Package Insert: Information for the Patient
Espididol 400 mg Coated Tablets
Ibuprofen (arginine)
Read this entire package insert carefully before starting to take this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of the medicine contained in this package insert or those indicated by your doctor or pharmacist.
1. What is Espididol and for what it is used
2. What you need to know before starting to take Espididol
3. How to take Espididol
4. Possible adverse effects
5. Storage of Espididol
6. Contents of the package and additional information
Ibuprofen, the active ingredient of this medication, acts by reducing pain and fever.
This medication is used in adults and adolescents 12 years of age or older (weight equal to or greater than 40 kg), for symptomatic relief of occasional mild to moderate pains, such as headaches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, muscle pains (spasms) or back pain (lumbago), as well as febrile states.
Do not take Espididol
Warnings and precautions
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may be associated with a small increase in the risk of heart attack or stroke, especially when used in high doses. Do not exceed the recommended dose or treatment duration. Do not take more than 3 coated tablets (1200 mg of ibuprofen) per day to avoid potential cardiovascular or heart problems.
Consult your doctor before starting to take Espididol:
Espididol may mask the signs of an infection, such as fever and pain. Consequently, Espididol may delay the appropriate treatment of the infection, which may increase the risk of complications. This has been observed in pneumonia caused by bacteria and skin infections related to chickenpox. If you take this medication while having an infection and the infection symptoms persist or worsen, consult a doctor without delay.
It is essential to use the smallest dose that relieves or controls pain and not to take this medication for longer than necessary to control your symptoms.
Avoid concurrent administration with other NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors.
Be especially careful with Espididol:
Severe skin reactions, such as exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), generalized acute pustular psoriasis (PEGA), have been reported in association with ibuprofen treatment. Discontinue Espididol treatment and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any symptoms related to these severe skin reactions described in section 4.
Precautions in elderly patients
Elderly patients have a higher frequency of adverse reactions to NSAIDs, especially bleeding and gastrointestinal perforation, which can be fatal.
NSAIDs like ibuprofen may be associated with a small increase in the risk of heart attack or stroke, especially when used in high doses.
Do not exceed the recommended dose or treatment duration.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking Espididol if:
Additionally, this type of medication may cause fluid retention, especially in patients with heart failure and/or high blood pressure.
Signs of allergic reaction to ibuprofen, such as respiratory problems, facial swelling, and neck swelling (angioedema), and chest pain. Discontinue use immediately and contact your doctor or emergency medical services if you observe any of these signs.
Ibuprofen should be used with caution when administered to patients who have or have had asthma, bronchial asthma, chronic rhinitis, or allergic diseases, as ibuprofen has been reported to cause bronchospasm, urticaria, or angioedema in these patients.
Children and adolescents
There is a risk of kidney insufficiency in dehydrated children and adolescents.
This medication is not recommended for children and adolescents weighing less than 40 kg or under 12 years old, as the ibuprofen dose contained is not suitable for the recommended dosage in this patient group.
Due to the association of ibuprofen administration with an increased risk of congenital anomalies/abortions, its administration is not recommended during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, except when strictly necessary and advised by your doctor.
If you need treatment during this period or while trying to become pregnant, use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible.
If taken for a few days from 20 weeks of gestation onwards, Espididol may cause kidney problems in your baby that may lead to low amniotic fluid levels surrounding the baby (oligohydramnios) or narrowing of a blood vessel (ductus arteriosus) in the baby's heart. If you need treatment for a few more days, your doctor may recommend additional monitoring.
In the third trimester, ibuprofen administration is contraindicated.
For fertile women, consider that ibuprofen has been associated with a decrease in the ability to conceive.
If you are to undergo any diagnostic test (including blood, urine, skin tests using allergens, etc.), inform your doctor that you are taking this medication, as it may alter the results.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use any other medication.
Espididol may affect or be affected by other medications. For example:
The following medications may interfere and should not be taken with Espididol without consulting your doctor:
Other medications may also affect or be affected by Espididol treatment. Therefore, always consult your doctor or pharmacist before using Espididol with other medications.
Take this medication with meals or with milk.
Do not administer ibuprofen with alcohol to avoid damaging the stomach. Consuming alcohol during treatment may increase the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Espididol should not be taken during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester (see section on precautions during pregnancy and in fertile women).Espididol may cause kidney and heart problems in your baby. It may affect your tendency and that of your baby to bleed and make labor longer or more difficult than expected.
In breast milk, minimal amounts of ibuprofen and its metabolites are excreted. As no undesirable effects have been reported in the infant, it is usually not necessary to discontinue breastfeeding during short-term use at recommended doses.
Therefore, if you become pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor.
Driving and operating machinery
If you experience dizziness, vertigo, vision disturbances, or other symptoms while taking this medication, you should not drive or operate hazardous machinery. If you only take a single dose of Espididol or take it for a short period, no special precautions are necessary.
Espididol contains saccharose and sodium
This medication contains saccharose. If your doctor has indicated that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medication.
This medication contains 83 mg of sodium (main component of table salt/for cooking) in each tablet. This corresponds to 4% of the recommended daily maximum sodium intake for an adult.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication contained in this leaflet or those indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The effective dose should be used for the shortest duration necessary to alleviate symptoms. If you have an infection, consult a doctor immediately if symptoms (such as fever and pain) persist or worsen (see section 2).
The recommended dose is:
The administration of this medication is subject to the appearance of pain or fever. As these symptoms disappear, the medication should be discontinued.
This medication is not recommended for use in children and adolescents weighing less than 40 kg or under 12 years old, as the ibuprofen dose contained is not suitable for the recommended dosage in this patient group.
Administration form:
This medication is administered orally.
Take the tablet with half a glass of water. Take this medication with meals or with milk, especially if digestive discomfort is noted.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult a doctor or pharmacist immediately, go to the nearest hospital, or call the Toxicological Information Service (phone: 91.5620420), indicating the medication and the amount ingested, to inform yourself about the risk and ask for advice on the measures to be taken.
The symptoms of overdose may include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting (which may be bloody), gastrointestinal bleeding (see also section 4 below), diarrhea, headache, ringing in the ears, confusion, and tremors of the eyes. Agitation, drowsiness, disorientation, or coma may also occur. Occasionally, patients develop seizures. At high doses, somnolence, chest pain, palpitations, loss of consciousness, seizures (mainly in children), weakness, and dizziness have been reported. Hematuria, low potassium levels in the blood, feeling cold, and respiratory problems may also occur. Additionally, the prothrombin time/INR may be prolonged, probably due to interference with the actions of circulating clotting factors. Acute renal failure and liver damage may occur. It is possible that asthma may worsen in asthmatics. Low blood pressure and difficulty breathing may also occur.
In case of ingestion of significant amounts, activated charcoal should be administered. Gastric lavage may be considered if significant amounts have been ingested and within 60 minutes of ingestion.
If you forgot to take Espididol
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if the time for the next dose is near, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, this medication may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The side effects of medications such as Espididol are more common in people over 65 years old.
The incidence of side effects is lower in short-term treatments and if the daily dose is below the maximum recommended dose.
Frequencies are established according to the following classification: very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients); common (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients); uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients); rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients); very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 patients); frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data).
The following side effects have been observed:
Infections and infestations
Very rare: Exacerbation of infections related inflammation (for example, the development of necrotizing fasciitis), coinciding with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Nota: If signs of infection or worsening occur during treatment with ibuprofen, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately, if necessary to initiate an anti-infective/antibiotic therapy.
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Rare: Aplastic anemia (insufficiency of the bone marrow to produce different types of cells).
Very rare: Decreased platelets, decreased white blood cells (may manifest as frequent infections with fever, chills, or sore throat), decreased red blood cells (may manifest as difficulty breathing and pale skin), decreased granulocytes (a type of white blood cell that may predispose to infections), pancytopenia (deficiency of red, white, and platelet cells in the blood), agranulocytosis (very large decrease in granulocytes), hemolytic anemia (premature destruction of red blood cells). The first symptoms are: fever, sore throat, superficial ulcers in the mouth, pseudogripal symptoms, extreme fatigue, nasal and cutaneous bleeding. Prolonged bleeding time.
Immune system disorders
Uncommon: Allergic reaction, hypersensitivity reactions with skin rash and pruritus, as well as asthma attacks (possibly accompanied by a drop in blood pressure).
Rare: Anaphylaxis (generalized allergic reaction).
Very rare: Severe hypersensitivity reactions (these may be characterized by swelling of the face, tongue, and larynx with bronchospasm, dyspnea, tachycardia, and hypotension that may include potentially fatal shock).
Nota: In the appearance of these symptoms, which may occur with the first use, immediate assistance from a doctor is required.
Mental disorders
Uncommon: Insomnia, anxiety, restlessness.
Rare: Psychotic reaction, nervousness, irritability, depression, confusion, disorientation.
Nervous system disorders
Common: Fatigue or drowsiness, headache, dizziness or sensation of instability.
Uncommon:Insomnia, excitement, irritability.
Rare: Paresthesia (numbness, tingling, burning, etc. more frequent in hands, feet, arms, or legs).
Very rare: Aseptic meningitis. In most cases where aseptic meningitis has been reported with ibuprofen, the patient suffered some form of autoimmune disease (such as systemic lupus erythematosus or other collagen diseases) which was a risk factor. The symptoms of aseptic meningitis observed were neck stiffness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, or disorientation.
Eye disorders
Uncommon: Vision disturbances.
Rare: Abnormal or blurred vision.
Frequency not known: Papilledema (inflammation of the optic nerve).
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Common: Dizziness.
Uncommon: Ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Rare: Hearing difficulty.
Cardiac disorders
Medications like Espididol may be associated with a moderate increase in the risk of suffering a heart attack ("myocardial infarction") or stroke.
Very rare: Palpitations, heart failure.
Frequency not known: Cardiac arrest,chest pain, which may be a sign of a potentially severe allergic reaction called Kounis syndrome.
Vascular disorders
Edema (fluid retention), high blood pressure, and heart failure have also been observed in association with treatments with ibuprofen (arginine) type medications.
Very rare: High blood pressure.
Frequency not known: Arterial thrombosis.
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders
Uncommon: Asthma, worsening of asthma, bronchospasm, dyspnea (breathing difficulty)
Frequency not known: Irritation of the throat.
Gastrointestinal disorders
The most common side effects that occur with medications like Espididol are gastrointestinal: Peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, perforations (in some cases fatal), especially in elderly patients.
Common: Gastrointestinal disturbances such as heartburn, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and mild gastrointestinal bleeding that may cause anemia in exceptional cases.
Uncommon: Gastrointestinal ulcers, potentially with bleeding and perforation, stomatitis, exacerbation of colitis and Crohn's disease, melena (blood in stool), gastritis.
Rare: Vomiting with blood.
Very rare: Inflammation of the esophagus, pancreatitis, intestinal stenosis.
Frequency not known: Anorexia.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Rare: Liver damage, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), abnormalities of liver function, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Common: Skin rash.
Uncommon: Redness of the skin, itching or swelling of the skin (angioedema, urticaria), purpura (purple spots on the skin).
Rare: Anaphylactic reaction.
Very rare: Medications like Espididol may be associated, in very rare cases, with severe blistering reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (widespread erosions affecting the skin and two or more mucous membranes and lesions of purple color, preferably on the trunk) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (erosions in mucous membranes and painful lesions with necrosis and detachment of the epidermis). Hair loss, erythema multiforme (skin lesion). Exceptionally, severe cutaneous infections and complications in the soft tissue may occur during chickenpox.
Frequency not known: Photosensitivity reactions, worsening of skin reactions. A severe skin reaction known as DRESS syndrome may occur. The symptoms of DRESS syndrome include: skin rash, lymph node inflammation, and elevated eosinophils (a type of white blood cell).
A generalized, red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters, mainly located in skin folds, trunk, and upper limbs, accompanied by fever. The symptoms usually appear at the beginning of treatment (generalized acute pustular exanthema).
Stop taking Espididol if you experience these symptoms and seek medical attention immediately. See section 2.
Renal and urinary disorders
Rare: Hematuria (blood in urine).
Very rare: Edema (signs that may indicate kidney disease, which sometimes may include renal insufficiency); renal tissue damage (papillary necrosis), increased serum uric acid concentration.
Based on the experience with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in general, cases of interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and renal insufficiency cannot be ruled out.
General disorders and administration site conditions
Very rare: Exacerbation of inflammation during infectious processes.
Frequency not known: Edema.
Investigations
Rare: Alteration of liver function tests.
Frequency not known: Alteration of renal function tests.
Until now, severe allergic reactions have not been reported with Espididol, although they cannot be ruled out. The manifestations of this type of side effect could be fever, skin rash, abdominal pain, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, angioedema, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, asthma, palpitations, hypotension (lower than usual blood pressure) or shock.
If any of the following side effects appear, discontinue treatment and seek immediate medical attention:
Discontinue treatment with Espididol and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Reporting of adverse reactions
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for the Vigilance of Medicinal Products for Human Use:https://notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep out of sight and reach of children.
No special storage conditions are required.
Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash.Deposit the packaging and unused medicines at the SIGRE collection pointof the pharmacy.Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and unused medicines. This way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Espididol
The active ingredient is ibuprofen-arginine. Each coated tablet contains 400 mg of ibuprofen (as 770 mg of ibuprofenarginine).
The other components are: sodium hydrogen carbonate, crospovidone and magnesium stearate. The coating contains hypromellose (E464), sucrose, titanium dioxide (E171) and macrogol 4000.
They are presented in containers that contain 6, 12 and 18 coated tablets.
Only some container sizes may be marketed.
Zambon, S.A.U.
Maresme, 5. Polígono Can Bernades-Subirà
08130 Sta. Perpètua de Mogoda (Barcelona)
Spain
Zambon, S.p.A.
Via Della Chimica, 9
36100 Vicenza
Italy
The detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.