Patient Information Leaflet
Vimpat 10 mg/ml Syrup
Lacosamide
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is Vimpat
Vimpat contains lacosamide, which belongs to a group of medicines called “antiepileptic medicines”. These medicines are used to treat epilepsy.
What is Vimpat used for
Do not take Vimpat
Do not take Vimpat if any of the above applies to you. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor before starting to use Vimpat if:
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vimpat.
If you are taking Vimpat, consult your doctor if you experience a new type of seizure or worsening of existing seizures.
If you are taking Vimpat and experience symptoms of abnormal heart rhythm (such as slow, fast or irregular heartbeat, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting), consult your doctor immediately (see section 4).
Children
Vimpat is not recommended for children under 2 years with epilepsy characterised by the onset of partial seizures and is not recommended for children under 4 years with primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures. This is because it is not yet known if it is effective and safe for children of this age group.
Other medicines and Vimpat
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently or may need to take any other medicine.
In particular, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines that affect the heart, as Vimpat may also affect the heart:
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vimpat.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines, as they may also increase or decrease the effect of Vimpat on your body:
If any of the above applies to you (or you are unsure), speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vimpat.
Vimpat and alcohol
As a precaution, do not take Vimpat with alcohol.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women of childbearing age should discuss the use of contraceptives with their doctor.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.
Do not take Vimpat if you are pregnant, as the effects of Vimpat on pregnancy and the fetus are not known.
Do not breastfeed while taking Vimpat, as Vimpat passes into breast milk.
Ask your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. They will help you decide if you should take Vimpat or not.
Do not stop treatment without talking to your doctor, as this may increase seizures (crises). A worsening of your condition may also harm the fetus.
Driving and operating machinery
You should not drive, cycle or use any tools or operate machinery until you know if this medicine affects you. The reason is that Vimpat may cause dizziness or blurred vision.
Vimpat contains sorbitol, sodium, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, aspartame, propylene glycol and potassium
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Vimpat Dosage
Normally, you will start taking a low dose each day, and your doctor will gradually increase the dose over several weeks. When you reach the dose that works well for you, called the "maintenance dose," you will take the same amount each day. Vimpat is used as long-term treatment.
You should continue taking Vimpat until your doctor tells you to stop.
How much to take
The following are the normal recommended doses of Vimpat for different age groups and weights.
Your doctor may prescribe a different dose if you have kidney or liver problems.
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) or the 30 ml measuring cup provided in the outer box, as appropriate, according to the dose needed. See the usage instructions below.
Adolescents and children weighing 50 kg or more and adults
When taking Vimpat alone:
The usual starting dose is 50 mg (5 ml), twice a day.
Your doctor may prescribe a starting dose of 100 mg (10 ml) of Vimpat twice a day.
Your doctor may increase the dose you take twice a day by 50 mg (5 ml) each week, until you reach the maintenance dose between 100 mg (10 ml) and 300 mg (30 ml) twice a day.
When taking Vimpat with other antiepileptic medications:
The usual starting dose is 50 mg (5 ml) twice a day.
Your doctor may increase the dose you take twice a day by 50 mg (5 ml) each week, until you reach the maintenance dose between 100 mg (10 ml) and 200 mg (20 ml) twice a day.
If you weigh 50 kg or more, your doctor may decide to start Vimpat treatment with a single "loading dose" of 200 mg (20 ml). Then, you will start taking the continuous maintenance dose 12 hours later.
Children and adolescents weighing less than 50 kg
When taking Vimpat alone.
Take twice a dayfor children from 2 years old whoweigh between 10 and less than 40 kg
Weight | Week 1 Dose initial: 0.1 ml/kg | Week 2 0.2 ml/kg | Week 3 0.3 ml/kg | Week 4 0.4 ml/kg | Week 5 0.5 ml/kg | Week 6 Maximum recommended dose: 0.6 ml/kg |
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) for a volume between 1 ml and 20 ml * Use the 30 ml measuring cup (black graduation marks) for a volume of more than 20 ml | ||||||
10 kg | 1 ml | 2 ml | 3 ml | 4 ml | 5 ml | 6 ml |
15 kg | 1.5 ml | 3 ml | 4.5 ml | 6 ml | 7.5 ml | 9 ml |
20 kg | 2 ml | 4 ml | 6 ml | 8 ml | 10 ml | 12 ml |
25 kg | 2.5 ml | 5 ml | 7.5 ml | 10 ml | 12.5 ml | 15 ml |
30 kg | 3 ml | 6 ml | 9 ml | 12 ml | 15 ml | 18 ml |
35 kg | 3.5 ml | 7 ml | 10.5 ml | 14 ml | 17.5 ml | 21 ml* |
Take twice a day, for adolescents and children whoweigh between 40 kg and less than 50 kg
Weight | Week 1 Dose initial: 0.1 ml/kg | Week 2 0.2 ml/kg | Week 3 0.3 ml/kg | Week 4 0.4 ml/kg | Week 5 Maximum recommended dose: 0.5 ml/kg |
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) for a volume between 1 ml and 20 ml * Use the 30 ml measuring cup (black graduation marks) for a volume of more than 20 ml | |||||
40 kg | 4 ml | 8 ml | 12 ml | 16 ml | 20 ml |
45 kg | 4.5 ml | 9 ml | 13.5 ml | 18 ml | 22.5 ml* |
When taking Vimpat with other antiepileptic medications:
Take twice a dayfor children from 2 years old whoweigh between 10 kg and less than 20 kg
Week | Week 1 Dose initial: 0.1 ml/kg | Week 2 0.2 ml/kg | Week 3 0.3 ml/kg | Week 4 0.4 ml/kg | Week 5 0.5 ml/kg | Week 6 Maximum recommended dose: 0.6 ml/kg |
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) for a volume between 1 ml and 20 ml | ||||||
10 kg | 1 ml | 2 ml | 3 ml | 4 ml | 5 ml | 6 ml |
12 kg | 1.3 ml | 2.4 ml | 3.6 ml | 4.8 ml | 6 ml | 7.2 ml |
14 kg | 1.4 ml | 2.8 ml | 4.2 ml | 5.6 ml | 7 ml | 8.4 ml |
15 kg | 1.5 ml | 3 ml | 4.5 ml | 6 ml | 7.5 ml | 9 ml |
16 kg | 1.6 ml | 3.2 ml | 4.8 ml | 6.4 ml | 8 ml | 9.6 ml |
18 kg | 1.8 ml | 3.6 ml | 5.4 ml | 7.2 ml | 9 ml | 10.8 ml |
Take twice a day,for adolescents and childrenwho weigh between 20 kg and less than 30 kg:
Weight | Week 1 Dose initial: 0.1 ml/kg | Week 2 0.2 ml/kg | Week 3 0.3 ml/kg | Week 4 0.4 ml/kg | Week 5 Maximum recommended dose: 0.5 ml/kg |
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) for a volume between 1 ml and 20 ml | |||||
20 kg | 2 ml | 4 ml | 6 ml | 8 ml | 10 ml |
22 kg | 2.2 ml | 4.4 ml | 6.6 ml | 8.8 ml | 11 ml |
24 kg | 2.4 ml | 4.8 ml | 7.2 ml | 9.6 ml | 12 ml |
25 kg | 2.5 ml | 5 ml | 7.5 ml | 10 ml | 12.5 ml |
26 kg | 2.6 ml | 5.2 ml | 7.8 ml | 10.4 ml | 13 ml |
28 kg | 2.8 ml | 5.6 ml | 8.4 ml | 11.2 ml | 14 ml |
Take twice a day,for adolescents and childrenwho weigh between 30 kg and less than 50 kg
Weight | Week 1 Dose initial: 0.1 ml/kg | Week 2 0.2 ml/kg | Week 3 0.3 ml/kg | Week 4 Maximum recommended dose: 0.4 ml/kg |
Use the 10 ml oral syringe (black graduation marks) for a volume between 1 ml and 20 ml | ||||
30 kg | 3 ml | 6 ml | 9 ml | 12 ml |
35 kg | 3.5 ml | 7 ml | 10.5 ml | 14 ml |
40 kg | 4 ml | 8 ml | 12 ml | 16 ml |
45 kg | 4.5 ml | 9 ml | 13.5 ml | 18 ml |
Usage instructions
It is essential to use the correct device to measure your dose. Your doctor or pharmacist will indicate which device you should use, depending on the dose prescribed.
10 ml oral syringe | 30 ml measuring cup |
The 10 ml oral syringe has black graduation marks in increments of 0.25 ml. If the required dose is between 1 ml and 10 ml, you should use the 10 ml oral syringe and the adapter provided in this package. If the required dose is between 10 ml and 20 ml, you should use the 10 ml syringe twice. | The 30 ml measuring cup has black graduation marks in increments of 5 ml. If the required dose is greater than 20 ml, you should use the 30 ml measuring cup provided in this package. |
Usage instructions: measuring cup
1. Shake the bottle well before use.
2. Fill the measuring cup to the graduation mark of the milliliters (ml) prescribed by your doctor.
3. Swallow the dose of syrup.
4. Then drink a little water.
Usage instructions: oral syringe
Your doctor will show you how to use the oral syringe before you use it for the first time. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Shake the bottle well before use.
Open the bottle by pressing the cap while turning it counterclockwise (figure 1).
Follow these steps the first time you take Vimpat:
Follow these steps each time you take Vimpat:
You can choose one of two ways to take the medication:
If you take more Vimpat than you should
If you have taken more Vimpat than you should, consult your doctor immediately. Do not drive. You may experience:
If you forget to take Vimpat
If you interrupt treatment with Vimpat
If you have any other questions about the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The side effects in the nervous system, such as dizziness, may be more pronounced after a single "loading" dose.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any of the following side effects:
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 patients
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 patients
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 patients
Frequency not known: cannot be estimated from available data
Other side effects in children
The additional side effects observed in children were fever (pyrexia), runny nose (nasopharyngitis), sore throat (pharyngitis), eating less than usual (decreased appetite), changes in behavior, not acting as they normally do (abnormal behavior) and lack of energy (lethargy). Drowsiness is a very common side effect in children and may affect more than 1 in 10 children.
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through thenational reporting system included in theAppendix V. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the box and in the bottle, after CAD/EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not refrigerate.
No special storage conditions are required.
Once the bottle of syrup is opened, do not use itafter 6 months.
Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Vimpat
Appearance of the product and contents of the package
The Vimpat syrup package includes a 30 ml polypropylene measuring cup (black graduations) and a 10 ml polyethylene/polypropylene oral syringe (black graduations) with its polyethylene adapter.
The 10 ml oral syringe is suitable for doses between 1 ml and 20 ml. A full 10 ml oral syringe corresponds to 100 mg of lacosamide. The minimum extractable volume is 1 ml, which corresponds to 10 mg of lacosamide. After this, each graduation mark (0.25 ml) corresponds to 2.5 mg of lacosamide (for example, 4 graduation marks correspond to 10 mg).
Marketing Authorization Holder
UCB Pharma S.A., Allée de la Recherche 60, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Responsible for manufacturing
Aesica Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 10, D-40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
or
UCB Pharma SA, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420, Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
You can request more information about this medication by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
België/Belgique/Belgien UCB Pharma SA/NV Tel: + 32 / (0)2 559 92 00 | Lietuva UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 (Suomija) |
Luxembourg/Luxemburg UCB Pharma SA/NV Tél/Tel: + 32 / (0)2 559 92 00 (Belgique/Belgien) | |
Ceská republika UCB s.r.o. Tel: + 420 221 773 411 | Magyarország UCB Magyarország Kft. Tel.: + 36-(1) 391 0060 |
Danmark UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: + 45 / 32 46 24 00 | Malta Pharmasud Ltd. Tel: + 356 / 21 37 64 36 |
Deutschland UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: + 49 /(0) 2173 48 4848 | Nederland UCB Pharma B.V. Tel.: + 31 / (0)76-573 11 40 |
Eesti UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 (Soome) | Norge UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: + 47 / 67 16 5880 |
Ελλάδα UCB Α.Ε. Τηλ: + 30 / 2109974000 | Österreich UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: + 43 (0) 1291 80 00 |
España UCB Pharma, S.A. Tel: + 34 / 91 570 34 44 | Polska UCB Pharma Sp. z o.o. / VEDIM Sp. z o.o. Tel.: + 48 22 696 99 20 |
France UCB Pharma S.A. Tél: + 33 / (0)1 47 29 44 35 | Portugal UCB Pharma (Produtos Farmacêuticos), Lda Tel: + 351 21 302 5300 |
Hrvatska Medis Adria, d.o.o. Tel: +385 (0) 1 230 34 46 | România UCB Pharma Romania S.R.L. Tel: + 40 21 300 29 04 |
Ireland UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd. Tel: + 353 / (0)1-46 37 395 | Slovenija Medis, d.o.o. Tel: + 386 1 589 69 00 |
Ísland Vistor hf. Simi: + 354 535 7000 | Slovenská republika UCB s.r.o., organizacná zložka Tel: + 421 (0) 2 5920 2020 |
Italia UCB Pharma S.p.A. Tel: + 39 / 02 300 791 | Suomi/Finland UCB Pharma Oy Finland Puh/Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 |
Κύπρος Lifepharma (Z.A.M.) Ltd Τηλ: + 357 22 05 63 00 | Sverige UCB Nordic A/S Tel: + 46 / (0) 40 29 49 00 |
Latvija UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 (Somija) | United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd Tel: + 353 / (0)1-46 37 395 |
Last review date of this leaflet:{month/YYYY}.
Other sources of information
Detailed information about this medication is available on the European Medicines Agency website:http://www.ema.europa.eu/.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.