LAURAK 1500 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Laurak 1500 mg film-coated tablets

Levetiracetam

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

Contents of the pack

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

1. What is Laurak and what is it used for

Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic medicine (a medicine used to treat seizures in epilepsy).

Levetiracetam is used:

• on its own in adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy to treat a certain form of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition where the patient has fits (seizures). Levetiracetam is used to treat a form of epilepsy where the seizures initially only affect one side of the brain but may then spread to wider areas on both sides of the brain (partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation). Your doctor has prescribed levetiracetam for you to reduce the number of seizures.
• with other antiepileptic medicines to treat:

• partial onset seizures with or without generalisation in adults, adolescents, children, and infants from 1 month of age
• myoclonic seizures (short, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
• primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures (major fits, including loss of consciousness) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (a type of epilepsy that is thought to have a genetic cause).

2. What you need to know before you take Laurak

Do not take Laurak

• if you are allergic to levetiracetam, to any other pyrrolidone derivative or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine:

• if you have kidney problems, follow the advice of your doctor who will decide if you need to adjust the dose.
• if you notice any decrease in the growth of your child or unexpected development of puberty, contact your doctor.
• a small number of people taking antiepileptics such as levetiracetam have had thoughts of harming themselves or suicidal thoughts. If you have any symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor.
• if you have a medical history or a family history of irregular heartbeats (visible on an electrocardiogram), or if you have a disease and/or are taking a treatment that makes you prone to cardiac arrhythmias or electrolyte disturbances.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get worse or last more than a few days:

• abnormal thoughts, feeling irritable or behaving more aggressively than usual or if you or your family and friends notice significant changes in mood or behaviour.
• worsening of epilepsy.

On rare occasions, epileptic fits may become worse or more frequent, mainly during the first month after the start of treatment or after a dose increase. If you experience any of these new symptoms while taking Laurak, contact a doctor as soon as possible.

Children and adolescents

Monotherapy with levetiracetam is not indicated for children and adolescents under 16 years.

Using Laurak with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Do not take macrogol (a medicine used as a laxative) for one hour before and one hour after taking levetiracetam as it may reduce its effect.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Laurak should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. It cannot be entirely excluded that it may cause birth defects.

It is not recommended to breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Levetiracetam may affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines, as it may cause drowsiness. This is more likely at the start of treatment or when the dose is increased. You should not drive or use machines until it is established that your ability to perform such activities is not affected.

3. How to take Laurak

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Take the number of tablets that your doctor has prescribed for you.

Levetiracetam must be taken twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, at approximately the same time every day.

Monotherapy

Dose in adults (≥18 years) and adolescents (from 16 years of age):

General dose: between 1,000 mg and 3,000 mg each day.

When you first start taking levetiracetam, your doctor will prescribe you a lower dosefor two weeks before giving you the lowest general dose.

Concomitant therapy

Dose in adults and adolescents (from 12 to 17 years) weighing 50 kg or more:

General dose: between 1,000 mg and 3,000 mg each day. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate pharmaceutical form and dose according to your weight.

Dose in infants (from 1 month to 23 months), children (from 2 to 11 years) and adolescents (from 12 to 17 years) weighing less than 50 kg:

Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate pharmaceutical form of levetiracetam according to the age, weight, and dose.

Method of administration

Swallow the levetiracetam tablets with a sufficient amount of liquid (e.g. a glass of water).

You may take levetiracetam with or without food. After oral administration, the bitter taste of levetiracetam may be experienced.

Duration of treatment

• Levetiracetam is used as a chronic treatment. You should continue to take levetiracetam for as long as your doctor has told you.
• Do not stop your treatment without the advice of your doctor, as this may increase your seizures.

If you take more Laurak than you should

In case of overdose or accidental intake, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, telephone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

Possible side effects of a levetiracetam overdose are drowsiness, agitation, aggression, decreased alertness, inhibition of breathing, and coma. Contact your doctor if you have taken more tablets than you should. Your doctor will establish the best possible treatment for the overdose.

If you forget to take Laurak

Contact your doctor if you have missed one or more doses.

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you stop taking Laurak

Stopping treatment with levetiracetam should be done gradually to avoid an increase in seizures. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment with levetiracetam, he/she will give you instructions for the gradual withdrawal of levetiracetam.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital if you experience:

• weakness, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, as these may be signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis);
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (Quincke's oedema);
• flu-like symptoms and rash on the face followed by a prolonged rash with high temperature, elevated liver enzymes in blood tests, and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and swollen lymph nodes (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS));
• symptoms such as low urine output, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and swelling of the legs, arms, or feet, as these may be signs of sudden kidney failure;
• a skin rash which may form blisters and may look like targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme);
• a widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome);
• a more severe form causing skin peeling over more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis);
• signs of serious mental changes or if someone around you notices signs of confusion, drowsiness (drowsiness), amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (forgetfulness), abnormal behaviour, or other neurological signs including involuntary or uncontrolled movements. These may be symptoms of encephalopathy.

The most frequently reported side effects are nasopharyngitis, somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Side effects such as drowsiness, weakness, and dizziness may be more frequent at the start of treatment or when the dose is increased. However, these side effects should decrease over time.

Very common:may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• nasopharyngitis;
• somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache.

Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• loss of appetite (anorexia);
• depression, hostility or aggression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, or irritability;
• seizures, balance disorder, dizziness (feeling unsteady), lethargy (lack of energy and enthusiasm), tremor (involuntary shaking);
• vertigo (feeling of spinning);
• cough;
• abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dyspepsia (indigestion), vomiting, nausea;
• skin rash;
• asthenia/fatigue (feeling weak).

Uncommon:may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• decrease in the number of platelets, decrease in white blood cells;
• weight loss, weight gain;
• suicidal attempt and suicidal thoughts, mental disorders, abnormal behaviour, hallucinations, anger, confusion, panic attack, emotional instability/mood swings, agitation;
• amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (forgetfulness), abnormal coordination/ataxia (lack of coordination), paraesthesia (tingling), attention disturbances (lack of concentration);
• diplopia (double vision), blurred vision;
• elevated liver enzymes;
• hair loss, eczema, itching;
• muscle weakness, myalgia (muscle pain);
• injury.

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

• infection;
• decrease in all types of blood cells;
• severe allergic reactions (DRESS, anaphylactic reaction, Quincke's oedema);
• decrease in sodium levels in the blood;
• suicide, personality disorders (behavioural problems), abnormal thinking (slow thinking, difficulty concentrating);
• delirium;
• encephalopathy (see section “Tell your doctor immediately” for a detailed description of the symptoms);
• epileptic fits may become worse or more frequent;
• uncontrolled muscle spasms affecting the head, torso, and limbs, difficulty controlling movements, hyperkinesia (hyperactivity);
• change in heart rhythm (electrocardiogram);
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
• liver failure, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver);
• sudden kidney failure;
• skin rash which may form blisters and may look like targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme), a widespread rash with blisters and skin peeling, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), and a more severe form causing skin peeling over more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis);
• rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle tissue) and increased creatine phosphokinase in the blood. The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients.
• limping or difficulty walking;
• a combination of fever, muscle stiffness, unstable blood pressure and heart rate, confusion, decreased consciousness (may be signs of a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome). The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients.

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Spanish Medicines Surveillance 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. Storing Laurak

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help to protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Laurak contains

• The active substance is levetiracetam. Each film-coated tablet contains 1,500 mg of levetiracetam.
• The other ingredients are:

Core of the tablet:crospovidone type A, povidone K30, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.

Coating:hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E-171), talc, macrogol 400, yellow iron oxide (E172), aluminium lake indigo carmine (E132).

Appearance and packaging

Laurak 1,500 mg film-coated tablets are green, oval, and scored on one side of the tablet.

The tablet can be divided into equal doses.

Laurak is available in blister packs and is available in packs containing 30, 50, or 60 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer

Marketing authorisation holder:

Neuraxpharm Spain, S.L.U.

Avda. Barcelona, 69

08970 Sant Joan Despí

Barcelona - Spain

Manufacturer:

Rontis Hellas Medical and Pharmaceutical Products, S.A.

P.O. Box 3012 Larisa Industrial Area

41004 Larisa

Greece

PharOS MT Ltd.

HF 62X, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Birzebbugia,

BBG 3000, Malta

This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Date of last revision of this leaflet: March 2023

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es)