TIRBAS 500 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient

Tirbas 250 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Tirbas 500 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Tirbas 1000 mg Film-Coated Tablets EFG

Levetiracetam

Read the entire package leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this package 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 package leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the package leaflet

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

1. What is Tirbas and what is it used for

Tirbas (levetiracetam) is an antiepileptic medicine (a medicine used to treat seizures in epilepsy).

Levetiracetam is used:

• on its own in adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy to treat a certain form of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition where you have attacks (seizures). Levetiracetam is used to treat a form of epilepsy where the seizures first affect only one side of the brain but may then spread to other areas on both sides of the brain (partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation). Your doctor has prescribed levetiracetam for you to reduce the number of seizures.

• in combination with other antiepileptic medicines to treat:

• partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in adults, adolescents, children, and infants from 1 month of age.
• myoclonic seizures (short, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures (major seizures, including loss of consciousness) in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (a type of epilepsy that is thought to have a genetic cause).

2. What you need to know before you take Tirbas

Do not take Tirbas

• if you are allergic to levetiracetam, to any other pyrrolidone derivative or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medicine.

• if you have kidney problems, follow your doctor's instructions, who will decide if you need to adjust the dose.
• if you notice any decrease in your child's growth or an unexpected delay in puberty, contact your doctor.
• a small number of people taking antiepileptics such as levetiracetam have had thoughts of harming themselves or suicidal thoughts. If you have any symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor.
• if you have a history of heart rhythm problems (visible on an electrocardiogram) or if you have a disease and/or are taking a treatment that makes you prone to cardiac arrhythmias or electrolyte imbalances.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get worse or last more than a few days:

• abnormal thoughts, feeling irritable or behaving more aggressively than usual or if you or your family and friends notice significant changes in mood or behaviour.
• worsening of epilepsy

Rarely, epileptic seizures may worsen or occur more frequently, mainly during the first month after starting treatment or increasing the dose.

In a very rare form of early-onset epilepsy (epilepsy associated with SCN8A mutations) that causes multiple types of epileptic seizures and loss of skills, you may notice that seizures persist or worsen during treatment.

If you experience any of these new symptoms while taking levetiracetam, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Children and adolescents

Monotherapy with levetiracetam is not indicated in children and adolescents under 16 years of age.

Taking Tirbas with other medicines

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

Do not take macrogol (a medicine used as a laxative) for 1 hour before and 1 hour after taking levetiracetam, as it may lose its effect.

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.

Levetiracetam can only be used during pregnancy if, after careful evaluation, your doctor considers it necessary.

Do not stop your treatment without discussing it with your doctor,

The risk of birth defects for the baby cannot be completely excluded.

Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment.

Driving and using machines

Levetiracetam may affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines, as it may cause drowsiness. This is more likely at the start of treatment or when the dose is increased. You should not drive or use machinery until it is established that your ability to perform these activities is not affected.

Tirbas contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per tablet; this is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Tirbas

Follow exactly the instructions for administration of this medicine given by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Take the number of tablets that your doctor has prescribed for you.

Levetiracetam should be taken twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, approximately at the same time every day.

Concomitant therapy and monotherapy (from 16 years of age)

Adults(≥18 years)and adolescents (from 12 to 17 years)with a weight of 50 kg or more:

Recommended dose: between 1,000 mg and 3,000 mg per day.

When starting levetiracetam, your doctor will prescribe a lower dosefor two weeks before giving you the lowest daily dose.

For example: for a daily dose of 1,000 mg, the reduced starting dose is 1 tablet of 250 mg in the morning and 1 tablet of 250 mg in the eveningand the dose should be gradually increased to 1,000 mg per day after 2 weeks of treatment.

Adolescents (from12 to17 years) with a weight of 50 kg or less:

Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable pharmaceutical form of Levetiracetam according to weight and dose.

Dose in infants (from 1 month to 23 months) and children (from2 to11 years) with a weight below 50 kg.

Your doctor will prescribe the most suitable pharmaceutical form of levetiracetam according to age, weight, and dose.

Levetiracetam 100 mg/ml oral solution is a more suitable formulation for infants and children under 6 years of age and for children and adolescents (from 6 to 17 years) with a weight below 50 kg and when tablets do not allow for precise dosing.

Method of administration

Swallow the levetiracetam tablets with a sufficient amount of liquid (e.g., a glass of water). You can take levetiracetam with or without food. After oral administration of levetiracetam, a bitter taste may be noticed.

Duration of treatment

• Levetiracetam is used as a chronic treatment. You should continue treatment with levetiracetam for as long as your doctor has told you.
• Do not stop your treatment without your doctor's advice, as your seizures may increase.

If you take more Tirbas than you should

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

The possible side effects of a levetiracetam overdose are drowsiness, agitation, aggression, decreased alertness, respiratory depression, and coma.

Contact your doctor if you have taken more tablets than you should. Your doctor will establish the best possible treatment for the overdose.

If you forget to take Tirbas

Contact your doctor if you have missed one or more doses. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you stop taking Tirbas

Stopping treatment with levetiracetam should be done gradually to avoid an increase in seizures. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment with levetiracetam, he/she will give you instructions for the gradual withdrawal of levetiracetam.

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

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department of your nearest hospital if you experience:

• weakness, dizziness, or difficulty breathing, as these may be signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction).
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (Quincke's oedema)
• flu-like symptoms and rash on the face followed by a prolonged rash with high temperature, elevated liver enzymes in blood tests, and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS))
• symptoms such as low urine output, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet, as this may be a sign of sudden decrease in kidney function
• a skin rash that may form blisters and may look like targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme)
• a widespread rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
• a more severe form causing skin peeling over more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• signs of serious mental changes or if someone around you notices signs of confusion, drowsiness (drowsiness), amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (forgetfulness), abnormal behaviour, or other neurological signs including involuntary or uncontrolled movements. These may be symptoms of encephalopathy.

The most frequently reported side effects are nasopharyngitis, somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Side effects such as drowsiness, weakness, and dizziness may be more frequent when starting treatment or increasing the dose. However, these side effects should decrease over time.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• nasopharyngitis
• somnolence (feeling drowsy), headache.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• loss of appetite;
• depression, hostility or aggression, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, or irritability;
• seizures, balance disorders, dizziness (feeling unsteady), lethargy (lack of energy and enthusiasm), tremor (involuntary tremor);
• vertigo (feeling of spinning);
• cough;
• abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dyspepsia (indigestion), vomiting, nausea;
• skin rash;
• asthenia/fatigue (feeling weak).

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• decrease in platelet count, decrease in white blood cell count;
• weight loss, weight gain;
• suicidal attempt and suicidal thoughts, mental disorders, abnormal behaviour, hallucinations, anger, confusion, panic attack, emotional instability/mood changes, agitation;
• amnesia (memory loss), memory impairment (forgetfulness), abnormal coordination/ataxia (altered movement coordination), paraesthesia (tingling), attention disorders (loss of concentration);
• diplopia (double vision), blurred vision;
• elevated liver enzymes;
• hair loss, eczema, itching;
• muscle weakness, myalgia (muscle pain);
• injury.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• infection;
• decrease in all types of blood cells;
• severe allergic reactions (DRESS, anaphylactic reaction, Quincke's oedema);
• decrease in sodium levels in the blood;
• suicide, personality disorders (behavioural problems), abnormal thinking (slow thinking, difficulty concentrating);
• delirium;
• encephalopathy (see subsection “Tell your doctor immediately” for a detailed description of symptoms);
• epileptic seizures may worsen or occur more frequently;
• uncontrolled muscle spasms affecting the head, torso, and limbs, difficulty controlling movements, hyperkinesia (hyperactivity);
• change in heart rhythm (electrocardiogram);
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
• liver failure, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver);
• sudden decrease in kidney function;
• skin rash that may form blisters and may look like targets (central dark spot surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring on the edge) (erythema multiforme), a widespread rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, especially around the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), and a more severe form causing skin peeling over more than 30% of the body surface (toxic epidermal necrolysis);
• rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle tissue) and increased creatine phosphokinase in the blood. The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients;
• limping or difficulty walking.
• Combination of fever, muscle stiffness, unstable blood pressure and heart rate, confusion, low level of consciousness (may be signs of a disorder called malignant neuroleptic syndrome). The prevalence is significantly higher in Japanese patients compared to non-Japanese patients.

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• unwanted and repetitive thoughts or feelings or the urge to do something over and over again (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Tirbas

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month shown.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Tirbas

• The active substance is levetiracetam. Each tablet contains 250 mg; 500 mg; 1000 mg of levetiracetam. The exact amount is shown on the medicine packaging.
• The other ingredients are:

Core of the tablet: microcrystalline cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, anhydrous colloidal silica, macrogol 6000, magnesium stearate.

Coating: hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol triacetate, and purified water.

Appearance and packaging

Tirbas 250 mg are white, round, biconvex, and scored tablets.

The pack contains 60 film-coated tablets.

Tirbas 500 mg are white, oblong, and scored tablets.

The pack contains 60 or 100 tablets.

Tirbas 1000 mg are white, oblong, and scored tablets.

The pack contains 30 or 60 tablets.

Each tablet can be divided into equal doses.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

C/ Mateo Inurria, 30

28036 Madrid

Spain

or

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

C/ Zeus, 6

Polígono Industrial R2

28880 Meco (Madrid)

Spain

Date of last revision of this package leaflet: July 2023

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