AXURA 10 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Axura 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets

Memantine Hydrochloride

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.

Contents of the Pack

1. What is Axura and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take Axura
3. How to take Axura
4. Possible side effects
5. Storing Axura
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Axura and what is it used for

How Axura Works

Axura contains the active ingredient memantine hydrochloride.

Axura belongs to a group of medicines called anti-dementia medicines.

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is due to a disturbance in brain signals. The brain contains so-called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that are involved in the transmission of important nerve signals in learning and memory. Axura belongs to a group of medicines called NMDA receptor antagonists. Axura acts on these receptors, improving the transmission of nerve signals and memory.

What Axura is Used For

Axura is used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

2. What you need to know before you take Axura

Do Not Take Axura

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to memantine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and Precautions

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Axura
• if you have a history of epileptic seizures (convulsions)
• if you have recently suffered a myocardial infarction (heart attack), if you suffer from congestive heart failure or if you have uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).

In these situations, treatment should be carefully supervised and your doctor should regularly re-evaluate the clinical benefit of Axura.

If you have renal insufficiency (kidney problems), your doctor should closely monitor your kidney function and, if necessary, adjust the dose of memantine.

The use of memantine should be avoided in combination with other medicines such as amantadine (for the treatment of Parkinson's disease), ketamine (a medicine usually used to produce anesthesia), dextromethorphan (a medicine for the treatment of cough) and other NMDA antagonists.

Children and Adolescents

The use of Axura is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Taking Axura with Other Medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

In particular, the administration of Axura may produce changes in the effects of the following medicines, so your doctor may need to adjust the doses:

• amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan

• dantrolene, baclofen
• cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine
• hydrochlorothiazide (or any combination with hydrochlorothiazide)
• anticholinergics (substances usually used to treat movement disorders or intestinal spasms)
• anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and eliminate convulsions)
• barbiturates (substances usually used to induce sleep)
• dopaminergic agonists (substances such as L-dopa, bromocriptine)
• neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental illnesses)
• oral anticoagulants

If you are hospitalized, inform your doctor that you are taking Axura.

Taking Axura with Food and Drinks

You should inform your doctor if you have recently changed or intend to change your diet substantially (e.g., from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet) or if you have renal tubular acidosis (RTA, excess of acid-producing substances in the blood due to kidney dysfunction) or severe urinary tract infections (urinary tract), as your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the medicine.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

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

Pregnancy

The use of memantine is not recommended in pregnant women.

Breastfeeding

Women taking Axura should stop breastfeeding.

Driving and Using Machines

Your doctor will inform you if your illness allows you to drive and use machines safely. Also, Axura may alter your reaction ability, so driving or operating machines may be inappropriate.

Axura Contains Sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; that is, it is essentially "sodium-free".

3. How to Take Axura

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medicine indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Posology

The recommended dose of Axura in adult and elderly patients is 20 mg administered once a day. To reduce the risk of side effects, this dose is gradually reached following the following daily scheme:

The normal starting dose is half a tablet once a day (1 x 5 mg) the first week. It is increased to one tablet a day (1 x 10 mg) the second week and to one and a half tablets once a day in the third week. From the fourth week onwards, the normal dose is two tablets administered once a day (1 x 20 mg).

Posology for Patients with Renal Insufficiency

If you have kidney problems, your doctor will decide the appropriate dose for your condition. In this case, your doctor should periodically monitor your kidney function.

Administration

Axura should be administered orally once a day. To get the most out of your medication, you should take it every day and at the same time. The tablets should be swallowed with a little water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Duration of Treatment

Continue taking Axura while it is beneficial for you. Your doctor should periodically evaluate the effects of your treatment.

If You Take More Axura Than You Should

• Generally, taking an excessive amount of Axura should not cause you any harm. You may experience an increase in the symptoms described in section 4 "Possible side effects".
• If you take an overdose of Axura, contact your doctor or seek medical advice, as you may need medical attention.

If You Forget to Take Axura

• If you realize you have forgotten to take your dose of Axura, wait and take the next dose at the usual time.

• Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose.

If you have any other questions about 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.

Side effects are usually mild to moderate.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Headache, drowsiness, constipation, elevated liver function tests, dizziness, balance disorder, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and hypersensitivity to the medicine

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, gait disturbance, heart failure, and venous thrombosis/thromboembolism

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Seizures

Frequency Not Known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):

• Pancreatitis, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), and psychotic reactions

Alzheimer's disease has been associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide. These events have been reported in patients treated with Axura.

Reporting of Side Effects

If you experience 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 through the national reporting system included in Annex V. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storing Axura

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month stated.

No special storage conditions are required.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the Pack and Other Information

Composition of Axura

The active substance is memantine hydrochloride.

Each dosing device delivers 0.5 ml of solution containing 5 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 4.16 mg of memantine.

The other ingredients are potassium sorbate, sorbitol E 420, and purified water.

Appearance and Packaging of the Product

Axura, oral solution, is a clear, colorless to slightly yellowish solution.

Axura, oral solution, is available in bottles of 50 ml, 100 ml, or a multiple pack with 500 ml (10 x 50 ml).

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH

Eckenheimer Landstr. 100

D-60318 Frankfurt/Main

Germany

Manufacturer

Merz Pharma GmbH + Co. KGaA

Eckenheimer Landstr. 100

D-60318 Frankfurt/Main

Germany

You can obtain further information on this medicine by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder.

Date of Last Revision of this Leaflet: (MM/YYYY).

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu.

Instructions for the Correct Use of the Dosing Device

The solution should not be poured or dispensed directly into the mouth from the bottle or dosing device. Measure the dose in a spoon or in a glass of water using the dosing device.

Remove the screw cap from the bottle:

The cap should be turned counterclockwise, completely unscrewed, and removed (fig. 1).

Assemble the dosing device on the bottle:

Remove the dosing device from the plastic bag (fig. 2) and place it on top of the bottle. Carefully insert the plastic tube into the bottle. Keep the dosing device on the neck of the bottle and turn it clockwise until it is firmly attached (fig. 3). The dosing device should only be screwed on once when starting use and should never be unscrewed.

How the dosing device works:

The dosing device head has two positions and can be easily turned

• counterclockwise to open
• clockwise to close.

The dosing device head should not be pressed down while it is in the closed position. The solution can only be dispensed in the open position. To open, turn the dosing device head in the direction indicated by the arrow until it cannot be turned further (about one-eighth of a turn, fig. 4). The dosing device is then ready for use.

Prepare the dosing device.

When used for the first time, the dosing device does not dispense the correct amount of oral solution. Therefore, it must be prepared (primed) by pressing the dosing device head down completely five times in a row (fig. 5).

The solution thus dispensed should be discarded. The next time the dosing device head is pressed down completely (equivalent to one press), it already dispenses the correct dose (fig. 6)

Correct Use of the Dosing Device.

Place the bottle on a flat, horizontal surface, for example on a table, and it should only be used in a vertical position. Place a glass with a little water or a spoon under the spout. Press the dosing device head down firmly but calmly and steadily - not too slowly (fig. 7, fig. 8).

The dosing device head can then be released and is ready for the next press.

The dosing device should only be used with Axura solution in the provided bottle, not for other products or containers. If the dosing device does not work correctly, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Close the dosing device after using Axura.