VENLAFAXINE RETARD STADA 75 mg PROLONGED-RELEASE HARD CAPSULES

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Venlafaxine Retard Stada 75 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG

Venlafaxine Retard Stada 150 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.

• 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:

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

1. What is Venlafaxine Retard Stada and what is it used for

Venlafaxine Retard Stada is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). This group of medicines is used to treat depression and other conditions such as anxiety disorders. It is not fully understood how antidepressants work, but they may help to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

Venlafaxine Retard Stada is a treatment for adults with depression. It is also a treatment for adults with the following anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (fear or avoidance of social situations), panic disorder (panic attacks). Treating depressive and anxiety disorders properly is important to help you feel better. If left untreated, your condition may not improve or may get worse and become more difficult to treat.

2. What you need to know before you take Venlafaxine Retard Stada

Do not take Venlafaxine Retard Stada

• If you are allergic to venlafaxine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are also taking or have taken within the last 14 days, any medicines known as irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease. Taking an irreversible MAOI with other medicines, such as Venlafaxine Retard Stada, can cause serious or even life-threatening side effects.

In addition, you must wait at least 7 days after you stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada before you take any MAOI (see also the sections "Serotonin syndrome" and "Using Venlafaxine Retard Stada with other medicines").

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, tell your doctor before taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada:

• If you are taking other medicines that, when taken with Venlafaxine Retard Stada, could increase the risk of developing serotonin syndrome (see the section "Using Venlafaxine Retard Stada with other medicines")
• If you have eye problems, such as certain types of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
• If you have a history of high blood pressure.
• If you have a history of heart problems.
• If you have been told you have an abnormal heart rhythm.
• If you have a history of seizures (fits).
• If you have a history of low sodium levels in your blood (hyponatremia).
• If you have a tendency to develop bruises or have a tendency to bleed easily (history of bleeding disorders), or if you are taking other medicines that may increase the risk of bleeding, e.g., warfarin (used to prevent blood clots) or if you are pregnant (see "Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility").
• If you have a history of, or if a family member has had, mania or bipolar disorder (feeling overexcited or euphoric).
• If you have a history of aggressive behavior.

Venlafaxine Retard Stada may cause a feeling of restlessness or difficulty sitting or standing still during the first few weeks of treatment. You should consult your doctor if this happens to you.

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with venlafaxine, as it may cause extreme fatigue and unconsciousness. Taking it with certain medicines and/or alcohol may worsen symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

Thoughts of suicide 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. This may increase when you first start taking antidepressants, because all these medicines take time to work, usually around two weeks but sometimes longer. These thoughts may also occur when your dose is reduced or during the interruption of treatment with venlafaxine.

This is more likely to happen:

• If you have previously had thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
• If you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behavior in young adults (less than 25 years of age) with psychiatric conditions who were treated with antidepressants.

If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide at any time, contact your doctor or go to the hospital directly.

You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder and ask them to read this leaflet. You may also find it helpful to ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behavior.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth has been reported in 10% of patients treated with venlafaxine. This may increase the risk of tooth decay. Therefore, you should be careful with your dental hygiene.

Diabetes

Your blood glucose levels may be altered by Venlafaxine Retard Stada. Therefore, the doses of your diabetes medicines may need to be adjusted.

Sexual problems

Some medicines in the same group as venlafaxine (called SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms have persisted after stopping treatment.

Children and adolescents

Venlafaxine Retard Stada should not normally 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 an increased risk of side effects such as suicidal attempts, suicidal thoughts, and hostility (mainly aggression, confrontational behavior, and irritability) when taking this type of medicine. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe this medicine to patients under 18 years of age when they decide it is the most suitable for the patient. If your doctor has prescribed this medicine to a patient under 18 years of age and you wish to discuss this decision, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the above symptoms develop or worsen when these patients under 18 years of age are taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada. Additionally, long-term safety in relation to growth, maturation, and cognitive and behavioral development has not been demonstrated.

Other medicines and Venlafaxine Retard Stada

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

Your doctor will decide whether you can take Venlafaxine Retard Stada with other medicines.

Do not start or stop taking any medicines, including those that can be bought without a prescription, herbal remedies, and supplements, before checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease should not be taken with Venlafaxine Retard Stada. Tell your doctor if you have taken any of these medicines in the last 14 days. (MAOI: see section "What you need to know before you take Venlafaxine Retard Stada")

• Serotonin syndrome: a potentially life-threatening condition, or reactions similar to Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) (see section "Possible side effects"), may occur with venlafaxine treatment, particularly when taken with other medicines.

Examples of these medicines include:

• Triptans (used for migraine)
• Other medicines for treating depression, for example, SNRIs, SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, or medicines containing lithium
• Medicines containing amphetamines (used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], narcolepsy, and obesity)
• Medicines containing the antibiotic linezolid (used to treat infections)
• Medicines containing moclobemide, an MAOI (used to treat depression)
• Medicines containing sibutramine (used for weight loss)
• Medicines containing opioids (e.g., buprenorphine, tramadol, fentanyl, tapentadol, pethidine, or pentazocine) used to treat severe pain
• Medicines containing dextromethorphan (used to treat cough)
• Medicines containing methadone (used for opioid addiction treatment or for severe pain treatment)
• Medicines containing methylthioninium chloride (methylene blue) (used to treat high levels of methemoglobin in the blood)
• Products containing St. John's Wort (also known as "Hypericum perforatum", a herbal remedy or supplement used to treat mild depression)
• Products containing tryptophan (used for problems such as sleep and depression)
• Antipsychotics (used to treat a condition with symptoms such as hearing, seeing, or feeling things that do not exist, mistaken beliefs, unusual suspicion, unclear reasoning, and a tendency to withdraw)

The signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include a combination of the following: restlessness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, overactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, vomiting.

In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). The signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital if you think you are experiencing serotonin syndrome.

Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines that may affect your heart rhythm. Some examples of these medicines include:

• Antiarrhythmics such as quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, or dofetilide (used to treat irregular heartbeat)
• Antipsychotics such as thioridazine (see also serotonin syndrome above)
• Antibiotics such as erythromycin or moxifloxacin (used to treat bacterial infections)
• Antihistamines (used to treat allergies)

The following medicines may also interact with Venlafaxine Retard Stada and should be used with caution. It is especially important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing:

• Ketoconazole (an antifungal medicine)
• Haloperidol or risperidone (for treating psychiatric conditions)
• Metoprolol (a beta-blocker for treating high blood pressure and heart problems)

Taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada with food, drinks, and alcohol

Venlafaxine Retard Stada should be taken with food (see section 3 "How to take Venlafaxine Retard Stada").

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with venlafaxine. Taking it with alcohol may cause extreme fatigue and unconsciousness, and worsen symptoms of depression and other conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. You should only take Venlafaxine Retard Stada after discussing with your doctor the possible benefits and risks to the unborn child.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor knows you are taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada. When similar medicines (SSRIs) are taken during pregnancy, they may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and turn blue. These symptoms usually start during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby, you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

If you are taking this medicine during pregnancy, in addition to breathing problems, another symptom your baby may have when born is feeding problems. If your baby has these symptoms when born and you are concerned, contact your doctor and/or midwife, who can advise you.

If you take venlafaxine in the late stage of pregnancy, there may be an increased 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 venlafaxine so they can advise you.

Venlafaxine Retard Stada passes into breast milk. There is a risk of an effect on the baby. Therefore, you should discuss this with your doctor, and they will decide whether you should stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or use tools or machines until you know how this medicine affects you.

Venlafaxine Retard Stada contains sucrose

This medicine contains sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Venlafaxine Retard Stada

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

The usual recommended initial dose for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder is 75 mg per day. Your doctor may gradually increase the dose and, if necessary, up to a maximum of 375 mg per day for depression. If you are being treated for panic disorder, your doctor will start with a lower dose (37.5 mg) and then gradually increase the dose. The maximum dose for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder is 225 mg/day.

Take Venlafaxine Retard Stada at approximately the same time each day, either in the morning or evening. The capsules should be swallowed whole with liquids and should not be opened, crushed, chewed, or dissolved.

Venlafaxine Retard Stada should be taken with food.

If you have liver or kidney problems, talk to your doctor, as you may need to have a different dose of this medicine.

Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor (see section "If you stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada").

If you take more Venlafaxine Retard Stada than you should

Contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you take more medicine than prescribed by your doctor. You can also contact the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, stating the medicine and the amount taken.

Overdose can put your life in danger, especially when taken with certain medicines and/or alcohol (see "Taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada with other medicines").

The symptoms of a possible overdose may include palpitations, changes in the level of consciousness (ranging from drowsiness to coma), blurred vision, seizures or fits, and vomiting.

If you forget to take Venlafaxine Retard Stada

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is already time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only a single dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses. Do not take more than the daily dose of Venlafaxine Retard Stada that has been prescribed for you in one day.

If you stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada

Do not stop taking your treatment or reduce the dose without your doctor's advice, even if you feel better. If your doctor thinks you no longer need Venlafaxine Retard Stada, they may ask you to reduce the dose gradually before stopping treatment completely. It is known that side effects occur when people stop using this medicine, especially when it is stopped suddenly or if the dose is reduced too quickly. Some patients may experience symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, aggression, fatigue, dizziness, instability, headache, insomnia, nightmares, dry mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, agitation, confusion, ringing in the ears, tingling, or, in rare cases, sensations of electric shock, weakness, sweating, seizures, or symptoms similar to flu, vision problems, and increased blood pressure (which can cause headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sweating, etc.).

Your doctor will advise you on how to gradually stop taking Venlafaxine Retard Stada. This may take several weeks or months. In some patients, the discontinuation may need to be very gradual over several months or more. If you experience any of these or other symptoms that bother you, consult your doctor for advice.

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

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

If any of the following effects occur, do not take more Venlafaxina Retard Stada. Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, throat, hands or feet and/or swollen rash with itching, difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Chest tightness, breathing noise, difficulty swallowing or breathing.
• Severe skin rash, itching or hives (elevated areas of reddened or pale skin that often itch).
• Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome that may include agitation, hallucinations, loss of coordination, rapid heartbeat, increased body temperature, rapid changes in blood pressure, hyperactive reflexes, diarrhea, coma, nausea, vomiting.

In its most severe form, serotonin syndrome can resemble Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS). The signs and symptoms of NMS may include a combination of fever, rapid heartbeat, sweating, severe muscle stiffness, confusion, increased muscle enzymes (determined by a blood test).

• Signs of infection, such as increased temperature, chills, shivering, headache, sweating or flu-like symptoms. This may be due to a blood disorder that can lead to an increased risk of infection.
• Severe rash, which can lead to the formation of severe blisters and skin peeling.
• Unexplained muscle pain, discomfort or weakness. This may be a sign of rhabdomyolysis.

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Signs and symptoms of a condition called "stress cardiomyopathy" that may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting, irregular heartbeats.

Other adverse effects that you should inform your doctor aboutare (the frequency of these adverse effects is included in the list below "other adverse effects that may occur"):

• Cough, breathing noise and difficulty breathing that may be accompanied by an increased temperature.
• Black stools (deposits) or blood in stools.
• Itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, which are symptoms of liver inflammation (hepatitis).

• Heart problems, such as rapid or irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure.
• Eye problems, such as blurred vision, dilated pupils.
• Nerve problems, such as dizziness, tingling, movement disorder (muscle spasms and stiffness), convulsions or seizures.
• Psychiatric problems, such as hyperactivity (unusual feeling of overexcitement).
• Withdrawal effects (see section "How to take Venlafaxina Retard Stada; If you stop treatment with Venlafaxina Retard Stada").
• Prolonged bleeding, if you cut or injure yourself, it may take a little longer than usual for the bleeding to stop.

Do not worry if you notice small white granules or balls in your stools after taking this medicine. Inside the Venlafaxina Retard Stada capsules, there are spheroids (small white balls) that contain the active ingredient (venlafaxine). These spheroids are released from the capsule in the stomach. As they circulate through the stomach and intestines, venlafaxine is slowly released. The "shell" of the spheroid does not dissolve and is eliminated in the stools. Therefore, although you see spheroids in the stools, the dose of the medicine has been absorbed.

Other Adverse Effects that May Occur

Very Common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• Dizziness, headache, drowsiness.
• Insomnia
• Nausea, dry mouth, constipation.
• Excessive sweating (including night sweats).

Common(may affect between 1 and 10 in 100 people)

• Decreased appetite.

• Confusion, feeling strange, lack of orgasm, decreased libido, agitation, nervousness, abnormal dreams.
• Tremors, a feeling of restlessness or inability to remain seated or still, tingling, altered taste perception, increased muscle tone.
• Visual disturbances including blurred vision, dilated pupils, inability of the eye to automatically change focus from distant to near objects.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
• Rapid heartbeat, palpitations.
• Increased blood pressure, hot flashes.
• Difficulty breathing, yawning.
• Vomiting, diarrhea.
• Mild skin rash, itching.
• Increased urination frequency, inability to urinate, difficulty urinating.
• Menstrual irregularities, such as increased bleeding or irregular bleeding, abnormal ejaculation/orgasm (men), erectile dysfunction (impotence).
• Weakness (asthenia), fatigue, chills.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Increased cholesterol.

Uncommon(may affect between 1 and 10 in 1,000 people)

• Hyperactivity, accelerated thoughts and decreased need for sleep (mania).
• Hallucinations, feeling detached from reality, abnormal orgasm, lack of feelings or emotions, feeling overexcited, teeth grinding.
• Fainting, involuntary muscle movements, altered coordination and balance.
• Feeling dizzy (especially when getting up too quickly), decreased blood pressure.
• Vomiting blood, black stools (deposits) or blood in stools, which may be a sign of internal bleeding.
• Sensitivity to sunlight, bruising, abnormal hair loss.
• Inability to control urination.
• Stiffness, spasms and involuntary muscle movements.
• Mild changes in blood levels of liver enzymes, sodium or cholesterol.

Rare(may affect between 1 and 10 in 10,000 people)

• Seizures or fits.
• Cough, breathing noise and shortness of breath that may be accompanied by a high temperature.
• Disorientation and confusion often accompanied by hallucinations (delirium).
• Excessive water intake (known as SIADH).
• Decreased sodium levels in the blood.
• Severe eye pain and reduced or blurred vision.
• Abnormal, rapid or irregular heartbeat, which can lead to fainting.
• Severe abdominal or back pain (which may indicate a serious problem in the intestine, liver or pancreas).
• Itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, flu-like symptoms, which are symptoms of liver inflammation (hepatitis).

Very Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Prolonged bleeding, which may be due to a reduced number of platelets in the blood that leads to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding.
• Abnormal production of breast milk.
• Unexpected bleeding, for example, bleeding from the gums, blood in urine or vomit, or the appearance of unexpected bruising or broken blood vessels (broken veins).

Frequency not known(cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Suicidal thoughts and behavior, cases of suicidal thoughts and behavior have been reported during treatment with venlafaxine or shortly after stopping treatment (see section 2. "What you need to know before taking Venlafaxina Retard Stada").
• Aggression.
• Dizziness.
• Excessive vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage), see "Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility" in section 2 for more information.

Venlafaxina Retard STADA sometimes produces unwanted effects that you may not be aware of, such as increased blood pressure or an abnormal heartbeat; mild changes in blood levels of liver enzymes, sodium or cholesterol. Less frequently, Venlafaxina Retard Stada may reduce the function of blood platelets, leading to an increased risk of bruising or bleeding. Therefore, your doctor may want to perform occasional blood tests, especially if you have been taking Venlafaxina Retard Stada for a long time.

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 that is not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Venlafaxina Retard Stada

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

Do not use Venlafaxina Retard Stada after the expiration date that appears on the packaging, after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Do not store above 30°C.

Medicines should not be thrown away through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need in the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Venlafaxina Retard Stada

The active ingredient is venlafaxine (hydrochloride).

Venlafaxina Retard Stada 75 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG:

Each prolonged-release capsule contains 75 mg of the active ingredient venlafaxine (hydrochloride).

The other ingredients are:

Capsule content:sugar sphere 20 (sucrose and cornstarch), stearic acid, ethylcellulose and talc.

Capsule shell:gelatin and titanium dioxide (E-171).

Venlafaxina Retard Stada 150 mg prolonged-release hard capsules EFG:

Each prolonged-release capsule contains 150 mg of the active ingredient venlafaxine (hydrochloride).

The other ingredients are:

Capsule content: sugar sphere 20 (sucrose and cornstarch), stearic acid, ethylcellulose and talc.

Capsule shell: gelatin and titanium dioxide (E-171).

Appearance of the Product and Package Contents

Venlafaxina Retard Stada is presented in the form of prolonged-release hard capsules.

The capsules are hard gelatin and contain white or off-white spheroids approximately 1 mm in diameter.

The Venlafaxina Retard Stada 75 mg capsules have a white opaque cap and body, and the Venlafaxina Retard Stada 150 mg capsules have a transparent cap and body.

Venlafaxina Retard Stada 75 mg is presented in packages containing 30 prolonged-release hard capsules or a clinical package of 500 prolonged-release hard capsules.

Venlafaxina Retard Stada 150 mg is presented in packages containing 30 prolonged-release hard capsules or a clinical package of 500 prolonged-release hard capsules.

Only some package 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

[email protected]

Manufacturer:

Valpharma International S.p.A.

Via G. Morgagni, 2

61016 Pennabilli (Pesaro-Urbino)

Italy

or

Natrix Sciences Ltd.

HF 79, A-B Hal Far Industrial Estate (Birzebbugia)

BBG07 - Malta

or

Farmalider, S.A.

C/Aragoneses, 2

Alcobendas 28108

Madrid

Spain

Date of the last revision of this leaflet: February 2024

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