OPENVAS PLUS 20 mg/12.5 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Openvas Plus 20 mg/12.5 mg film-coated tablets

Olmesartan Medoxomil/Hydrochlorothiazide

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.

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

1. What is Openvas Plus and what is it used for

Openvas Plus contains two active substances, olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide, which are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension):

• Olmesartan medoxomil belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.

• Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of medicines called thiazide diuretics. It lowers blood pressure by helping the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body, increasing urine production.

Openvas Plus will only be given if treatment with Openvas (olmesartan medoxomil) alone has not controlled your blood pressure adequately. The combination of both active substances in Openvas Plus helps to lower blood pressure more than either substance alone.

You may already be taking medicines to treat high blood pressure, but your doctor may think it is necessary for you to take Openvas Plus to lower it further.

High blood pressure can be treated with medicines like Openvas Plus tablets. Your doctor has probably also advised you to make some changes to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure (for example, losing weight, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and reducing the amount of salt in your diet). Your doctor may also have advised you to take regular exercise, such as walking or swimming. It is important to follow your doctor's advice.

2. What you need to know before you take Openvas Plus

Do not take Openvas Plus

• If you are allergic to olmesartan medoxomil or hydrochlorothiazide, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) or to medicines similar to hydrochlorothiazide (sulfonamides).
• If you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is also better to avoid Openvas Plus at the start of pregnancy - see section Pregnancy).
• If you have severe kidney problems.
• If you have diabetes or kidney problems and are being treated with a blood pressure medicine containing aliskiren.
• If you have low potassium or sodium levels, high calcium or uric acid levels in your blood (with symptoms of gout or kidney stones), which do not improve with treatment.
• If you have severe liver problems, or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), or problems with the drainage of bile from the gallbladder (bile duct obstruction, for example, due to gallstones).

If you think any of these apply to you, or if you are not sure, do not take the tablets. Talk to your doctor and follow their advice.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor before you start taking Openvas Plus.

Before taking the tablets, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines for high blood pressure (hypertension):

• An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) (e.g. enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), especially if you have kidney problems associated with diabetes.
• Aliskiren

Your doctor may want to check your kidney function, blood pressure, and blood electrolyte levels (e.g. potassium) at regular intervals.

See also the information under the heading “Do not take Openvas Plus”.

Before taking the tablets, tell your doctorif you have any of the following health problems:

• Mild to moderate kidney problems or if you have recently had a kidney transplant.
• Liver disease.
• Heart failure or problems with the heart valves or heart muscle.
• Vomiting (feeling sick) or diarrhea that is severe or lasts for several days.
• Treatment with high doses of diuretics (water tablets) or if you are on a low-salt diet.
• Problems with the adrenal glands (e.g. primary hyperaldosteronism).
• Diabetes.
• Lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease).
• Allergy or asthma.
• If you have had skin cancer or if you develop an unexpected skin lesion during treatment. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, especially long-term use at high doses, may increase the risk of some types of skin and lip cancer (non-melanoma skin cancer). Protect your skin from sun exposure and UV rays while taking Openvas Plus.
• If you have had respiratory or lung problems (such as inflammation or fluid in the lungs) after taking hydrochlorothiazide in the past. If you experience severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing after taking Openvas Plus, seek medical attention immediately.

Tell your doctorif you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Severe diarrhea, persistent and causing significant weight loss. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and decide how to proceed with your blood pressure treatment.
• Decreased vision or eye pain. These could be symptoms of fluid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal effusion) or increased intraocular pressure and may occur from a few hours to a few weeks after taking Openvas Plus. This can lead to permanent vision impairment if left untreated.

Your doctor may want to see you more often and perform some tests if you have any of these problems.

Consult your doctor if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking Openvas Plus. Your doctor will decide whether to continue treatment. Do not stop taking Openvas Plus on your own.

Openvas Plus may cause an increase in blood fat and uric acid levels (which can cause gout - painful swelling of the joints). Your doctor will probably want to perform a blood test from time to time to monitor these possible changes.

A change in blood electrolyte levels may occur. Your doctor will probably want to perform a blood test from time to time to monitor this possible change. Some signs of electrolyte changes are: thirst, dry mouth, muscle pain or cramps, tired muscles, low blood pressure (hypotension), feeling of weakness, slowness, tiredness, drowsiness or restlessness, nausea, vomiting, decreased need to urinate, rapid heartbeat. Tell your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

As with any other medicine that lowers blood pressure, excessive lowering of blood pressure in patients with impaired blood flow to the heart or brain may cause a heart attack or stroke. Therefore, your doctor will carefully monitor your blood pressure.

If you are going to have parathyroid function tests, you should stop taking Openvas Plus before these tests are performed.

Athletes are informed that this medicine contains a component (hydrochlorothiazide) that may result in a positive doping test.

You must inform your doctor if you are pregnant or think you might be. Openvas Plus is not recommended during pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if taken after this time (see section Pregnancy).

Children and adolescents

Openvas Plus is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years.

Using Openvas Plus with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any of the following medicines:

• Other blood pressure-lowering medicines (antihypertensives), as they may increase the effect of Openvas Plus.

Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or take other precautions:

If you are taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) or aliskiren (see also the information under the headings “Do not take Openvas Plus” and “Warnings and precautions”).

• Medicines that may alter potassium levels in the blood when used with Openvas Plus. These include:

• Potassium supplements (as well as salt substitutes containing potassium).
• Diuretics (water tablets).
• Heparin (to thin the blood).
• Laxatives.
• Corticosteroids.
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
• Carbenoxolone (a medicine for treating mouth and stomach ulcers).
• Sodium penicillin G (an antibiotic also known as benzylpenicillin sodium).
• Certain painkillers such as aspirin or salicylates.

• Lithium (a medicine used to treat mood changes and some types of depression) may have its toxicity increased if taken with Openvas Plus. If you have to take lithium, your doctor will measure lithium levels in your blood.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (medicines used to relieve pain, swelling, and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis) may increase the risk of kidney problems and decrease the effect of Openvas Plus when taken with it.
• Sedatives, hypnotics, and antidepressants used with Openvas Plus may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up.
• Certain medicines such as baclofen and tubocurarine, used as muscle relaxants.
• Amifostine and other medicines used to treat cancer, such as cyclophosphamide or methotrexate.
• Cholestyramine and colestipol, medicines used to lower blood fat levels.
• Colesevelam hydrochloride, a medicine that lowers blood cholesterol levels, as it may decrease the effect of Openvas Plus. Your doctor may advise you to take Openvas Plus at least 4 hours before colestipol hydrochloride.
• Anticholinergic medicines such as atropine and biperiden.
• Medicines such as thioridazine, chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, trifluperazine, cyanemazine, sulpiride, amisulpride, pimozide, sultopride, tiapride, droperidol, or haloperidol, used to treat certain psychiatric disorders.
• Certain medicines such as quinidine, hydroquinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, or digitalis, used to treat heart problems.
• Medicines such as mizolastine, pentamidine, terfenadine, dofetilide, ibutilide, or erythromycin injections, which may change heart rhythm.

• Oral antidiabetic medicines, such as metformin or insulin, used to lower blood sugar levels.
• Beta-blockers and diazoxide, medicines used to treat high blood pressure or low blood sugar levels, respectively, as Openvas Plus may increase the blood sugar-raising effect of these medicines.
• Methyldopa, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
• Medicines such as noradrenaline, used to increase blood pressure and decrease heart rate.
• Difemanil, used to treat slow heart rate or reduce sweating.
• Medicines such as probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, and allopurinol, used to treat gout.
• Calcium supplements.
• Amantadine, an antiviral medicine.
• Cyclosporine, a medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection.
• Antibiotics of the tetracycline group or sparfloxacin.
• Amphotericin, a medicine used to treat fungal infections.
• Certain antacids, used to treat stomach acid, such as aluminum and magnesium hydroxide, as they may slightly reduce the effect of Openvas Plus.
• Cisapride, used to increase food movement in the stomach and intestines.
• Halofantrine, used to treat malaria.

Taking Openvas Plus with food and drink

Openvas Plus can be taken with or without food.

Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Openvas Plus, as some people may feel weak or dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drink any alcohol, including wine, beer, or alcoholic drinks.

Black patients

As with other similar medicines, the blood pressure-lowering effect of Openvas Plus is somewhat smaller in black patients.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

You must inform your doctor if you are pregnant (or think you might be). Your doctor will generally advise you to stop taking Openvas Plus before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant, and will recommend that you take a different medicine instead of Openvas Plus. Openvas Plus is not recommended during pregnancy, and must not be taken after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if taken after this time.

Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding. Openvas Plus is not recommended during breastfeeding, and your doctor will choose a different treatment for you if you want to breastfeed.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Athletes

Athletes are informed that this medicine contains a component (hydrochlorothiazide) that may result in a positive doping test.

Driving and using machines

You may feel drowsy or dizzy while being treated for high blood pressure. If this happens, do not drive or use machines until the symptoms have disappeared. Consult your doctor.

Openvas Plus contains lactose

This medicine contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Openvas Plus

Follow the instructions for administration of this medicine exactly as told by your doctor. If you are not sure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Recommended dose

The recommended dose is one Openvas Plus 20 mg/12.5 mg tablet per day. If your blood pressure is not controlled adequately, your doctor may change the dose to one Openvas Plus 20 mg/25 mg tablet per day.

Take the tablets with water. If possible, take your dose at the same time each day, for example, at breakfast time. It is important that you keep taking Openvas Plus until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you take more Openvas Plus than you should

If you take more tablets than you should or if a child accidentally takes one or more tablets, contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately and take the medicine pack with you.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, telephone 91 562 04 20, stating the medicine and the amount taken.

If you forget to take Openvas Plus

If you forget to take a dose, take your normal dose the next day. Do nottake a double doseto make up for forgotten doses.

If you stop taking Openvas Plus

It is important to continue taking Openvas Plus unless your doctor tells you to stop.

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

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

However, the following adverse effects can be serious:

• In rare cases, allergic reactions may occur that can affect the whole body, with inflammation of the face, mouth, and/or larynx, along with itching and skin rash. If this happens to you, stop taking Openvas Plus and consult your doctor immediately.

• Openvas Plus can cause a pronounced drop in blood pressure in susceptible patients or as a result of an allergic reaction. Dizziness or fainting can occur infrequently. If this happens to you, stop taking Openvas Plus, consult your doctor immediately, and remain lying down in a horizontal position.

• Unknown frequency: If you experience yellowing of the whites of the eyes, dark urine, skin itching, even if you started treatment with Openvas Plus a long time ago, contact your doctor immediately, who will assess your symptoms and decide how to continue with blood pressure treatment.

Openvas Plus is a combination of two active principles. The following information first describes the adverse effects reported so far with the Openvas Plus combination (in addition to those already mentioned) and secondly, the known adverse effects of the two active principles separately.

These are other known adverse effects with Openvas Plus:

If these effects occur, they are often mild and it is not necessary to interrupt treatment.

Common Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

Dizziness, weakness, headache, fatigue, chest pain, swelling of ankles, feet, legs, hands, or arms.

Uncommon Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

Rapid and intense heartbeat (palpitations), rash, eczema, vertigo, cough, indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and muscle pain, joint pain, arm and leg pain, back pain, erection problems in men, blood in urine.

Also, some changes in blood tests have been observed infrequently, including:

Increased levels of fat in the blood, increased urea or uric acid in the blood, increased creatinine, increased or decreased potassium levels in the blood, increased calcium levels in the blood, increased blood sugar, increased liver function test values. Your doctor will monitor you with a blood test and tell you if you need to take any action.

Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

Feeling of discomfort, altered consciousness, skin swelling (hives), acute kidney failure.

Also, some changes in blood test results have been observed rarely, including:

Increased blood urea nitrogen, decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Your doctor will monitor you with a blood test and tell you if you need to take any action.

Additional Adverse Effects Reported with the Use of Olmesartan Medoxomil or Hydrochlorothiazide Alone, but Not with Openvas Plus or at a Higher Frequency:

Olmesartan Medoxomil:

Common Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

Bronchitis, cough, nasal congestion and secretion, sore throat, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, gastroenteritis, joint or bone pain, back pain, blood in urine, urinary tract infection, flu-like symptoms, pain.

Also, some changes in blood test results have been observed frequently, including:

Increased levels of fat in the blood, increased urea or uric acid in the blood, increased liver or muscle function.

Uncommon Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

Rapid allergic reactions that can affect the whole body and cause breathing problems, as well as a rapid drop in blood pressure that can lead to fainting (anaphylactic reactions), facial inflammation, angina (chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris), feeling of discomfort, allergic skin rash, itching, exanthema (skin rash), skin swelling (hives).

Also, some changes in blood test results have been observed infrequently, including:

Reduction in the number of a type of blood cell called platelets (thrombocytopenia).

Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

Renal function deterioration, lack of energy, intestinal angioedema: swelling in the intestine that occurs with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Also, some changes in blood test results have been observed rarely, including:

Increased potassium in the blood.

Hydrochlorothiazide:

Very Common Adverse Effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

Changes in blood tests, including: increased fat in the blood and uric acid levels.

Common Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

Feeling of confusion, abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, feeling of bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, glucose in urine.

Also, some changes in blood test results have been observed, including:

Increased creatinine, urea, calcium, and sugar levels in the blood, decreased chloride, potassium, magnesium, and sodium levels in the blood. Increased serum amylase (hyperamylasemia).

Uncommon Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

Decreased or lost appetite, severe breathing difficulties, anaphylactic skin reactions (hypersensitivity reactions), worsening of pre-existing myopia, erythema, skin reactions due to light sensitivity, itching, purple spots or patches on the skin due to small hemorrhages (purpura), skin swelling (hives).

Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):Inflammation and pain of the salivary glands, decreased number of white blood cells, decreased number of platelets in the blood, anemia, bone marrow depression, restlessness, depression, sleep problems, feeling of loss of interest (apathy), tingling and numbness, seizures (convulsions), yellowish perception of objects when looking at them, blurred vision, dry eyes, irregular heartbeat, inflammation of blood vessels, blood clots (thrombosis or embolism), lung inflammation, fluid accumulation in the lungs, pancreatitis, jaundice, infection in the gallbladder, lupus erythematosus symptoms such as skin rash, joint pain, and cold hands and fingers, allergic skin reactions, skin peeling and blisters, non-infectious kidney inflammation (interstitial nephritis), fever, muscle weakness (which can sometimes cause movement disorders).

Very Rare Adverse Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

Electrolyte imbalance that can cause an abnormally reduced level of chloride in the blood (hypochloremic alkalosis), intestinal obstruction (paralytic ileus).

Acute respiratory distress (signs include severe breathing difficulties, fever, weakness, and confusion).

Unknown Adverse Effects (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):

Decreased vision or eye pain (possible signs of fluid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal effusion) or acute angle-closure glaucoma).

Skin and lip cancer (non-melanoma skin cancer).

Reporting Adverse Effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect that is not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Openvas Plus

Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.

No special storage conditions are required.

Do not use this medicine after the expiration date shown on the packaging and on the blister pack after "CAD". The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines should not be thrown away through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE Point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Openvas Plus

The active ingredients are:

Openvas Plus 20 mg/12.5 mg: each film-coated tablet contains 20 mg of olmesartan medoxomil and 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide.

The other ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate*, low-substitution hypromellose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, hypromellose, and iron (III) oxides (E172).

• See previous section "Openvas Plus contains lactose"

Appearance of the Product and Package Contents

Openvas Plus 20 mg/12.5 mg is presented in the form of film-coated tablets, yellow-red in color, round, 8.5 mm in size, with the inscription "C22" on one side.

Openvas Plus film-coated tablets are presented in packages of 14, 28, 30, 56, 84, 90, 98, and 10 x 28 tablets, and in packages with precut unit-dose blisters of 10, 50, and 500 tablets.

Not all packages are marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder:

DAIICHI SANKYO ESPAÑA, S.A.

Paseo del Club Deportivo nº1,

Edificio 14, Planta baja izquierda

28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón - Madrid

Manufacturer:

Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH

Luitpoldstrasse 1

85276 Pfaffenhofen

Germany

or

Berlin-Chemie AG

Glienicker Weg 125, D-12489 Berlin

Germany

or

Qualiphar N.V.

Rijksweg 9, 2880 Bornem

Belgium

or

Menarini – Von Heyden GmbH

Leipziger Strasse 7-13

01097 Dresden

Germany

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

Germany: Olmes Plus

Italy: Plaunazide

Spain: Openvas Plus

Date of the last revision of this prospectus: January 2025.

Other Sources of Information

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