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Aritavi

Document: Aritavi gastro-resistant capsule, hard ENG PL change

Package leaflet: Information for the user


Aritavi 30 mg hard gastro‑resistant capsules

Aritavi 60 mg hard gastro‑resistant capsules


duloxetine (as hydrochloride)


Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.


What is in this leaflet

1. What Aritavi is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before you take Aritavi

3. How to take Aritavi

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Aritavi

6. Contents of the pack and other information


1. What Aritavi is and what it is used for


Aritavi contains the active substance duloxetine. Aritavi increases the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the nervous system.


Aritavi is used in adults to treat:


Aritavi starts to work in most people with depression or anxiety within two weeks of starting treatment, but it may take 2‑4 weeks before you feel better. Tell your doctor if you do not start to feel better after this time. Your doctor may continue to give you Aritavi when you are feeling better to prevent your depression or anxiety from returning


In people with diabetic neuropathic pain it can take some weeks before you feel better. Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better after 2 months.


2. What you need to know before you take Aritavi


Do not take Aritavi if you:


Talk to your doctor if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Your doctor will tell you if you should be taking Aritavi.


Warnings and precautions

The following are reasons why Aritavi may not be suitable for you. Talk to your doctor before you take Aritaviif you:


Aritavi may cause a sensation of restlessness or an inability to sit or stand still. You should tell your doctor if this happens to you.


Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer. You may be more likely to think like this if you:


If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.


You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.


Children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Aritavi should normally not be used for children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that patients under 18 have an increased risk of side‑effects such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) when they take this class of medicines. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe Aritavi for patients under 18 because he/she decides that this is in their best interests. If your doctor has prescribed Aritavi for a patient under 18 and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen when patients under 18 are taking Aritavi. Also, the long-term safety effects concerning growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioural development of Aritavi in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.


Other medicines and Aritavi

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.


The main ingredient of Aritavi, duloxetine, is used in other medicines for other conditions:

diabetic neuropathic pain, depression, anxiety and urinary incontinence.


Using more than one of these medicines at the same time should be avoided. Check with your doctor if you are already taking other medicines containing duloxetine.


Your doctor should decide whether you can take Aritavi with other medicines. Do not start or stop taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal remedies, before checking with your doctor.


You should also tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:


Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):You should not take Aritavi if you are taking, or have recently taken (within the last 14 days) another antidepressant medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Examples of MAOIs include moclobemide (an antidepressant) and linezolid (an antibiotic). Taking a MAOI together with many prescription medicines, including Aritavi, can cause serious or even life‑threatening side effects. You must wait at least 14 days after you have stopped taking an MAOI before you can take Aritavi. Also, you need to wait at least 5 days after you stop taking Aritavi before you take a MAOI.


Medicines that cause sleepiness:These include medicines prescribed by your doctor including benzodiazepines, strong painkillers, antipsychotics, phenobarbital and antihistamines.


Medicines that increase the level of serotonin: Triptans, tramadol, tryptophan, SSRIs (such as paroxetine and fluoxetine), SNRIs (such as venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants (such as clomipramine, amitriptyline), pethidine, St John’s Wort and MAOIs (such as moclobemide and linezolid). These medicines increase the risk of side effects; if you get any unusual symptom taking any of these medicines together with Aritavi, you should see your doctor.


Oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents: Medicines which thin the blood or prevent the blood from clotting. These medicines might increase the risk of bleeding.


Aritavi with food, drink and alcohol

Aritavi may be taken with or without food. Care should be taken if you drink alcohol while you are being treated with Aritavi.


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.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant, or you are trying to become pregnant, while you are taking Aritavi. You should use Aritavi only after discussing the potential benefits and any potential risks to your unborn child with your doctor.


Make sure your midwife and/or doctor knows you are on Aritavi. When taken during pregnancy, similar drugs (SSRIs) may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.


If you take Aritavi near the end of your pregnancy, your baby might have some symptoms when it is born. These usually begin at birth or within a few days of your baby being born. These symptoms may include floppy muscles, trembling, jitteriness, not feeding properly, trouble with breathing and fits. If your baby has any of these symptoms when it is born, or you are concerned about your baby’s health, contact your doctor or midwife who will be able to advise you.


Tell your doctor if you are breast‑feeding. The use of Aritavi while breastfeeding is not recommended. You should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.


Driving and using machines

Aritavi may make you feel sleepy or dizzy. Do not drive or use any tools or machines until you know how Aritavi affects you.


Aritavi contains sucrose

Aritavi contains sucrose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.


3. How to take Aritavi


Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.


Aritavi is for oral use. You should swallow your capsule whole with a drink of water.


For depression and diabetic neuropathic pain:

The usual dose of Aritavi is 60 mg once a day, but your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you.


For generalised anxiety disorder:

The usual starting dose of Aritavi is 30 mg once a day after which most patients will receive 60 mg once a day, but your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you. The dose may be adjusted up to 120 mg a day based on your response to Aritavi.


To help you remember to take Aritavi, you may find it easier to take it at the same times every day.


Talk with your doctor about how long you should keep taking Aritavi. Do not stop taking Aritavi, or change your dose, without talking to your doctor. Treating your disorder properly is important to help you get better. If it is not treated, your condition may not go away and may become more serious and difficult to treat.


If you take more Aritavi than you should

Call your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you take more than the amount of Aritavi prescribed by your doctor. Symptoms of overdose include sleepiness, coma, serotonin syndrome (a rare reaction which may cause feelings of great happiness, drowsiness, clumsiness, restlessness, feeling of being drunk, fever, sweating or rigid muscles), fits, vomiting and fast heart rate.


If you forget to take Aritavi

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only a single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not take more than the daily amount of Aritavi that has been prescribed for you in one day.


If you stop taking Aritavi

DO NOT stop taking your capsules without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks that you no longer need Aritavi he or she will ask you to reduce your dose over at least 2 weeks before stopping treatment altogether.


Some patients who stop taking Aritavi suddenly have had symptoms such as:

dizziness, tingling feelings like pins and needles or electric shock-like feelings (particularly in the head), sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep), fatigue, sleepiness, feeling restless or agitated, feeling anxious, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), shaking (tremor), headaches, muscle pain, feeling irritable, diarrhoea, excessive sweating or vertigo.


These symptoms are usually not serious and disappear within a few days, but if you have symptoms that are troublesome you should ask your doctor for advice.


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. These effects are normally mild to moderate and often disappear after a few weeks.


Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)


Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)


Children and adolescents under 18 years of age with depression treated with this medicine had some weight loss when they first start taking this medicine. Weight increased to match other children and adolescents of their age and sex after 6 months of treatment.


Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)


Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)


Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin (cutaneous vasculitis)


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 national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.


5. How to store Aritavi


Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.


Do not store above 25°C


Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and label 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 Aritavi contains


The active substance is duloxetine

Each capsule contains 30 or 60 mg of duloxetine (as hydrochloride).


The other ingredients are:

Capsule content: sugar spheres (sucrose, maize starch), hypromellose phthalate (HP-55), hypromellose (E15 LV), triethyl citrate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, talc


Capsule shell 30 mg:Hypromellose (E464),titanium dioxide (E171), Brilliant Blue FCF (E133), black iron oxide (E172), printing ink.,


Capsule shell 60 mg: Hypromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), black iron oxide (E172), printing ink


Printing ink contains: shellac, propylene glycol, black iron oxide (E172), potassium hydroxide.


What Aritavi looks like and contents of the pack

Aritavi is a hard gastro‑resistant capsule. Each capsule of Aritavi contains pellets of duloxetine hydrochloride with a covering to protect them from stomach acid.


Aritavi is available in 2 strengths: 30 mg and 60 mg.

The 30 mg capsules have an opaque grey body imprinted with ‘DLX 30’ and an opaque blue cap imprinted with ‘DLX 30’, length 18.0 mm.


The 60 mg capsules have an opaque grey body imprinted with ‘DLX 60’ and an opaque white cap imprinted with ‘DLX 60’, length 20.4 mm.


Aritavi 30 mg is available in:

  • Plastic (HDPE) containers with twist-off cap with integrated silica gel desiccant in pack sizes of 28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90, 98 and 100 capsules.

  • Blister (AL/AL) in pack sizes of 7, 10, 14, 28, 30 and 100, capsules.


Aritavi 60 mg is available in:

  • Plastic (HDPE) containers with twist-off cap with integrated silica gel desiccant in pack sizes of 28, 30, 56, 60, 84 and 90 capsules.

  • Blister (AL/AL) in pack sizes of 7, 10, 14, 28, 30, 56 and 100 capsules.


Not all pack sizes may be marketed.


Marketing Authorisation Holder


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Manufacturer


Balkanpharma-Dupnitsa AD,

3 Samokovsko Shosse Str.,

Dupnitsa 2600,

Bulgaria


This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:

<{Name of the Member State}> <{Name of the medicinal product}>

<{Name of the Member State}> <{Name of the medicinal product}>


This leaflet was last revised in

2016-04-11


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<Other sources of information>


<Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of {MS/Agency}>


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