ESCITALOPRAM CINFA 20 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

escitalopram cinfa 20 mg film-coated tablets EFG

escitalopram oxalate

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

1. What is escitalopram cinfa and what is it used for

Escitalopram cinfa contains the active substance escitalopram. Escitalopram belongs to a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicines work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Changes in the levels of serotonin in the brain are thought to be important in the development of depression and other related diseases.

Escitalopram cinfa is used for the treatment of depression (major depressive episodes) and anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder)

It may take a couple of weeks before you start to feel better. Continue to take escitalopram cinfa even if it takes some time to start feeling better.

You should consult a doctor if you get worse or do not improve.

2. What you need to know before you take escitalopram cinfa

Do not take escitalopram cinfa

• If you are allergic to escitalopram or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are taking other medicines that belong to the group of MAO inhibitors, including selegiline (used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease), moclobemide (used for the treatment of depression), and linezolid (an antibiotic).
• If you have been born with or have had an episode of abnormal heart rhythm (detected on an ECG, a test that evaluates heart function).
• If you are taking medicines for heart rhythm problems or that may affect heart rhythm (see section 2 "Taking escitalopram cinfa with other medicines").

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take escitalopram cinfa.

Please inform your doctor if you have any other disorder or disease, as your doctor may need to take it into account. In particular, inform your doctor:

• If you have epilepsy. Treatment with escitalopram should be discontinued if you experience seizures for the first time or observe an increase in the frequency of seizures (see also section 4 "Possible side effects").
• If you have liver or kidney failure. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
• If you have diabetes. Treatment with escitalopram may alter blood sugar control. It may be necessary to adjust the dose of insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic.
• If you have low sodium levels in your blood.
• If you tend to develop bleeding or bruising easily, or if you are pregnant (see "Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility").
• If you are receiving electroconvulsive therapy.
• If you have coronary artery disease.
• If you have or have had heart problems or have recently had a heart attack.
• If your resting heart rate is slow and/or you know you may have low salt levels as a result of severe and prolonged diarrhea and vomiting (being sick) or use of diuretics.
• If you experience rapid or irregular heartbeats, fainting, collapse, or dizziness when standing up, which may indicate abnormal heart rhythm.
• If you have or have had eye problems, such as certain types of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).

Some medicines in the same group as escitalopram cinfa (called SSRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after stopping treatment.

Please note

Some patients with manic-depressive illness may enter a manic phase. This is characterized by an uncommon and rapid change of ideas, excessive joy, and excessive physical activity. If you experience this, contact your doctor.

Symptoms such as restlessness or difficulty sitting or standing, may also occur during the first few weeks of treatment. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Suicidal thoughts and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or suffer from an anxiety disorder, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may increase when you first start taking antidepressants, as all these medicines take time to start working, usually around two weeks, although in some cases it may be longer.

You would be more likely to have these thoughts:

• If you have previously had thoughts of killing yourself or harming yourself.
• If you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behavior in adults under 25 years with psychiatric disorders who were treated with an antidepressant.

If at any time you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself, contact your doctor or go directly to a hospital.

It may be helpful for you to tell a relative or close friendthat you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder and ask them to read this leaflet. You can ask them if they think your depression or anxiety disorder has worsened, or if they are worried about changes in your attitude.

Children and adolescents

Escitalopram should not normally be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that in patients under 18 years, there is a greater risk of adverse effects such as suicidal attempts, suicidal ideas, and hostility (mainly aggression, confrontational behavior, and irritation) when taking this type of medicine. Nevertheless, your doctor may prescribe escitalopram to patients under 18 years when they decide what is best for the patient. If the doctor who is treating you has prescribed escitalopram to a patient under 18 years and you want to discuss this decision, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms described above worsen or if you experience complications when patients under 18 years are taking escitalopram. At the same time, the long-term effects on safety and related to growth, maturity, and cognitive and behavioral development of escitalopram in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.

Taking escitalopram cinfa with other medicines

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

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

• Non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) that contain phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, and tranylcypromine as active substances. If you have taken any of these medicines, you will need to wait 14 days before starting to take escitalopram. After finishing escitalopram, 7 days must pass before taking any of these medicines.
• Reversible MAO-A inhibitors that contain moclobemide (used in the treatment of depression).
• Irreversible MAO-B inhibitors that contain selegiline (used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease). These increase the risk of side effects.
• The antibiotic linezolid.
• Lithium (used in the treatment of manic-depressive disorder) and tryptophan.
• Imipramine and desipramine (both used for the treatment of depression).
• Sumatriptan and similar medicines (used for the treatment of migraine) and tramadol (used for severe pain). These increase the risk of side effects.
• Cimetidine, lansoprazole, and omeprazole (used to treat stomach ulcers), fluconazole (used to treat fungal infections), fluvoxamine (antidepressant), and ticlopidine (used to reduce the risk of stroke). These may increase escitalopram levels in the blood.
• St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) - a medicinal plant used for depression.
• Acetylsalicylic acid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (medicines used to relieve pain or reduce the risk of thrombosis, also called anticoagulants). These may increase the tendency to bleeding.
• Warfarin, dipyridamole, and phenprocoumon (medicines used to reduce the risk of thrombosis, also called anticoagulants). Your doctor will probably check the blood coagulation time at the start and end of treatment with escitalopram to check that the anticoagulant dose is still adequate.
• Mefloquine (used for the treatment of malaria), bupropion (used for the treatment of depression), and tramadol (used for the treatment of severe pain) due to the possible risk of lowering the seizure threshold.
• Neuroleptics (medicines used for the treatment of schizophrenia, psychosis) and antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs) due to the possible risk of lowering the seizure threshold.
• Flecainide, propafenone, and metoprolol (used in cardiovascular diseases), clomipramine and nortriptyline (antidepressants), and risperidone, thioridazine, and haloperidol (antipsychotics). It may be necessary to adjust the dose of escitalopram.
• Medicines that lower potassium or magnesium levels in the blood, as this increases the risk of life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.

Do not take escitalopramif you are taking medicines for heart rhythm problems or that may affect heart rhythm, such as antiarrhythmic Class IA and III, antipsychotics (e.g., phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, some antimicrobials (e.g., sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, IV erythromycin, pentamidine, antimalarial treatment, particularly halofantrine), and some antihistamines (astemizole, mizolastine).

Contact your doctor for any additional questions.

Taking escitalopram cinfa with food, drinks, and alcohol

Escitalopram can be taken with or without food (see section 3 "How to take escitalopram cinfa").

As with many medicines, it is not recommended to combine escitalopram and alcohol, although it is not expected that escitalopram will interact with alcohol.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

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.

Do not take escitalopram if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

If you take escitalopram during the last 3 months of your pregnancy, be aware that the following effects may be observed in the newborn: difficulty breathing, blue skin, seizures, changes in body temperature, difficulty feeding, vomiting, low blood sugar, muscle stiffness or weakness, exaggerated reflexes, tremors, restlessness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, and difficulty sleeping. If your newborn has any of these symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately.

If you take escitalopram in the final stages of pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after delivery, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should know that you are taking escitalopram so they can advise you.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know that you are being treated with escitalopram.

During pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months, medicines like escitalopram may increase the risk of a serious disease in newborns called persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), in which the baby breathes rapidly and turns blue. These symptoms usually start during the first 24 hours after birth. If they appear in your baby, you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

If escitalopram is used during pregnancy, it should never be stopped abruptly. It is expected that escitalopram will be excreted in breast milk.

Citalopram, a medicine similar to escitalopram, has been shown to reduce sperm quality in animal models. This effect could theoretically affect fertility, but to date, no impact on human fertility has been observed.

Driving and using machines

During treatment with escitalopram, you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate tools or machines until you know how the treatment with escitalopram affects you.

escitalopram cinfa contains lactose

This medicine contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.

escitalopram cinfa contains sodium

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

3. How to take escitalopram cinfa

Follow the administration instructions of this medication exactly as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Adults

Depression

The normally recommended dose of escitalopram is 10 mg taken as a single dose per day. Your doctor may increase it up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Anxiety Disorder

The initial dose of escitalopram is 5 mg as a single dose per day for the first week before increasing the dose to 10 mg per day. Your doctor may increase it later up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Social Anxiety Disorder

The normally recommended dose of escitalopram is 10 mg taken as a single dose per day. Your doctor may decrease your dose to 5 mg per day or increase the dose up to a maximum of 20 mg per day, depending on how you respond to the medication.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The normally recommended dose of escitalopram is 10 mg taken as a single dose per day. The dose may be increased by your doctor up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The normally recommended dose of escitalopram is 10 mg taken as a single dose per day. The dose may be increased by your doctor up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Elderly population (over 65 years)

The initial recommended dose of escitalopram is 5 mg taken as a single dose per day. The dose may be increased by your doctor up to 10 mg per day.

Use in children and adolescents

Escitalopram should not normally be administered to children and adolescents. For additional information, please see section 2. “Warnings and precautions”.

How to take the tablets

You can take escitalopram with or without food. Swallow the tablets with water. Do not chew them, as they have a bitter taste.

The tablet can be divided into equal doses.

If necessary, you can fractionate the tablets by placing the tablet on a flat surface with the score line facing up. The tablets can be broken by pressing down with your two index fingers, one on each end of the tablet.

Duration of treatment

It may take a couple of weeks before you start to feel better. Continue taking escitalopram even if you start to feel better before the expected time.

Do not change the dose of the medication without talking to your doctor first.

Continue taking escitalopram for the time recommended by your doctor. If you interrupt the treatment too early, the symptoms may reappear. It is recommended that the treatment continue for at least 6 months after you feel better again.

If you take more escitalopram cinfa than you should

Some signs of overdose may include dizziness, tremors, agitation, convulsions, coma, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rhythm, decrease in blood pressure, and changes in body water balance. Bring the package of escitalopram if you go to the doctor or hospital.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested. Do this even if you do not observe discomfort or signs of intoxication.

If you forget to take escitalopram cinfa

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. If you forget to take a dose and remember before going to bed, take it immediately. The next day, follow your usual routine.

If you remember during the night or the next day, skip the forgotten dose and follow your usual routine.

If you stop taking escitalopram cinfa

Do not stop taking escitalopram until your doctor tells you to. When you have finished your treatment course, it is generally recommended that the dose of escitalopram be gradually reduced over several weeks.

When you stop taking escitalopram, especially if it is sudden, you may feel withdrawal symptoms. These are common when treatment with escitalopram is suspended. The risk is greater when escitalopram has been used for a long time, in high doses, or when the dose is reduced too quickly. Most people find that these symptoms are mild and disappear on their own within two weeks. However, in some patients, they can be intense or prolonged (2-3 months or more). If you have severe withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking escitalopram, please contact your doctor. He or she may ask you to start taking your tablets again and stop them more slowly.

Withdrawal symptoms include: feeling of dizziness (unstable or without balance), feeling of tingling, feeling of itching, and (less frequently) electric shock, even in the head, sleep disturbances (intense dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep), feeling of restlessness, headache, feeling of dizziness (nausea), sweating (including night sweats), feeling of unease or agitation, tremors (instability), feeling of confusion or disorientation, feelings of emotion or irritation, diarrhea (loose stools), visual disturbances, rapid or irregular heartbeat.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medications, this medication can produce adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

Adverse effects usually disappear after a few weeks of treatment. Please be aware that many of the effects can be symptoms of your disease and will therefore improve when you start to feel better.

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

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

• Unusual bleeding, including gastrointestinal bleeding.

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

• Swelling of the skin, tongue, lips, pharynx, or face, hives, or difficulty breathing or swallowing (severe allergic reaction).
• High fever, agitation, confusion, tremors, and sudden muscle contractions can be signs of a rare condition called serotonin syndrome.

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

• Difficulty urinating.
• Seizures (attacks), see section “Warnings and precautions”.
• Yellow skin and eyes, signs of liver function alteration/hepatitis.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat or fainting symptoms that may indicate a life-threatening condition known as Torsade de Pointes.
• Thoughts of harming yourself or thoughts of suicide, see section “Warnings and precautions”.
• Sudden swelling of the skin or mucous membranes (angioedema).
• Abundant vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage), see “Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility” in section 2 for more information.

In addition to the above, the following adverse effects have been reported:

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

• Feeling dizzy (nausea).
• Headache.

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

• Nasal congestion or mucous (sinusitis).
• Decreased or increased appetite.
• Anxiety, agitation, abnormal dreams, difficulty falling asleep, feeling sleepy, dizziness, yawning, tremors, itching of the skin.
• • Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth.
  • Increased sweating.
  • Muscle and joint pain (arthralgia and myalgia).
  • Sexual disturbances (delayed ejaculation, erection problems, decreased sexual behavior, and women may experience difficulty reaching orgasm).
  • Fatigue, fever.
  • Weight gain.

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

• Hives, skin rash, itching (pruritus).
• Teeth grinding, agitation, nervousness, anxiety attacks, confusion.
• Sleep disturbances, taste disturbances, fainting (syncope).
• Pupil dilation (mydriasis), visual disturbance, ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Hair loss.
• Excessive menstrual bleeding.
• Irregular menstrual period.
• Weight loss.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Swelling of arms and legs.
• Nosebleeds.

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

• Aggression, depersonalization, hallucinations.
• Slow heartbeat.

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

• Decrease in sodium levels in the blood (symptoms are feeling dizzy and discomfort with muscle weakness or confusion).
• Dizziness when standing up due to low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension).
• Altered liver function tests (increase in liver enzymes in the blood).
• Movement disorders (involuntary muscle movements).
• Painful erections (priapism).
• Signs of abnormal bleeding, e.g., from the skin or mucous membranes (ecchymosis).
• Increased secretion of the hormone called ADH, causing water retention in the body and dilution of the blood, reducing the amount of sodium (inadequate secretion of ADH).
• Milk flow in men and in women who are not breastfeeding.
• Mania.
• An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients treated with this type of medication.
• Alteration of heart rhythm (called “prolongation of the QT interval”, observed through ECG, heart electrical activity.

Other adverse effects are known to occur with medications that work similarly to escitalopram (the active ingredient of escitalopram). These are:

• • Motor restlessness (akathisia).
• Lack of appetite.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect that does not appear in this leaflet. 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 medication.

5. Conservation of escitalopram cinfa

Keep this medication out of sight and reach of children.

This medication does not require special storage conditions.

Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the package after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medications should not be thrown away through the sewers or in the trash. Deposit the packages and medications you no longer need in the SIGRE point of the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packages and medications you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.

6. Package contents and additional information

Composition of escitalopram cinfa

• The active ingredient is escitalopram. Each tablet contains 20 mg of escitalopram (as oxalate).
• The other components are:
• Core of the tablet: Anhydrous colloidal silica, lactose monohydrate, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, talc, and magnesium stearate.
• Coating of the tablet: Opadry Y-1-7000(Hypromellose (E-464), titanium dioxide (E-171), and Macrogol 400).

Appearance of the product and package contents

Escitalopram cinfa is presented in the form of cylindrical, biconvex, scored, coated tablets, white in color, and marked with the code “ES3”.

Escitalopram cinfa is presented in packages with 28, 56, or 500 (clinical package) tablets.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer

Laboratorios Cinfa, S.A.

Carretera Olaz-Chipi, 10. Polígono Industrial Areta

31620 Huarte (Navarra) - Spain

Date of the last revision of this leaflet: January 2021

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

You can access detailed and updated information about this medication by scanning the QR code included in the leaflet and packaging with your mobile phone (smartphone). You can also access this information at the following internet address: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/71425/P_71425.html

QR code to: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/71425/P_71425.html