GANCICLOVIR ACCORD 500 mg POWDER FOR CONCENTRATE FOR INFUSION SOLUTION

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Ganciclovir Accord 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG

Ganciclovir sodium

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using 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, pharmacist, or nurse.
• 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 experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

1. What is Ganciclovir Accord and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you use Ganciclovir Accord
3. How to use Ganciclovir Accord
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Ganciclovir Accord
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Ganciclovir Accord and what is it used for

What is Ganciclovir Accord

Ganciclovir contains the active substance ganciclovir. It belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals.

What is Ganciclovir Accord used for

Ganciclovir is used to treat diseases caused by a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adult and adolescent patients (12 years of age and older) with a weakened immune system. It is also used to prevent CMV infection after organ transplantation or during chemotherapy in adults and in children from birth.

• The virus can affect any part of the body. Including the retina at the back of the eye – which means the virus can cause vision problems.
• The virus can affect anyone, but it is a particular problem in people with a weakened immune system. In these people, the CMV virus can cause serious illness. A weakened immune system can be caused by other diseases (such as AIDS) or by medicines (such as chemotherapy or immunosuppressants).

2. What you need to know before you use Ganciclovir Accord

Do not use Ganciclovir Accord:

• if you are allergic to ganciclovir, valganciclovir, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are breast-feeding (see sub-section “Breast-feeding”).

Do not use ganciclovir if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using ganciclovir.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting ganciclovir if:

• you are allergic to aciclovir, valaciclovir, penciclovir, or famciclovir - these are other medicines used to treat viral infections
• you have a low number of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets in your blood - your doctor will perform blood tests before starting and during your treatment
• you have had problems with your blood cell count in the past due to medicines
• you have kidney problems - your doctor may prescribe a lower dose and may need to perform blood tests more frequently during your treatment.
• you are receiving radiotherapy.

If any of the above applies to you (or if you are not sure), consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using ganciclovir.

Monitor for side effects

Ganciclovir can cause serious side effects that you need to tell your doctor about immediately. Monitor the serious side effects listed in Section 4 and if you experience any while using ganciclovir, tell your doctor - your doctor may tell you to stop taking ganciclovir and may need urgent medical treatment.

Tests and checks

Your doctor will perform regular blood tests during treatment with ganciclovir. This is to check that the dose you are taking is right for you. During the first 2 weeks, these blood tests will be performed frequently. After that, the tests will be performed less frequently.

Children and adolescents

There is limited information on the safety and efficacy of ganciclovir in the treatment of CMV disease in children under 12 years of age. Periodic blood tests will be performed on newborns and infants treated with ganciclovir for the prevention of CMV disease.

Other medicines and Ganciclovir Accord

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

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• imipenem/cilastatin - used for bacterial infections,
• pentamidine - used for infections caused by parasites or in the lungs,
• flucytosine, amphotericin B - used for fungal infections,
• trimethoprim, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, dapsone - used for bacterial infections,
• probenecid - used for gout,
• mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, tacrolimus - used after organ transplantation,
• vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicin - used for cancer,
• hydroxyurea - used for a condition called ‘polycythemia’, sickle cell disease, and cancer,
• didanosine, stavudine, zidovudine, tenofovir, or other medicines used for HIV.

• adeofovir or any other medicine used for the treatment of Hepatitis B.

If any of the above applies to you (or if you are not sure), consult your doctor or pharmacist before using ganciclovir.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding, and fertility

Pregnancy

Ganciclovir should not be used by pregnant women unless the benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, do not take this medicine unless your doctor tells you to. This is because ganciclovir may harm the fetus.

Contraception

You must not become pregnant while using this medicine. This is because it may affect the fetus.

Women

If you are a woman of childbearing age - you must use a contraceptive method while using ganciclovir. You must also use it for at least 30 days after finishing treatment with ganciclovir.

Men

If you are a man whose partner could become pregnant - you must use a barrier contraceptive method (e.g. condoms) while taking ganciclovir. Keep using it for at least 90 days after finishing treatment with ganciclovir.

If your partner becomes pregnant while you are taking ganciclovir, consult your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding

Do not use ganciclovir if you are breast-feeding. If your doctor wants to start treating you with ganciclovir, you must stop breast-feeding before starting to take this medicine. This is because ganciclovir may pass into breast milk.

Fertility

Ganciclovir may affect fertility. Ganciclovir may temporarily or permanently stop sperm production in men. If you plan to have a child, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using ganciclovir.

Driving and using machines

You may feel drowsy, dizzy, confused, or agitated, or you may lose your balance or have seizures while using ganciclovir. If this happens, do not drive or use tools or machinery.

Ganciclovir Accord contains sodium

This medicine contains 46 mg of sodium (the main component of cooking/table salt) in each 500 mg vial. This is equivalent to 2.3% of the maximum recommended daily intake of sodium for an adult.

3. How to use Ganciclovir Accord

Follow the instructions for administration of this medicine exactly as told by your doctor or pharmacist. If you are not sure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Use of this medicine

Your doctor or nurse will give you ganciclovir. It will be given to you through a tube in your vein. This is called “intravenous infusion” and will take about one hour.

The dose of ganciclovir varies from person to person. Your doctor will calculate the dose you need. This dose will depend on:

• your weight (in children, height must also be taken into account),
• your age,
• how well your kidneys are working,
• your blood cell count,
• what you are using the medicine for

The frequency with which you will be given ganciclovir and the length of time you will need to use it may also vary.

• Usually, you will start by receiving one or two infusions per day.
• If you receive two infusions per day, you will continue like this for 21 days.
• After that, your doctor may prescribe one infusion per day.

People with kidney or blood problems

If you have any kidney or blood problems, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of ganciclovir and monitor your blood cell count more frequently during treatment.

If you use more Ganciclovir Accord than you should

If you think you have been given too much ganciclovir, consult your doctor or go to the hospital immediately. In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, you can also contact the Toxicology Information Service, Telephone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount received.

You may have the following symptoms:

• stomach pain, diarrhea, or nausea
• tremors or seizures
• blood in your urine
• liver or kidney problems
• changes in your blood cell count.

If you stop using Ganciclovir Accord

Do not stop using ganciclovir without consulting your doctor.

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

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may occur with this medicine:

Serious side effects

Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious side effects - your doctor may tell you to stop taking ganciclovir and may need urgent medical treatment:

Very common:may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• decrease in the number of white blood cells - with signs of infection such as sore throat, mouth ulcers, or fever
• decrease in the number of red blood cells - symptoms include feeling short of breath or tired, palpitations, or pale skin.

Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• blood infection (sepsis) - with signs that include fever, chills, palpitations, confusion, and difficulty speaking
• decrease in the number of platelets - symptoms include bleeding and bruising more easily than normal, blood in urine or stool, or bleeding gums, these bleeding episodes can be severe
• severe decrease in the number of blood cells
• pancreatitis with signs such as severe stomach pain that spreads to the back
• seizures.

Uncommon:may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• inability of the bone marrow to produce blood cells
• hallucinations - seeing or hearing things that are not real
• disturbed thinking or feelings, loss of contact with reality
• kidney failure.

Rare:may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• severe allergic reaction - symptoms can include redness and itching of the skin, swelling of the throat, face, lips, or mouth, difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the above side effects.

Other side effects

If you experience any of the following side effects, tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse:

Very common:may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• candidiasis and oral candidiasis
• upper respiratory tract infection (e.g. sinusitis, tonsillitis)
• loss of appetite
• headache
• cough
• shortness of breath
• diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal pain
• eczema
• fatigue
• fever.

Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• flu
• urinary tract infection, with signs that include fever, frequent urination, pain when urinating
• skin and subcutaneous tissue infections
• mild allergic reactions, with signs that include redness and swelling of the skin
• weight loss
• feeling depressed, anxious, or confused
• difficulty sleeping
• numbness or weakness in hands and feet, which can affect your balance
• changes in touch, tingling, prickling, or burning sensations
• changes in taste
• chills
• eye inflammation (conjunctivitis), eye pain, or vision problems
• ear pain
• low blood pressure, which can make you feel dizzy or have blurred vision
• difficulty swallowing
• constipation, gas, indigestion, stomach pain, abdominal distension
• mouth ulcers
• abnormal liver and kidney laboratory test results
• night sweats
• itching, rash
• hair loss
• back, muscle, or joint pain, muscle spasms
• feeling dizzy, weak, or unwell
• skin reaction at the injection site - such as inflammation, pain, and swelling.

Uncommon:may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• agitation
• tremors
• hearing loss
• irregular heartbeat
• hives, dry skin
• blood in the urine
• infertility in men - see section “Fertility”
• chest pain

Other side effects in children and adolescents

A decrease in the number of blood cells is more likely in children, especially in babies and infants.

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Ganciclovir Accord

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

Powder: No special storage conditions are required. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the pack after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month stated.

After reconstitution:

The chemical and physical stability during handling has been demonstrated for the reconstituted product for 12 hours at room temperature (below 25°C) after dissolving it with water for injectable preparations. Do not refrigerate or freeze.

From a microbiological point of view, the reconstituted solution should be used immediately. If not used immediately, the time and storage conditions before use are the responsibility of the user.

After dilution in infusion solutions (sodium chloride 0.9%, dextrose 5%, Ringer's solution, or lactated Ringer's solution for injection):

The chemical and physical stability during use has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2-8°C (do not freeze).

From a microbiological point of view, the ganciclovir infusion solution should be used immediately. If not used immediately, the time and storage conditions before use are the responsibility of the user and should not exceed 24 hours at a temperature of 2°C to 8°C, unless the reconstitution and dilution are performed in a controlled and validated aseptic environment.

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. Container Content and Additional Information

Composition of Ganciclovir Accord

• The active ingredient is ganciclovir. Each glass vial contains 500 mg of ganciclovir as ganciclovir sodium. After reconstitution of the powder, 1 ml of solution contains 50 mg of ganciclovir.

Appearance of the Product and Container Content

Ganciclovir is a sterile and lyophilized powder for concentrate for solution for infusion, white in color, which comes in a single-dose glass vial, with a chlorobutyl rubber stopper and an aluminum seal with a plastic cap. The reconstituted ganciclovir solution is transparent.

The ganciclovir vials are presented in packaging of 1 vial, 5 vials, or 25 vials.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Accord Healthcare S.L.U.

World Trade Center

c/Moll de Barcelona s/n

Ed. Est, 6th floor

08039 Barcelona

Spain

Manufacturer

Reig Jofre, S.A.

Gran Capitan 10

08970 Sant Joan Despí

Barcelona, Spain

Laboratori Fundació DAU

C/C, 12-14 Pol. Ind. Zona Franca

08040 Barcelona - Spain

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

Germany:Ganciclovir Accord 500 mg Powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Italy:Ganciclovir Accord

Poland:Ganciclovir Accord

Portugal:Ganciclovir Accord

Date of the last revision of this leaflet:March 2023

Detailed and updated information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.es/

This information is intended only for healthcare professionals:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE AND HANDLING

Please consult the technical datasheet or summary of product characteristics for complete prescribing information.

Method of administration

Warning:

Ganciclovir should be administered by intravenous infusion over 1 hour, with a concentration that should not exceed 10 mg/ml. It should not be administered by bolus or rapid intravenous injection because the resulting high plasma levels may increase the toxicity of ganciclovir.

Do not administer by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, as it may cause intense tissue irritation due to the high pH (~11) of the ganciclovir solution.

Do not exceed the recommended dose, frequency, and infusion rate.

Ganciclovir is a powder for solution for infusion. After reconstitution, ganciclovir is a transparent solution, practically free from visible particles.

Infusion should be performed in veins with adequate blood flow, preferably through a plastic cannula.

Precautions to be taken in the handling of Ganciclovir Accord:

Since ganciclovir is considered potentially teratogenic and carcinogenic in humans, caution should be exercised in its handling. Avoid inhalation or direct contact with the powder in the vials or direct contact with the reconstituted solution with the skin or mucous membranes. Ganciclovir solutions are alkaline (pH ~11). If contact occurs, wash the area carefully and thoroughly with water and soap, and rinse the eyes completely with plenty of water.

Preparation of the reconstituted concentrate

An aseptic technique should be used during the reconstitution of lyophilized ganciclovir.

1. The flip-off cap should be removed to expose the central part of the rubber stopper. Withdraw 10 ml of water for injectable preparations with a syringe, then slowly inject it through the center of the rubber stopper into the vial with the needle directed towards the vial wall. Do not use bacteriostatic water for injectable preparations containing parabens (para-hydroxybenzoates), as they are incompatible with ganciclovir.

1. Gently rotate the vial to ensure complete wetting of the product.

1. The vial should be rotated/gently shaken for a few minutes until a transparent reconstituted solution is obtained.

1. The reconstituted solution should be carefully checked to ensure the dissolution of the product and that it is practically free from visible particles before proceeding to dilution with a compatible solvent. The reconstituted ganciclovir solution is transparent.

Preparation of the final diluted solution for infusion

Based on the patient's body weight, withdraw the necessary volume from the vial with a syringe and then dilute it in a suitable infusion liquid. Add 100 ml of the solvent to the reconstituted solution. Concentrations of infusion higher than 10 mg/ml are not recommended. Sodium chloride solutions, 5% dextrose, Ringer's injection, and Ringer's lactate for injection have been shown to be chemically or physically compatible with ganciclovir.

Ganciclovir should not be mixed with other intravenous products.

The diluted solution should be administered by intravenous infusion over 1 hour, as indicated in section 4.2. Do not administer by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, as it may cause intense tissue irritation due to the high pH (~11) of the ganciclovir solution.

Disposal

It is for single use. Disposal of unused medicinal products and any waste should be done in accordance with local regulations.