This page is for general information. Consult a doctor for personal advice. Call emergency services if symptoms are severe.

How to use UPTRAVI 1000 MCG FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Leaflet: Patient Information

Uptravi 200micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 400micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 600micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 800micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 1000micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 1200micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 1400micrograms film-coated tablets

Uptravi 1600micrograms film-coated tablets

selexipag

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring, which will allow for quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.

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 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 leaflet (see section 4).

Contents of the pack and other information

What is Uptravi and what is it used for
What you need to know before you take Uptravi
How to take Uptravi
Possible side effects
Storage of Uptravi
Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Uptravi and what is it used for

Uptravi is a medicine that contains the active substance selexipag. It works in the blood vessels in a similar way to the natural substance prostacyclin, making them relax and widen.

Uptravi is used for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adult patients who are not adequately controlled with other PAH medicines known as endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Uptravi may be used on its own if the patient is not a candidate for these medicines.

PAH is a disease characterized by high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs (the pulmonary arteries). In people with PAH, these arteries are narrower, so the heart has to work harder to pump blood. This can make you feel tired, dizzy, short of breath, or experience other symptoms.

Like prostacyclin, Uptravi widens the pulmonary arteries and reduces their stiffness. This makes it easier for the heart to pump blood through the pulmonary arteries. It relieves the symptoms of PAH and improves the course of the disease.

2. What you need to know before you take Uptravi

Do not take Uptravi

if you are allergic to selexipag or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
if you have any heart disorder, such as:

reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (severe ischemic cardiopathy or unstable angina); symptoms may include chest pain
heart attack in the last 6 months
heart failure (decompensated heart failure) without strict medical supervision
severe irregular heart rhythm
heart valve defect (congenital or acquired) that makes the heart work with difficulty (not related to pulmonary hypertension)

if you have had a stroke in the last 3 months, or any other event that reduces blood flow to the brain (e.g. transient ischemic attack)

if you are taking gemfibrozil (a medicine used to lower blood fat levels)

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking Uptravi if:

you are taking medicines for high blood pressure
you have low blood pressure associated with symptoms such as dizziness
you have recently had significant blood loss or fluid loss (e.g. severe diarrhea or vomiting)
you have thyroid gland problems
you have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis
you have severe liver problems

If you experience any of the above signs or your disease changes, tell your doctor immediately.

Children and adolescents

Do not give this medicine to children under 18 years of age, as Uptravi has not been evaluated in children.

Elderly patients

There is limited experience with Uptravi in patients over 75 years of age. Uptravi should be used with caution in patients of this age group.

Other medicines and Uptravi

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

Taking other medicines may affect the way Uptravi works.

Tell your doctor or PAH specialist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Gemfibrozil (a medicine used to lower blood fat levels)
Clopidogrel (a medicine used to prevent blood clots in coronary artery disease)
Deferasirox (a medicine used to remove excess iron from the body)
Teriflunomide (a medicine used to treat multiple sclerosis)
Carbamazepine (a medicine used to treat certain types of epilepsy, neuralgia, or to help control severe behavioral disorders when other medicines do not work)
Phenytoin (a medicine used to treat epilepsy)
Valproic acid (a medicine used to treat epilepsy)
Probenecid (a medicine used to treat gout)
Fluconazole, rifampicin, or rifapentine (antibiotics used to treat infections)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Uptravi is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are a woman who can become pregnant, you must use a reliable method of contraception while taking Uptravi. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Uptravi may cause side effects such as headaches and low blood pressure (see section 4), which may affect your ability to drive; your disease symptoms may also reduce your ability to drive.

3. How to take Uptravi

Treatment with Uptravi should be started and controlled by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Follow your doctor's instructions for taking this medicine exactly. If you are unsure, consult your doctor again.

Tell your doctor if you experience side effects, as they may recommend that you change your Uptravi dose.

Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines, as they may recommend that you take Uptravi only once a day.

If you have poor vision or experience any type of blindness, ask someone else to help you take Uptravi during the dose adjustment period.

Adjusting the right dose for you

When you start treatment, you will take the lowest dose. This is one 200 microgram tablet in the morning and one 200 microgram tablet in the evening. You should start treatment in the evening. Your doctor will tell you to gradually increase the dose. This is called dose adjustment, and it allows your body to get used to the new medicine. The goal of dose adjustment is to reach the right dose for you. This will be the highest dose you can tolerate, which may be up to 1600 micrograms in the morning and 1600 micrograms in the evening.

The first pack of tablets you receive will contain light yellow 200 microgram tablets.

Your doctor will tell you to increase the dose in stages, usually every week, although the interval between increases may be longer.

At each stage, you will add one 200 microgram tablet to your morning dose and one 200 microgram tablet to your evening dose. The first take of the increased dose should be done in the evening. The diagram below shows the number of tablets you should take each morning and each eveningin the first 4 stages.

Dose adjustment scheme with numbered stages and upward arrow indicating gradual increase in 200 microgram tablets

If your doctor tells you to continue increasing the dose and proceed to stage 5, you can do so by taking one green 800 microgram tablet and one light yellow 200 microgram tablet in the morning and one 800 microgram tablet and one 200 microgram tablet in the evening.

If your doctor tells you to continue increasing the dose, you will add one 200 microgram tablet to your morning dose and one 200 microgram tablet to your evening dose at each new stage. The first take of the increased dose should be done in the evening. The maximum dose of Uptravi is 1600 micrograms in the morning and 1600 micrograms in the evening. However, not all patients will reach this dose, as each patient requires a different dose.

The diagram below shows the number of tablets you should take each morning and each eveningat each stage, starting from stage 5.

Dosing scheme with 200 and 800 microgram tablets in stages 5 to 8, indicating daily total doses of 2000 to 3200 micrograms

The dose adjustment pack also contains a guide that provides information on the dose adjustment process and allows you to record the number of tablets you take daily.

Remember to record the number of tablets you take each day in your dose adjustment diary. The adjustment stages usually last about 1 week. If your doctor tells you to extend each adjustment stage beyond 1 week, you have additional pages in the diary to do so. Remember to communicate with your PAH specialist doctor or nurse periodically during the dose adjustment phase.

Dose reduction due to side effects

During dose adjustment, you may experience side effects such as headache, diarrhea, feeling unwell (nausea), being sick (vomiting), jaw pain, muscle pain, pain in the lower limbs, joint pain, or facial redness (see section 4). If these side effects are difficult to tolerate, consult your doctor about how to control or treat them. There are treatments available to help you alleviate these side effects. For example, painkillers like paracetamol can help you treat pain and headache.

If the side effects cannot be treated, or they do not improve gradually with the dose you are taking, your doctor may adjust the dose by reducing the number of light yellow 200 microgram tablets you take, removing one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. The scheme below shows how to reduce the dose. This should only be done if your doctor tells you to.

Line graph showing increase and decrease in dose with numbers 2 indicating quantities and red arrows pointing to reduction

If the side effects you experience can be controlled after dose reduction, your doctor may decide that you should maintain that dose. For more information, see the Maintenance dose section below.

Maintenance dose

The highest dose you can tolerate during the dose adjustment phase will become your maintenance dose. Your maintenance dose is the dose you should continue to take regularly.

Your doctor will prescribe a single tablet with the right strength for your maintenance dose. This allows you to take one tablet in the morning and one in the evening, instead of several tablets each time.

To see the full description of Uptravi tablets, including colors and engraving, see section 6 in this leaflet.

Over time, your doctor may adjust your maintenance dose if necessary.

If at any time, after taking the same dose for a long period, you experience side effects that you cannot tolerate or side effects that affect your daily activities, contact your doctor, as you may need a dose reduction. Your doctor may then prescribe a single tablet with a lower concentration. Remember to dispose of unused tablets (see section 5).

Take Uptravi once in the morning and once in the evening, with an interval of approximately 12 hours.

Take the tablets with food, as this can help you tolerate the medicine better. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

If you take more Uptravi than you should

If you take more tablets than you should, consult your doctor immediately.

If you forget to take Uptravi

If you forget to take Uptravi, take a dose as soon as you remember, and then continue taking the tablets at the usual time. If it is almost time for your next dose (within 6 hours of the time you usually take it), you should skip the missed dose and continue taking the medicine at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

If you stop taking Uptravi

Suddenly stopping treatment with Uptravi may make your symptoms worse. Do not stop taking Uptravi unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor may tell you to gradually reduce the dose before stopping treatment completely.

If, for any reason, you stop taking Uptravi for more than 3 consecutive days (if you miss 3 morning doses and 3 evening doses, or 6 consecutive doses or more), contact your doctor immediately, as you may need to adjust the dose to avoid side effects. Your doctor may decide to restart treatment at a lower dose, to gradually increase it until you reach your maintenance dose.

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

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Uptravi can cause side effects. You may experience side effects not only during the dose adjustment phase, during which your dose is being increased, but also later, after you have been taking the same dose for a long time.

If you experience any of the following side effects: headache, diarrhea, feeling unwell (nausea), being sick (vomiting), jaw pain, muscle pain, pain in the lower limbs, joint pain, or facial redness that you cannot tolerate or are not treatable, you should contact your doctor, as the dose you are taking may be too high for you and you may need a dose reduction.

Very common side effects(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

Headache
Flush (facial redness)
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Jaw pain, muscle pain, joint pain, pain in the lower limbs
Nasopharyngitis (nasal congestion)

Common side effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
Decreased appetite
Weight loss
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Stomach pain
Pain
Changes in some laboratory test results, including those that measure blood cell counts and thyroid function
Rashes, including urticaria, which can cause a burning or itching sensation and redness of the skin

Uncommon side effects(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

Increased heart rate

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Uptravi

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

Do not use Uptravi after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the blister after "EXP". The expiry date is the last day of the month shown.

This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.

No special precautions for disposal are necessary.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Uptravi

The active substance is selexipag.

Uptravi 200 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 200 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 400 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 400 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 600 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 600 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 800 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 800 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 1,000 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 1,000 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 1,200 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 1,200 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 1,400 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 1,400 micrograms of selexipag

Uptravi 1,600 micrograms film-coated tablets contain 1,600 micrograms of selexipag

The other ingredients are:

In the core of the tablets:

Mannitol (E421), corn starch, low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and magnesium stearate.

In the film coating:

Hypromellose, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E171), carnauba wax, and iron oxides (see below).

Uptravi 200 micrograms film-coated tablets contain yellow iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 400 micrograms film-coated tablets contain red iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 600 micrograms film-coated tablets contain red and black iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 800 micrograms film-coated tablets contain yellow and black iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 1,000 micrograms film-coated tablets contain red and yellow iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 1,200 micrograms film-coated tablets contain black and red iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 1,400 micrograms film-coated tablets contain yellow iron oxide (E172).

Uptravi 1,600 micrograms film-coated tablets contain black, red, and yellow iron oxide (E172).

Appearance of Uptravi and Package Contents

Uptravi 200 micrograms film-coated tablets: Light yellow, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "2" on one side.

Uptravi 400 micrograms film-coated tablets: Red, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "4" on one side.

Uptravi 600 micrograms film-coated tablets: Light violet, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "6" on one side.

Uptravi 800 micrograms film-coated tablets: Green, round, film-coated tablets marked with an "8" on one side.

Uptravi 1,000 micrograms film-coated tablets: Orange, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "10" on one side.

Uptravi 1,200 micrograms film-coated tablets: Dark violet, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "12" on one side.

Uptravi 1,400 micrograms film-coated tablets: Dark yellow, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "14" on one side.

Uptravi 1,600 micrograms film-coated tablets: Brown, round, film-coated tablets marked with a "16" on one side.

Uptravi 200 micrograms film-coated tablets are supplied in blister packs containing 10 or 60 tablets and 60 or 140 tablets (dose adjustment packs).

Uptravi 400 micrograms, 600 micrograms, 800 micrograms, 1,000 micrograms, 1,200 micrograms, 1,400 micrograms, and 1,600 micrograms film-coated tablets are supplied in blister packs containing 60 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Janssen-Cilag International NV

Turnhoutseweg 30

B-2340 Beerse

Belgium

Manufacturer

Actelion Manufacturing GmbH

Emil-Barell-Strasse 7

79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen

Germany

Actelion Pharmaceuticals Belgium NV

Bedrijvenlaan 1

2800 Mechelen

Belgium

You can request more information about this medicinal product from the local representative of the marketing authorisation holder:

België/Belgique/Belgien