FLUCONAZOLE KERN PHARMA 150 mg HARD CAPSULES

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.

• 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. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Contents of the pack

1. What Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules are and what they are used for.
2. Before you take Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules.
3. How to take Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules.
4. Possible side effects.
5. Storing Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules.
6. Further information.

1. What Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules are and what they are used for

Fluconazole Kern Pharma is one of a group of medicines called “antifungals”. The active substance is fluconazole.

Fluconazole Kern Pharma is used to treat infections caused by fungi, and it can also be used to prevent fungal infections from occurring. The most common cause of fungal infections is a yeast called Candida.

Adults

Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for the following types of fungal infections:

• Cryptococcal meningitis – a fungal infection in the brain.
• Coccidioidomycosis – a disease of the bronchopulmonary system.
• Candidainfections located in the bloodstream, in organs of the body (e.g. heart, lungs) or in the urinary tract.
• Mucosal candidiasis – an infection that affects the lining of the mouth, throat, or associated with dental prostheses.
• Genital candidiasis – an infection of the vagina or penis.
• Skin infections – e.g. athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch, nail infections.

They may also prescribe Fluconazole Kern Pharma for:

• Preventing the recurrence of cryptococcal meningitis.
• Preventing the recurrence of mucosal infections.
• Reducing the repeated occurrence of vaginal Candidainfections.
• Preventing the spread of Candidainfections (if your immune system is weak and not working properly).

Children and adolescents (0 to 17 years)

Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for the following types of fungal infections:

• Mucosal candidiasis – an infection that affects the lining of the mouth or throat.
• Candidainfections located in the bloodstream, in organs of the body (e.g. heart, lungs) or in the urinary tract.
• Cryptococcal meningitis – a fungal infection in the brain.

They may also prescribe Fluconazole Kern Pharma for:

• Preventing the spread of Candidainfections (if your immune system is weak and not working properly).
• Preventing the recurrence of cryptococcal meningitis.

2. Before you take Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules

Do not take Fluconazole Kern Pharma if

• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to fluconazole, to other medicines for treating fungal infections, or to any of the other ingredients of Fluconazole Kern Pharma. Symptoms may include itching, skin rash, or difficulty breathing.
• You are taking astemizole, terfenadine (antihistamine medicines for treating allergies).

• You are taking cisapride (used for stomach upset).
• You are taking pimozide (used for treating mental health conditions).
• You are taking quinidine (used for treating heart rhythm disorders).
• You are taking erythromycin (an antibiotic for treating infections).

Be careful with Fluconazole Kern Pharma

Tell your doctor if

• You have liver or kidney problems.
• You have a heart condition, including heart rhythm disorders.
• You have abnormal levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium in your blood.
• You experience severe skin reactions (itching, skin rash, or difficulty breathing).
• If you have ever had a severe skin rash or peeling of the skin, blisters, and/or sores in the mouth after taking Fluconazole.

Severe skin reactions, including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), have been reported in relation to Fluconazole treatment. Stop using this medicine and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the symptoms related to these severe skin reactions described in section 4.

• If the fungal infection does not improve, alternative antifungal treatment may be necessary.

Using other medicines

Tell your doctor immediatelyif you are taking astemizole, terfenadine (an antihistamine for treating allergies), cisapride (used for stomach upset), pimozide (used for treating mental health conditions), quinidine (used for treating heart rhythm disorders), or erythromycin (an antibiotic for treating infections), as these medicines should not be taken with Fluconazole Kern Pharma (see section: “Do not take Fluconazole Kern Pharma if”).

There are some medicines that may interact with Fluconazole Kern Pharma.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Rifampicin or rifabutin (antibiotics for infections).
• Alfentanil, fentanyl (used as anesthetics).
• Amitriptyline, nortriptyline (used as antidepressants).
• Amphotericin B, voriconazole (antifungals).
• Medicines that make the blood less viscous, to prevent the formation of clots (warfarin or similar medicines).
• Benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam, or similar medicines) used to help you sleep or for anxiety.
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin (used for treating seizures).
• Nifedipine, isradipine, amlodipine, felodipine, and losartan (for high blood pressure).
• Ciclosporin, everolimus, sirolimus, or tacrolimus (to prevent transplant rejection).
• Cyclophosphamide, vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, or similar medicines) used for treating cancer.
• Halofantrine (used for treating malaria).
• Statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and fluvastatin or similar medicines) used for reducing high cholesterol levels.
• Methadone (used for pain relief).
• Celecoxib, flurbiprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, lornoxicam, meloxicam, diclofenac (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – NSAIDs).
• Oral contraceptives.
• Prednisone (steroid).
• Zidovudine, also known as AZT; saquinavir (used in HIV-infected patients).
• Medicines for diabetes, such as chlorpropamide, glibenclamide, glipizide, or tolbutamide.
• Theophylline (used for controlling asthma).
• Vitamin A (nutritional supplement).

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.

Taking Fluconazole Kern Pharma with food and drinks

You can take the medicine with or without food.

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.

If you are planning to become pregnant, it is recommended that you wait one week after a single dose of fluconazole before becoming pregnant.

For longer treatment cycles with fluconazole, consult your doctor about the need to use adequate contraceptive methods during treatment, which should be continued for one week after the last dose.

Do not take Fluconazole Kern Pharma if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, unless your doctor has told you to. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine or within one week of the last dose, consult your doctor.

Fluconazole taken during the first or second trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage. Fluconazole during the first trimester may increase the risk of the baby being born with congenital anomalies affecting the heart, bones, and/or muscles.

There have been reports of babies born with congenital anomalies affecting the skull, ears, and bones of the thigh and elbow in women treated for three months or more with high doses (400-800 mg daily) of fluconazole for coccidioidomycosis. The relationship between fluconazole and these cases is unclear.

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

Driving and using machines

When driving or operating machinery, you should be aware that dizziness or seizures may occasionally occur.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Fluconazole Kern Pharma

This medicine contains a small amount of lactose (milk sugar). If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Fluconazole Kern Pharma 150 mg hard capsules

Follow exactly the administration instructions of Fluconazole Kern Pharma indicated by your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts.

The capsules should be swallowed whole with the help of a glass of water. It is best to take your medicines at the same time every day.

The following is the usual dose of this medicine for the different types of infections:

Adults

Adolescents 12 to 17 years of age

Follow the dose indicated by your doctor (the adult dose or the child dose).

Children up to 11 years

The maximum daily dose for children is 400 mg per day.

The dose will be based on the child's weight in kilograms.

Use in children from 0 to 4 weeks of age

Use in children 3 to 4 weeks of age:

• The same dose as described in the table, but administered once every 2 days. The maximum dose is 12 mg per kilogram of body weight every 48 hours.

Use in children under 2 weeks of age:

• The same dose as described in the table, but administered once every 3 days. The maximum dose is 12 mg per kilogram of body weight every 72 hours.

Sometimes, doctors may prescribe different doses than those described. Follow exactly the administration instructions indicated by your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts.

Elderly patients

The usual adult dose, unless you have kidney problems.

Patients with kidney problems

Your doctor may change your dose, depending on how well your kidneys are working.

If you take more Fluconazole Kern Pharma than you should

Taking too many capsules at once can make you feel unwell. Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately. You can also call the Toxicological Information Service, telephone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken. The symptoms of a possible overdose may include hearing, seeing, feeling, and thinking things that are not real (hallucinations and paranoid behavior). It may be appropriate to initiate symptomatic treatment (with supportive measures and stomach lavage if necessary).

If you forget to take Fluconazole Kern Pharma

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. If you have forgotten to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not take the missed dose.

If you have any doubts about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, Fluconazol Kern Pharma can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

Some people develop allergic reactions, although severe allergic reactions are rare.Stop taking Fluconazol and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden wheezing, difficulty breathing, or chest tightness.
• Swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips.
• Itching all over the body, skin redness, or red spots with itching.
• Skin rash.
• Severe skin reactions, such as a rash that causes blisters (this can affect the mouth and tongue).
• Widespread rash, high body temperature, and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).

Fluconazol Kern Pharma capsules may affect your liver. Signs that indicate liver problems include:

• Fatigue.
• Lack of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice).

If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Fluconazol Kern Pharma and inform your doctor immediately.

Other Adverse Effects:

Additionally, if you consider that any of the adverse effects you are suffering from is serious or if you notice any adverse effect not mentioned in this prospectus, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

The following are frequent adverse effects that affect 1 to 10 out of every 100 patients:

• Headache.
• Stomach discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
• Elevated blood test results indicating liver function.
• Rash.

The following are infrequent adverse effects that affect 1 to 10 out of every 1,000 patients:

• Reduction of red blood cells, which can make your skin pale and cause weakness or difficulty breathing.
• Decreased appetite.
• Insomnia, feeling of numbness.
• Seizures, dizziness, feeling of spinning, tingling, pinching, or numbness, changes in taste sensation.
• Constipation, heavy digestion, gas, dry mouth.
• Muscle pain.
• Liver damage and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
• Hives, blisters (hives), itching, increased sweating.
• Fatigue, general feeling of discomfort, fever.

The following are rare adverse effects that affect 1 to 10 out of every 10,000 patients:

• White blood cells that help defend against infections and blood cells that help stop bleeding, lower than normal.
• Red or purple discoloration of the skin, which may be due to a low platelet count, other changes in blood cells.
• Changes in blood tests (high cholesterol, fat levels).
• Low potassium levels in the blood.
• Tremors.
• Abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG), changes in heart rate or rhythm.
• Liver function failure.
• Allergic reactions (sometimes severe), including widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling, severe allergic reactions, swelling of the lips or face.
• Hair loss.

Reporting Adverse Effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is an adverse effect not mentioned in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: www.notificaRAM.es.

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

5. Storage of Fluconazol Kern Pharma 150 mg Hard Capsules

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

Do not use Fluconazol Kern Pharma after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

This medicine does not require special storage conditions.

Medicines should not be disposed of 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 will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Fluconazol Kern Pharma

The active ingredient is fluconazole.

Each hard capsule contains 150 mg of fluconazole.

The other components (excipients) are:

Capsule content: lactose monohydrate (lactose), pregelatinized corn starch (corn starch), colloidal hydrated silica, sodium lauryl sulfate, and magnesium stearate. Capsule composition: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E-171), quinoline (E-104), and indigo carmine (E-132).

Appearance of Fluconazol Kern Pharma and Package Contents

The capsules have a green body and a green cap and are packaged in aluminum/aluminum blisters.

They are available in packages of 1 and 4 hard capsules.

Not all package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing authorization holder:

Kern Pharma, S.L.

Venus, 72 – Pol. Ind. Colón II

08228 Terrassa – Barcelona

Spain

Manufacturer:

Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L.

Avda. Barcelona, 69

08970 Sant Joan Despí.

Barcelona

This prospectus was revised in January 2024

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/