ETALPHA 2 micrograms INJECTABLE SOLUTION

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Etalpha 2 micrograms solution for injection

alfacalcidol

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• This medicine will be administered to you by a healthcare professional.
• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the package leaflet

1. What is Etalpha and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you are given Etalpha
3. How Etalpha is used
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Etalpha
6. Contents of the pack and further information

1. What is Etalpha and what is it used for

Etalpha belongs to a group of medicines called vitamin D analogues that regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in your body.

The active substance of Etalpha is alfacalcidol. Alfacalcidol acts by being converted into calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D) in the liver.

This medicine is indicated in situations where there is an alteration of calcium and phosphorus metabolism due to reduced production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in patients undergoing long-term haemodialysis.

2. What you need to know before you are given Etalpha

Do not use Etalpha

• if you are allergic to alfacalcidol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia).

As high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia) may occur during treatment with Etalpha, you should be aware of the following signs and symptoms of hypercalcaemia:

• loss of appetite (anorexia)
• fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation or diarrhoea
• increased urine production
• sweating
• headache
• thirst
• high blood pressure
• drowsiness
• dizziness

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start using Etalpha.

Be particularly careful with Etalpha if:

• you have arteriosclerosis, cardiac valve sclerosis or kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). These conditions may worsen if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia).
• you have lung tissue calcification.
• you have renal bone disease or any kidney disorder. Phosphate binders may be used to maintain acceptable serum phosphorus levels.
• you have inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis. These conditions have the potential to increase sensitivity to Etalpha.
• you are being treated with heart medicines (cardiac glycosides). If your blood calcium levels become too high (hypercalcaemia), the use of these medicines may cause changes in your heart rhythm.

During treatment, your doctor will perform blood tests to monitor your calcium and phosphorus levels.

Using Etalpha with other medicines

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

It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if:

• you are being treated with diuretics, calcium-containing preparations or other vitamin D-containing preparations, as these may increase the risk of high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia).
• you are being treated with medicines for epilepsy (barbiturates, phenytoin, carbamazepine or primidone). You may need a higher dose of Etalpha.
• you are taking antacids that contain magnesium, as these may increase the risk of high levels of magnesium in your blood (hypermagnesaemia).
• you are being treated with aluminium-containing preparations (such as aluminium hydroxide or sucralfate), as these may increase aluminium absorption.

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 using this medicine.

Etalpha may be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding only if your doctor considers it essential.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using any medicine.

Driving and using machines

Etalpha has no significant influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

However, dizziness may occur during treatment, which you should take into account if you drive or use machines.

Etalpha contains ethanol, propylene glycol and sodium

This medicine contains up to 160 mg of ethanol per dose (which corresponds to 4 micrograms of alfacalcidol), equivalent to 10% ethanol (alcohol). The amount in each dose of this medicine is equivalent to 4 ml of beer or 1.7 ml of wine.

The small amount of alcohol in this medicine does not produce any noticeable effect.

This medicine contains 415 mg of propylene glycol per millilitre, equivalent to 20.75 mg/kg/day (which corresponds to 0.1 micrograms/kg/day of alfacalcidol).

If the baby is less than 4 weeks old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, especially if the baby has been given other medicines that contain propylene glycol or alcohol.

This medicine contains less than 23 mg (1 mmol) of sodium per millilitre, so it is essentially "sodium-free".

3. How Etalpha is used

Etalpha will be administered to you by a healthcare professional via intravenous injection.

Adults and children over 20 kg in weight:

The initial dose is 1 microgram (0.5 ml) per day.

Children under 20 kg in weight:

The initial dose is 0.05 micrograms (0.025 ml) per kilogram of body weight per day.

The maintenance dose is usually between 0.25 and 2 micrograms (0.125 to 1 ml) per day.

The ampoules should be shaken well before use.

Your doctor may adjust these doses according to your needs. To do this, your doctor will perform blood tests or may request other diagnostic tests.

When administered to patients undergoing dialysis, the initial dose for adults is 1 microgram (0.5 ml) per dialysis session. The maximum recommended dose is 6 micrograms (3 ml) per dialysis session and no more than 12 micrograms (6 ml) per week.

If you receive more Etalpha than you should

If you receive more Etalpha than you should, high levels of calcium in your blood may occur, which can be controlled by discontinuing treatment.

If your blood calcium levels are very high, you may need to be given a diuretic and intravenous fluids or you may be given corticosteroids.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact the Toxicology Information Service. Telephone 91 562 04 20, stating the medicine and the amount used.

If you miss a dose of Etalpha

Talk to your doctor as soon as possible to find out what to do in these cases.

If you stop treatment with Etalpha

Your doctor will tell you how long to use Etalpha. Do not stop treatment before then, as it may be harmful to your health.

If you have any further questions on 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.

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

• high levels of calcium in the blood
• excessive phosphorus in the blood
• abdominal pain and discomfort
• skin rash
• itching
• excess calcium in the urine

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

• confusion
• headache
• diarrhoea
• vomiting
• constipation
• nausea
• muscle pain
• worsening of kidney function (including acute kidney failure)
• kidney stones
• calcium deposits in the kidneys
• fatigue
• tiredness
• malaise
• calcium deposits in non-osseous tissues

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

• dizziness

Reporting of side effects:

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly to the Spanish Medicines Agency's website: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Etalpha

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

Store in a refrigerator (between 2°C and 8°C).

Keep the ampoules in the outer packaging to protect them from light.

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.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and further information

Composition of Etalpha

• The active substance is alfacalcidol.

One millilitre of solution for injection contains 2 micrograms of alfacalcidol. Each ampoule contains 2 micrograms of alfacalcidol in 1 millilitre of solution for injection.

• The other ingredients are ethanol, citric acid monohydrate, sodium citrate, propylene glycol and water for injections.

Appearance and packaging

Etalpha 2 micrograms is a colourless and transparent solution for injection, for intravenous administration, in amber glass ampoules. Each pack contains 10 ampoules.

Marketing authorisation holder

CHEPLAPHARM Arzneimittel GmbH

Ziegelhof 24

17489 Greifswald

Germany

Manufacturer

CENEXI SAS

Rue Marcel et Jacques Gaucher,

94120 Fontenay-sous-Bois (France)

For further information about this medicine, contact the local representative of the marketing authorisation holder:

Laboratorios Rubió, S.A.

Industria, 29 - Pol. Ind. Comte de Sert

08755 Castellbisbal (Barcelona)

Spain

Date of last revision of this leaflet: January 2022

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.