ELIMENS 60 mg HARD CAPSULES

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Elimens 60 mg Hard Capsules

Orlistat

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.It contains important information for you.

• Follow exactly the administration instructions of the medicine contained in this leaflet or as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist.
• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you need advice or more information, consult your pharmacist.
• If you experience side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a side effect not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
• If you do not lose weight after taking Elimens for 12 weeks, consult your doctor or pharmacist. You may need to stop taking Elimens.

Contents of the Package Leaflet

1. What is Elimens and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before taking Elimens
3. How to take Elimens
4. Possible side effects

5 Storage of Elimens

1. Contents of the pack and further information

1. What is Elimens and what is it used for

Elimens is used to help with weight loss in adults over 18 years of age who are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or higher. Elimens should be used in combination with a low-calorie, low-fat diet.

BMI is a way to find out if you have a healthy weight or if you are overweight, taking into account your height. The table included below will help you find out if you are overweight and if Elimens is suitable for you.

Check your weight in the following table. If your weight is lower than the weight listed next to your height, do not take Elimens.

Risks of being overweight

Being overweight increases the risk of developing various serious health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease. These conditions may not make you feel unwell, so you should see your doctor for a general check-up.

How Elimens works

The active ingredient of Elimens (orlistat) is designed to target the fat in your digestive system. It prevents about a quarter of the fat you eat from being absorbed. This fat will be eliminated from your body in your stools (see section 4). Therefore, it is essential that you follow a low-calorie, low-fat diet to control these effects. If you do, the action of the capsules will help you in your efforts to lose weight. For every 2 kg you lose just with diet, Elimens can help you lose up to 1 kg more.

2. What you need to know before taking Elimens

Do not take Elimens

• If you are allergic to orlistat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you are taking ciclosporin, used after an organ transplant, for severe rheumatoid arthritis, and for certain severe skin conditions.
• If you are taking warfarin or other anticoagulant medicines.
• If you have cholestasis (a disease where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked).
• If you have problems absorbing food (chronic malabsorption syndrome) diagnosed by a doctor.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Elimens.

• If you have diabetes. Consult your doctor if you need to adjust your anti-diabetic medication.

• If you have any kidney disease. Talk to your doctor before taking Elimens if you have kidney problems. The use of orlistat may be associated with kidney stones in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Children and adolescents

Children and adolescents under 18 years of age should not take this medicine.

Taking Elimens with other medicines

Elimens may affect some medicines you are taking.

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

Do not take Elimens with the following medicines

• Ciclosporin, used after an organ transplant, for severe rheumatoid arthritis, and for certain severe skin conditions.
• Warfarin or other anticoagulant medicines.

Use of oral contraceptives with Elimens

• Oral contraceptives may be less effective if you suffer from severe diarrhea. Use an additional contraceptive method if you suffer from severe diarrhea.

Take a multivitamin every day if you are taking Elimens

• Elimens may reduce the levels of some vitamins absorbed by the body. The multivitamin complex should contain vitamins A, D, E, and K, and you should take it before bedtime, when you will not be taking Elimens, to ensure that the vitamins are absorbed.

Consult your doctor before taking Elimens if you are taking

• Amiodarone, used for heart rhythm problems.
• Acarbose (an anti-diabetic medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus). The use of Elimens is not recommended in people taking acarbose.
• A medicine for the thyroid (levothyroxine), as it may be necessary to adjust the dose and take your medicines at different times of the day.
• A medicine for epilepsy, as any change in the frequency and severity of seizures should be discussed with your doctor.
• Medicines for HIV treatment. It is essential that you consult your doctor before taking Elimens if you are receiving HIV treatment.
• Medicines for depression, psychiatric disorders, or anxiety.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist while taking Elimens

• If you are taking any medicine for high blood pressure, as it may be necessary to adjust the dose.
• If you are taking any medicine for high cholesterol, as it may be necessary to adjust the dose.

Taking Elimens with food and drinks

Elimens should be used in conjunction with a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Try to start this diet before starting treatment. For information on how to set your calorie and fat goals, see More useful informationin section 6.

You can take Elimens immediately before, during, or up to one hour after a meal. The capsule should be swallowed with water. This usually means one capsule with breakfast, one with lunch, and one with dinner. If you do not eat a meal or if your meal does not contain fat, do not take a capsule. Elimens does not work if the meal does not contain some fat.

If you eat a meal high in fat, do not take a higher dose than recommended. Taking a capsule with a meal that contains too much fat increases the chances of suffering from treatment-related effects (see section 4). You should make every effort to avoid meals high in fat while taking Elimens.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not take Elimens during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

It is unlikely that Elimens will affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Elimens contains sodium.

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per capsule; this is essentially "sodium-free".

3. How to take Elimens

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

Preparation for weight loss

1. Choose your start date

Choose the day you will start using the capsules in advance. Before starting to take the capsules, start your low-calorie, low-fat diet and give your body a few days to adjust to your new eating habits. Keep a record of what you are eating in a food diary. These food diaries are effective because they make you aware of what you are eating, how much you are eating, and provide a basis for making changes.

1. Decide on your weight loss goal

Think about how much weight you want to lose and set a weight goal. A realistic goal is to lose between 5% and 10% of your initial weight. The amount of weight you lose may vary from week to week. You should try to lose weight at a gradual and constant rate of about 0.5 kg per week.

1. Set your calorie and fat goals

To help you achieve your weight loss goal, you need to set two daily goals, one for calories and one for fat. For more information, see More useful informationin the blue pages of section 6.

Taking Elimens

Adults over 18 years of age

• Take one capsule, three times a day.
• Take Elimens just before, during, or up to one hour after meals. This usually means one capsule with breakfast, one with lunch, and one with dinner. Make sure your three main meals are balanced and low in calories and fat.
• If you miss a meal or if your meal does not contain fat, do not take a capsule. Elimens does not work unless the meal contains some fat.
• Swallow the capsule whole with water.
• Do not take more than three capsules per day.
• Take low-fat meals to help reduce treatment-related effects (see section 4).
• Try to be more physically active before starting treatment. Exercise is an essential part of weight loss programs. Remember to consult your doctor if you have not exercised before.
• Continue to be active while taking Elimens and after stopping it.

How long should I take Elimens?

• Elimens should not be taken for more than 6 months.
• If you do not lose weight after taking Elimens for 12 weeks, consult your doctor or pharmacist. You may need to stop taking Elimens.
• To be successful in weight loss, it is not enough to eat differently for a short period and then return to old habits. People who lose weight and maintain weight loss make lifestyle changes, including modifications in what they eat and how active they are.

If you take more Elimens than you should

Do not take more than three capsules per day.

If you have taken too many capsules, contact a doctor as soon as possible.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service at 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Elimens

If you forget to take a dose of Elimens:

• If it has been less than one hour since your last meal, take the missed dose.
• If it has been more than one hour since your last meal, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose with your meal as usual.

Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.

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.

Most frequent side effects related to the use of Elimens (e.g., gas with or without oily spots, or sudden bowel movements) are the result of its mechanism of action (see section 1). Take low-fat foods to try to control these treatment-related effects.

Severe side effects

Frequency not known

Severe allergic reactions

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction include: severe difficulty breathing, sweating, skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, rapid heartbeat, collapse.

Stop taking the capsules and seek medical help immediately.

Other severe side effects

• Rectal bleeding.
• Diverticulitis (inflammation of the large intestine). Symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen, possibly with fever and constipation.
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back, possibly with fever, nausea, and vomiting.
• Blisters on the skin (including blisters that burst).
• Severe stomach pain caused by gallstones (stones in the gallbladder).
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and eyes, itching, dark urine, stomach pain, and liver tenderness (indicated by pain below the front of the rib cage, on the right side), sometimes with loss of appetite.
• Oxalate nephropathy (calcium oxalate deposit that can lead to kidney stones). See section 2, be careful with Elimens.

Stop taking the capsules. Inform your doctor if you suffer from any of these effects.

Very common side effects

May affect more than 1 in 10 people

• Gas (flatulence) with or without oily spots.
• Sudden bowel movements.
• Oily or fatty stools.
• Soft stools.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects worsen or become complicated.

Common side effects

May affect up to 1 in 10 people

• Stomach pain (abdominal).
• Incontinence (fecal).
• Fluid or liquid stools.
• More frequent stools.
• Anxiety.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects worsen or become complicated.

Side effects observed in blood tests

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Increased levels of some liver enzymes.
• Effects on blood coagulation in people taking warfarin or other anticoagulant medicines.

Tell your doctor that you are taking Elimens when you have a blood test.

Learn to control Elimens-related effects on diet or fat intake

The most common side effects are caused by the mechanism of action of the capsules and occur due to the elimination of part of the fat from the body. These effects typically occur during the first weeks of use of the capsules, before you have learned to limit the amount of fat in your diet. These treatment-related effects can be a sign that you have eaten more fat than you should.

You can learn to minimize treatment-related effects by following these basic guidelines:

• Start a low-fat diet a few days, or even a week, before starting to take the capsules.
• Find out more about the fat content of your favorite foods and the size of the portions. If you become familiar with the portions, you will be less likely to accidentally exceed your fat goal.
• Distribute your fat limit evenly across meals throughout the day. Do not "save" fat and calorie intake to then take a meal high in fat or dessert, as you may have done with other weight loss programs.
• Most users who experience these effects find that they can control them and manage them by adjusting their diet.

Do not worry if you do not experience these problems. This does not mean that the capsules are not working.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them 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. Storage of Elimens

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

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

Do not store above 25°C.

Store in the original packaging to protect from light and moisture.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of the packaging and any unused medicine in the pharmacy's SIGRE collection point. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and any unused medicine. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Elimens

• The active ingredient is orlistat. Each hard capsule contains 60 mg of orlistat.

• The other components are:
• • Capsule content: Microcrystalline cellulose PH 112, sodium carboxymethyl starch (type A) (potato), hydrophobic colloidal silica, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
  • Capsule body: Gelatin, carmine indigo (E-132), and titanium dioxide (E-171).

Appearance of the Product and Package Contents

Elimens capsules are hard, bright blue capsules containing white or slightly compacted powder.

• PVC-PVDC/Aluminum blister pack with 42 and 84 hard capsules.
• HDPE bottles with tamper-evident, child-resistant closure with PE cap and desiccant silica gel. The bottle contains 42 and 84 hard capsules.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A.

Carretera Olaz Chipi, 10. Polígono Industrial Areta

31620 Huarte (Navarra) - Spain

Manufacturer

Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A.

Carretera Olaz Chipi, 10. Polígono Industrial Areta

31620 Huarte (Navarra) - Spain

or

PHARMACEUTICAL WORKS POLPHARMA SA

19 Pelplinska Street,

83 – 200 Starogard Gdanski. POLAND

or

Rontis Hellas Medical and Pharmaceutical Products S.A.

P.O. Box 3012 Larisa Industrial Area – Larisa, 41004 – Greece

Date of Last Revision of this Leaflet: October 2020

Detailed 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/).

MORE USEFUL INFORMATION

Risks of Being Overweight

Being overweight will affect your health and increase your risk of developing serious health problems such as:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Certain types of cancer
• Osteoarthritis

Talk to your doctor about the risk of developing these diseases.

Importance of Weight Loss

Losing weight and maintaining weight loss, for example by improving your diet and increasing your physical activity, can help you reduce the risks of serious health problems and improve your health.

Useful Tips on Your Diet and Calorie and Fat Goals While Taking Elimens

Elimens should be used with a low-calorie, low-fat diet. The capsules work by preventing some of the fat you eat from being absorbed, but you can still eat foods from all the main food groups. Although you should focus on the calories and fat you eat, it is essential to eat a balanced diet. You should choose meals that contain a range of different nutrients and learn to eat healthily in the long term.

Understanding the Importance of Calorie and Fat Goals

Calories are a measure of the energy your body needs. Sometimes they are called kilocalories or kcal. Energy can also be measured in kilojoules, which you may also have seen in nutritional tables.

• Your calorie goal is the maximum number of calories you will eat each day. See the chart included later in this section.
• Your fat goal is the maximum number of grams of fat you will eat at each meal. The fat goal chart has been developed based on the information shown below on how to set your calorie goal.
• Controlling your fat goal is essential due to the mechanism of action of the capsules. Taking Elimens means that your body will eliminate more fat, and therefore it will be more challenging to handle as much fat in meals as before. Therefore, by adjusting to your fat goal, you will maximize your weight loss results while minimizing the risk of treatment-related effects on your diet.
• You should aim to lose weight gradually and consistently. Ideally, you should lose around 0.5 kg per week.

How to Set Your Calorie Goal

The following table has been designed to provide you with a calorie goal that is approximately 500 calories less than your body needs to maintain its current weight. This means up to 3,500 calories less per week, approximately the number of calories in 0.5 kg of fat.

Your calorie goal should allow you to lose weight at a gradual and stable rate of 0.5 kg per week without feelings of frustration or deprivation.

It is not recommended to take less than 1,200 kcal per day.

You will need to know your physical activity level to set your calorie goals. The more active you are, the higher your calorie goal will be.

• Low activity means that you never or almost never walk, climb stairs, garden, or engage in other daily activities.
• Moderate activity means burning 150 calories per day in physical activity. Examples of moderate activity are walking approximately three kilometers (2 miles), gardening for 30 to 45 minutes, or running two kilometers (1.25 miles) in 15 minutes.

Choose the level that best fits your daily routine. If you are unsure of your level, choose Low Activity.

Women

Men

How to Set Your Fat Goal

The following chart shows how to set your fat goal based on the number of calories you can have per day. You should plan to have three meals a day. If you have set a calorie goal of 1,400 calories per day, for example, the maximum amount of fat allowed per meal would be 15 g. To stay within your assigned fat amount, snacks should not contain more than 3 g of fat.

Remember

• Adjust to realistic calorie and fat goals, as it is a way to maintain long-term weight loss achievements.
• Write down what you eat in a food diary, including calorie and fat content.
• Try to be more physically active before starting to take the capsules. Physical activity is an essential part of a weight loss program. Remember to consult with your doctor if you have not exercised before.

Continue to be active while taking Elimens and after stopping treatment.