Patient Information: Summary of Product Characteristics
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 0.5 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 1 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 3 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 5 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack and other information
Tacrolimus Stadafarma contains the active substance tacrolimus. It is an immunosuppressant. After your organ transplant (liver, kidney), your body's immune system will try to reject the new organ. Tacrolimus is used to control your body's immune response, allowing it to accept the transplanted organ.
You may also receive tacrolimus to treat rejection that is occurring in your liver, kidney, heart, or other transplanted organ when any previous treatment you were following did not control this immune response after your transplant.
Tacrolimus is used in adults.
Do not take Tacrolimus Stadafarma
Warnings and precautions
Tacrolimus immediate-release capsules and tacrolimus prolonged-release capsules both contain the active substance tacrolimus. However, tacrolimus prolonged-release capsules are taken once daily, while immediate-release capsules are taken twice daily. This is because tacrolimus prolonged-release capsules allow for prolonged release (slower release over a longer period of time) of tacrolimus.
Tacrolimus prolonged-release capsules and tacrolimus immediate-release capsules are notinterchangeable.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Please avoid taking any herbal preparations, e.g. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) or any other herbal products, as this may affect the effectiveness and dose of tacrolimus you need to receive.
If you have any doubts, please consult your doctor before taking any herbal preparation or product.
Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of tacrolimus.
You should stay in regular contact with your doctor. From time to time, to establish the correct dose of tacrolimus, your doctor may need to perform blood and urine tests, heart tests, eye tests.
You should limit your exposure to sunlight and UV (ultraviolet) while taking tacrolimus. This is because immunosuppressants can increase the risk of skin cancer. Wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.
Handling precautions:
Avoid contact with any part of the body, such as skin or eyes, as well as inhaling the powder contained in the capsules. If such contact occurs, wash the skin and eyes.
Children and adolescents
The use of tacrolimus is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Other medicines and Tacrolimus Stada
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
The use of tacrolimus with cyclosporin (another medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection) is not recommended.
If you need to visit a different doctor than your transplant specialist, tell the doctor that you are taking tacrolimus.It is possible that your doctor will need to consult with your transplant specialist if you need to use another medicine that may increase or decrease your blood level of tacrolimus.
The blood levels of tacrolimus may be altered by other medicines you are taking, and the blood levels of other medicines may be altered by the administration of tacrolimus, which may require interruption, increase, or decrease of the dose of tacrolimus.
Some patients have experienced increases in blood levels of tacrolimus while taking other medicines. This could lead to serious side effects, such as kidney problems, nervous system problems, and heart rhythm disorders (see section 4).
The effect on blood levels of tacrolimus may occur soon after starting to use another medicine, so it may be necessary to monitor the blood level of tacrolimus frequently and continuously during the first days of use of another medicine and frequently while continuing its use. Some other medicines may cause the blood levels of tacrolimus to decrease, which may increase the risk of organ transplant rejection. In particular, you should tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken medicines such as:
Tell your doctor if you are receiving treatment for hepatitis C. The pharmacological treatment for hepatitis C may change your liver function and may affect your blood levels of tacrolimus. The blood levels of tacrolimus may decrease or increase depending on the medicines prescribed for hepatitis C. Your doctor may need to closely monitor your blood levels of tacrolimus and make necessary adjustments to the dose of tacrolimus after starting treatment for hepatitis C.
Tell your doctor if you are taking or need to take ibuprofen (used to treat fever, inflammation, and pain), antibiotics (cotrimoxazole, vancomycin, or aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin), amphotericin B (used to treat fungal infections), or antivirals (used to treat viral infections, e.g. acyclovir, ganciclovir, cidofovir, foscarnet). These medicines may worsen kidney or nervous system problems when taken with tacrolimus.
Tell your doctor if you are taking sirolimus or everolimus. When tacrolimus is taken with sirolimus or everolimus, the risk of thrombotic microangiopathy, thrombocytopenic purpura, and hemolytic uremic syndrome may increase (see section 4).
Your doctor also needs to know if you are taking potassium supplements or certain diuretics used for heart failure, high blood pressure, and kidney disease (e.g. amiloride, triamterene, or spironolactone), or the antibiotics trimethoprim and cotrimoxazole, which can increase potassium levels in your blood, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs, e.g. ibuprofen) used for fever, inflammation, and pain, anticoagulants (which prevent blood clotting), or oral medicines for the treatment of diabetes, while taking tacrolimus.
If you are planning to get vaccinated, consult your doctor.
Taking Tacrolimus Stada with food and drinks
Avoid grapefruit (also in juice) while you are being treated with tacrolimus, as it may affect your blood levels.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Tacrolimus passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should not breastfeed while taking tacrolimus.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use tools or machines if you feel dizzy or sleepy, or have problems seeing clearly after taking tacrolimus. These effects are more frequent if you also drink alcohol.
Tacrolimus Stada contains lactose and red iron oxide (E172)
This medicine contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains red iron oxide (E172).
It may cause allergic reactions.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medicine given by your doctor. If you are in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. This medicine should only be prescribed by a doctor with experience in the treatment of patients with transplants.
Make sure you receive the same medicine with tacrolimus each time you pick up your prescription, unless your transplant specialist has agreed to change to a different medicine with tacrolimus. This medicine should be taken once daily. If the appearance of this medicine is not the same as usual, or if the dosing instructions have changed, consult your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible to ensure you have the correct medicine.
The initial dose to prevent rejection of your transplanted organ will be determined by your doctor based on your body weight. The initial daily doses immediately after transplantation will generally be within the range of
0.10 - 0.30 mg per kilogram of body weight and per day
depending on the transplanted organ. For the treatment of rejection, these same doses may be used.
Your dose depends on your general condition and any other immunosuppressive medication you may be taking.
After starting treatment with tacrolimus, your doctor will perform frequent blood tests to determine the correct dose. Afterward, your doctor will need to perform blood tests regularly to determine the correct dose and to adjust the dose from time to time. Your doctor will usually decrease your dose of tacrolimus once your condition has stabilized. Your doctor will tell you exactly how many capsules to take.
You will need to take tacrolimus every day as long as you need immunosuppression to prevent rejection of your transplanted organ. You should stay in regular contact with your doctor.
Tacrolimus is taken orally once daily, in the morning. Take tacrolimus on an empty stomach or 2 to 3 hours after a meal. Wait at least one hour until the next meal.
Take the capsules immediately after removing them from the blister pack. The capsules should be swallowed wholewith a glass of water. Do not swallow the desiccant contained in the aluminum pouch.
If you take more Tacrolimus Stadafarma than you should
If you accidentally take too many capsules, contact your doctor or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
If you forget to take Tacrolimus Stadafarma
If you have forgotten to take your capsules in the morning, take them as soon as possible on the same day. Do not take a double dose the next morning.
If you stop taking Tacrolimus Stadafarma
Stopping your treatment with tacrolimus may increase the risk of rejection of your transplanted organ. Do not stop treatment unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
Tacrolimus reduces the body's defense mechanisms (immune system), which will not work as well when fighting infections. Therefore, if you are taking tacrolimus, you will be more prone to suffering from infections.
Some infections can be serious or fatal and may include infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or other infections.
Inform your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of an infection, including:
Severe effects can occur, including allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. Benign and malignant tumors have been reported after treatment with tacrolimus.
Inform your doctor immediately if you suspect you are suffering from any of the following serious adverse effects:
Common serious adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon serious adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare serious adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare serious adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Serious adverse effects of unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
After receiving tacrolimus, the following adverse effects can also occur and may be serious:
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)
Reporting of adverse effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Agency's website: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiration date stated on the carton and blister after "EXP". The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Use all hard prolonged-release capsules within the year following the opening of the aluminum packaging.
Store below 30°C.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the pharmacy's SIGRE collection point. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Tacrolimus Stadafarma
Each Tacrolimus Stadafarma 0.5 mg hard prolonged-release capsule contains 0.5 mg of tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Each Tacrolimus Stadafarma 1 mg hard prolonged-release capsule contains 1 mg of tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Each Tacrolimus Stadafarma 3 mg hard prolonged-release capsule contains 3 mg of tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Each Tacrolimus Stadafarma 5 mg hard prolonged-release capsule contains 5 mg of tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Capsule content: ethylcellulose, butylhydroxytoluene, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate.
Capsule shell: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172).
Printing ink: shellac, red allura aluminum lacquer (E129), propylene glycol (E1520), titanium dioxide (E171).
Appearance of the product and package contents
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 0.5 mg are hard prolonged-release capsules, with an orange opaque body and orange opaque cap, size 5, with a length of 11.2±0.5 mm, printed with "0.5 mg" in red ink on the cap.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 0.5 mg is supplied in transparent PVC/PE/PVDC-aluminum paper blisters or unit-dose perforated blisters, wrapped in an aluminum bag, including a desiccant incorporated into the film layer.
Packaging of 30, 50, and 100 hard prolonged-release capsules is available in blisters, and 30×1, 50×1, and 100×1 hard prolonged-release capsules are available in unit-dose perforated blisters.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 1 mg are hard prolonged-release capsules, with a white opaque body and orange opaque cap, size 4, with a length of 14.1±0.5 mm, printed with "1 mg" in red ink on the cap.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 1 mg is supplied in transparent PVC/PE/PVDC-aluminum paper blisters or unit-dose perforated blisters, wrapped in an aluminum bag, including a desiccant incorporated into the film layer.
Packaging of 30, 50, 60, and 100 hard prolonged-release capsules is available in blisters, and 30×1, 50×1, 60×1, and 100×1 hard prolonged-release capsules are available in unit-dose perforated blisters.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 3 mg are hard prolonged-release capsules, with an orange opaque body and orange opaque cap, size 1, with a length of 19.1±0.5 mm, printed with "3 mg" in red ink on the cap.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 3 mg is supplied in transparent PVC/PE/PVDC-aluminum paper blisters or unit-dose perforated blisters, wrapped in an aluminum bag, including a desiccant incorporated into the film layer.
Packaging of 30, 50, and 100 hard prolonged-release capsules is available in blisters, and 30×1, 50×1, and 100×1 hard prolonged-release capsules are available in unit-dose perforated blisters.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 5 mg are hard prolonged-release capsules, with a grayish-red opaque body and orange opaque cap, size 0, with a length of 21.4±0.5 mm, printed with "5 mg" in red ink on the cap.
Tacrolimus Stadafarma 5 mg is supplied in transparent PVC/PE/PVDC-aluminum paper blisters or unit-dose perforated blisters, wrapped in an aluminum bag, including a desiccant incorporated into the film layer.
Packaging of 30, 50, and 100 hard prolonged-release capsules is available in blisters, and 30×1, 50×1, and 100×1 hard prolonged-release capsules are available in unit-dose perforated blisters.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder
Laboratorio STADA, S.L.
Frederic Mompou, 5
08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Spain
info@stada.es
Manufacturer
Pharmathen International S.A
Industrial Park Sapes,
Rodopi Prefecture, Block No 5
Rodopi
69300 Greece
or
Pharmathen SA
6 Dervenakion Str.
Pallini, Attiki
15351 Greece
or
STADA Arzneimittel AG
Stadastrasse 2-18
61118 Bad Vilbel
Germany
or
Centrafarm Services B.V.
Van de Reijtstraat 31 D
4814NE Breda
Netherlands
This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Denmark: Tacrolimus Stada
Germany: Tacrolimus AL 0.5 mg Hartkapseln, retardiert, Tacrolimus AL 1 mg Hartkapseln, retardiert, Tacrolimus AL 3 mg Hartkapseln, retardiert, Tacrolimus AL 5 mg Hartkapseln, retardiert
Spain: Tacrólimus Stadafarma 0.5 mg cápsulas de liberación prolongada EFG, Tacrólimus Stadafarma 1 mg cápsulas de liberación prolongada EFG, Tacrólimus Stadafarma 3 mg cápsulas de liberación prolongada EFG, Tacrólimus Stadafarma 5 mg cápsulas de liberación prolongada EFG
France: Tacrolimus EG 0.5 mg, gélule à libération prolongée, Tacrolimus EG 1 mg, gélule à libération prolongée, Tacrolimus EG 3 mg, gélule à libération prolongée, Tacrolimus EG 5 mg, gélule à libération prolongée
Hungary: Tacrolimus Stada 0.5 mg retard kemény kapszula, Tacrolimus Stada 1 mg retard kemény kapszula, Tacrolimus Stada 3 mg retard kemény kapszula, Tacrolimus Stada 5 mg retard kemény kapszula
Italy: Tacrolimus EG
Netherlands: Tacrolimus CF 0.5 mg, harde capsules met verlengde afgifte, Tacrolimus CF 1 mg, harde capsules met verlengde afgifte, Tacrolimus CF 3 mg, harde capsules met verlengde afgifte, Tacrolimus CF 5 mg, harde capsules met verlengde afgifte
Poland: Tacrolimus STADA
Date of last revision of this leaflet:May 2025
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es/)