Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Orfadin 2 mg Hard Capsules
Orfadin 5 mg Hard Capsules
Orfadin 10 mg Hard Capsules
Orfadin 20 mg Hard Capsules
nitisinona
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
- If you have any questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
- If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. See section 4.
1. What Orfadin is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Orfadin
3. How to take Orfadin
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Orfadin
6. Contents of the pack and additional information
Orfadin contains the active ingredient nitisinona. Orfadin is used to treat:
In these diseases, your body cannot fully break down the amino acid tyrosine (amino acids are the fundamental elements of proteins), forming toxic substances. These substances accumulate in your body. Orfadin blocks the breakdown of tyrosine, and toxic substances do not form.
To treat hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, you must follow a special diet while taking this medication, because tyrosine will still be in your body. This diet is based on a low content of tyrosine and phenylalanine (another amino acid).
To treat AKU, your doctor may advise you to follow a special diet.
Do not take Orfadin
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication (see section “Pregnancy and breastfeeding”).
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Orfadin.
-A ophthalmologist will examine your eyes before treatment and regularly during treatment with nitisinone. If you notice redness of the eyes or any other eye effect, contact your doctor immediately for an eye examination. Eye problems (see section 4) may be a sign of inadequate dietary control.
Blood samples will be taken during treatment to control whether the treatment is adequate and to ensure that there are no blood-related side effects.
If you are taking Orfadin for the treatment of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, you will have regular liver checks because the disease affects the liver.
Your doctor should follow up with you every 6 months. If you experience any side effects, it is recommended to use shorter intervals.
Other medications and Orfadin
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication.
Orfadin may interfere with the effect of other medications, such as:
- epilepsy medications (such as phenytoin)
- blood clotting medications (such as warfarin)
Use of Orfadin with food
If you start treatment taking it with food, it is recommended to follow this regimen throughout the treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
The safety of this medication has not been studied in pregnant women and breastfeeding women.
Consult your doctor if you plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant, you must consult your doctor immediately.
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication (see section “Do not take Orfadin”).
Driving and operating machinery
The influence of this medication on the ability to drive and operate machinery is small.
However, if you experience side effects that affect your vision, do not drive or operate machinery until your vision has returned to normal (see section 4 “Possible side effects”).
Follow exactly the medication administration instructions provided by your doctor. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
For hereditary tyrosinemia type1,the treatment with this medication should be initiated and supervised by a doctor experienced in treating the disease.
For hereditary tyrosinemia type1,the recommended daily dose is 1 mg/kg of body weight administered orally. Your doctor will adjust the dose individually.
It is recommended to administer the dose once a day. However, due to limited data in patients with a body weight of <20
For AKU, the recommended dose is 10 mg once a day.
If you have trouble swallowing the capsules, you can open the capsules and mix the powder with a small amount of water or dietary supplement, before taking it.
If you take more Orfadin than you should
If you have taken more of this medication than you should, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
If you forget to take Orfadin
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses. If you have forgotten to take a dose, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
If you interrupt the treatment with Orfadin
If you believe the medication's action is not adequate, inform your doctor. Do not change the dose or discontinue treatment without first speaking with your doctor.
If you have any doubts about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
If you notice any eye-related side effects, inform your doctor immediately so that an ophthalmological examination can be performed. Treatment with nitisinone increases blood tyrosine levels, which can cause eye-related symptoms. In patients with hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, the frequently reported eye side effects (affecting more than 1 in 100 people) due to higher tyrosine levels are:inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), corneal opacity and inflammation (keratitis), light sensitivity (photophobia), and eye pain. Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids, is a rare side effect (affecting up to 1 in 100 people).
In patients with AKU, eye irritation (keratopathy) and eye pain are very frequently reported side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people).
The following are other side effects reported in patients with hereditary tyrosinemia type 1:
Other frequent side effects
-Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and white blood cell count (leucopenia), reduction of certain types of white blood cells (granulocytopenia).
Other rare side effects
-Increased white blood cell count (leucocytosis),
-itching (pruritus), skin inflammation (dermatitis exfoliativa), and rash.
The following are other side effects reported in patients with AKU:
Other frequent side effects
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the national notification system included in theAppendix V.By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information about the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the bottle and the box after “EXP”. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Store in the refrigerator (between 2 °C and 8 °C).
The medication can be stored for a single period of 2 months (for 2 mg capsules) or 3 months (for 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg capsules) at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C, after which it must be discarded.
Do not forget to note the date when you removed it from the refrigerator on the bottle.
Medicines should not be thrown down the drains or in the trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medications that you no longer need. In this way, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Orfadin
Orfadin 2 mg:Each capsule contains 2 mg of nitisinone.
Orfadin 5 mg:Each capsule contains 5 mg of nitisinone.
Orfadin 10 mg:Each capsule contains 10 mg of nitisinone.
Orfadin 20 mg:Each capsule contains 20 mg of nitisinone.
Contents of the capsule: pregelatinized cornstarch.
Capsule coating: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E 171).
Printing: iron oxide (E 172), shellac, propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide.
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
The capsules are hard, white, opaque, made of gelatin, and have "NTBC" and the dose "2 mg", "5 mg", "10 mg" or "20 mg" printed in black. The capsule contains a powder that may be white or grayish.
The capsules are packaged in plastic bottles with tamper-evident closures. Each bottle contains 60 capsules.
Marketing Authorization Holder
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum International AB
SE-112 76 Stockholm
Sweden
Manufacturer
Apotek Produktion & Laboratorier AB
Prismavägen 2
SE-141 75 Kungens Kurva
Sweden
Last review date of this leaflet: 04/2024.
Detailed information about this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu/.There are also links to other websites about rare diseases and orphan medicines.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.