Starexon 20 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Starexon 5 mg film-coated tablets Starexon 10 mg film-coated tablets Starexon 20 mg film-coated tablets Vardenafil
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 starexon is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take starexon
3. How to take starexon
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store starexon
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What starexon is and what it is used for
The name of your medicine is Starexon 5mg, 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets (called starexon throughout this leaflet). It contains vardenafil, a member of a class of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. They are used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men, a condition which implies difficulties in getting or keeping an erection.
At least one in ten men has trouble getting or keeping an erection at some time. There may be physical or psychological causes, or a mixture of both. Whatever the cause is, due to muscle and blood vessel changes not enough blood stays in the penis to make it hard and keep it hard.
Starexon will only work when you are sexually stimulated. It reduces the action of the natural chemical in your body which makes erections go away. Starexon allows an erection to last long enough for you to satisfactorily complete sexual activity.
Do not take starexon
- if you are allergic to vardenafil or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, itching, swollen face or lips and shortness of breath.
- if you are taking medicines containing nitrates, such as glycerol trinitrate for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrite. Taking these medicines with starexon could seriously affect your blood pressure.
- if you are taking ritonavir or indinavir, medicines used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.
- if you are over 75 years of age and are taking ketoconazole or itraconazole, anti-fungal medicines.
- if you have a severe heart or liver problem.
- if you are having kidney dialysis.
- if you have recently had a stroke or heart attack.
- if you have or have had low blood pressure.
- if your family has a history of degenerative eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa).
- if you have ever had a condition involving loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply known as non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking starexon
- if you have heart trouble. It may be risky for you to have sex.
- if you suffer from irregular heart beat (cardiac arrythmia) or inherited heart diseases affecting your electrocardiogram.
- if you have a physical condition affecting the shape of the penis. This includes conditions called angulation, Peyronie’s disease and cavernosal fibrosis.
- if you have an illness that can cause erections which won’t go away (priapism). These include sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma and leukaemia.
- if you have stomach ulcers (also called gastric or peptic ulcers).
- if you have a bleeding disorder (such as haemophilia).
- if you are using any other treatments for erection difficulties, including vardenafil-containing orodispersible tablets (see section “Other medicines and starexon”).
- if you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking starexon and contact your doctor immediately.
Children and adolescents
Starexon is not intended for use by children or adolescents under 18.
Other medicines and starexon
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Some medicines may cause problems, especially these:
- nitrates, medicines for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrite. Taking these medicines with starexon could seriously affect your blood pressure. Talk to a doctor without taking starexon
- medicine for the treatment of arrythmias, such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol.
- ritonavir or indinavir, medicines for HIV. Talk to a doctor without taking starexon.
- ketoconazole or itraconazole, anti-fungal medicines.
- erythromycin, or clarithromycin, macrolide antibiotics.
- a-blockers, a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure and enlargement of the prostate (as benign prostatic hyperplasia).
- Do not use starexon film-coated tablets combined with any other treatment for erectile dysfunction, including vardenafil-containing orodispersible tablets.
Starexon with food, drink and alcohol
You can take starexon with or without food, but preferably not after a heavy or high-fat meal as this may delay the effect.
Don’t drink grapefruit juice when you use starexon. It can interfere with the usual effect of the medicine.
Alcoholic drink can make erection difficulties worse.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
Starexon is not for use by women.
Driving and using machines
Starexon might make some people feel dizzy or affect their vision. If you feel dizzy, or if your vision is affected after taking starexon don’t drive or operate any tools or machines.
3. How to take starexon
Always take this medicinal product exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is 10 mg.
Take a starexon tablet about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. With sexual stimulation you may achieve an erection anywhere from 25 minutes up to four to five hours after taking starexon.
Swallow one tablet with a glass of water.
Do not take starexon film-coated tablets with any other forms of vardenafil.
Do not take starexon more than once a day.
Tell your doctor if you think starexon is too strong or too weak. He or she may suggest a switch to an alternative starexon formulation with a different dose, depending on how well it works for you.
If you take more starexon than you should
Men who take too much starexon may experience more side effects or may get severe back pain. If you take more starexon than you should, tell 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. Most of the effects are mild or moderate.
Partial, sudden, temporary or permanent decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes has been experienced by patients. Stop taking starexon and contact your doctor immediately. Sudden decrease or loss of hearing has been reported.
The chance of having a side effect is described by the following categories:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
- headache.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- dizziness,
- flushing,
- blocked or runny nose,
- indigestion.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- swelling of skin and mucous tissue including swollen face, lips or throat.
- sleep disorder.
- numbness and impaired perception of touch.
- sleepiness.
- effects on vision; redness of the eye, effects on colour vision, eye pain and discomfort, light sensitivity.
- ringing in the ears, vertigo,
- fast heart beat or pounding heart,
- breathlessness,
- stuffy nose,
- acid reflux, gastritis, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting; feeling sick (nausea), dry mouth,
- raised levels of liver enzymes in your blood,
- rash, reddened skin,
- back or muscle pain; increase in blood of a muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase), muscle stiffness,
- prolonged erections,
- malaise.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis),
- allergic reaction,
- anxiety,
- fainting,
- amnesia,
- seizure,
- increase pressure in the eye (glaucoma), lacrimation increased,
- effects on the heart (such as heart attack, altered heart beat or angina),
- high or low blood pressure,
- nose bleed,
- effect on results of blood tests to check liver function,
- sensitivity of the skin to sun light,
- painful erections,
- chest pain.
Very rare or not known (may affect less than 1 in 10,000 people or frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- blood in the urine (haematuria),
- penile bleeding (penile haemorrhage),
- presence of blood in the semen (haematospermia).
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 at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use your medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
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 starexon 5mg, 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets contains
The active substance is: vardenafil (as hydrochloride trihydrate) 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg.
The other ingredients are: Tablet core: Cellulose, microcrystalline; Silica colloidal anhydrous;
Crospovidone (type A); Stearic acid.
Tablet coating: Hypromellose; Macrogol 400; Titanium dioxide (E171); Iron oxide yellow (E172); Iron oxide red (E172).
What starexon 5mg, 10mg and 20mg film-coated tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Starexon 5mg film-coated tablets are slightly yellow to slightly brown round tablets of size approx. 6 mm, embossed with “5” on one side .
Starexon 10mg film-coated tablets are yellow-orange round tablets of size approx. 6 mm, embossed with “10” on one side and with decorative line on the other side. The score line is only to facilitate for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
Starexon 20mg film-coated tablets are orange round tablets of size approx. 8 mm, embossed with “20” on one side and with decorative line on the other side. The score line is only to facilitate for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
Blisters in packages of 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Zentiva, One Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS, UK
Manufacturer
ZENTIVA, k.s., U kabelovny 130, Dolni Mecholupy, 102 37 Prague 10, 102 37, Czech Republic