Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient
Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml Intestinal Gel
Levodopa/Carbidopa Monohydrate/Entacapone
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the Pack
Lecigon is used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is used in advanced cases when oral medicines (medicines taken by mouth) no longer have a sufficient effect.
Lecigon is a gel for continuous administration that is supplied through a pump and a tube directly into the small intestine. Lecigon contains three active substances:
How Lecigon works
In a person with Parkinson's disease, the levels of dopamine in the brain are low. Levodopa is converted into dopamine in the brain, thereby alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Carbidopa and entacapone improve the effect that levodopa has on Parkinson's disease.
Do not use Lecigon
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before you start usingthis medicine if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during treatment with this medicine:
A serious condition with a combination of muscle stiffness, cramps, tremors, sweating, fever, rapid pulse, severe fluctuations in blood pressure, abnormal behavior, confusion, loss of consciousness.
A serious condition with unexplained muscle pain, cramps, or muscle weakness. Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. This may be due to serious problems caused by the tube or surgery, such as blockage, wound, or damage to the intestine.
Talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms during treatmentwith this medicine:
If you are unable to handle the pump and tube, you must get help from a caregiver (e.g., nurse, nursing assistant, or family member) to avoid complications (problems).
Impulse control disorders - Changes in behavior
Tell your doctor if you, your family, or your caregiver notice that you are developing impulses or desires to behave in an unusual way, or if you cannot resist the impulse or temptation to perform certain activities that could harm you or others. These behaviors are called “impulse control disorders” and may include addictive gambling, overeating, or overspending, abnormally increased sexual desire, or an increase in thoughts or feelings of sex. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose or stop your treatment. For more information, see section 4 “Possible side effects”.
Dopamine dysregulation syndrome
Tell your doctor if you or your family/caregiver notice that you are developing symptoms similar to those of addiction, which cause a desire to take increasingly higher doses of Lecigon and other medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease.
Regular checks
With long-term treatment with Lecigon, your doctor may need to perform regular checks of your liver and kidney function, blood counts, heart, and blood vessels, and examine your skin for any changes.
Lecigon and cancer
Lecigon contains hydrazine, which is formed when carbidopa (an active substance of Lecigon) is broken down. Hydrazine could damage your genes, which may possibly cause cancer. However, it is not known if the amount of hydrazine produced when taking the recommended dose of Lecigon can cause harm or disease.
Surgery
Before undergoing any surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Lecigon.
Urinalysis
The active substances levodopa and carbidopa may produce misleading results in urinalyses. Inform the healthcare professional that you are using Lecigon if you are asked to provide a urine sample.
Children and adolescents
Lecigon must not be administered to children or adolescents under 18 years of age.
Other medicines and Lecigon
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.
Do not useLecigon if you are taking:
Lecigon may enhance the effect and side effects of other medicines, and other medicines may enhance the effect and side effects of Lecigon. Tell your doctor if you are taking:
Some medicines may reduce the effectof Lecigon. Tell your doctor if you are taking:
Using Lecigon with food and drink
Lecigon is not absorbed well if administered immediately after eating protein-rich foods (e.g., meat, fish, dairy products, nuts, and seeds). Tell your doctor if you follow a protein-rich diet.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
Lecigon is not recommended during pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential who do not use contraception, unless the doctor determines that the benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.
You must not breastfeed while being treated with Lecigon.
Driving and using machines
Lecigon may have a major influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Do not drive or use machines until you are sure how Lecigon affects you.
Wait until you feel completely awake or until you no longer feel dizzy before driving, using tools or machines, or performing any activity in which lack of concentration may put you or others at risk.
Lecigon contains sodium
This medicine contains 166 mg of sodium (a major component of cooking/table salt) in each cartridge. This is equivalent to 8.3% of the maximum recommended daily intake of sodium for adults.
Follow the administration instructions for this medication exactly as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
How Lecigon is administered
Lecigon is a gel that circulates through a portable pump (Crono LECIG) and a tube directly into the top of your intestine. The pump is connected to a probe that has been surgically placed in your intestine through the abdominal wall.
The pump administers a small dose throughout the day. This means that the level of the medication in your blood remains the same. It also means that some side effects, such as those affecting movement, are less common compared to medications taken orally.
Before the probe is inserted into the small intestine, the doctor may choose to check if the treatment with Lecigon works for you. In such cases, the gel is administered through a tube that passes through the nose, throat, and stomach to the small intestine.
A user manual for the pump is supplied with the pump.
Dose
Your doctor will adjust the dose individually based on your previous medication. It may be necessary to adjust the dose during the first few weeks of treatment.
Usually, a higher dose (called a bolus dose) is administered in the morning when treatment is initiated so that the blood reaches the correct levels of medication quickly. After this, a continuous maintenance dose is administered during waking hours (generally around 16 hours). If necessary, your doctor may decide to administer Lecigon for up to 24 hours a day.
Additional doses may also be administered as needed. Some people may also need to increase or decrease the continuous maintenance dose during the day. Your doctor will decide how and when you will receive additional doses or if it is necessary to adjust the dose during the day.
The total daily dose, including the morning dose (bolus dose), the maintenance dose, and additional doses, must not exceed 100 ml (which corresponds to 2,000 mg of levodopa, 500 mg of carbidopa, and 2,000 mg of entacapone).
If the user has dementia, the doctor may decide that the pump can only be manipulated by a healthcare professional or a family member. The pump can be locked to prevent accidental exceeding of the recommended daily dose.
Open cartridge
The medication cartridge is for single use and must not be used for more than 24 hours, even if medication remains. The dosing pump with the installed cartridge can be carried close to the body for up to 16 hours. During nighttime treatment, the pump must not be used next to the body, but it can, for example, be kept on the bedside table. If there was an interruption in treatment during the night, you can continue using the open cartridge the next day, but only until 24 hours after it was first opened. Do not remove the cartridge from the pump until you have finished using it (i.e., after 24 hours have passed since it was opened or when it is empty, whichever occurs first).
The gel may become slightly yellowish/reddish towards the end of its shelf life. This has no impact on the effect of the treatment.
If you use more Lecigon than you should
In case of overdose, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 40 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
Signs of overdose may include:
If you forget to use Lecigon
Turn on the pump as prescribed as soon as possible. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.
If you interrupt treatment with Lecigon
Do not stop using Lecigon or reduce your dose without consulting your doctor.
This is because a sudden reduction in dose or interruption of treatment with Lecigon too quickly can cause serious illnesses called neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rhabdomyolysis. There is a high risk that these conditions will occur if you are also being treated with a medication for a serious psychological problem. For more information about these conditions, see section 3 "If you interrupt or reduce the dose of Lecigon".
If treatment is interrupted, you will receive another treatment instead. If treatment with Lecigon is permanently suspended, the probe will be removed and the wound can heal.
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 will experience them. To reduce the risk of side effects, it is essential that the dose of the medication is adjusted individually with the proper setting of the pump.
Severe side effects of Lecigon
Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during your treatment with Lecigon - you may need urgent medical treatment:
To obtain more information about neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rhabdomyolysis, see section 3 "If you interrupt or reduce the dose of Lecigon".
Other side effects of Lecigon
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Impulse control disorders – Changes in your behavior.This is a common side effect (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Inability to resist the temptation to perform an action that may be harmful, including:
Inform your doctor if you, your family, or your caregiver notice any of these behaviors. Your doctor will explain ways to control or reduce the symptoms.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Have been reported (affect an unknown number of patients):
Side effects of the pump, probe, or surgery
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Have been reported (affect an unknown number of patients):
Side effects when levodopa and carbidopa are taken orally
The following side effects have been reported with levodopa and carbidopa (the same active ingredients as Lecigon) when taken orally. These side effects may also occur with Lecigon.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Reporting side effects
If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they are possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: 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 shown on the cartridge label and the box after EXP.
Unopened cartridge: Store and transport refrigerated (between 2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze. Store in the original packaging to protect it from light.
Open cartridge: Use immediately. The medication can be used for up to 24 hours after removal from the refrigerator. The dosing pump with the installed cartridge can be carried close to the body for up to 16 hours. During nighttime treatment, the pump must not be used next to the body, but it can, for example, be kept on the bedside table. Discard any unused amount after 24 hours.
The cartridges are designed for single use. Do not reuse an open cartridge.
Medications should not be disposed of through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point in the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Lecigon
Appearance of the Product and Container Contents
Lecigon intestinal gel is a viscous, opaque yellow or yellow-red gel, contained in a plastic cartridge that contains 47 ml of intestinal gel.
A container contains 7 cartridges.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
LobSor Pharmaceuticals AB
Kålsängsgränd 10 D
SE-753 19 Uppsala, Sweden
Manufacturer:
Bioglan AB
Borrgatan 31, Malmo S.t. Petri
Malmö, Skane Lan
211 24, Sweden
or
STADA Arzneimittel AG
Stadastrasse 2-18,
61118 Bad Vilbel
Germany
Further information on this medicinal product can be obtained from the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:
Laboratorio STADA, S.L.
Frederic Mompou, 5
08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Spain
This medicinal product is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Austria Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml Gel zur intestinalen Anwendung
Belgium Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml, intestinal gel
Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml gel voor intestinaal gebruik
Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml Gel zur intestinalen Anwendung
Bulgaria Лекигимон 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml гел за интестинално приложение
Croatia Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinalni gel
Czech Republic Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinální gel
Denmark Lecigon enteralgel
Finland Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml geeli suoleen
France Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml, gel intestinal
Germany Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml Gel zur intestinalen Anwendung
Hungary Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intesztinális gél
Ireland Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinal gel
Italy Lecigimon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml gel intestinale
Netherlands Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml gel voor intestinaal gebruik
Norway Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinalgel
Poland Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml zel dojelitowy
Portugal Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml gel intestinal
Romania Lecigon 20 mg/5 mg/20 mg/ml gel intestinal
Slovakia Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinálny gél
Slovenia Lecigon 20 mg/5 mg/20 mg v 1 ml intestinalni gel
Spain Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml gel intestinal
Sweden Lecigon 20 mg/ml + 5 mg/ml + 20 mg/ml intestinal gel
Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet:October 2023
Other Sources of Information
Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es/).