PIROXICAM CINFA 20 mg DISPERSIBLE TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

piroxicam cinfa 20 mg dispersible tablets EFG

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.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• 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, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

1. What is piroxicam cinfa and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take piroxicam cinfa
3. How to take piroxicam cinfa
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of piroxicam cinfa
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is piroxicam cinfa and what is it used for

Piroxicam is an anti-inflammatory medicine that belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Piroxicam is used to relieve some symptoms caused by osteoarthritis (degenerative disease of the joints), rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis (rheumatism of the spine), such as joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain. It does not cure arthritis, but it helps to relieve some symptoms only while you continue treatment.

Your doctor will assess the benefits of this medicine against the risk of developing adverse reactions before prescribing piroxicam to you. Due to treatment with piroxicam, your doctor may require periodic checks and will inform you of the frequency of these checks.

Your doctor will prescribe piroxicam to you only when treatment with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has not relieved your symptoms.

2. What you need to know before you take piroxicam cinfa

Do not take piroxicam cinfa

• If you are allergic to piroxicam or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have had an ulcer, bleeding, or perforation of the stomach or intestine.
• If you have an ulcer, bleeding, or perforation of the stomach or intestine.
• If you have or have had a history of gastrointestinal disorders (inflammation of the stomach or intestine) that predispose to hemorrhagic disorders such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, gastrointestinal cancers, diverticulitis (inflammation or infection of the pouches/diverticula in the colon).
• If you are taking other NSAIDs, including selective COX-2 inhibitors and acetylsalicylic acid, a substance that many medicines used to relieve pain and lower fever contain.
• If you are taking anticoagulants, such as warfarin, coumarins, or new oral anticoagulants, including apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban, to prevent blood clots.
• If you have had a previous severe allergic reaction to piroxicam or other NSAIDs and other medicines, especially severe skin reactions (regardless of severity) such as exfoliative dermatitis (intense redness of the skin, with scaling in layers or flakes), vesiculobullous reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome with reddish blisters, erosion, and skin with crusts or bleeding) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (a disease that causes scaling and blisters on the superficial layers of the skin), or if you have presented other symptoms of allergy such as asthma attacks, severe nasal congestion, or other allergic reactions such as skin itching, rash, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue that cause difficulty breathing or wheezing in the chest.
• If you develop a skin rash or symptoms on the skin, stop taking piroxicam immediately, seek urgent medical advice, and inform your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
• If you have severe liver or kidney disease.
• If you have severe heart failure.
• If you have coagulation disorders.
• If you are in your third trimester of pregnancy.

If you present any of these situations, do not take piroxicam. Consult your doctor immediately.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take piroxicam.

Gastrointestinal risks

Like the rest of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, piroxicam can cause serious reactions in the stomach and intestine, such as pain, bleeding, ulcers, and perforation. Administration of doses higher than 20 mg per day carries an increased risk of presenting gastrointestinal adverse effects. Adverse effects can be minimized if the minimum effective doses are used for the shortest possible time.

You should interrupt treatment with piroxicam and consult your doctor if you have stomach pain or any sign of bleeding in the stomach or intestine, such as black or bloody stools or vomiting blood.

If you present any new abdominal sign or symptom or any gastrointestinal complication during treatment, interrupt it and consult your doctor immediately.

Skin risks

Severe skin reactions that can be life-threatening (Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been described with the use of piroxicam. Initially, they appear as red spots or circular patches, often with a central blister.

Other additional signs that may appear are sores in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and conjunctivitis (swollen and red eyes).

These life-threatening skin reactions are often accompanied by flu-like symptoms. The rash can progress to the formation of generalized blisters or skin scaling.

The period of highest risk of severe skin reactions is during the first few weeks of treatment.

If you have developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis with the use of piroxicam, you should not use piroxicam again at any time.

If you develop a rash or these skin symptoms, stop taking piroxicam, go immediately to a doctor, and inform them that you are taking this medicine.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks

Medicines like piroxicam may be associated with a moderate increase in the risk of suffering heart attacks ("myocardial infarctions") or strokes. This risk is more likely to occur when high doses and prolonged treatments are used. Do not exceed the recommended dose or treatment duration.

If you have heart problems, a history of strokes, or think you may be at risk for these conditions (for example, you have high blood pressure, suffer from diabetes, have high cholesterol, or are a smoker), you should consult your doctor or pharmacist about this treatment.

Similarly, these types of medicines can cause fluid retention, especially in patients with heart failure and/or high blood pressure (hypertension).

Other risks

If you are over 70 years old, your doctor may reduce the duration of treatment and perform more frequent checks while you are taking piroxicam.

If you are taking other medicines such as corticosteroids or certain antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or acetylsalicylic acid to prevent blood clots, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach or intestine along with piroxicam.

Do not take this medicine if you are over 80 years old.

If you have or have had any medical problem or any type of allergy, or if you are not sure if you can take piroxicam, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

Make sure your doctor is informed about all the medicines you are taking, including those purchased without a prescription.

You should also use piroxicam with caution, always following your doctor's instructions, in the following circumstances:

• You have moderate or mild liver or kidney disease.
• You have severe dehydration.
• You have an infection, as it could mask fever and make you mistakenly believe that you are better or that the infection is not serious.
• You experience eye discomfort during treatment with piroxicam; you should consult an ophthalmologist.
• You have asthma.
• You are taking anticoagulants.

Other medicines and piroxicam cinfa

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.

Certain medicines can interact with each other. Your doctor may limit the use of piroxicam and/or other medicines or may need to change you to another medicine. It is especially important to inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.
• Corticosteroids, which are medicines used in the treatment of numerous diseases such as allergies, hormonal disorders, and inflammatory diseases.
• Anticoagulants such as warfarin, coumarins, or new oral anticoagulants (apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban) to prevent blood clots.
• Medicines for depression called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
• Medicines to prevent platelet aggregation such as acetylsalicylic acid.
• Lithium (a medicine used in bipolar depression).
• Methotrexate (a medicine used in rheumatoid arthritis and in the treatment of some cancers).
• Ticlopidine (an antiplatelet medicine).
• Quinolones (antibiotic medicines).
• Certain diuretics (medicines used to treat fluid retention in high blood pressure).
• Sulfonylureas (oral antidiabetic medicines).
• Cyclosporin, tacrolimus (medicines used in transplanted patients).
• Antihypertensives (medicines used in the treatment of high blood pressure).
• Thrombolytics (medicines used for stroke or heart attack).
• Digoxin: combined treatment with digoxin and piroxicam does not affect the plasma levels of either of these drugs.

If you present any of these situations, consult your doctor immediately.

Taking piroxicam cinfa with food, drinks, and alcohol

If you take piroxicam with food, it may take a little longer to take effect; therefore, it is recommended to take it between meals.

You should not drink alcoholic beverages during treatment with this medicine, as this can increase the risk of adverse effects.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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.

Do not take piroxicam if you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy, as it may harm the fetus or cause problems during delivery. It can cause kidney and heart problems in your fetus. It can affect your tendency and that of your baby to bleed and delay or prolong delivery more than expected. Since the administration of piroxicam-type medicines has been associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies/abortions, loss of amniotic fluid, it is not recommended to administer it during the first and second trimester of pregnancy unless it is strictly necessary and as your doctor indicates. In these cases,