Dimethyl fumarate
is a medicine that contains the active substance dimethyl fumarate.
Multiple sclerosis is a long-term disease that damages the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord. Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is characterized by recurring episodes of neurological symptoms (called relapses). Symptoms vary from person to person, but usually include problems with walking and balance, and vision disturbances (such as blurred or double vision). These symptoms can completely disappear after a relapse, but some problems may remain.
The medicine seems to prevent the immune system from causing damage to the brain and spinal cord, which may also help slow down the progression of the disease in the future.
The medicine may have a negative effect on white blood cell countand kidneyand liverfunction. Before starting treatment with the medicine, your doctor will check your white blood cell count and ensure that your kidneys and liver are working properly. These tests will be performed periodically during treatment. If your white blood cell count decreases during treatment, your doctor may consider additional tests or discontinuation of treatment.
Before taking the medicine, you should tell your doctorif you have:
During treatment with the medicine, shingles (herpes zoster) may occur. In some cases, serious complications have occurred. If you suspect any symptoms of shingles you should immediately inform your doctor.
If your multiple sclerosis worsens (e.g., you experience weakness or vision disturbances) or new symptoms appear, you should contact your doctor immediately, as these may be symptoms of a rare brain infection called PML. PML is a serious disease that can lead to severe disability or death. PML has been reported after 1 to 5 years of treatment, so your doctor should monitor your white blood cell count throughout treatment, and you should be aware of the symptoms described below, which may indicate PML. The risk of PML may be higher if you have previously taken medicines that affect the immune system.
While taking the medicine, some vaccines (live vaccines) may cause infection, so you should avoid them. Your doctor will advise whether you can receive other types of vaccines (inactivated vaccines).
The medicine should not be given to children under 10 years of age, as there is no data available for this age group.
You should tell your doctor or pharmacistabout all medicines you are taking or have recently taken, and any medicines you plan to take, especially:
may cause infection, so you should avoid them. Your doctor will advise whether you can receive other types of vaccines (inactivated vaccines).
You should avoid consuming high-percentage alcoholic beverages (over 30% alcohol by volume, e.g., spirits) in excess of 50 mL within 1 hour of taking the medicine, due to the risk of interaction between alcohol and the medicine, which may lead to stomach upset (gastritis), especially in people prone to this condition.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to have a child, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
There is limited data on the use of this medicine in pregnant women. The medicine should not be taken during pregnancy unless you have discussed it with your doctor and the use of the medicine is necessary.
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether the active substance of the medicine passes into breast milk. Your doctor will advise whether you should stop breastfeeding or stop taking the medicine. The decision will be made based on the assessment of the benefit to the baby from breastfeeding compared to the benefit to you from treatment.
You should not expect the medicine to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
This medicine should always be taken exactly as your doctor has instructed. If you are unsure, you should ask your doctor.
This initial dose should be taken for the first 7 days, and then the recommended dose should be taken.
The medicine should be taken orally.
Each capsule should be swallowed whole, with a glass of water. The capsules should not be divided, crushed, dissolved, sucked, or chewed, as this may increase the risk of certain side effects.
The medicine should be taken with food– this will help alleviate the very common side effects (listed in section 4).
If you take more capsules than recommended, you should immediately tell your doctor. Side effects similar to those described below in section 4 may occur.
If you miss a dose, you should not take a double dose.
You can take the missed dose later, provided that you maintain a 4-hour interval before the next dose. If it is too late, do not take the missed dose, but take the next dose at the usual time.
If you have any further questions about taking the medicine, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, the medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The medicine may lower the number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). A low white blood cell count can increase the risk of infections, including a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML can lead to severe disability or death. PML has been reported after 1 to 5 years of treatment, so your doctor should monitor your white blood cell count throughout treatment, and you should be aware of the symptoms described below, which may indicate PML. The risk of PML may be higher if you have previously taken medicines that affect the immune system.
Symptoms of PML may resemble a relapse of multiple sclerosis. They include weakness or increased weakness on one side of the body, coordination problems, vision disturbances, problems with thinking or memory, confusion (disorientation) or personality changes, speech disturbances, and communication problems lasting more than a few days. Therefore, if you experience a worsening of your multiple sclerosis symptoms or new symptoms while taking the medicine, you should contact your doctor immediately. You should also discuss your treatment with your partner or caregivers and inform them about your treatment. You may not be aware of the symptoms.
The frequency of severe allergic reactions cannot be estimated from the available data (frequency not known).
A very common side effect is sudden (paroxysmal) flushing of the skin of the face or body. If the flushing is accompanied by a red rash or hives andany of the following symptoms:
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
During treatment with dimethyl fumarate, urine tests often show increased production of ketone bodies (substances normally produced in the body).
You should ask your doctor how to deal with side effects. Your doctor may reduce the dose of the medicine. You should not reduce the dose of the medicine yourself unless your doctor advises you to do so.
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Side effects that may cause abnormal blood or urine test results
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people, but not more)
Frequency not known(frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
The above side effects also apply to children and adolescents.
Some side effects have been reported more frequently in children and adolescents than in adults, e.g., headache, abdominal pain or stomach cramps, vomiting, sore throat, cough, and painful menstruation.
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety, Ministry of Health:
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C
02-222 Warsaw
tel.: +48 22 49-21-301
fax: +48 22 49-21-309
website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of the medicine.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the blister, bottle label, and carton after "EXP". The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
There are no special storage instructions for the medicine.
Store in the original package to protect from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.
The active substance of the medicine is dimethyl fumarate.
120 mg, gastro-resistant hard capsules
Each gastro-resistant hard capsule contains 120 mg of dimethyl fumarate.
240 mg, gastro-resistant hard capsules
Each gastro-resistant hard capsule contains 240 mg of dimethyl fumarate.
Other ingredients are:
120 mg gastro-resistant hard capsules: Green cap and white body, capsule shell with a diameter of 21.4 mm, with black ink printing "DMF 120" on the body containing white to off-white mini-tablets.
240 mg gastro-resistant hard capsules: Green cap and body, capsule shell with a diameter of 23.2 mm, with black ink printing "DMF 240" on the body containing white to off-white mini-tablets.
HDPE bottle with PP/HDPE cap and a desiccant in the form of silica gel.
Do not swallow the desiccant.
OPA/Aluminum/PVC//Aluminum blisters or unit-dose OPA/Aluminum/PVC//Aluminum blisters.
120 mg, gastro-resistant hard capsules
Package sizes:14 gastro-resistant hard capsules (blister)
14 x 1 gastro-resistant hard capsule (perforated unit-dose blisters)
100 gastro-resistant hard capsules (bottle)
240 mg, gastro-resistant hard capsules
Package sizes:56 gastro-resistant hard capsules (blister)
56 x 1 gastro-resistant hard capsule (perforated unit-dose blisters)
168 gastro-resistant hard capsules (blister)
168 x 1 gastro-resistant hard capsule (perforated unit-dose blisters)
100 gastro-resistant hard capsules (bottle)
Not all package sizes may be marketed.
Zentiva k.s.
U kabelovny 130
Dolní Měcholupy
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
Pharmadox Healthcare Ltd.
KW20A Kordin Industrial Park
Paola PLA 3000, Malta
Adalvo Limited
Malta Life Sciences Park
Building 1, Level 4, Sir Temi Zammit Buildings
San Gwann, SGN 3000, Malta
KeVaRo GROUP Ltd
9 Tzaritza Elenora Str. Office 23
Sofia 1618 Bulgaria
Croatia, Iceland, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary:
In order to obtain more detailed information on this medicine, you should contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Zentiva Polska Sp. z o.o.
Bonifraterska 17 Street
00-203 Warsaw
tel: +48 22 375 92 00
{logo of the marketing authorization holder}
Date of last revision of the leaflet:February 2025
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