Prospecto: information for the patient
Lacosamida Aurovitas 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Read this prospect carefully before starting to take this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
-Keep this prospect, as you may need to read it again.
-If you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
-This medicine has been prescribed only for you, and you should not give it to other people even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
-If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this prospect. See section 4.
1.What is Lacosamida Aurovitas and how it is used
2.What you need to know before starting to take Lacosamida Aurovitas
3.How to take Lacosamida Aurovitas
4.Adverse effects
5.Storage of Lacosamida Aurovitas
6.Contents of the package and additional information
This medication contains lacosamida, which belongs to a group of medications called
“anti-epileptic medications”. These medications are used to treat epilepsy.
•You have been prescribed this medication to reduce the number of seizures you experience.
What is lacosamida used for
•Lacosamida is used:
in combination with other anti-epileptic medications in adults, adolescents, and children aged 4 years and older to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (major seizures, with loss of consciousness) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (a type of epilepsy believed to have a genetic origin).
Do not take Lacosamida Aurovitas
•if you are allergic to lacosamida or any of the other ingredients in this medicine
(listed in section 6). If you are unsure if you are allergic, consult your doctor
•if you are allergic to peanuts or soy
•if you have a heart rhythm problem called second- or third-degree AV block.
Do not take this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take this medicine:
•if you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. A small number of people taking antiepileptic medicines such as lacosamida have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide. If you ever have this type of thought, contact your doctor immediately.
•if you have a heart problem that affects your heartbeat and your pulse is often
especially slow, fast, or irregular (such as AV block, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter).
•if you have a serious heart disease such as heart failure or have had a heart attack.
•if you often feel dizzy or fall. Lacosamida may cause dizziness, which could increase the risk of accidental injuries or falls. This means you should be careful until you are used to the effects of this medicine.
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
If you are taking Lacosamida, consult your doctor if you experience a new type of seizure or worsening of existing seizures.
If you are taking this medicine and experience symptoms of abnormal heart rhythm (such as slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting), consult your doctor immediately (see section 4).
Children
Lacosamida is not recommended for children under 2 years with epilepsy characterized by the onset of partial seizures and is not recommended for children under 4 years with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. This is because it is not yet known if it is effective and safe for children in this age group.
Other medicines and Lacosamida Aurovitas
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medicine.
Particularly, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines that affect the heart, as lacosamida may also affect the heart:
•medicines to treat heart problems;
•medicines that may increase the "PR interval" in a heart test (ECG or electrocardiogram) such as epilepsy or pain medicines called carbamazepine, lamotrigine, or pregabalin;
•medicines used to treat certain types of arrhythmia or heart failure.
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Also inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines, as they may increase or decrease the effect of lacosamida in your body:
•antifungal medicines such as fluconazole, itraconazole, or ketoconazole;
•an HIV medicine such as ritonavir;
•antibacterial medicines such as clarithromycin or rifampicin;
•a medicinal herb used to treat mild anxiety and depression called St. John's Wort.
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking lacosamida.
Lacosamida Aurovitas with alcohol
As a precaution, do not take this medicine with alcohol.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women of childbearing age should discuss the use of contraceptives with their doctor.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Lacosamida is not recommended during pregnancy, as its effects on the pregnancy and fetus are not known.
It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking lacosamida, as it passes into breast milk. Immediately ask your doctor for advice if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. They will help you decide whether to take lacosamida or not.
Do not stop treatment without first speaking with your doctor, as this may increase seizures (crises). A worsening of your condition may also harm the fetus.
Driving and operating machinery
You should not drive, cycle, or use any tools or machines until you know if this medicine affects you. The reason is that lacosamida may cause dizziness or blurred vision.
Lacosamida Aurovitas contains soy lecithin
If you are allergic to peanuts or soy, do not take this medicine.
Lacosamide Dosage
•Take lacosamide twice a day, with an interval of approximately 12 hours.
•Try to take it more or less at the same time each day.
•Take the lacosamide tablet with a glass of water.
•You can take lacosamide with meals or separately.
Normally, you will start taking a low dose each day, and your doctor will gradually increase the dose over several weeks. When you reach the dose that works well for you, called the "maintenance dose," you will take the same amount each day. Lacosamide is used as long-term treatment. You should continue taking lacosamide until your doctor tells you to stop.
How much to take
Below are the normal recommended doses of lacosamide for different age groups and weights. Your doctor may prescribe a different dose if you have kidney or liver problems.
Adolescents and children weighing 50 kg or more and adults
When taking lacosamide alone:
The usual starting dose is 50 mg twice a day.
Your doctor may also prescribe a starting dose of 100 mg of lacosamide twice a day. Your doctor may increase the dose you take twice a day by 50 mg each week, until you reach a maintenance dose between 100 mg and 300 mg twice a day.
When taking lacosamide with other antiepileptic medications::
The usual starting dose is 50 mg twice a day.
Your doctor may increase the dose you take twice a day by 50 mg each week, until you reach a maintenance dose between 100 mg and 200 mg twice a day.
If you weigh 50 kg or more, your doctor may start the lacosamide treatment with a single "loading dose" of 200 mg. Then you will start taking the continuous maintenance dose 12 hours later.
Children and adolescents weighing less than 50 kg
- In the treatment of initial partial seizures:Lacosamide is not recommended for children under 2 years of age.
- In the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures:Lacosamide is not recommended for children under 4 years of age.
Dose depends on body weight. Normally, treatment starts with the syrup and only changes to tablets if the patient is able to take them and obtain the correct dose with tablets of different concentrations. Your doctor will prescribe the pharmaceutical form that best suits you.
If you take more lacosamide than you should
If you have taken more lacosamide than you should, consult your doctor immediately. Do not attempt to drive.
You may experience:
•dizziness;
•sensation of dizziness (nausea) or dizziness (vomiting);
•seizures (crises), heart problems such as slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat, coma, or low blood pressure with tachycardia and sweating.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
If you forget to take lacosamida
•If you have forgotten to take a dose within 6 hours of the scheduled dose, take it as soon as you remember.
•If you have forgotten to take a dose after 6 hours of the scheduled dose, do not take the missed dose, instead, take lacosamide at the next time you normally take it.
•Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you interrupt the treatment with lacosamida
•Do not stop taking lacosamide without telling your doctor, as epilepsy may recur or worsen.
•If your doctor decides to stop your treatment with lacosamide, they will give you instructions on how to gradually reduce the dose.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, lacosamide may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The side effects in the nervous system, such as dizziness, may be more pronounced after a single "loading dose".
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the following side effects:
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 patients
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 patients
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 patients
Frequency not known: cannot be estimated from available data
Other side effects in children
The additional side effects observed in children were fever (pyrexia), runny nose (nasopharyngitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), eating less than usual (decreased appetite), changes in behavior, not acting normally (abnormal behavior), and lack of energy (lethargy). Drowsiness (somnolence) is a very common side effect in children and may affect more than 1 in 10 children.
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet.You can also report directly through the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use website:www.notificaRAM.es.By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication..
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the box and on the blister after CAD/EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
This medication does not require special conditions for conservation.
Medications should not be thrown down the drains or in the trash. Dispose of the containers and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point of the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition ofLacosamida Aurovitas 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG
-The active ingredient is lacosamida. Each film-coated tablet contains 50 mg of lacosamida.
-The other components are:
Core of the tablet:Microcrystalline cellulose (Grado-101), hydroxypropyl cellulose (slightly substituted), crospovidone (type A), hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose (Grado-102), anhydrous colloidal silica, magnesium stearate.
Coating of the tablet:Titanium dioxide (E171), hypromellose (6 mPas) (E464), talc (E553b), poly (vinyl alcohol) (E1203), hypromellose (15mPas) (E464), macrogol 3350 (E1521), soy lecithin (E322), iron oxide red (E172), indigo carmin AL (3%-5%) (E 132), iron oxide black (E172).
Appearance of the product and contents of the package
Film-coated tablet.
Film-coated tablets of pink to rose color, oval (size 10.4 x 4.9 mm), marked with “50” on one side and “LA” on the other.
Lacosamida Aurovitas 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG is available in blisters.
Package sizes:
Blister packs:14, 28, 56, 168film-coated tablets.
Only some package sizes may be marketed.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible manufacturer
Holder of the marketing authorization
Aurovitas Spain, S.A.U.
Avda. de Burgos, 16-D
28036 Madrid
Spain
Responsible manufacturer
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited
HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far
Birzebbugia, BBG 3000
Malta
O
Generis Farmacêutica, S.A.
Rua João de Deus, 19
2700-487 Amadora
Portugal
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area with the following names:
France:Lacosamide Arrow 50 mg film-coated tablet
Germany:Lacosamid PUREN 50 mg Filmtabletten
Italy:Lacosamide Aurobindo
Portugal:Lacosamida Generis
Spain:Lacosamida Aurovitas 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Last review date of this leaflet:February 2023
Detailed information about this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es/).
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.