PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Gemcitabina Hikma 200 mg concentrate for infusion solution
Gemcitabina Hikma 1000 mg concentrate for infusion solution
Gemcitabina Hikma 2000 mg concentrate for infusion solution
Read this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
- If you have any questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist or nurse, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
1. What is Gemcitabina Hikma and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before using Gemcitabina Hikma
3. How to use Gemcitabina Hikma
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Gemcitabina Hikma
6. Contents of the pack and additional information
Gemcitabina belongs to a group of medicines called “cytotoxics”. These medicines destroy cells that are dividing, including cancerous cells.
Gemcitabina Hikma can be administered alone or in combination with other anticancer medicines (e.g. cisplatin, paclitaxel, carboplatin),depending on the type of cancer.
This medicine is used to treat the following types of cancer:
- If you are allergic to the active ingredient or to any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6).
- If you are breastfeeding.
Warnings and precautions
Before the first infusion, blood samples will be taken to evaluate if your liver and kidney function is correct. Before each infusion, blood samples will be taken to evaluate if you have enough red blood cells to receive the gemcitabina treatment.
Your doctor may decide to change the dose or delay treatment depending on your general condition and if your blood cell counts are too low. Periodically, blood samples will be taken to evaluate the function of your kidneys and liver.
Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to use gemcitabina.
If you have or have had previously liver disease, heart disease, vascular disease, or kidney problems, consult your doctor or hospital pharmacist, as it may be possible that you cannot receive gemcitabina.
If you have recently received or will receive radiation therapy, consult your doctor as there may be an early or late radiation reaction with gemcitabina.
If you have recently been vaccinated, consult your doctor as it may cause negative effects with gemcitabina.
If during treatment with this medication you experience symptoms such as headache with confusion, seizures, or changes in vision, call your doctor immediately. This may be a rare and serious side effect of the nervous system called reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome.
If you experience difficulty breathing or feel very weak and pale (it may be a sign of lung problems or kidney failure).
If you experience swelling, shortness of breath, weight gain, please inform your doctor as it may be a sign that fluids from your small blood vessels are filtering into your tissues.
If you have ever developed a severe skin rash or skin peeling, blisters, and/or mouth sores after using gemcitabina.
Severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and acute generalized pustular psoriasis (PEGA), have been reported in association with gemcitabina treatment. Seek medical attention immediately if you observe any of the symptoms related to these severe skin reactions described in section 4.
Children and adolescents
This medication is not recommended for use in children under 18 years due to the lack of safety and efficacy data in this population.
Other medications and Gemcitabina Hikma
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use another medication, including vaccines and over-the-counter medications.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Gemcitabina should be avoided during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the potential risk of taking gemcitabina during pregnancy with you.
Breastfeeding
Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
You must interrupt breastfeeding during gemcitabina treatment.
Fertility
Men are advised not to decide to have a child during treatment with gemcitabina or during the 6 months following treatment. If you wish to have a child during treatment or in the 6 months following treatment, consult your doctor or pharmacist. You may wish to request information on sperm conservation before starting your treatment.
Driving and operating machinery
This medication may cause drowsiness, especially if you have consumed alcohol. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you are sure that the gemcitabina treatment does not cause drowsiness.
This medication contains sodium:
Gemcitabina Hikma 200 mg contains a maximum of 4.9 mg of sodium (<1>“exempt from sodium”.
Gemcitabina Hikma 1000 mg contains a maximum of 24.2 mg (1.05 mmol) of sodium (main component of table salt/for cooking) in each vial. This is equivalent to 1.2% of the maximum daily sodium intake recommended for an adult.
Gemcitabina Hikma 2000 mg contains a maximum of 48.4 mg (2.10 mmol) of sodium (main component of table salt/for cooking) in each vial. This is equivalent to 2.4% of the maximum daily sodium intake recommended for an adult.
Your doctor will calculate the initial dose of gemcitabinaand it will depend on the type of cancer you have and your body surface area in square meters (m2).
Your height and weight will be measured to calculate your body surface area. Your doctor will use this body surface area to calculate the correct dose for you. The usual dose is between 1g/m2and 1.25g/m2.
This dose may be adjusted or treatment may be delayed depending on your general health status and blood cell counts.
The frequency at which you receive your gemcitabina infusion depends on the type of cancer you are being treated for.
You will always receive gemcitabina through an infusion (a slow injection through a drip) in one of your veins. The infusion will last approximately 30 minutes.
Since gemcitabina will be administered under the supervision of your doctor, it is unlikely that you will receive an incorrect dose. Nevertheless, if you have any other questions about the dose received or about the use of this medication, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
Extreme fatigue and weakness, purple spots or small areas of bleeding on the skin (petechiae), acute kidney injury (low urine output or absence of urine), and signs of infection. These may be signs of microangiopathic thrombosis (clots that form in small blood vessels) and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be fatal.
Other side effects of the medication may include:
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Unknown frequency(cannot be estimated from available data)
You may experience any of these symptoms and/or disorders. Inform your doctor as soon as possible if you start experiencing any of these side effects.
If you are concerned about any of the side effects, consult your doctor.
Reporting side effects
If you experience side effects, consult your doctor, hospital pharmacist, or nurse, even if they do not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for the Vigilance of Medicines for Human Use:www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
This medication will be stored and administered by healthcare personnel, who will follow the following instructions:
Composition of Gemcitabina Hikma
Appearance of Gemcitabina Hikma and contents of the package
Clear, colorless or slightly yellowish solution.
It is presented in glass vials.
There are 3 package sizes available, containing
200 mg gemcitabina (as hydrochloride) in 5.26 ml of solution
1000 mg gemcitabina (as hydrochloride) in 26.3 ml of solution
2000 mg gemcitabina (as hydrochloride) in 52.6 ml of solution
Each vial is individually packaged in a cardboard box.
Only some package sizes may be commercially available.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Responsible Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
Hikma Farmacêutica (Portugal), S.A.
Estrada do Rio da Mó 8, 8A e 8B, Fervença
2705-906 Terrugem SNT
Portugal
Responsible Manufacturer
Thymoorgan Pharmazie GmbH
Schiffgraben 23
38690 Goslar
Germany
For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:
Calle Anabel Segura nº11, Edificio A, planta 1ª, oficina 2
28108 - Alcobendas, Madrid
Spain
Last review date of this leaflet:February 2024
The detailed and updated information about this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.es/
The following information is intended only for healthcare professionals:
Instructions for use, handling and disposal
Shelf life after opening:
Chemical and physical stability has been demonstrated for 35 days at 20-25 °C exposed to light and for 35 days at 2-8 °C protected from light.
From a microbiological point of view, unless the opening method excludes the risk of microbial contamination, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, the storage times and conditions in use are the responsibility of the user.
Use
Diluent | Target concentration | Storage conditions | Time period |
0.9% sodium chloride solution for infusion | 0.1 mg/ml and 26 mg/ml | 2-8°Cin the absence of light, in PVC-free infusion bags (PP and polyolefin) | 84 days |
0.9% sodium chloride solution for infusion | 0.1 mg/ml and 26 mg/ml | 25°Cunder normal lighting conditions, in PVC-free infusion bags (PP and polyolefin) | 24hours |
5% glucose solution for infusion | 0.1 mg/ml and 26 mg/ml | 25°C under normal lighting conditions, in PVC-free infusion bags (PP and polyolefin) | 24 hours |
From a microbiological point of view, the prepared solutions should be used immediately. If not used immediately, the storage times and conditions in use and before use are the responsibility of the user and are normally not more than 24 hours between 2 and 8°C, unless the dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
Handling
Disposal
The disposal of unused medicinal product and all materials that have come into contact with it will be carried out in accordance with local regulations.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.