Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Premax 150 mg EFG Tablets
pregabalina

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

-Keep this package leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
- If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only, and you must not give it to others even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
- If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this package leaflet. See section 4.

3. How to take Premax
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Premax

6. Contents of the pack and additional information

Pregabalin belongs to a group of medications used for the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults.

Peripheral and central neuropathic pain:Pregabalin is used for the treatment of chronic pain caused by nerve damage. Various diseases can cause peripheral neuropathic pain, such as diabetes or herpes. The sensation of pain could be described as heat, burning, pulsating pain, stabbing pain, acute pain, spasms, continuous pain, numbness, tingling, and pins and needles sensation. Peripheral and central neuropathic pain could also be associated with mood changes, sleep disturbances, fatigue (tiredness), and can affect physical and social activity and overall quality of life.

Epilepsy:Pregabalin is used in the treatment of certain types of epilepsy (partial seizures with or without secondary generalization) in adults. Your doctor will prescribe pregabalin to treat epilepsy when your current treatment does not control the disease. You must take pregabalin in addition to your current treatment. Pregabalin should not be administered alone, but always used in combination with other antiepileptic treatments.

Generalized anxiety disorder:Pregabalin is used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Symptoms of GAD include excessive and prolonged anxiety and worry that are difficult to control. GAD can also produce restlessness or feeling of excitement or nervousness, feeling easily fatigued (tired), difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally blank, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbances. This is different from everyday stress and tension.

Do not takePremax

If you are allergic to pregabalin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

·Some patients treated with pregabalin have reported symptoms that suggest an allergic reaction. These symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat, as well as the appearance of a widespread skin rash. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

· Severe skin rashes, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have been reported in association with pregabalin treatment. Stop taking pregabalin and seek medical attention immediately if you observe any of the symptoms related to these severe skin reactions described in section 4.

·Pregabalin has been associated with dizziness and somnolence, which may increase the risk of accidental injuries (falls) in elderly patients. Therefore, you should exercise caution until you become familiar with the effects of the medicine.

·Pregabalin may cause blurred vision, loss of vision, or other changes in vision, many of which are transient. If you experience any alteration in your vision, you should inform your doctor immediately.

·Patients with diabetes who gain weight while taking pregabalin may need to change their diabetes medications.

· Certain adverse effects, such as somnolence, may be more frequent since patients with spinal cord injury may be taking other medications for treatment, for example, pain or spasticity (tense or rigid muscles), with adverse effects similar to those of Pregabalin, so the intensity of these effects may increase when taken together.

·Cases of heart failure have been reported in some patients treated with this medicine. Most of them were elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases.Before using this medicine, you should inform your doctor if you have a history of heart disease.

·Cases of kidney problems (insufficiency) have been reported in some patients treated with this medicine. If during treatment with pregabalin you notice a decrease in your ability to urinate, you should inform your doctor as the interruption of treatment may improve this situation.

·Some patients treated with antiepileptic medications such as pregabalin have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide or have shown suicidal behavior. If at any time you experience these thoughts or have shown such behavior, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

·When pregabalin is taken with other medications that may cause constipation (such as some types of pain medications), it is possible that gastrointestinal problems (e.g. constipation and intestinal blockage or paralysis) may occur. Inform your doctor if you experience constipation, especially if you are prone to this problem.

·Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have ever abused or had dependence on alcohol, prescription medications, or illegal drugs; it may mean that you have a higher risk of becoming dependent on pregabalin.

·Cases of seizures have been reported during treatment with pregabalin or shortly after stopping treatment with this medicine. If you experience seizures, contact your doctor immediately.

·Cases of reduced brain function (encephalopathy) have been reported in some patients who were taking pregabalin and had other underlying diseases. Inform your doctor if you have a history of any serious disease, including liver or kidney disease.

· Cases of difficulty breathing have been reported. If you have respiratory system disorders, respiratory disorders, kidney insufficiency, or are over 65 years old, your doctor may prescribe a different dose. Contact your doctor if you experience breathing problems or shallow breathing.

Dependence

Some people may become dependent on pregabalin (need to continue taking the medicine). They may experience withdrawal effects when they stop using pregabalin (see section 3, “How to take Premax” and “If you stop taking Premax”). If you are concerned that you may become dependent on pregabalin, it is essential to consult your doctor.

If you notice any of the following signs while taking pregabalin, it could be a sign that you have become dependent:

• You need to take the medicine for a longer period than recommended by your doctor.
• You feel the need to take more of the recommended dose.
• You are using the medicine for reasons other than those prescribed.
• You have made repeated and unsuccessful attempts to stop or control the use of the medicine.
• When you stop taking the medicine, you experience discomfort and feel better once you take the medicine again.

If you notice any of these signs, talk to your doctor to analyze the best plan of care for you, including when it is appropriate to stop treatment and how to do it safely.

Children and adolescents

The safety and efficacy of pregabalin have not been established in children and adolescents (under 18 years) and therefore pregabalin should not be used in this age group.

Taking Premax with other medicines

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medicine.

Pregabalin and certain medications may exert a mutual influence on each other (interactions). When pregabalin is used with certain medications that have a sedative effect (including opioids), these effects may be potentiated, and may lead to respiratory failure, coma, and death. The degree of dizziness, somnolence, and decreased concentration may increase if pregabalin is taken with other medications that contain:

Oxycodone – (used as an analgesic)

Lorazepam – (used to treat anxiety)

Alcohol

This medicine can be taken with oral contraceptives.

Taking Premax with food, drinks, and alcohol

Pregabalin tablets can be taken with or without food.

It is recommended not to take alcohol during treatment with pregabalin.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

You should not take pregabalin during pregnancy or lactation, unless your doctor has told you to. The use of pregabalin during the first 3 months of pregnancy may cause congenital anomalies in the fetus that require medical treatment. In a study that reviewed data from women in Nordic countries who took pregabalin during the first 3 months of pregnancy, 6 out of 100 babies had such congenital anomalies. This contrasts with 4 out of 100 babies born to women not treated with pregabalin in the study. The anomalies included facial clefts, eyes, nervous system (including the brain), kidneys, and genitals.

A reliable contraceptive method should be used in women of childbearing age.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.

Driving and operating machinery

Pregabalin may cause dizziness, somnolence, and decreased concentration. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or engage in other potentially hazardous activities until you know if this medicine affects your ability to perform these activities.

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor.

In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again. Do not take more medication than prescribed.

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose for you.

Pregabalin is exclusively for oral use.

The tablet can be divided into equal doses.

Peripheral and central neuropathic pain, epilepsy, or generalized anxiety disorder:

•Take the number of tablets as indicated by your doctor.
•The dose, which has been adjusted for you and your condition, will generally be between 150 mg and 600 mg per day.
•Your doctor will instruct you to take pregabalin two or three times a day. In the case of twice a day, take pregabalin once in the morning and once at night, approximately at the same time every day. In the case of three times a day, take pregabalin in the morning, at noon, and at night, approximately at the same time every day.

If you estimate that the action of pregabalin is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are an elderly patient (over 65 years old), you should take pregabalin normally, except if you have kidney problems.

Your doctor may prescribe another dosing regimen and/or different doses if you have kidney problems.

Swallow the tablet whole with water.

Continue taking pregabalin until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you take more Pregabalin than you should

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.
As a result of taking more pregabalin than you should, you may feel drowsy, confused, agitated, or restless.Seizures and loss of consciousness (coma) have also been reported.

If you forgot to takePregabalin

It is essential to take the pregabalin tablets regularly at the same time every day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time for the next dose. In that case, continue with the next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.

If you interrupt the treatment withPregabalin

Do not stop taking pregabalin unless your doctor tells you to. If you are going to stop treatment, this should be done gradually over a minimum of one week.

Once the treatment with pregabalin is completed, whether it is long-term or short-term, you should know that you may experience certain adverse effects called withdrawal effects. These effects include insomnia, headaches, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, seizures, nervousness, depression, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, pain, sweating, and dizziness. These effects may appear more frequently or severely if you have been taking pregabalin for a longer period. If you experience withdrawal effects, consult your doctor.

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

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

The very common side effects that may affect more than 1 in 10 people are:

·5. Conservation of Premax

6. Contents of the packaging and additional information