Package Insert: Information for the Patient
Clozapina Stada 200 mg Tablets
Read this entire package insert carefully before starting to take this medication, as it contains important information for you.
The active ingredient of Clozapina Stada is clozapine, which belongs to a group of medications called antipsychotics (medications used to treat specific mental disorders such as psychosis).
Clozapine is used to treat patients with schizophrenia when the use of other medications has not been effective. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that involves disturbances in thought, emotional reactions, and behavioral disturbances. You can only use this medication if you have already tried at least two other neuroleptic medications, including one of the new atypical neuroleptics for treating schizophrenia, and these medications do not respond, or cause severe adverse reactions that cannot be treated.
Clozapine is also indicated for treating severe thought disturbances, emotional reactions, and behavioral disturbances that occur in Parkinson's disease when other medications have not been effective.
Inform your doctor and do not take clozapine if any of the above circumstances apply.
Clozapine should not be administered to anyone who is unconscious or in a coma.
Warnings and precautions
The safety measures mentioned in this section are very important. You must comply with them to minimize the risk of severe adverse reactions that may be life-threatening.
Inform your doctor before starting treatment with clozapine if you have or have had any of the following circumstances:
Inform your doctor immediately before taking the next clozapine tablet if:
Medical examinations and blood tests
Before starting treatment with clozapine, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and perform a blood test to ensure that your white blood cell count is normal. It is essential to know this, as your body needs white blood cells to fight infections.
Make sure you have regular blood tests performed before starting treatment, during treatment, and after stopping treatment with clozapina.
Before starting treatment, your doctor will also perform a physical examination. Your doctor may perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart, but only if necessary for you or if you have any special concerns.
If you experience liver problems, you will have periodic liver function tests throughout treatment with clozapina.
If you have high blood glucose levels (diabetes), your doctor may perform periodic checks of your blood glucose levels.
Clozapine may alter your blood lipid levels. Clozapine may cause weight gain. Your doctor may monitor your weight and blood lipid levels.
If you experience mild headache, dizziness, or weakness, or if clozapine makes you feel this way, be careful when getting up from a seated or lying position, as this may increase the risk of falls.
If you are to undergo surgery or are unable to walk for a prolonged period, inform your doctor that you are taking clozapina. You may be at risk of developing thrombosis (blood clot in a vein).
Children and adolescents under 16 years
If you are under 16 years old, you should not take clozapina as there is not enough information available for its use in this age group.
Use in elderly patients (60 years and older)
Elderly patients (60 years and older) may be more susceptible to the following adverse effects during treatment with clozapina:
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have a disease called dementia.
Other medications and Clozapina Stada
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication, including those purchased without a prescription or herbal treatments. You may need to take different amounts of your medications or different medications.
Do not take clozapina with other medications that prevent the correct functioning of the bone marrow and/or reduce the number of blood cells produced by the body, such as:
These medications increase your risk of developing agranulocytosis (severe decrease in white blood cells in your blood).
The use of clozapina with other medications may affect the correct action of clozapina and/or the other medications. Inform your doctor if you intend to take, are taking (even if the treatment is about to end), or have recently stopped taking any of the following medications:
This list is not exhaustive. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information about medications that should be taken with caution or avoided while taking clozapina. They also know if the medications you are taking belong to any of the groups listed above.
Inform them.
Taking Clozapina Stada with food and drinks
Do not drink alcohol during treatment with clozapina.
Inform your doctor if you smoke and how often you consume beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, cola). Sudden changes in your smoking or caffeine habits may also change the effects of clozapina.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medication.
Pregnancy
Your doctor will discuss the benefits and potential risks of using this medication during pregnancy.
Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant during treatment with clozapina.
The following symptoms may appear in newborn babies of mothers who used clozapina in the last trimester (the last three months of pregnancy):
If your baby develops any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor.
Breastfeeding
Do not breastfeed your baby during treatment with clozapina. Clozapine, the active substance in this medication, may pass into breast milk and affect your baby.
Fertility
Some women taking certain medications for mental illnesses may experience irregular or absent menstrual periods. If this has happened to you, your menstrual periods will return to normal when your medication is replaced with clozapina. This means you should use effective contraception.
Driving and operating machinery
Clozapina may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and seizures, especially at the beginning of treatment. Therefore, you should avoid driving or operating machinery while experiencing these symptoms.
Clozapina may cause symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, or visual disturbances and may impair your reaction time. These effects, as well as the underlying illness, may make it difficult for you to drive vehicles or operate machinery. Therefore, do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in other activities that require special attention until your doctor assesses your response to this medication.
Clozapina Stada contains lactose
This medication contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have a lactose intolerance, consult with them before taking this medication.
To reduce the risk of seizures, drowsiness, or low blood pressure as much as possible, your doctor needs to gradually increase the dose. Follow the administration instructions exactly as indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
It is essential not to change the dose or stop taking clozapine without first asking your doctor.
Continue taking clozapine for the time your doctor has indicated. If you are 60 years old or older, your doctor may start treatment with a lower dose and gradually increase it, as you may be more susceptible to developing unexpected adverse reactions. (See section 2 "What you need to know before starting to take Clozapina Stada").
If you cannot achieve the prescribed dose with this tablet presentation, other presentations of this medication are available to achieve the prescribed dose.
Administration form
Oral.
Swallow the tablet with water.
Treatment of schizophrenia
Unless your doctor prescribes another dose, treatment starts with 12.5 mg (half of a 25 mg tablet) one or two times the first day, followed by 25 mg one or two times the second day. If you tolerate it well, your doctor will gradually increase the dose in amounts of 25 or 50 mg over 2 to 3 weeks to reach a daily dose of 300 mg. You may need to continue increasing the dose in amounts of 50 or 100 mg twice a week, or preferably once a week.
The usual daily dose of clozapine is between 200 and 450 mg, divided into several doses per day. Some people may need higher doses. Doses of up to 900 mg per day are allowed.
At daily doses above 450 mg, adverse reactions may increase (particularly seizures). Always take the minimum dose that is effective for you. Most patients must take a part of the dose in the morning and another in the evening. Your doctor will tell you exactly how to divide your daily dose. If your daily dose does not exceed 200 mg, you can take it as a single dose at night. Once the treatment with clozapine is working well for you over some time, your doctor will try the treatment with lower doses. You will need to take clozapine for at least 6 months.
Treatment of severe thought disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease
Unless your doctor prescribes another dose, the initial normal dose of clozapine is 12.5 mg (half of a 25 mg tablet) at night.
Your doctor will gradually increase the dose in amounts of 12.5 mg, with a maximum of two increases per week, to reach a maximum dose of up to 50 mg by the end of the second week. Dose increases should be stopped or postponed if you feel weak, dizzy, or confused. To avoid such symptoms, your blood pressure will be measured during the first weeks of treatment.
The effective daily dose is between 25 and 37.5 mg, taken as a single dose at night. Only in exceptional cases can doses above 50 mg per day be increased. The maximum dose is 100 mg per day. Always take the minimum dose that is effective for you.
If you take more Clozapina Stada than you should
If you think you have taken more clozapine than you should, or if someone has taken some of your tablets, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
Overdose symptoms are:
Drowsiness, fatigue, lack of energy, unconsciousness, coma, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, incoherent speech, numbness in the limbs, tremors in the hands, seizures, increased saliva production, dilated pupils, blurred vision, low blood pressure, collapse, rapid or irregular heartbeat, shallow breathing, or difficulty breathing.
If you forgot to take Clozapina Stada
If you forgot to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If there is little time left for the next dose, do not take the missed dose and take the next dose at the time it is due. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have stopped taking clozapine for more than 48 hours.
If you interrupt treatment with Clozapina Stada
Do not stop treatment with clozapine without asking your doctor, as you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include sweating, headache, nausea (feeling dizzy), vomiting (feeling dizzy), and diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. These symptoms may be followed by more severe symptoms unless you are treated immediately. Your initial symptoms may recur. If you need to interrupt treatment, it is recommended to gradually reduce the dose in amounts of 12.5 mg over a period of 1 to 2 weeks.
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to reduce your daily dose. If you need to interrupt your treatment suddenly, your doctor should examine you.
If your doctor decides to restart treatment with clozapine and your last dose of clozapine was more than two days ago, you should start with the initial dose of 12.5 mg.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medications, clozapine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Some side effects can be serious and require immediate medical attention:
Inform your doctor immediately before taking the next clozapine tablet if you experience any of the following circumstances:
Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)
Common (affects up to 1 in 10 people)
-Seizures.
Rare (affects up to 1 in 100 people)
Very rare (affects up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very rare (affects up to 1 in 1,000 patients) or rare (affects up to 1 in 10,000 people)
-Rapid and irregular heart rate, even at rest, palpitations, breathing difficulties, chest pain, or unusual fatigue. Your doctor will need to perform a heart check and, if necessary, immediately refer you to a cardiologist.
Very rare (affects up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Unknown (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
If any of the above cases apply to you, inform your doctor immediately before taking the next clozapine tablet.
Other side effects:
Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)
Drowsiness, dizziness, increased saliva production.
Common (affects up to 1 in 10 people)
High levels of white blood cells in the blood (leukocytosis), high levels of a specific type of white blood cell in the blood (eosinophilia), weight gain, blurred vision, headache, tremor, stiffness, restlessness, agitation, convulsions, involuntary movements, abnormal movements, inability to initiate movement, inability to remain still, changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the heart, high blood pressure, weakness, or mild headache after changing position, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), loss of appetite, dry mouth, minor abnormalities in liver function tests, loss of bladder control, difficulty urinating, fatigue, fever, increased sweating, elevated body temperature, speech disorders (e.g., slurred words).
Rare (affects up to 1 in 100 people)
Low white blood cell count in the blood (agranulocytosis), speech disorder (e.g., stuttering).
Rare (affects up to 1 in 1,000 people)
High red blood cell count in the blood (anemia), restlessness, agitation, confusion, delirium, irregular heart rate, inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or of the membrane surrounding the heart muscle (pericarditis), accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion), high blood sugar levels, diabetes mellitus, blood clotting in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), liver disease that causes yellowing of the skin/dark urine/itching, elevated levels in the blood of an enzyme called creatine phosphokinase.
Very rare (affects up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Increased platelet count in the blood with possible blood vessel coagulation, involuntary movements of the mouth/tongue/lips, obsessive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviors (obsessive-compulsive symptoms), skin reactions, facial swelling (due to inflammation of the salivary glands), difficulty breathing, very high triglyceride or cholesterol levels in the blood, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), cardiac arrest, sudden unexpected death.
Unknown (frequency cannot be estimated from available data)
Changes in brain wave recordings (electroencephalogram/EEG), diarrhea, stomach discomfort, burning, stomach discomfort after eating, weakness, muscle spasms, muscle pain, nasal congestion, nocturnal enuresis, sudden and uncontrolled increase in blood pressure (pseudopheochromocytoma), involuntary contraction causing the body to curve to one side (pleurototonus), sexual dysfunction, in which semen enters the bladder instead of ejaculating through the penis (dry orgasm or retrograde ejaculation), hives, red-purple spots, fever, or itching due to inflammation of blood vessels, inflammation of the colon that causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, change in skin color, butterfly-shaped rash on the face, joint pain, muscle pain, fever, and fatigue (lupus erythematosus), restless legs syndrome (irresistible urge to move the legs or arms, usually accompanied by uncomfortable sensations during periods of rest, especially in the afternoon or at night, and temporarily relieved by movement).
In elderly patients with dementia, a small increase in the number of cases of death in patients taking antipsychotics compared to those not taking them has been reported.
Reporting of 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 the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use clozapina after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Store below 30 °C.
Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point of the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packaging and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
The active ingredient is clozapine
Each tablet contains 200 mg of clozapine.
The other components are: lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, povidone, anhydrous colloidal silica, talc, and magnesium stearate.
Appearance of the product and content of the container
Yellowish pale film-coated tablets, oval-shaped, engraved with “C” and “Z” on either side of the groove on one face and “200” on the other face. The tablets measure approximately 17 mm x 9.5 mm. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Blister packs: 20, 40, 50, and 100 tablets
Pre-cut single-dose blister packs: 20 x 1, 40 x 1, 50 x 1, and 100 x 1 tablets
Only some container sizes may be commercially marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder
Laboratorio STADA, S.L.
Frederic Mompou, 5
08960 Sant Just Desvern (Barcelona)
Spain
Responsible for Manufacturing
STADA Arzneimittel AG
Stadastrasse 2 – 18
61118 Bad Vilbel
Germany
This medicine is authorized in the member states of the European Economic Area with the following names:
Germany: Clozapin AL 200 mg Tabletten
Spain: Clozapina STADA 200 mg tablets
Last review date of this leaflet: June 2022
The detailed information of this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) https://www.aemps.gob.es/
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