Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml solution for inhalation by nebuliser
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
What is Iloprost Zentiva
The active substance of Iloprost Zentiva is iloprost. Iloprost mimics a natural substance in the body called prostacyclin. This medicine prevents unwanted blockage or narrowing of blood vessels and allows more blood to flow through the blood vessels.
This medicine is used to treat moderate cases of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) in adult patients. PPH is a type of pulmonary hypertension where the cause of the high blood pressure is unknown.
This is a disease where blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and lungs.
This medicine is used to improve exercise capacity (i.e. the ability to perform physical activities) and symptoms of this disease.
When inhaled, the aerosol delivers iloprost to the lungs, where it works most effectively in the artery between the heart and lungs. By improving blood flow, oxygen supply to the body is improved and the strain on the heart is reduced.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before starting this medicine:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you areusing, have recently used or might use any other medicines. Iloprost may affect how other medicines work and vice versa.
Tell your doctor if you are taking:
Your blood pressure may drop too low. Your doctor may need to change your dose.
Your doctor will keep you under close supervision.
Before taking any medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who has more information on medicines that you should be cautious with or avoid when using this medicine.
It is not expected that food or drinks will affect iloprost. However, you should avoid eating or drinking during inhalation.
It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. The potential risk to breast-fed infants cannot be excluded and breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with iloprost.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine can lower your blood pressure and may cause dizziness or instability in some people. Do not drive or use tools or machines if you notice these effects.
Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml contains 0.75 mg of alcohol (ethanol) in 1 ml of solution for inhalation by nebuliser, which is equivalent to 0.81 mg of ethanol 96 % (v/v).
The amount of alcohol in 1 ml of this medicine is equivalent to less than 1 ml of beer or 1 ml of wine.
The small amount of alcohol in this medicine does not produce any noticeable effect.
Treatment with iloprost should only be started by a doctor with experience in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Follow the instructions for administration of this medicine exactly as told by your doctor. If you are unsure, talk to your doctor again.
The dose of iloprost you need and the duration of treatment you need depend on your condition. Your doctor will advise you. Do not change the recommended dose without talking to your doctor.
Different nebuliser devices can be used to administer iloprost 10 micrograms/ml.
Depending on the type of device used and the prescribed dose, it is suitable to use 1 ml or 2 ml of Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml.
When starting treatment with iloprost or switching from an alternative device, the first inhalation should be with iloprost 10 micrograms/ml. If you tolerate this dose well, your next inhalation will be with iloprost 20 micrograms/ml. You should continue with this dose.
If you cannot tolerate the inhalation of iloprost 20 micrograms/ml, talk to your doctor, who may decide that you should receive iloprost 10 micrograms/ml.
Most people will need to have 6 to 9 inhalation sessionsspread throughout the day. The duration of each inhalation session with Breelib is usually 3 minutes.
Your doctor will supervise your treatment when you start using the Breelib nebuliser to ensure that you tolerate the dose and inhalation rate well.
When starting treatment with iloprost, the first inhaled dose should be 2.5 micrograms of iloprost delivered by the nebuliser mouthpiece. If you tolerate this dose well, the dose should be increased to 5 micrograms of iloprost and you should continue with this dose. If you cannot tolerate the dose of 5 micrograms, the dose should be reduced to 2.5 micrograms.
Most people will need to have 6 to 9 inhalation sessionsspread throughout the day. The duration of each inhalation session with I-Neb AAD is usually 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the prescribed dose.
When starting treatment with iloprost, the first inhaled dose should be 2.5 micrograms of iloprost delivered by the nebuliser mouthpiece. If you tolerate this dose well, the dose should be increased to 5 micrograms and you should continue with this dose. If you cannot tolerate the dose of 5 micrograms, the dose should be reduced to 2.5 micrograms.
Most people will need to have 6 to 9 inhalation sessionsspread throughout the day. The duration of each inhalation session with Venta-Neb is usually 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the prescribed dose.
This medicine can be used for long-term treatment, depending on your individual needs.
No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with mild or moderate kidney problems (patients with a creatinine clearance > 30 ml/min).
If you have severe kidney problems and require dialysis or have liver problems, your doctor will introduce iloprost gradually and may prescribe fewer inhalations per day. Start treatment by inhaling 2.5 micrograms of iloprost, using a 1 ml ampoule of iloprost 10 micrograms/ml. Use dosing intervals of 3 – 4 hours (which corresponds to a maximum of 6 administrations per day). Your doctor may then cautiously shorten the dosing intervals based on how well you tolerate the treatment. If your doctor decides to increase the dose further to 5 micrograms, the dosing intervals should be set to 3 – 4 hours again and shortened based on how well you tolerate the treatment.
If you notice that the effect of this medicine is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor orpharmacist. Ask your doctor to have someone help you get used to using the nebuliser. You should not switch to another nebuliser without talking to the doctor who is treating you.
For each inhalation session, use a new ampoule of iloprost. Just before starting to inhale, break the glass ampoule and pour the solution into the nebuliser medication chamber, following the instructions for use of the nebuliser.
Follow the instructions that come with the nebuliser carefully, especially those relating to hygiene and cleaning of the nebuliser.
Follow the instructions for administration of this medicine exactly as told by your doctor.
Ventilation of the room
Make sure to ventilate or air the room where you have taken the iloprost treatment. Other people may be accidentally exposed to iloprost through the air in the room. In particular, newborns, infants and pregnant women should not be in the same room while you are inhaling iloprost.
Fill the medication chamber with iloprost immediately before use. Follow the instructions for use of the nebuliser regarding filling.
Device | Medicine | Dose of iloprost inthe mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
Breelib | Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml | 2.5 micrograms | 3 minutes |
Device | Dose of iloprost in the mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
I-Neb AAD | 2.5 micrograms 5 micrograms | 3.2 min 6.5 min |
The following table includes a summary of the instructions for use of the I-Neb:
Medicine | Dose | I-Neb AAD | |
Medication chamber latch | Control disc | ||
Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml | 2.5 micrograms | red | red |
5 micrograms | purple | purple |
Device | Dose of iloprost in the mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
Venta-Neb | 2.5 micrograms 5 micrograms | 4 min 8 min |
For more details, consult the nebulizer device's instruction manual or consult your doctor.
Using more iloprost than you should may cause dizziness, headache, flushing (redness of the face), nausea (feeling of discomfort), jaw pain or back pain.
You may also experience a decrease or increase in blood pressure, bradycardia (decrease in heart rate), tachycardia (increase in heart rate), vomiting, diarrhea, or pain in the limbs. If any of these occur when you have used more iloprost than you should:
Your doctor will monitor and treat any resulting symptoms. No specific antidote is known.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. Consult your doctor about what to do.
If you interrupt or wish to interrupt treatment, first consult your doctor.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Like all medications, this medication can cause side effects, although not everyone may experience them.
The following serious side effectsmay occur. If they occur, consult your doctor immediately:
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Frequency not known(cannot be estimated from the available data):
The following is a list of other possible side effects based on their likelihood of occurrence:
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Frequency not known(frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Swelling, mainly of the ankles and legs, due to fluid retention (peripheral edema) is a very common symptom of the disease itself, but it may also occur during treatment with Iloprost Zentiva.
If you experience any side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Agency's website: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date stated on the label and carton after CAD. The expiration date refers to the last day of that month.
No special storage conditions are required. Do not freeze.
Any remaining Iloprost Zentiva solution in the nebulizer after inhalation must be discarded.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and any unused medication. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Iloprost Zentiva
Each 1 ml ampoule contains 10 micrograms of iloprost (as iloprost trometamol).
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Zentiva k.s.
U Kabelovny 130
Dolní Mecholupy
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
For further information about this medication, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder: Zentiva Spain S.L.U.
Avenida de Europa, 19, Edificio 3, Planta 1.
28224 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid
This medication is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Austria | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Denmark | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Finland | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Iceland | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Spain | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Czech Republic | Ilosprost Zentiva k.s. |
Romania | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Sweden | Ilosprost Zentiva |
Detailed information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.es/.
Instructions for use and handling
Patients stabilized with a nebulizer should not switch to another nebulizer without close supervision by the treating physician, as it has been shown that different nebulizers produce aerosols with slightly different physical characteristics and may have a faster administration of the solution (see section 5.2 of the Summary of Product Characteristics).
To minimize accidental exposure, it is recommended to keep the room well ventilated.
If the Breelib nebulizer is used, the instructions for use accompanying the device must be followed.
Fill the medication chamber with Iloprost Zentiva immediately before use.
Device | Medication | Dose of iloprost in the mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
Breelib | Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml | 2.5 micrograms | 3 minutes |
The I-Neb AAD system is a portable, manual, and vibrational mesh nebulizer system. This system generates small droplets by ultrasonics, which makes the solution pass through a mesh. It has been shown that the I-Neb AAD nebulizer is suitable for the administration of Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml.
The measured MMAD of the small aerosol droplets was 2.1 micrometers.
This nebulizer controls the breathing pattern to determine the required inhalation time to administer the pre-set dose of 2.5 or 5 micrograms of iloprost.
The dose administered by the I-Neb AAD system is controlled by the medication chamber, in combination with a control disk. Each medication chamber has a color code and has a control disk with its corresponding color code.
In each I-Neb AAD inhalation session, immediately before use, the contents of one 1 ml ampoule of Iloprost Zentiva will be poured into the medication chamber.
Device | Dose of iloprost in the mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
I-Neb AAD | 2.5 micrograms 5 micrograms | 3.2 min 6.5 min |
The following table includes a summary of the instructions for the use of the I-Neb for Iloprost Zentiva:
Medication | Dose | I-Neb AAD | |
Medication chamber latch | Control disk | ||
Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml | 2.5 micrograms | red | red |
5 micrograms | purple | purple |
Venta-Neb, a portable ultrasonic nebulizer with a battery, has also been shown to be suitable for the administration of Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml. The measured MMAD of the aerosol droplets was 2.6 micrometers. In each inhalation session, the contents of two ampoules containing 1 ml of Iloprost Zentiva 10 micrograms/ml solution for nebulization will be poured into the medication chamber of the nebulizer immediately before use.
Two programs can be used:
An optical and acoustic signal from the Venta-Neb system alerts the patient to inhale. It stops automatically after applying the pre-set dose. To obtain the optimal drop size for the administration of Iloprost Zentiva, the green deflector plate must be used. Consult the details in the Venta-Neb nebulizer instruction manual.
Device | Dose of iloprost in the mouthpiece | Estimated inhalation time |
Venta-Neb | 2.5 micrograms 5 micrograms | 4 min 8 min |
The efficacy and tolerability of inhaled iloprost have not been established when administered with other nebulization systems that provide different characteristics of iloprost solution nebulization.