Leaflet: information for the user
Ferupantil90 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Ferupantil 360 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Deferasirox
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
5 Storage of Ferupantil
What is deferasirox
This medicine contains the active substance deferasirox. It is an iron chelator, a medicine used to remove excess iron from the body (also called iron overload). It captures and removes excess iron, which is then mainly excreted in the feces.
What is deferasirox used for
Repeated blood transfusions may be necessary in patients with various types of anemia (e.g., thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)). However, repeated blood transfusions can cause an accumulation of excess iron. This is because blood contains iron, and the body does not have a natural way to remove excess iron obtained through blood transfusions. In patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemic syndromes, iron overload may also occur over time, mainly due to increased absorption of iron from the diet in response to low blood cell counts. Over time, excess iron can damage important organs such as the liver and heart. Medicines called iron chelatorsare used to remove excess iron and reduce the risk of organ damage.
Deferasirox is used to treat chronic iron overload caused by frequent blood transfusions in patients with beta thalassemia major, aged 6 years and older.
Deferasirox is also used to treat chronic iron overload when treatment with deferoxamine is contraindicated or not suitable in patients with beta thalassemia major with iron overload caused by infrequent blood transfusions, in patients with other types of anemia, and in children aged 2 to 5 years.
Deferasirox is also used to treat patients aged 10 years and older who have iron overload associated with thalassemic syndromes but are not transfusion-dependent, when treatment with deferoxamine is contraindicated or not suitable.
Do not take Ferupantil
If this is the case, tell your doctor before taking deferasirox. If you think you may be allergic, consult your doctor,
It is not recommendedFerupantil
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment with Ferupantil if:
If you are in any of these situations, inform your doctor immediately.
Monitoring your treatment with Ferupantil
During treatment, you will have regular blood and urine tests. These tests will monitor the amount of iron in your body (ferritin level in the blood) to see how well the treatment with deferasirox is working. The tests will also monitor kidney function (creatinine level in the blood, protein in the urine) and liver function (transaminase level in the blood). Your doctor may ask you to have a kidney biopsy if they suspect significant kidney damage. They may also have you undergo MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) tests to determine the amount of iron in your liver. Your doctor will take these tests into account to decide on the most suitable dose of deferasirox for you and will also use these tests to decide when to stop your treatment with deferasirox.
Every year, your vision and hearing will be checked during treatment as a precaution.
Other medicinesand Ferupantil
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This includes, in particular:
Additional tests may be needed to monitor the levels of some of these medicines in the blood.
Elderly patients (65 years and older)
Deferasirox can be used by people over 65 years at the same dose as other adults. Elderly patients may experience more side effects (especially diarrhea) than younger patients. The doctor should closely monitor side effects that may require a dose adjustment.
Children and adolescents
Deferasirox can be used in children and adolescents aged 2 years and older who receive periodic blood transfusions and in children and adolescents aged 10 years and older who do not receive periodic blood transfusions. As the patient grows, the doctor will adjust the dose.
Deferasirox is not recommended in children under 2 years of age.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Deferasirox is not recommended during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
If you are currently using an oral or patch contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, you should use an additional or different contraceptive (e.g., condom), as deferasirox may reduce the effectiveness of oral and patch contraceptives.
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with deferasirox.
Driving and using machines
If you feel dizzy after taking deferasirox, do not drive or operate tools or machines until you feel normal again.
Treatment with deferasirox will be supervised by a doctor with experience in treating iron overload caused by blood transfusions.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medicine given by your doctor. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
How much Ferupantil to take
The dose of deferasirox is related to body weight for all patients. Your doctor will calculate the dose you need and tell you how many tablets to take per day.
Deferasirox is also available in "dispersible" tablets. If you switch from dispersible tablets to these film-coated tablets, you will need a dose adjustment.
When to take Ferupantil
Taking deferasirox at the same time every day will also help you remember when to take your tablets.
Patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets can crush deferasirox film-coated tablets and take the powder with a soft food, such as yogurt or apple sauce (apple puree). The entire dose should be consumed immediately, without saving any for later.
How long to take Ferupantil
Continue taking deferasirox every day for as long as your doctor tells you.This is a long-term treatment that may last for months or years. Your doctor will regularly check your condition to ensure that the treatment is having the desired effect (see also section 2: «Monitoring your treatment with Deferasirox Sandoz»).
If you have doubts about how long to take deferasirox, consult your doctor.
If you take more Ferupantil than you should
If you have taken too much Ferupantil, or if someone else has taken your tablets by mistake, contact your doctor or go to a hospital immediately. Show the doctor the pack of tablets. You may need urgent medical treatment. You may notice effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and kidney or liver problems, which can be serious.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist, go to a hospital immediately, or call the Toxicology Information Service. Phone 915 620 420, indicating the medicine and the amount used. You may need medical treatment.
If you forget to take Ferupantil
If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Take the next dose according to your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose the next day to make up for the missed dose(s).
If you stop taking Ferupantil
Do not stop your treatment with deferasirox unless your doctor tells you to. If you stop taking it, excess iron will not be removed from your body (see also the previous section «How long to take Ferupantil»).
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them. Most adverse effects are mild or moderate and usually disappear after a few days or weeks of treatment.
Some adverse effects can be serious and require immediate medical attention.
These adverse effects are rare(may affect up to 1 in 100 people) or very rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
stop taking the medicine and inform your doctor immediately.
Some adverse effects can be serious.
These adverse effects are rare:
inform your doctor as soon as possible.
Other Adverse Effects
Very Common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
If you suffer from any of these effects severely, inform your doctor.
Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
If you suffer from any of these effects severely, inform your doctor.
Frequency Not Known(cannot be calculated from available data):
Reporting 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 prospectus. 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.
Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date that appears on the blister pack and on the packaging after CAD/EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not use any packaging that is damaged or shows signs of tampering.
Medicines should not be thrown away through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE Point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Ferupantil
Ferupantil 90 mg film-coated tablets
Each tablet contains 90 mg of deferasirox.
Ferupantil 360 mg film-coated tablets
Each tablet contains 360 mg of deferasirox.
in the core of the tablet: microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, povidone, poloxamer, anhydrous colloidal silica,
in the coating of the tablet: opadry blue: hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol, talc, and aluminum lake of indigo carmine (E132).
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
Ferupantil 90 mg film-coated tablets
Light blue, oval, biconvex film-coated tablets with beveled edges and impressions "NVR" on one face and "90" slightly inclined upwards between two curved lines on the other face. Approximate dimensions 10.7 mm x 4.2 mm.
Ferupantil 360 mg film-coated tablets
Dark blue, oval, biconvex film-coated tablets with beveled edges and impressions "NVR" on one face and "360" slightly inclined upwards between two curved lines on the other face. Approximate dimensions 17 mm x 6.7 mm.
The tablets are packaged in PVC/PVDC-aluminum or PA/AL/PVC-aluminum blisters.
Each blister contains 30, 90, 100, or 300 film-coated tablets. Multiple packages contain 300 film-coated tablets (10 packages of 30).
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
Bexal Farmacéutica, S.A.
Centro Empresarial Parque Norte
Edificio Roble
C/ Serrano Galvache, 56
28033 Madrid
Spain
Manufacturer
Novartis Pharma GmbH
Roonstrasse 25
90429 Nürnberg, Bayern
Germany
or
Sandoz S.R.L
7A Livezeni Street
Targu Mures, 540472
Romania
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) with the following names:
Germany | Deferasirox Hexal 90 mg film-coated tablets Deferasirox Hexal 360 mg film-coated tablets |
Austria | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg film-coated tablets Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film-coated tablets |
Denmark | Deferasirox Sandoz |
Greece | Deferasirox Sandoz |
Czech Republic | Deferasirox Sandoz |
Spain | Ferupantil 90 mg film-coated tablets EFG Ferupantil 360 mg film-coated tablets EFG |
Slovenia | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg film-coated tablets Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film-coated tablets |
Slovakia | Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg |
France | DEFERASIROX SANDOZ 90 mg, film-coated tablet DEFERASIROX SANDOZ 360 mg, film-coated tablet |
Hungary | Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film tablet |
Northern Ireland | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg film-coated tablet Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film-coated tablet |
Italy | Deferasirox Sandoz |
Norway | Deferasirox Sandoz |
Sweden | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg film-coated tablets Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film-coated tablets |
Netherlands | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg, film-coated tablets Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg, film-coated tablets |
United Kingdom | Deferasirox Sandoz 90 mg film-coated tablet Deferasirox Sandoz 360 mg film-coated tablet |
Date of the Last Revision of this Prospectus:March 2021
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/