. The patch should be worn for 3 full days before increasing the dose, this is when the maximum effect of a given dose is established.
Patients under 18 years of age
Panitaz patches should not be used in patients below the age of 18 years.
Patients with kidney disease/dialysis patients
In patients with kidney disease, no change in dose is necessary.
Patients with liver disease
In patients with liver disease, the effects and period of action of the Panitaz patch may be affected and your octor will therefore check on you more closely.
Before applying the transdermal patch
• Choose an area of non-irritated, intact skin on your upper arm, outer arm, upper chest, upper back or side
• The Panitaz patch should be applied to a relatively hairless or nearly hairless skin site. If no suitable hair free sites are available the hairs should be cut off with a pair of scissors. Do not shave them off.
• Avoid skin which is red, irritated or has any other blemishes, for instance large scars.
• The area of skin you choose must be dry and clean. If necessary, wash it with cold or lukewarm water. Do not use soap, alcohol, oil, lotions or other detergents. After a hot bath or shower, wait until your skin is completely dry and cool. Do not apply lotion, cream or ointment to the chosen area. This might prevent your patch from sticking properly.
Applying the transdermal patch
Step 1: Each transdermal patch is sealed in a sachet. Just before use, cut the sachet along the sealed edge with scissors. Take out the transdermal patch. Do not use the patch if the sachet seal is broken.
Step 2: The sticky side of the transdermal patch is covered with a transparent protective foil. Carefully peel off one part of the foil. Try not to touch the sticky part of the transdermal patch.
Step 3: Stick the transdermal patch on to the area of skin you have chosen and remove the remaining foil.
Step 4: Press the transdermal patch against your skin with the palm of your hand and count slowly to 30. Make sure that the whole transdermal patch is in contact with your skin, especially at the edges.
Wearing the transdermal patch
You should wear the patch for seven days. Provided that you have applied the patch correctly, there is little risk of it coming off. If the edges of the patch begin to peel off, they may be taped down with a suitable skin tape.
You may shower, bathe or swim whilst wearing it.
In the unlikely event that your patch falls off before it needs changing, do not use the same patch again. Stick a new one on straight away (see “Changing the transdermal patch” below).
Changing the transdermal patch
• Take the old transdermal patch off.
• Fold it in half with the sticky side inwards.
• Open and take out a new patch. Use the empty sachet to dispose of the old patch. Now discard the sachet safely.
• Even used patches contain some active ingredient that may harm children or animals, so make sure your used patches are always kept out of the reach and sight of them.
• Stick a new transdermal patch on a different appropriate skin site (as described above). You should not apply a new patch to the same site for 3-4 weeks.
• Remember to change your patch at the same time of day. It is important that you make a note of the time of day.
Duration of treatment
Your doctor will tell you how long you should be treated with the Panitaz patch. Do not stop treatment without consulting a doctor, because your pain may return and you may feel unwell (see also “If you stop using Panitaz” below).
If you feel that the effect of the Panitaz patch is too weak or too strong, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you use more Panitaz than you should
As soon as you discover that you have used more patches than you should, remove all patches and call your doctor or hospital straight away. People who have taken an overdose may feel very sleepy and sick. They may also have breathing difficulties or lose consciousness and may need emergency treatment in hospital. When seeking medical attention make sure that you take this leaflet and any remaining patches with you to show to he doctor.
If you forget to use Panitaz
Stick a new patch on as soon as you remember. Also make a note of the date, as your usual day of changing may now be different. If you are very late changing your patch, your pain may return. In this case, please contact your doctor.
Do not apply additional patches to make up for the forgotten application.
If you stop using Panitaz
If you stop using Panitaz patches too soon or you interrupt your treatment your pain may return. If you wish to stop treatment please consult your doctor. They will tell you what can be done and whether you can be treated with other medicines.
Some people may have side effects when they have used strong painkillers for a long time and stop using them. The risk of having effects after stopping Panitaz patches is very low. However, if you feel agitated, anxious, nervous or shaky, if you are overactive, have difficulty sleeping or digestive problems, tell your doctor.
The pain relieving effect of Panitaz patch is maintained for some time after removal of the patch. You should not start another opioid analgesic (strong painkiller) within 24 hours after removal of the patch.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects that may be associated with Panitaz patches are similar to those seen with other strong painkillers and include difficulty in breathing and low blood pressure.
This medicine can cause allergic reactions, although serious allergic reactions are rare. Remove the patch and tell your doctor immediately if you get any sudden wheeziness, difficulties in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching especially those covering your whole body.
As with all strong painkillers, there is a risk that you may become addicted or reliant on Panitaz patches.
In patients treated with Panitaz patches, the following other side effects have been reported:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness
• constipation, dry mouth, feeling or actually being sick
• itchy skin, redness, itching at application site
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• loss of appetite
• confusion, depression, difficulty in sleeping, nervousness
• tingling or numbness
• flushing of the skin
• shortness of breath
• abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhoea, indigestion
• sweating, rash, skin eruptions
• tiredness, a feeling of unusual weakness, muscle weakness, pain, chest pain, swelling of hands, ankles or feet, redness or rash at the application site
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• dehydration
• mood swings, restlessness, agitation, anxiety, feeling detached from oneself, a feeling of extreme happiness, hallucinations, nightmares
• changes in taste, difficulty in speaking, reduced sensitivity to pain or touch, loss of memory, migraine, fainting, shaking, problems with concentration or co-ordination
• dry eyes, blurred vision
• a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears, a feeling of dizziness or spinning
• high or low blood pressure, angina (severe chest pain associated with heart disease), fast or irregular heart beat
• worsening of breathing problems associated with asthma, cough, hiccups, over breathing, reduced oxygen in the blood, runny nose, wheezing
• wind
• weight loss
• dry skin, swelling of the face
• muscle cramps, spasms, aches and pains
• difficulty in passing urine
• a flu like illness, high temperature, shivering, generally feeling unwell
• an increase in accidental injuries (e.g. falls)
• withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, anxiousness, sweating or shaking upon stopping using Panitaz patches
If you need to have blood tests remind your doctor that you are using Panitaz patches. This is important because Panitaz patches may change the way your liver works and this could affect the results of some blood tests.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• decreased sexual drive, mental disorder
• difficulties with balance
• swelling of the eyelids, a reduction in size of the pupils in the eye
• difficulty in breathing
• diverticulitis (inflammation of the intestine), difficulty in swallowing
• local allergic reaction with marked signs of swelling (in such cases treatment should be stopped)
• decreased erection, sexual dysfunction
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• muscle twitching
• ear pain
• blisters
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 help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Panitaz
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 carton and sachet after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not use the patch if the sachet seal is broken.
Used patches must be folded over on themselves with the adhesive layer inwards, and discarded safely out of sight and reach of children.
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 Panitaz patches contain
The active substance is buprenorphine.
Each 5 micrograms/h transdermal patch contains 5 mg of buprenorphine in a patch size of 6.25 cm2 and releases about 5 micrograms of buprenorphine per hour (over a period of 7 days).
Each 10 micrograms/h transdermal patch contains 10 mg of buprenorphine in a patch size of 12.5 cm2 and releases about 10 micrograms of buprenorphine per hour (over a period of 7 days).
Each 20 micrograms/h transdermal patch contains 20 mg of buprenorphine in a patch size of 25 cm2 and releases about 20 micrograms of buprenorphine per hour (over a period of 7 days).
The other ingredients are polyacrylate, povidone K90, levulinic acid, oleyl oleate, PET film, polyester web, lue printing ink.
What Panitaz patches look like and contents of the pack
Transdermal patch.
Three sizes are available.
Each 5 micrograms/h transdermal patch is beige coloured with rounded corners and is imprinted with “Buprenorphin” and “5 pg/h”.
Each 10 micrograms/h transdermal patch is beige coloured with rounded corners and is imprinted with “Buprenorphin” and “10 pg/h”.
Each 20 micrograms/h transdermal patch is beige coloured with rounded corners and is imprinted with “Buprenorphin” and “20 pg/h”.
One transdermal patch is sealed in one child-resistant sachet. The patches are available in cartons containing 4 transdermal patches. ot all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd., 6 Riverview Road,
Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 0LD, United Kingdom
Manufacturer
betapharm Arzneimittel GmbH, Kobelweg 95,
Augsburg, 86156, Germany
This leaflet was last revised in 10/2015