Leaflet: information for the user

Axura 5 mg film-coated tablets

Axura 10 mg film-coated tablets

Axura 15 mg film-coated tablets

Axura 20 mg film-coated tablets

Memantine hydrochloride

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

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do 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 leaflet. See section 4.

How Axura works

Axura contains the active ingredient memantine hydrochloride.

Axura belongs to a group of medications known as dementia medications.

Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is due to an alteration in brain signals. The brain contains called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that participate in the transmission of important nerve signals in learning and memory. Axura belongs to the group of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. Axura acts on these receptors by improving the transmission of nerve signals and memory.

When is Axura used

Axura is used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

Do not take Axura

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to memantine hydrochloride or to any of the other components of Axura tablets (see section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Axura

• if you have a history of epileptic seizures (convulsions)
• if you have recently had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), if you suffer from congestive heart failure or if you have uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).

The treatment must be carefully supervised and your doctor must regularly reevaluate the clinical benefit of Axura.

If you have renal insufficiency (kidney problem), your doctor must closely monitor renal function and, if necessary, adapt memantine doses.

Memantine should be avoided when used with other medications such as amantadine (for Parkinson's treatment), ketamine (a medication generally used for anesthesia), dextromethorphan (a medication for cough treatment) and other NMDA antagonists.

Children and adolescents

Do not recommend the use of Axura in children and adolescents under 18 years.

Taking Axura with other medications

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used or may need to use any other medication.

In particular, the administration of Axura may produce changes in the effects of the following medications, so your doctor may need to adjust the dose:

• amantadine, ketamine, dextromethorphan
• dantrolene, baclofen
• cimetidine, ranitidine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, nicotine
• hydrochlorothiazide (or any combination with hydrochlorothiazide)
• anticholinergics (substances generally used to treat movement disorders or intestinal spasms)
• anticonvulsants (substances used to prevent and eliminate seizures)
• barbiturates (substances generally used to induce sleep)
• dopamine agonists (substances such as L-dopa, bromocriptine)
• neuroleptics (substances used in the treatment of mental illnesses)
• oral anticoagulants

If you are admitted to a hospital, inform your doctor that you are taking Axura.

Taking Axura with food and drinks

You must inform your doctor if you have recently changed or intend to change your diet significantly (for example from a normal diet to a strict vegetarian diet) or if you have acidosis tubular renal (ATR, excess of acid-producing substances in the blood due to renal dysfunction [kidney problem]) or severe urinary tract infections (urine conduit), as your doctor may need to adjust the medication dose.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think you may be pregnant or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.

Pregnancy

Memantine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.

Breastfeeding

Women taking Axura should discontinue breastfeeding.

Driving and operating machinery

Your doctor will inform you if your condition allows you to drive and use machinery safely. Additionally, Axura may alter your reaction time, making driving or operating machinery inappropriate.

Axura contains sodium

This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet; it is practically "sodium-free".

The packaging with the initial treatment of Axura should only be used at the beginning of treatment with Axura.

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Dosage

The recommended dose is 20 mg per day, which is achieved through gradual increases in the Axura dose during the first 3 weeks of treatment. The treatment schedule is also indicated on the packaging of the initial treatment. Take one tablet once a day.

Week 1 (days 1-7):

Take one 5 mg tablet once a day (white to off-white, fusiform) for 7 days.

Week 2 (days 8-14):

Take one 10 mg tablet once a day (pale yellow to yellow, oval shape) for 7 days.

Week 3 (days 15-21):

Take one 15 mg tablet once a day (pale orange to grayish orange, fusiform) for 7 days.

Week 4 (days 22-28):

Take one 20 mg tablet once a day (pale red to grayish red, fusiform) for 7 days.

Maintenance Dose

The recommended daily dose is 20 mg once a day. To continue treatment, consult your doctor.

Dosage for patients with renal insufficiency

If you have kidney problems, your doctor will decide on the appropriate dose for your condition. In this case, your doctor should monitor your renal function periodically.

Administration

Axura should be administered orally once a day. To get the most out of your medication, you should take it every day at the same time. The tablets should be swallowed with a little water. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Treatment Duration

Continue taking Axura as long as it is beneficial for you. Your doctor should evaluate the effects of your treatment periodically.

If you take more Axura than you should

• Generally, taking an excessive amount of Axura should not cause any harm. You may experience an increase in the symptoms described in section 4 “Possible adverse effects”.
• If you take an overdose of Axura, contact your doctor or seek medical advice, as you may need medical attention.

If you forget to take Axura

• If you realize you have forgotten to take your Axura dose, wait and take the next dose at the usual time.
• Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose.

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

Like all medications, this medication may produce adverse effects, although not all people will experience them.

Adverse effects are generally classified as mild to moderate.

Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Headache, drowsiness, constipation, elevated liver function tests, dizziness, balance disorder, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and hypersensitivity to the medication

Infrequent (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Fatigue, fungal infections, confusion, hallucinations, vomiting, gait disturbance, heart failure, and formation of blood clots in the venous system (venous thromboembolism)

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

• Seizures

Unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):

• Pancreatitis, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), and psychotic reactions

Alzheimer's disease has been associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide. These events have been reported in patients treated with Axura.

Reporting Adverse Effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the national notification system included in theAnexo V. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information about the safety of this medication.

Keep out of sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging and on the blister after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

This medication does not require special storage conditions.

Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point of the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packaging and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.

Composition of Axura

The active ingredient is memantine hydrochloride.

Each pump of the dosifier releases 0.5 ml of solution containing 5 mg of memantine hydrochloride, equivalent to 4.16 mg of memantine.

The other components are potassium sorbate, sorbitol E 420, and purified water.

Appearance of the product and contents of the package

Axura, oral solution, is a transparent, colorless to slightly yellowish solution.

Axura, oral solution, is available in 50 ml, 100 ml, or a multiple pack with 500 ml (10 x 50 ml).

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH E

ckenheimer Landstr. 100

D-60318 Frankfurt/Main

Germany

Responsible for manufacturing

Merz Pharma GmbH + Co. KGaA

Eckenheimer Landstr. 100

D-60318 Frankfurt/Main

Germany

For more information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder.

Last update of this leaflet: (MM/YYYY).

For detailed information about this medicinal product, please visit the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu.

Instructions for the correct use of the dosifier

The solution must not be poured or dispensed directly into the mouth from the bottle or the dosifier. Measure the dose in a spoon or in a glass of water using the dosifier.

Removing the cap from the bottle:

The cap must be turned in the opposite direction to the clock, unscrewed completely, and removed (fig. 1).

Mounting the dosifier on the bottle:

Remove the dosifier from the plastic bag (fig. 2) and place it on top of the bottle. Carefully insert the plastic tube into the bottle. Hold the dosifier on the bottle neck and turn it clockwise until it is securely attached (fig. 3). The dosifier should only be screwed on once at the start of use and should never be unscrewed.

How the dosifier works:

• Turn the dosifier head in the opposite direction to the clock to open
• Turn the dosifier head in the direction of the clock to close.

The dosifier head should not be pressed down while it is in the closed position. The solution can only be dispensed in the open position. To open, turn the dosifier head in the direction indicated by the arrow until it cannot be turned any further (about one-eighth of a turn, fig. 4). The dosifier is then ready for use.

Preparing the dosifier.

When used for the first time, the dosifier does not dispense the correct amount of oral solution. Therefore, it must be prepared (primed) by pressing the dosifier head down completely five times in a row (fig. 5).

The solution dispensed in this way should be discarded. The next time the dosifier head is pressed down completely (equivalent to one press), it will already dispense the correct dose (fig. 6)

Correct use of the dosifier.

Place the bottle on a flat, horizontal surface, for example on a table, and it should only be used in an upright position. Place a glass with a little water or a spoon under the nozzle. Press the dosifier head down firmly but calmly and sustainably-not too slowly (fig. 7, fig. 8).

The head can then be released and is ready for the next press.

The dosifier should only be used with Axura solution in the bottle provided, not for other products or containers. If the dosifier does not work correctly, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Close the dosifier after using Axura.