Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Paroxetine Almus Pharma 20 mg film-coated tablets EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack:
Paroxetine is used for the treatment of depression and/or anxiety disorders in adults.The anxiety disorders for which this medicine is indicated are: obsessive-compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts, repetitive thoughts with uncontrolled behavior), panic disorder (panic attacks, including those caused by agoraphobia, which is the fear of open spaces), social phobia (fear or avoidance of social contact situations), post-traumatic stress disorder (anxiety caused by a traumatic event), and generalized anxiety disorder (feeling normally very anxious or nervous).
Paroxetine belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The precise mechanism of action of this medicine and other SSRIs is not fully known, but they exert their action by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. Properly treating depression or anxiety disorder is important to help you feel better.
Do not take Paroxetine Almus Pharma
If you are in any of these situations, tell your doctor and do not take this medicine.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take paroxetine
If your answer is YES to any of these situations and you have not yet consulted your doctor, ask your doctor how to take paroxetine.
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age
Paroxetine Almus Pharma should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Also, you should know that in patients under 18 years of age, there is a greater risk of adverse effects such as suicidal attempts, suicidal thoughts, and hostility (predominantly aggression, confrontational behavior, and irritation) when taking paroxetine. If your doctor has prescribed paroxetine to you (or your child) and you wish to discuss this decision, consult your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms detailed above appear or worsen when you (or your child) are taking this medicine. The long-term effects of Paroxetine Almus on safety, related to growth, maturity, and cognitive and behavioral development in this age group, have not yet been demonstrated.
In studies conducted with paroxetine in patients under 18 years of age, the frequent adverse effects, which affected less than 1 in 10 children/adolescents, were: an increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts, self-harm behaviors, hostile, aggressive, or unfriendly behaviors, loss of appetite, tremors, abnormal sweating, hyperactivity (having too much energy), agitation, unstable emotions (including crying and mood changes), and the appearance of bruises or bleeding (such as nosebleeds). These effects were also observed in patients included in these studies who did not take paroxetine, although with less frequency.
When stopping treatment with paroxetine, in these studies, some of the patients under 18 years of age reported having withdrawal effects. These effects were very similar to those observed in adults who stopped treatment with paroxetine (see section 3 "How to take Paroxetine Almus"). Additionally, patients under 18 years of age frequently experienced (affecting 1 in 10) stomach pain, nervousness, and unstable emotions (including crying, mood changes, self-harm attempts, suicidal thoughts, and attempts).
Suicidal thoughts and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder
If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders, you may sometimes have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide.These can increase at the beginning of treatment with antidepressants, as all these medicines take time to work, which is usually a few weeks but can sometimes be longer.
This is more likely to happen
If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide at any time, consult your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
It may be useful for you to explain to a family member or close friendthat you are depressed or have anxiety disorders, and ask them to read this leaflet. You can also ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are concerned about changes in your behavior.
Important side effects seen with paroxetine
Some patients who take paroxetine develop a disorder called akathisia, and feel restless and unable to sit or stay still. Other patients develop a condition called serotonin syndrome or neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and may have some or all of the following symptoms: feeling very agitated or irritable, confusion, restlessness, feeling hot, sweating, trembling, chills, hallucinations (strange visions or sounds), muscle stiffness, sudden jerky movements, or increased heart rate. The severity can increase and lead to loss of consciousness. Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.For more information on this or other side effects of Paroxetine Almus, see section 4.
Some medicines in the group to which paroxetine belongs (called SSRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms persist after stopping treatment.
Other medicines and Paroxetine Almus Pharma
Some medicines may alter the effect of paroxetine or make some side effects more likely. Paroxetine may also alter the effect of some medicines. For example:
If you are taking or have recently taken any of these medicines, and you have not discussed this with your doctor, tell your doctor and ask what you should do.Your doctor may decide to change the dose or prescribe another medicine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, even those bought without a prescription.
Taking Paroxetine Almus Pharma with food, drinks, and alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Paroxetine Almus.Alcohol can worsen your symptoms or side effects. Taking this medicine in the morning with food may reduce the likelihood of nausea.
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 taking this medicine.In some studies, an increased risk of malformations, particularly those affecting the heart, has been observed in newborns whose mothers took paroxetine during the first months of pregnancy. In the general population, approximately 1 in 100 newborns is born with a heart malformation. This proportion increased to 2 in 100 newborns in mothers who took paroxetine. Your doctor, in agreement with you, may change your treatment to another medicine or gradually stop treatment with this medicine while you are pregnant. However, depending on your circumstances, your doctor may recommend continuing to take this medicine.
Make sure your doctor or midwife knows you are taking paroxetine.If you take this medicine in the final stages of pregnancy, there may be a greater risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after delivery, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should know that you are taking this medicine to advise you. Medicines like paroxetine may increase the risk of a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) when taken during pregnancy, particularly at the end of it. The pressure in the blood vessels that go between the heart and lungs is very high in newborns with PPHN. If you are taking this medicine in the last trimester, your newborn may also have other symptoms that usually start during the first 24 hours after birth. These symptoms include:
If your baby has any of these symptoms at birth, or if you are concerned about your newborn's health, contact your doctor or midwife, who will advise you.
Paroxetine passes into breast milk in very small amounts.Consult your doctor if you are taking this medicine before starting to breastfeed. Your doctor, in agreement with you, may advise you to continue breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Studies in animals have shown that paroxetine reduces sperm quality.Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but this impact has not yet been observed in humans.
Driving and using machines
Some of the side effects that this medicine can cause are dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, or blurred vision.If you experience any of these effects, do not drive or use machines.
Paroxetine Almus Pharma contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; this is essentially "sodium-free".
Paroxetine Almus Pharma contains soy lecithin
This medicine contains soy lecithin.If you are allergic to peanuts or soy, do not take this medicine.
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.
Sometimes it may be necessary to take more than one tablet or half a tablet. The following table will show you how many tablets you should take:
Dose | Number of tablets to take |
10 mg | One 10 mg tablet (yellow) orhalf a 20 mg tablet (white) |
20 mg | One 20 mg tablet (white) ortwo 10 mg tablets (yellow) |
30 mg | One 30 mg tablet (blue) orone and a half 20 mg tablets (white) orone 20 mg tablet (white) + one 10 mg tablet (yellow) orthree 10 mg tablets (yellow) |
40 mg | Two 20 mg tablets (white) orone 30 mg tablet (blue) + one 10 mg tablet (yellow) orfour 10 mg tablets (yellow) |
50 mg | One 30 mg tablet (blue) + one 20 mg tablet (white) ortwo and a half 20 mg tablets (white) ortwo 20 mg tablets (white) + one 10 mg tablet (yellow) orfive 10 mg tablets (yellow) |
60 mg | Two 30 mg tablets (blue) orthree 20 mg tablets (white) orsix 10 mg tablets (yellow) |
The normal doses for the different indications are detailed in the following table:
Initial daily dose | Recommended daily dose | Maximum daily dose | |
Depression | 20 mg | 20 mg | 50 mg |
Obsessive-compulsive disorder | 20 mg | 40 mg | 60 mg |
Anxiety disorder | 10 mg | 40 mg | 60 mg |
Social phobia disorder | 20 mg | 20 mg | 50 mg |
Post-traumatic stress disorder | 20 mg | 20 mg | 50 mg |
Generalized anxiety disorder | 20 mg | 20 mg | 50 mg |
Your doctor will indicate what dose you should take when starting treatment with paroxetine.Most people start to feel better after a couple of weeks. If after this time you do not start to feel better, consult your doctor who will indicate how to proceed. Your doctor may decide to gradually increase the dose, in increments of 10 mg, up to the maximum daily dose.
Take the tablets in the morning, with food.
The tablets should be swallowed with water.
The tablets should not be chewed.
The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Your doctor will indicate the duration of the treatment. This period may be extended for several months or even longer.
Elderly patients
The maximum dose for people over 65 years old is 40 mg per day.
Patients with kidney or liver problems
If you have severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, your doctor may advise you to take smaller doses of this medication than usual.
If you take more Paroxetina Almus Pharma than you should
Never take more tablets than your doctor has recommended. If you take too many paroxetine tablets (or someone else does), consult your doctor or go to the hospital immediately. Show them the tablet packaging.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
A person who has taken an overdose of Paroxetina Almus Pharma may experience some of the symptoms that appear in section 4, Possible adverse effects,or some of the following symptoms: fever, involuntary muscle contraction.
If you forget to take Paroxetina Almus Pharma
Take your medication at the same time every day.
If you forget to take a dose and remember before going to bed, take it immediately. Take the next dose at the usual time.
If you remember during the night or the next day, skip the missed dose. You may experience some withdrawal symptoms, but they should disappear after taking the next dose at the usual time.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
What to do if you do not feel better
Paroxetine will not improve your symptoms immediately. All antidepressants take time to work. Some people start to feel better after a couple of weeks, but others may require more time. Some people who take antidepressants feel worse before starting to notice improvement. If you do not start to feel better after a couple of weeks, tell your doctor, who will indicate what to do. It is possible that your doctor has scheduled a follow-up appointment after 2 weeks of starting your treatment. Inform your doctor if you have not started to feel better.
If you interrupt treatment with paroxetine
Do not interrupt treatment with Paroxetina Almus Pharma until your doctor indicates it.
When interrupting treatment with paroxetine, your doctor will indicate how to gradually reduce the doses over a period of several weeks or months. This will help reduce the risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. One way to do this is to gradually reduce the dose of this medication you are taking by 10 mg each week. Most people consider that the possible symptoms that occur when interrupting treatment with this medication are mild and disappear on their own within two weeks. For others, these symptoms can be more severe or last longer.
If you experience withdrawal effectswhile interrupting your treatment, your doctor may decide to interrupt it more slowly. If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, please consult your doctor. Your doctor may advise you to start treatment again and then interrupt it more slowly.
Although you may experience some withdrawal effect, you will be able to interrupt your treatment with Paroxetina Almus Pharma.
Possible withdrawal effects when interrupting treatment
Studies have shown that 3 out of 10 patients experience one or more symptoms when interrupting their treatment with paroxetine. Some of these effects occur more frequently than others.
Common adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 10 people
Uncommon adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 100 people
Consult your doctor if you are concerned about the withdrawal effects of paroxetine.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, this medication can cause adverse effects, although not all people will experience them. It is more likely that adverse effects will appear during the first few weeks of treatment with this medication.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the adverse effects described during treatment.
You may need to consult your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
Uncommon adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 100 people
Rare adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Very rare adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
If you develop a skin rash with redness and bumps, swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, mouth, or tongue, itching, or difficulty breathing (shortness of breath) or swallowing, and a feeling of weakness or dizziness that can cause collapse or loss of consciousness, contact your doctor or go to the hospital immediately.
If you experience eye pain and blurred vision, consult your doctor.
Frequency not known
The frequency cannot be estimatedfrom the available data:
If you experience these adverse effects, contact your doctor.
Other possible adverse effects during treatment
Very common adverse effects
May affect more than 1 in 10 people
Common adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 10 people
Uncommon adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 100 people
Rare adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Very rare adverse effects
May affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
Frequency not known
The frequency cannot be estimatedfrom the available data:
Some patients have experienced buzzing, whistling, ringing, or other persistent noises in the ears (tinnitus) when taking paroxetine.
It has been observed that people taking this type of medication have a higher risk of bone fractures.
Reporting adverse effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is an adverse effect that is not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medications. Website: www.notificaRAM.es.
By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing 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 that appears on the blister pack, tablet container, or outer packaging. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
If you are using half-tablets, be careful to keep them safe in the container.
This medication does not require special storage conditions.
Medications should not be thrown down the drain or into the trash. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE 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 Paroxetina Almus Pharma
Each 20 mg film-coated tablet contains 20 mg of paroxetine (as paroxetine hydrochloride).
Appearance of the Product and Packaging Content
The tablets are white, round, film-coated, biconvex, 10 mm in diameter, scored on one side and marked with P20 on the other.
The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Package sizes:
Paroxetina Almus Pharma 20 mg is available in blisters of 14, 28, and 56 film-coated tablets and in perforated unit-dose blisters of 14, 28, and 56 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder:
Almus Farmacéutica, S.A.U.
Marie Curie, 54
08840 Viladecans (Barcelona),
Spain
Manufacturer
Teva Pharma S.L.U.
C/C, n° 4, Polígono Industrial Malpica
50016 Zaragoza,
Spain
This medicinal product is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Denmark: Zakkinter
Spain: Paroxetina Almus Pharma 20 mg, 30 mg film-coated tablets EFG
France: Paroxetine Almus Pharma 20 mg, scored film-coated tablet
Italy: Paroxetina Almus Pharma
Date of the last revision of this leaflet:February 2024
Other sources of information
Detailed and updated 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/