EZETIMIBE/SIMVASTATIN ALTER 10 mg/20 mg TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/10 mg tablets EFG

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/20 mg tablets EFG

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/40 mg tablets EFG

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 thepackage leaflet

1. What is Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter
3. How to take Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter and what is it used for

This medicine contains the active substances ezetimibe and simvastatin. It is used to reduce the levels of total cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and a type of fat called triglycerides in the blood. It also increases the levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol).

Ezetimibe/simvastatin works by reducing cholesterol in two ways. The active substance ezetimibe reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from the gut. The active substance simvastatin, which belongs to a group of medicines known as "statins", inhibits the production of cholesterol made by the body.

Cholesterol is one of the fats found in the bloodstream. Your total cholesterol is made up mainly of LDL and HDL cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of your arteries, forming plaques. Over time, this can lead to a narrowing of the arteries, which can reduce or block blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. This blockage can cause a heart attack or stroke.

HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps prevent "bad" cholesterol from building up in the arteries and protects against heart disease.

Triglycerides are another type of fat found in your blood. High levels of triglycerides can increase your risk of heart disease.

Ezetimibe/simvastatin is used in patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels by diet alone. While taking this medicine, you should also follow a low-cholesterol diet.

Ezetimibe/simvastatin is used, in addition to a low-cholesterol diet, if you have:

• high levels of cholesterol in the blood (primary hypercholesterolaemia [heterozygous familial and non-familial]) or high levels of fats in the blood (mixed hyperlipidaemia):
• that are not well controlled with a statin alone
• for which you have taken a statin and ezetimibe as separate tablets

• a rare inherited cholesterol disorder (homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia), which can lead to high levels of cholesterol in the blood. You may also receive other treatments.

• heart disease, ezetimibe/simvastatin reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, the need for surgery to increase blood flow to the heart or hospitalisation for chest pain.

This medicine does not help you lose weight.

2. What you need to know before you take Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

Do not takeEzetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

• if you are allergic to ezetimibe, simvastatin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you currently have liver problems
• if you are pregnant or breast-feeding
• if you are taking medicines with one or more of the following active substances:

• itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
• erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin (used to treat infections)
• HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir (HIV protease inhibitors are used to treat HIV infections)
• boceprevir or telaprevir (used to treat hepatitis C virus infection)
• nefazodone (used to treat depression)
• cobicistat
• gemfibrozil (used to lower cholesterol)
• cyclosporin (used in patients who have had an organ transplant)
• danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis, a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus).

• if you are taking or have taken in the last 7 days a medicine containing fusidic acid (used to treat bacterial infections) by mouth or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and ezetimibe/simvastatin can cause muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis).

Do not take more than 10 mg/40 mg of ezetimibe/simvastatin if you are taking lomitapide (used to treat a rare and serious genetic cholesterol disorder)

Ask your doctor if you are not sure if your medicine is mentioned above.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor before taking Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter. Inform your doctor:

• of all your medical problems, including allergies
• if you drink large amounts of alcohol or if you have ever had liver disease. Ezetimibe/simvastatin may not be suitable for you
• if you are due to have an operation. You may need to stop taking the ezetimibe/simvastatin tablets for a short time
• if you are Asian, as you may need a different dose.
• if you have or have had muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis) or eye muscle weakness (ocular myasthenia), as statins can sometimes make these conditions worse or trigger the onset of myasthenia (see section 4).

Your doctor will do a blood test before you start taking ezetimibe/simvastatin and may also do a blood test if you have any symptoms of liver problems while taking ezetimibe/simvastatin. This is to check how well your liver is working.

Your doctor may also want to do blood tests to check how well your liver is working after you start treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin.

While you are taking this medicine, your doctor will check if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. Your risk of diabetes is higher if you have high levels of sugars and fats in your blood, are overweight and have high blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor if you have severe lung disease.

The combined use of ezetimibe/simvastatin and fibrates (certain medicines used to lower cholesterol) should be avoided, as the use of ezetimibe/simvastatin with fibrates has not been studied.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. This is because, on rare occasions, muscle problems can be serious, including muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage, and, very rarely, deaths have occurred.

The risk of muscle breakdown is higher with higher doses of ezetimibe/simvastatin, particularly the 10 mg/80 mg dose. The risk of muscle breakdown is also higher in certain patients. Inform your doctor in the following situations:

• if you have kidney problems
• if you have thyroid problems
• if you are over 65 years old
• if you are female
• if you have ever had muscle problems while taking medicines to lower cholesterol called "statins" (such as simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) or fibrates (such as gemfibrozil or bezafibrate)
• you or a close family member have a hereditary muscle disorder.

Also, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you experience persistent muscle weakness. Further tests and additional medicines may be needed to diagnose and treat this condition.

Children and adolescents

Ezetimibe/simvastatin is not recommended in children under 10 years of age.

Other medicines and Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• if you have to take fusidic acid by mouth to treat a bacterial infection, you will need to stop taking this medicine temporarily. Your doctor will tell you when you can restart the treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin. Taking ezetimibe/simvastatin with fusidic acid can rarely cause muscle weakness, tenderness or pain (rhabdomyolysis). For more information on rhabdomyolysis, see section 4.
• cyclosporin (often used in patients who have had an organ transplant)
• danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis, a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus)
• medicines with an active substance such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
• fibrates with an active substance such as gemfibrozil and bezafibrate (used to lower cholesterol)
• erythromycin, clarithromycin or telithromycin (used to treat bacterial infections)
• HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir (used to treat HIV infections)
• antivirals for hepatitis C such as boceprevir, telaprevir, elbasvir or grazoprevir (used to treat hepatitis C virus infection)
• nefazodone (used to treat depression)
• medicines with the active substance cobicistat
• amiodarone (used to treat irregular heart rhythm)
• verapamil, diltiazem or amlodipine (used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain associated with heart disease or other heart conditions)
• lomitapide (used to treat rare and serious genetic cholesterol disorders)
• daptomycin (a medicine used to treat skin and skin structure infections with complications and bacteraemia). The risk of side effects that affect the muscles may be greater when this medicine is taken during treatment with simvastatin (e.g. ezetimibe/simvastatin). Your doctor may decide that you should stop taking ezetimibe/simvastatin for a while
• high doses (1 gram or more per day) of niacin or nicotinic acid (also used to lower cholesterol)
• colchicine (used to treat gout).

As well as the medicines mentioned above, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• medicines with an active substance used to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, fluvastatin, phenprocoumon or acenocoumarol (anticoagulants)
• cholestyramine (also used to lower cholesterol), as it affects how ezetimibe/simvastatin works
• fenofibrate (also used to lower cholesterol)
• rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• ticagrelor (antiplatelet agent).

You should also tell any doctor who prescribes you a new medicine that you are taking ezetimibe/simvastatin.

Taking Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter with food and drink

Grapefruit juice contains one or more ingredients that alter the metabolism of some medicines, including ezetimibe/simvastatin. You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice as it can increase the risk of muscle problems.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, 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 ezetimibe/simvastatin if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or think you may be pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking ezetimibe/simvastatin, stop taking it immediately and inform your doctor. Do not take ezetimibe/simvastatin if you are breast-feeding as it is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk.

Driving and using machines

Ezetimibe/simvastatin is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, it should be taken into account that some people experience dizziness after taking ezetimibe/simvastatin.

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter contains lactose

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

3. How to take Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose of the tablet for you, depending on your current treatment and your personal risk situation.

The tablets are not scored and should not be divided.

Follow the instructions for administration of this medicine exactly as told by your doctor. If you are in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

• Before starting to take ezetimibe/simvastatin, you should be on a cholesterol-lowering diet.
• You should continue with this cholesterol-lowering diet while taking ezetimibe/simvastatin.

Adults: the dose is 1 tabletof ezetimibe/simvastatin once a day by mouth.

Use in adolescents(10 to 17 years of age): the dose is 1 tabletof ezetimibe/simvastatin once a day by mouth (do not exceed a maximum dose of 10 mg/40 mg once a day).

The dose of ezetimibe/simvastatin 10 mg/80 mg is only recommended for adult patients with very high cholesterol levels and a high risk of heart disease who have not reached their treatment goal with lower doses.

Take ezetimibe/simvastatin in the evening. You can take it with or without food.

If your doctor has prescribed ezetimibe/simvastatin with another cholesterol-lowering medicine containing the active substance cholestyramine or any other bile acid sequestrant, you should take ezetimibe/simvastatin at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant.

If you take moreEzetimibe/Simvastatin Alterthan you should

• In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact the Toxicology Information Service. Telephone: 91 562 04 20, consult your doctor or pharmacist

If you forget to takeEzetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

• Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses, take your normal dose of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter at the usual time

If you stop takingEzetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist because your cholesterol levels may increase again.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them (see section 2. What you need to know before taking Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter).

The following frequent adverse effects have been reported (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Muscle pain
• Elevations in blood test results for liver function (transaminases) and/or muscle (CK) in laboratory analyses.

The following infrequent adverse effects have been reported (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Elevation of liver function in blood tests; elevations of uric acid in the blood; elevations in the time it takes for blood to clot; protein in urine; weight loss
• Dizziness; headache; tingling sensation
• Abdominal pain; indigestion; flatulence; nausea; vomiting; abdominal swelling; diarrhea; dry mouth; heartburn
• Rash; itching; hives
• Joint pain; pain, hypersensitivity, weakness, or muscle spasms; neck pain; pain in the arms and legs; back pain
• Unusual fatigue or weakness; feeling tired; chest pain; swelling, especially of the hands and feet
• Sleep disorder; difficulty sleeping.

Additionally, the following adverse effects have been reported in people taking ezetimibe/simvastatin or medicines containing the active ingredients ezetimibe or simvastatin:

• Low red blood cell count (anemia), reduction in blood cell count, which can cause bruising/hemorrhage (thrombocytopenia)
• Numbness or weakness of the arms and legs; poor memory, memory loss, confusion
• Respiratory problems including persistent cough and/or difficulty breathing or fever
• Constipation
• Pancreatitis, often with severe abdominal pain
• Liver inflammation with the following symptoms: yellowing of the skin and eyes, itching, dark-colored urine or pale-colored stools, feeling tired or weak, loss of appetite; liver failure; gallstones or gallbladder inflammation (which can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting)
• Hair loss; reddened and swollen rash, sometimes with target-like lesions (erythema multiforme)
• Blurred vision and vision impairment (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Rash that can occur on the skin or ulcers in the mouth (drug-induced lichenoid eruptions, may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• Hypersensitivity reactions that can include the following: allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, which can cause difficulty breathing or swallowing and require immediate treatment (angioedema), pain or inflammation of the joints, inflammation of blood vessels, atypical bruising, skin rash and swelling, hives, sensitivity to sunlight, fever, hot flashes, difficulty breathing, and general malaise, pseudo-lupus syndrome (including skin rash, joint disorders, and effects on white blood cells). A very rare severe allergic reaction (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people) that causes difficulty breathing or dizziness and requires immediate treatment (anaphylaxis).
• Muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or muscle cramps; muscle failure; muscle rupture (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people); tendon problems, sometimes complicated by tendon rupture
• Gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue in men) (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• Decreased appetite
• Hot flashes; high blood pressure
• Pain
• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression
• Abnormalities in some liver function blood tests.

With some statins, the following additional adverse events have been reported:

• Sleep disorders, including nightmares
• Sexual dysfunction
• Diabetes. This is more likely if you have high levels of sugar and fat in the blood, are overweight, and have high blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medicine
• Persistent muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that may not disappear after stopping treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin (frequency not known).
• Severe myasthenia (a disease that causes generalized muscle weakness that, in some cases, affects the muscles used for breathing) (frequency not known)
• Ocular myasthenia (a disease that causes weakness of the eye muscles) (frequency not known).
• Consult your doctor if you experience weakness in the arms or legs that worsens after periods of activity, double vision, or drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This is because, in rare cases, muscle problems can be serious, including muscle failure, which can cause kidney damage; and very rarely, deaths have occurred.

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 is 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 adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.

Do not store above 25°C.

Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the label, box, or blister after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter

• The active ingredients are ezetimibe and simvastatin. Each tablet contains 10 mg of ezetimibe and 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg of simvastatin.
• The other ingredients are: Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, sodium croscarmellose, microcrystalline cellulose, ascorbic acid, anhydrous citric acid, butylated hydroxyanisole (E320), propyl gallate, and magnesium stearate. Colorant mixture: lactose monohydrate, yellow iron oxide (E172), red iron oxide (E172), and black iron oxide (E172).

Appearance of the Product and Package Contents

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/10 mg: light brown, speckled, round, biconvex tablets, 6 mm in diameter, with one smooth face and the other marked with "511".

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/20 mg: light brown, speckled, round, biconvex tablets, 8 mm in diameter, with one smooth face and the other marked with "512".

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter 10 mg/40 mg: light brown, speckled, round, biconvex tablets, 10 mm in diameter, with one smooth face and the other marked with "513".

OPA/Aluminum/PVC-aluminum foil and HDPE bottles with desiccant.

Package sizes:

10 mg/10 mg: 28 and 30 tablets.

10 mg/20 mg: 28, 30, and 90 tablets.

10 mg/40 mg: 28, 30, and 90 tablets.

Not all package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

C/ Mateo Inurria 30

28036 Madrid

Spain

Manufacturer

Balkanpharma - Dupnitsa AD

3 Samokovko Shosse Str.

Dupnitsa 2600

Bulgaria

or

Actavis Ltd.

BLB015-016, Bulebel Industrial Estate

Zejtun ZTN 3000

Malta

This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Spain Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Alter EFG tablets

France EZETIMIBE/SIMVASTATIN ALTER, comprimé

Italy Ezetimibe and Simvastatin Alter compresse

Date of the last revision of this leaflet:April 2023

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/.