Nivalin

Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient

Warning! Keep the leaflet, the information on the immediate packaging is in a foreign language!

Nivalin

5 mg/ml, solution for injection

Galantamine hydrobromide

Read the leaflet carefully before using the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• 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. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or nurse. See section 4.

Table of Contents of the Leaflet

• 1. What is Nivalin and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before using Nivalin
• 3. How to use Nivalin
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Nivalin
• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Nivalin and what is it used for

Nivalin is a medicinal product containing galantamine - an alkaloid isolated from snowdrop bulbs. Galantamine belongs to a group of medicines called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It increases the concentration of a chemical compound called acetylcholine, which participates in the transmission of nerve impulses in the central and peripheral nervous system. Nivalin is used in the symptomatic treatment of neurological diseases, neuromuscular and spinal cord diseases.

2. Important information before using Nivalin

When not to use Nivalin

• if you are allergic to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have asthma (breathing difficulties)
• if you have a slow heart rate (bradycardia) or conduction disorders (atrioventricular block)
• if you have coronary heart disease (insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle) or severe heart failure (impaired heart function)
• if you have epilepsy
• if you have excessive motor activity (movement)
• if you have severe kidney or liver failure.

Warnings and precautions

Before starting treatment with Nivalin, discuss it with your doctor:

• if you have sick sinus syndrome (disrupted formation of electrical impulses in the heart), prolonged QTc interval or other conduction disorders in the heart;
• if you are taking other medicines that may slow down your heart rate (digoxin, beta-adrenergic receptor blockers);
• if you have high or low potassium levels in your blood;
• if you have symptoms of Parkinson's disease (tremors, stiffness, mask-like face, slow movements and shuffling gait);
• if you have severe respiratory disease (obstructive pulmonary disease);
• if you have moderate kidney failure or urinary tract obstruction, if you have recently undergone surgical treatment of the prostate or bladder, as well as during surgical operations under general anesthesia.
• If you experience excessive weight loss during treatment with Nivalin, it should be monitored.

Nivalin and other medicines

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking now or have taken recently, as well as any medicines you plan to take. Some medicines may increase the risk of side effects in people taking Nivalin. These include: anti-arrhythmic or antihypertensive medicines (quinidine, digoxin, beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, e.g. atenolol, propranolol); medicines affecting the QTc interval; antibiotics (gentamicin, amikacin, erythromycin); antidepressants (paroxetine, fluoxetine); ketoconazole (treatment of fungal infections); ritonavir (treatment of AIDS).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Nivalin may cause vision disturbances, dizziness and drowsiness, which may affect your ability to drive and use machines.

Nivalin contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per 1 ml of solution, which means that the medicine is considered "sodium-free".

3. How to use Nivalin

Nivalin is administered by qualified medical personnel under medical supervision. The dosage and duration of treatment are determined by the doctor depending on the type and severity of the disease. Nivalin, solution for injection, is administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously. If the doctor does not recommend otherwise, the following dosing is recommended:

Treatment of neurological diseases

Use in adults

The recommended initial dose is 2.5 mg. Every 3-4 days, the dose is gradually increased by 2.5 mg in 2 or 3 divided doses. The maximum single dose in adults is 10 mg subcutaneously, and the maximum daily dose is 20 mg.

Use in children and adolescents

Nivalin is administered subcutaneously in doses determined by the doctor, depending on the child's age. The medicine is administered subcutaneously in the following daily doses: from 1 to 2 years: 0.25 - 1.0 mg; from 3 to 5 years: 0.50 - 5.0 mg; from 6 to 8 years: 0.75 - 7.5 mg; from 9 to 11 years: 1.0 - 10.0 mg; from 12 to 15 years: 1.25 - 12.5 mg; over 15 years: 1.25 - 15.0 mg. The duration of treatment depends on the nature and severity of the treated disease. Most often 40 to 60 days. Treatment cycles can be repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 1-2 months.

Use of a higher than recommended dose of Nivalin

The medicine is administered by qualified medical personnel, so its overdose is unlikely. Nevertheless, suspected overdose should be reported to the doctor. In case of doubts related to the use of the medicine, consult a doctor.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Nivalin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Nivalin may slow down your heart rate or cause irregular heartbeat, chest pain, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased peristalsis, abdominal pain. Sometimes, high or low blood pressure is observed. Other symptoms include: narrowed pupils, increased sweating and salivation, as well as excessive discharge from the nose, tear glands and bronchi, insomnia, muscle cramps, dizziness, headaches, rapid breathing and respiratory disorders. Weight loss and loss of appetite have been reported. Some patients may experience allergic reactions, including itching, skin rash, urticaria, rhinitis. In single cases, severe hypersensitivity reactions with loss of consciousness have been observed.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or nurse. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, Tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, Fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Nivalin

Keep the medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Store in the original packaging to protect from light. Store at a temperature below 25°C. Do not freeze. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the specified month. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Nivalin contains

• The active substance of the medicine is galantamine hydrobromide.
• The other ingredients are: sodium chloride and water for injections.

What Nivalin looks like and contents of the pack

1 ampoule of 1 ml contains 5 mg of galantamine hydrobromide. Nivalin, solution for injection, is a clear, colorless or pale yellow liquid.

Packaging:

Ampoules made of colorless glass in a blister pack with PVC foil, in a cardboard box.

Pack size:

1 blister pack of 10 ampoules in a cardboard box. For more detailed information, please contact the marketing authorization holder or parallel importer.

Marketing authorization holder in Bulgaria, the country of export:

Sopharma AD, 16 Iliensko shose str., 1220 Sofia, Bulgaria

Manufacturer:

Sopharma AD, 16 Iliensko shose str., 1220 Sofia, Bulgaria

Parallel importer:

Medezin Sp. z o.o., ul. Zbąszyńska 3, 91-342 Łódź

Repackaged by:

Medezin Sp. z o.o., ul. Zbąszyńska 3, 91-342 Łódź, Marketing authorization number in Bulgaria, the country of export: 9700574, Parallel import authorization number: 233/19

Date of approval of the leaflet: 11.06.2024

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