CLOPIXOL 10 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Clopixol 10 mg Film-Coated Tablets

Zuclopentixol

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 and other information

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

1. What is Clopixol and what is it used for

Clopixol contains the active substance zuclopentixol. Clopixol belongs to a group of medicines called antipsychotics (also called neuroleptics).

These medicines work on the nerve pathways in specific areas of the brain and help to correct certain chemical imbalances in the brain that produce the symptoms of your disease.

Clopixol is used for the treatment of chronic and subchronic schizophrenia, with acute episodes, especially in agitated and/or aggressive patients.

However, your doctor may prescribe Clopixol for another purpose. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about why you have been prescribed Clopixol.

2. What you need to know before you take Clopixol

Do not take Clopixol

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to zuclopentixol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have a decreased level of consciousness.
• If you have circulatory failure.

Warnings and precautions

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Clopixol if you:
• Suffer from liver problems.
• Suffer from severe respiratory disease.
• Suffer from Parkinson's disease, thyroid disorders, myasthenia gravis, pheochromocytoma, or prostatic hypertrophy.
• Have a history of seizures or fits.
• Suffer from diabetes (your antidiabetic therapy may need to be adjusted).
• Suffer from an organic brain syndrome (this may be a condition resulting from poisoning with alcohol or organic solvents).
• Have risk factors for stroke (e.g. smoker, hypertension).
• Clopixol belongs to a group of medicines that can cause changes in the electrocardiogram, to avoid this, it should be used with caution in patients with hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia (low potassium or magnesium in the blood) or genetic predisposition to cardiac disorders.
• Have a history of cardiovascular disorders.
• Use other antipsychotic medicines.
• You or a family member have a history of blood clots, as drugs in this group have been associated with the formation of blood clots.

If you have persistent symptoms of infection, consult your doctor, as this may be representative of a decrease in white blood cells in the blood.

With the use of different antipsychotics, a very rare but serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome has been reported, characterized by signs such as high fever, unusual muscle stiffness, and altered consciousness, especially if it occurs with sweating and rapid heartbeat. If you experience these symptoms, they may be representative of this situation and you should see a doctor (see section on possible side effects).

Children and adolescents

Clopixol is not recommended in this group of patients.

Taking Clopixol with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Tricyclic antidepressants.
• Guanethidine and similar medicines (used to lower blood pressure).
• Barbiturates and similar medicines (their use with Clopixol may make you feel drowsy).
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy.
• Levodopa and similar medicines (used to treat Parkinson's disease).
• Metoclopramide (used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders).
• Piperazine (used in the treatment of worm and pinworm infections).
• Medicines that cause changes in the hydro-saline balance (too little potassium or magnesium in the blood).
• Medicines that are known to increase the concentration of Clopixol in the blood.

The following medicines cannot be taken at the same time as Clopixol:

• Medicines that change heartbeats (e.g. quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, erythromycin, terfenadine, astemizole, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, cisapride, lithium).
• Other antipsychotic medicines.

Taking Clopixol with food and alcohol

Clopixol can be taken with or without food.

Clopixol may increase the sedative effects of alcohol, causing drowsiness. It is recommended not to drink alcohol during treatment with Clopixol.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medicine.

Do not take Clopixol if you are pregnant unless it is clearly necessary.

Do not use Clopixol during breastfeeding, as small amounts of the medicine may pass into breast milk.

The following symptoms may appear in newborns of mothers who have taken Clopixol during the third trimester (last three months of pregnancy): tremors, muscle stiffness and/or weakness, drowsiness, agitation, breathing problems, and difficulty feeding.

If your baby experiences any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor.

Animal studies have shown that Clopixol affects fertility. Please consult your doctor.

Driving and using machines

Clopixol may cause symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, or changes in vision, and may reduce your reaction ability. These effects, as well as the disease itself, may make it difficult for you to drive vehicles or operate machines. Therefore, do not drive, operate machines, or engage in other activities that require special attention until your doctor assesses your response to this medicine.

Clopixol contains lactose and hydrogenated castor oil

If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medicine.

Hydrogenated castor oil may cause stomach upset and diarrhea.

3. How to take Clopixol

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medicine given by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

The dose varies considerably and depends on the severity of the disease.

The recommended dose is:

Adults

The usual starting dose is between 20 mg and 30 mg per day, which can be gradually increased up to a maximum of 150 mg per day, divided into several doses.

In some cases, a considerable increase in dose may be required. The maximum dose is 150 mg per day.

The maintenance dose is usually 20-40 mg per day.

Elderly patients

The dose is normally between 2 mg and 6 mg per day, taken in the late afternoon. The dose can be increased to 10-20 mg per day.

Patients with special risks

Patients with liver problems usually receive the lower end of the dose range.

Use in children

Clopixol is not recommended in children.

If you feel that the effect of Clopixol is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

How and when to take Clopixol

Swallow the tablets with a glass of water. They should not be chewed.

At the beginning of treatment, Clopixol should be taken normally in 2 or 3 divided doses during the day.

In maintenance treatment, Clopixol can be taken as a single daily dose.

Duration of treatment

As with other medicines for psychosis, it may take a couple of weeks before you start to feel better.

Your doctor will decide the duration of treatment. Continue taking the tablets for the time recommended by your doctor. The underlying disease may persist for a long time, and if you interrupt your treatment too early, your symptoms may reappear.

Never change the dose of your medicine without talking to your doctor first.

If you take more Clopixol than you should

In case of overdose, consult your doctor immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

The symptoms of overdose may include:

• Drowsiness.
• Unconsciousness.
• Unusual or stiff muscle movements.
• Seizures.
• Low blood pressure, weak pulse, rapid heartbeat, paleness, restlessness.
• High or low body temperature.
• Changes in heartbeats, including irregular heartbeats or slow heart rate, have been observed when Clopixol is administered in overdose along with drugs that are known to affect the heart.

If you forget to take Clopixol

If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you stop taking Clopixol

Your doctor will decide when and how to stop your treatment to avoid unpleasant symptoms that may occur if treatment is stopped abruptly (e.g. difficulty sleeping, muscle stiffness, feeling unwell).

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.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.

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

• Unusual movements of the mouth and tongue.

This may be an initial sign of a condition called tardive dyskinesia.

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

• High fever, unusual muscle stiffness, and altered consciousness, especially if it occurs with sweating and rapid heartbeat. These symptoms may be signs of a rare condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which has been reported with the use of different antipsychotics.

• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes; this may mean that your liver is affected and is a sign of a condition known as jaundice.

The following side effects are more pronounced at the beginning of treatment and most of them usually disappear during continued treatment.

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

• Drowsiness (somnolence), difficulty sitting or standing (akathisia),

involuntary movements (hyperkinesia), slow or reduced movements (hypokinesia).

• Dry mouth.

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

• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), feeling of rapid or forceful heartbeat (palpitations).
• Tremors, circles or repetitive movements or abnormal postures due to continuous muscle contractions (dystonia), increased muscle stiffness (hypertonia), dizziness, headache, sensation of tingling, itching, or numbness of the skin (paresthesia), attention disorder, amnesia, abnormal gait.
• Difficulty focusing objects near the eye (accommodation disorder), vision abnormalities.
• Feeling of spinning or swaying when standing (vertigo).
• Nasal congestion, difficulty breathing or painful breathing (dyspnea).
• Increased salivation (hypersalivation), constipation, vomiting, digestive problems or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen (dyspepsia), diarrhea.
• Urinary disorder (urinary retention), increased urine volume (polyuria).
• Increased sweating (hyperhidrosis), itching (pruritus).
• Muscle pain (myalgia).
• Increased appetite, weight gain.
• Fatigue, weakness (asthenia), general feeling of discomfort or restlessness (malaise), pain.
• Insomnia, depression, anxiety, nervousness, abnormal dreams, agitation, decreased sexual desire (decreased libido).

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

• Overactive or overresponsive (hyperreflexia), jerky movements (dyskinesia), parkinsonism, fainting (syncope), inability to coordinate muscle activity (ataxia), speech disorder, decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), seizures, migraine.
• Circular movements of the eyes (oculogyration), dilated pupils (mydriasis).
• Increased sensitivity to certain sound frequencies or difficulty tolerating everyday sounds (hyperacusis), ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Abdominal pain, flatulence.
• Rash, skin reaction due to sensitivity to light (photosensitive reaction), pigmentation disorder, oily skin, shiny skin, and yellowish color of the skin due to increased sebum secretion (seborrhea), eczema or skin inflammation (dermatitis), bleeding under the skin observed as purple or red discolorations on the skin (purpura).
• Muscle stiffness, inability to open the mouth normally (trismus), neck twists and unnatural head position (torticollis, neck twist, neck stiffness).
• Decreased appetite, weight loss.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension), hot flashes.
• Dry mouth, low body temperature (hypothermia), fever (pyrexia).
• Abnormal liver function tests.
• Sexual disorder (delayed ejaculation, erection problems, women may have difficulty reaching orgasm, vaginal dryness).
• Marked indifference to one's surroundings (apathy), nightmares, increased sexual desire (increased libido), confused state.

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

• Low platelet count in the blood (thrombocytopenia), low white blood cell count in the blood (neutropenia), reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood (leukopenia), bone marrow poisoning (agranulocytosis).
• Increased prolactin level in the blood (hyperprolactinemia).
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia), altered glucose tolerance, increased blood fat levels (hyperlipidemia).
• Excessive sensitivity (hypersensitivity), acute and severe systemic allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction).
• Development of breasts in men (gynecomastia), excessive milk production (galactorrhea), absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea), painful and persistent erection of the penis, not accompanied by sexual excitement or desire (priapism).

As with other medicines that work similarly to zuclopentixol (the active substance of Clopixol), the following side effects have been reported in rare cases:

• Prolongation of the QT interval (slow heartbeat and change in the ECG).
• Irrregular heartbeats (ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia).
• Torsades de Pointes (a special type of irregular heartbeat).

In rare cases, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) can result in sudden death.

Blood clots in the veins, particularly in the legs (symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the legs), can move through the blood vessels to the lungs and cause chest pain and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

In elderly patients with dementia, a small increase in the number of deaths has been reported in those patients taking antipsychotics compared to those not taking them.

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storing Clopixol

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton 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. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.

6. Packaging Contents and Additional Information

Clopixol Composition

The active ingredient is zuclopentixol (as dihydrochloride).

Each film-coated tablet contains 10 mg of zuclopentixol as dihydrochloride.

The other components are: potato starch, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, copovidone, glycerol 85%, talc, hydrogenated ricin oil and magnesium stearate.

Coating: hypromellose 5 and macrogol 6000.

Colorants: titanium dioxide (E-171) and red iron oxide (E-172).

Product Appearance and Packaging Contents

Clopixol is presented in film-coated tablet packs (tablets) of 10 mg.

Description of the film-coated tablets:

The 10 mg film-coated tablets are round, biconvex, light reddish-brown.

Clopixol film-coated tablets are available in packs containing 30 or 50 tablets.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Holder

Lundbeck España, S.A.

Av. Diagonal, 605, 7º2ª

E-08028 Barcelona

Tel.: 93 494 96 20

Manufacturer

• Lundbeck A/S

Ottiliavej 9

2500 Valby

Denmark

Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: February 2017

Detailed and updated information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/