Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Duloxetine Eignapharma 30 mg hard gastro-resistant capsules EFG
Duloxetine Eignapharma 60 mg hard gastro-resistant capsules EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack and other information:
Duloxetine Eignapharma contains the active substance duloxetine. It increases the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline in the nervous system.
Duloxetine is used in adults to treat:
Duloxetine starts to work in most people with depression or anxiety within 2 weeks of starting treatment, but it may take between 2 and 4 weeks for you to start feeling better. Tell your doctor if you do not feel better after this time. Your doctor may continue to give you duloxetine when you are feeling better to prevent your depression or anxiety from returning.
In people with diabetic neuropathic pain, it may take some weeks before you feel better. Consult your doctor if you do not feel better after 2 months.
Do not take Duloxetine Eignapharma if:
Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Your doctor will tell you if you should take Duloxetine Eignapharma.
Warnings and precautions
Duloxetine Eignapharma may not be suitable for you due to the following reasons. Tell your doctor before taking duloxetine if:
Duloxetine may cause a feeling of restlessness or an inability to sit or stand still. If this happens, you should tell your doctor.
You should also contact your doctor:
If you experience signs and symptoms of restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, vomiting, as you may be suffering from serotonin syndrome.
In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). The signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).
Some medicines in the same class as duloxetine (called SSRIs/SNRIs) may cause sexual dysfunction symptoms (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after stopping treatment.
Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder
If you are depressed and/or have an anxiety disorder, you may sometimes have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. These thoughts may be increased at the start of treatment with antidepressants, as all these medicines take time to work, usually about two weeks, but sometimes longer.
You are more likely to have these thoughts if:
Contact your doctor or go to the hospital immediately if you have any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
It may be 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 can ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behavior.
Children and adolescents under 18 years
Duloxetine should not normally be used in children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that patients under 18 years who take this type of medicine have an increased risk of side effects such as attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts, and hostility (mainly aggression, oppositional behavior, and anger). Despite this, your doctor may prescribe duloxetine to patients under 18 years if they decide it may be beneficial for the patient. If your doctor has prescribed duloxetine to a patient under 18 years and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should tell your doctor if any of the above symptoms occur or worsen in patients under 18 years who are taking duloxetine. Additionally, in this age group, the long-term safety effects of duloxetine related to growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioral development have not yet been demonstrated.
Using Duloxetine Eignapharma with other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.
The main component of Duloxetine Eignapharma, duloxetine, is used in other medicines for other diseases:
You should avoid using more than one of these medicines at the same time. Check with your doctor if you are already using other medicines that contain duloxetine.
Your doctor will decide if you can take duloxetine with other medicines. Do not start or stopusing any medicine, including those obtained without a prescription and herbal remedies, without first talking to your doctor.
You should also tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):you should not take duloxetine if you are taking, or have taken in 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 an MAOI with many prescription medicines, including duloxetine, can cause serious side effects or even be life-threatening. You should wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before taking duloxetine. Similarly, you should wait at least 5 days after stopping duloxetine before starting an MAOI.
Medicines that cause drowsiness:these include medicines prescribed by your doctor such as benzodiazepines, strong painkillers, antipsychotics, phenobarbital, and antihistamines.
Medicines that increase serotonin levels:triptans, tramadol, tryptophan, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as paroxetine and fluoxetine), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (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 notice any unusual symptoms when using any of these medicines with duloxetine, you should tell your doctor.
Oral anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents:medicines that thin the blood or prevent blood clots. These medicines may increase the risk of bleeding.
Taking Duloxetine Eignapharma with food, drinks, and alcohol
Duloxetine can be taken with or without food. You should be careful if you drink alcohol while being treated with duloxetine.
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.
Driving and using machines
During treatment with duloxetine, you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or use tools or machines until you know how duloxetine affects you.
Duloxetine Eignapharma contains sucrose
This medicine contains sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Duloxetine Eignapharma should be taken by mouth. You should swallow the capsule whole with water.
For depression and diabetic neuropathic pain:
The recommended dose of duloxetine is 60 mg once a day, but your doctor will prescribe the dose that is best for you.
For generalized anxiety disorder:
The usual starting dose of duloxetine 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 best for you. The dose may be adjusted up to 120 mg a day depending on your response to duloxetine.
To help you remember to take duloxetine, it may be helpful to take it at the same times every day.
Discuss with your doctor how long you should take duloxetine. Do not stop taking duloxetine, or change your dose, without talking to your doctor. It is important to treat your condition properly to help you improve. If you do not treat your condition, it may not get better and may become more serious and more difficult to treat.
If you take more Duloxetine Eignapharma than you should
Contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you take more duloxetine than you should. Symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, coma, serotonin syndrome (a rare reaction that can cause intense happiness, drowsiness, clumsiness, restlessness, feeling drunk, fever, sweating, or muscle stiffness), seizures, vomiting, and rapid heartbeat.
If you forget to take Duloxetine Eignapharma
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take a single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not take more duloxetine than you should in a day.
If you stop taking Duloxetine Eignapharma
Do not stop taking your capsules without the advice of your doctor, even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks you do not need to take duloxetine anymore, they will tell you how to reduce your dose over at least 2 weeks before stopping treatment.
Some patients who have stopped taking duloxetine have experienced symptoms such as:
These symptoms are usually not serious and disappear within a few days, but if you have symptoms that are troublesome, ask your doctor for advice.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them. These effects are usually mild to moderate and disappear, often, within a few weeks.
Very Common Adverse Effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients)
Common Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients)
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age with depression treated with this medicine suffered a decrease in weight when they started taking this medicine. After 6 months of treatment, weight increased to similar levels as other children and adolescents of the same age and sex.
Uncommon Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients)
Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients)
Very Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 patients)
Frequency Not Known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Reporting of Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not store at a temperature above 25°C. Store in the original packaging to protect it from moisture.
Medicines should not be thrown away through the sewers or in the trash. Deposit the packaging and medicines that you no longer need in the SIGRE Point of the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines that you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Duloxetine Eignapharma
The active ingredientis duloxetine.
Each capsule contains 30 or 60 mg of duloxetine (as hydrochloride).
The othercomponents are:
Capsule content: hypromellose, hypromellose phthalate, sucrose, sugar spheres (containing sucrose and cornstarch), talc, and triethyl citrate.
Capsule body: gelatin, purified water, titanium dioxide (E171), carmine indigo (E132) (only 60 mg), and printing ink.
Printing ink: dehydrated alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, 1-butanol, strong ammonia solution, propylene glycol, potassium hydroxide, titanium dioxide (E171), black iron oxide (E172), and shellac.
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
Duloxetine Eignapharma is a hard gastro-resistant capsule. Each capsule contains duloxetine hydrochloride pellets with a coating to protect them from stomach acid.
Duloxetine Eignapharma is available in two doses: 30 mg and 60 mg.
The 30 mg capsules have a white opaque cap with a gray print and a transparent body printed with the code “085” in black ink.
The 60 mg capsules have a blue opaque cap with a gray print and a transparent body printed with the code “086” in black ink.
Duloxetine 30 mg is available in packages of 7 and 28 hard gastro-resistant capsules.
Duloxetine 60 mg is available in packages of 28 and 56 hard gastro-resistant capsules.
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder:
Eignapharma S.L.
Avda. Ernest Lluch 32
Tecnocampus, Torre TCM 2, 6th Floor
08302 Mataró, Barcelona
Spain
Manufacturer:
Laboratori Fundació Dau
c/ C, 12-14 Pol. Ind. Zona Franca,
08040 Barcelona, Spain
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Spain: Duloxetine Eignapharma 30 mg/60 mg hard gastro-resistant capsules EFG
Portugal: Duloxetine Eignapharma
Date of the Last Revision of this Prospectus: August 2024
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/