MEMANTINE STADAFARMA 20 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Memantina STADAFARMA 20 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Memantine hydrochloride

Read the entire package leaflet carefully before starting to take this medication, as it contains important information for you.

• Keep this package leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medication has been prescribed to you only, and you should not give it to others, even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
• If you experience side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this package leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the package leaflet

1. What is Memantina Stadafarma and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before taking Memantina Stadafarma
3. How to take Memantina Stadafarma
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Memantina Stadafarma

1. Package contents and additional information

1. What is Memantina Stadafarma and what is it used for

How Memantina Stadafarma works

Memantine belongs to a group of medications known as anti-dementia medications.

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is due to an alteration in brain signals. The brain contains so-called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that participate in the transmission of important nerve signals in learning and memory. Memantine belongs to the group of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. Memantine acts on these receptors, improving the transmission of nerve signals and memory.

What Memantina Stadafarma is used for

Memantine is used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

2. What you need to know before taking Memantina Stadafarma

Do not take Memantina Stadafarma

• if you are allergic to the active ingredient memantine hydrochloride or to any of the other ingredients of this medication (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take memantine.

• if you have a history of epileptic seizures.
• if you have recently had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), if you suffer from congestive heart failure or if you have uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).

In these situations, treatment should be carefully monitored, and your doctor should regularly reassess the clinical benefit of memantine.

If you have kidney problems, your doctor should closely monitor your kidney function and, if necessary, adjust the dose of memantine.

The use of memantine with other medications such as amantadine (for the treatment of Parkinson's disease), ketamine (a medication generally used to produce anesthesia), dextromethorphan (a medication for the treatment of cough), and other NMDA antagonists should be avoided.

The use of memantine is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Taking Memantina Stadafarma with other medications

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or may need to use any other medication.

In particular, the administration of memantine may produce changes in the effects of the following medications, so your doctor may need to adjust the dose:

• amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan,
• dantrolene, baclofen,
• cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine,
• hydrochlorothiazide (or any combination with hydrochlorothiazide),
• anticholinergics (substances generally used to treat movement disorders or intestinal spasms),
• anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and eliminate seizures),
• barbiturates (substances generally used to induce sleep),
• dopaminergic agonists (substances such as L-dopa, bromocriptine),
• neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental illnesses),
• oral anticoagulants.

If you are hospitalized, inform your doctor that you are taking memantine.

Taking Memantina Stadafarma with food, beverages, and alcohol

You should inform your doctor if you have recently changed or plan to change your diet substantially (e.g., from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet) or if you have renal tubular acidosis (RTA, excess of acid-producing substances in the blood due to kidney dysfunction) or severe urinary tract infections (urinary tract), as your doctor may need to adjust the dose of the medication.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication.

The use of memantine is not recommended in pregnant women.

Women taking memantine should stop breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

Your doctor will inform you if your illness allows you to drive and use machines safely.

Additionally, memantine may alter your reaction ability, so driving or operating machines may be inappropriate.

Memantina Stadafarma contains lactose

If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medication.

3. How to take Memantina Stadafarma

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Posology:

The recommended dose of memantine in adult patients and elderly patients is 20 mg administered once a day. To reduce the risk of side effects, this dose is gradually achieved following the following daily scheme:

The normal starting dose is half a tablet once a day (5 mg) the first week. It is increased to one tablet a day (10 mg) the second week and to one and a half tablets once a day in the third week. From the fourth week onwards, the normal dose is one 20 mg tablet administered once a day.

Posology for patients with renal impairment:

If you have kidney problems, your doctor will decide the appropriate dose for your condition. In this case, your doctor should periodically monitor your kidney function.

How to administer Memantina Stadafarma:

Memantine should be administered orally once a day. To get the most out of your medication, you should take it every day and at the same time. The tablets should be swallowed with a little water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Duration of treatment:

Continue taking memantine as long as it is beneficial for you. Your doctor should periodically evaluate the effects of your treatment.

If you take more Memantina Stadafarma than you should

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: (91) 5620420, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.

• Generally, taking an excessive amount of memantine should not cause you any harm. You may experience an increase in the symptoms described in section 4 "Possible side effects".
• If you take an overdose of memantine, contact your doctor or seek medical advice, as you may need medical attention.

If you forget to take Memantina Stadafarma

• If you realize you have forgotten to take your dose of memantine, wait and take the next dose at the usual time.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medications, memantine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Generally, side effects are classified as mild to moderate.

Frequent (may affect 1 to 10 in 100 patients):

• Headache, drowsiness, constipation, elevated liver function tests, dizziness, balance disorder, difficult breathing, high blood pressure, and hypersensitivity to the medication.

Uncommon (may affect 1 to 10 in 1,000 patients):

• Fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, gait disturbance, heart failure, and venous thrombosis/thromboembolism.

Very rare (may affect less than 1 in 10,000 patients):

• Seizures.

Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):

• Pancreatitis, hepatitis, and psychotic reactions.

Alzheimer's disease has been associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide. These events have been reported in patients treated with memantine.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this package leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System website: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medication.

If you consider any of the side effects you are experiencing to be serious or if you notice any side effect not mentioned in this package leaflet, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

5. Storage of Memantina Stadafarma

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

Do not use this medication after the expiration date stated on the packaging after "EXP". The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

No special storage conditions are required.

Medications should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and any unused medication in the SIGRE collection pointat the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and any unused medication. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package contents and additional information

Composition of Memantina Stadafarma

• The active ingredient is memantine hydrochloride. (Each film-coated tablet contains 20 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 16.62 mg of memantine).
• The other ingredients are:

Core of the tablet:lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous colloidal silica, talc, and magnesium stearate.

Coating:hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 400, and red iron oxide (E 172).

Appearance of the product and package contents

Memantina Stadafarma 20 mg is presented in the form of film-coated tablets, pink, oblong, and biconvex.

Memantina Stadafarma 20 mg film-coated tablets are presented in blister packs of PVDC/Al of 56 film-coated tablets.

Other presentations:

Memantina Stadafarma 10 mg film-coated tablets EFG.

Marketing authorization holder:

Laboratorio STADA, S.L.

Frederic Mompou, 5

08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)

Spain

Manufacturer:

Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L.

Avda. Barcelona, 69

08970 – Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona)

Spain

Date of the last revision of this package leaflet:May 2013

Other sources of information:

Detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.