Leaflet: information for the user

Velmetia 50mg/850mg film-coated tablets

Velmetia 50mg/1.000mg film-coated tablets

sitagliptina/metformina 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, consult your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
• 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, pharmacist or nurse, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. See section4.

1.What is Velmetia and what it is used for

2.What you need to knowbefore starting Velmetia

3.How to take Velmetia

4.Possible side effects

5.Storage of Velmetia

6.Contents of the pack andadditional information

Velmetia contains two different medicines, called sitagliptin and metformin.

• Sitagliptin belongs to a class of medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors)
• Metformin belongs to a class of medicines called biguanides.

They work together to control blood sugar levels in adult patients with a form of diabetes called “type 2 diabetes mellitus”. This medicine helps to increase the levels of insulin produced after a meal and reduces the amount of sugar produced by the body.

Along with a diet and exercise, this medicine helps to lower your blood sugar level. This medicine can be used alone or with certain diabetes medicines (insulin, sulfonylureas, or thiazolidinediones).

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin and the insulin produced by the body does not work as well as it should. The body may also produce too much sugar. When this occurs, sugar (glucose) accumulates in the blood. This can lead to serious medical problems, such as heart diseases (cardiovascular), kidney diseases (renal), blindness, and amputations.

Do not take Velmetia

• if you are allergic to sitagliptin, metformin, or any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6)

• if you have severe kidney function impairment
• if you have uncontrolled diabetes, for example, severe hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid weight loss, lactic acidosis (see "Risk of lactic acidosis" below), or ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a condition in which substances called "ketone bodies" accumulate in the blood, which can lead to diabetic precoma. Symptoms include stomach pain, rapid and deep breathing, drowsiness, or an unusual fruity odor on your breath
• if you have a severe infection or are dehydrated
• if you are scheduled to undergo a radiography that requires the injection of a contrast agent. You will need to stop taking Velmetia at the time of the radiography and for 2 or more days afterwards, as instructed by your doctor, depending on your kidney function
• if you have recently had a heart attack or have severe circulatory problems, such as "shock" or difficulty breathing
• if you have liver problems (hepatic)
• if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol (either daily or occasionally)
• if you are breastfeeding

Do not take Velmetia if any of the above circumstances apply to you and consult your doctor about other ways to control your diabetes. If you are unsure, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to take Velmetia.

Warnings and precautions

Cases of pancreatitis have been reported in patients treated with Velmetia (see section 4).

If you notice blisters on your skin, it may be a sign of a condition called bullous pemphigoid. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking Velmetia.

Risk of lactic acidosis

Velmertia may cause a rare but serious side effect called lactic acidosis, especially if your kidneys do not function properly. The risk of developing lactic acidosis is also increased with uncontrolled diabetes, severe infections, prolonged fasting, alcohol consumption, dehydration (see below for more information), liver problems, and any medical condition in which a part of the body has a reduced oxygen supply (such as acute and severe heart disease).

If any of the above applies to you, consult your doctor for further instructions.

Stop taking Velmetia for a short period if you have a condition that may be associated with dehydration (significant loss of body fluids), such as intense vomiting, diarrhea, fever, exposure to heat, or if you drink less fluid than normal. Consult your doctor for further instructions.

Stop taking Velmetia and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you experience any of the symptoms that produce lactic acidosis, as this condition can lead to coma.

The symptoms of lactic acidosis include:

• vomiting
• abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• muscle cramps
• general feeling of discomfort, with intense fatigue
• difficulty breathing
• reduced body temperature and heart rate

Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and should be treated in a hospital.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Velmetia:

• if you have or have had pancreatitis
• if you have or have had gallstones, alcohol addiction, or have high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood. These medical conditions may increase your risk of developing pancreatitis (see section 4)
• if you have type 1 diabetes. This condition is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes
• if you have or have had an allergic reaction to sitagliptin, metformin, or Velmetia (see section 4)
• if you are taking a sulfonylurea or insulin, other diabetes medications, as you may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your doctor may need to reduce the dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin you are taking

If you need to undergo major surgery, you should stop taking Velmetia while the procedure is being performed and for a period of time afterwards. Your doctor will decide when to interrupt treatment with Velmetia and when to restart it.

If you are unsure whether you are affected by any of the above circumstances, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Velmetia.

During treatment with Velmetia, your doctor will check your kidney function at least once a year or more frequently if you are an elderly person and/or if your kidney function is deteriorating.

Children and adolescents

Children and adolescents under 18 years old should not use this medication. It is not effective in children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years. The safety and efficacy of this medication in children under 10 years old are unknown.

Other medications and Velmetia

If you need to receive an injection of a contrast agent containing iodine, such as during a radiography or examination, you should stop taking Velmetia before the injection or at the time of the injection. Your doctor will decide when to interrupt treatment with Velmetia and when to restart it.

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication. You may need more frequent blood glucose and kidney function tests, or your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Velmetia. It is especially important to mention the following:

• medications (taken orally, inhaled, or injected) used to treat inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and arthritis (corticosteroids)
• medications that increase urine production (diuretics)
• medications used to treat pain and inflammation (NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, such as ibuprofen and celecoxib)
• specific medications used to treat high blood pressure (ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists)

• medications specifically used to treat asthma (beta-2 agonists)
• iodinated contrast agents or medications containing alcohol
• specific medications used to treat stomach problems, such as cimetidine
• ranolazine, a medication used to treat angina pectoris

• dolutegravir, a medication used to treat HIV infection
• vandetanib, a medication used to treat a specific type of thyroid cancer (medullary thyroid cancer)
• digoxin (to treat irregular heartbeat and other heart problems). You may need to have your digoxin blood level checked if you are taking Velmetia.

Taking Velmetia with alcohol

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption while taking Velmetia, as this may increase the risk of lactic acidosis (see "Warnings and precautions").

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication. Do not take this medication during pregnancy. Do not take this medication if you are breastfeeding. See section 2, Do not take Velmetia

Driving and operating machinery

The influence of this medication on your ability to drive and operate machinery is negligible or insignificant. However, cases of dizziness and somnolence have been reported during treatment with sitagliptin, which may affect your ability to drive and operate machinery.

Taking this medication with sulfonylureas or insulin may cause hypoglycemia, which may affect your ability to drive and operate machinery or work without a secure support.

Velmertia contains sodium

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

Follow exactly the administration instructions for this medication as indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

• Take a tablet:
• twice a day by mouth
• with food to reduce the likelihood of stomach discomfort

• Your doctor may need to increase the dose to control blood sugar levels.

• If you have reduced renal function, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.

You must continue with the diet recommended by your doctor during treatment with this medication and be careful to distribute carbohydrate intake evenly throughout the day.

It is unlikely that treatment with this medication alone will cause an abnormal drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). A drop in blood sugar may occur when this medication is taken with a medication containing sulfonylurea or insulin, so it is likely that your doctor will consider reducing the dose of your sulfonylurea or insulin.

If you take more Velmetia than you should

If you take more than the prescribed dose of this medication, contact your doctor immediately. Go to the hospital if you experience symptoms of lactic acidosis such as feeling cold or unwell, intense nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, muscle cramps, or agitated breathing (see "Warnings and precautions").

If you forget to take Velmetia

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular treatment. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

If you interrupt treatment with Velmetia

Continue taking this medication as directed by your doctor to help control your blood sugar levels. Do not stop taking this medication without first consulting your doctor. If you stop taking Velmetia, your blood sugar levels may increase again.

If you have any other questions 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.

STOP taking Velmetia and see your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following serious side effects:

• Intense and persistent abdominal pain (stomach area) that can reach the back with or without nausea and vomiting, as these can be signs of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Velmetia can cause a very rare but serious side effect (can affect up to 1 in 10,000 people), called lactic acidosis (see "Warnings and precautions"). If this happens to you, you muststop taking Velmetia and contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately, as lactic acidosis can lead to coma.

If you have a severe allergic reaction (unknown frequency), including skin rash, urticaria, blisters on the skin/skin peeling and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that can cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking this medicine and consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will prescribe a medication to treat the allergic reaction and change the medication for diabetes treatment.

Some patients taking metformin have experienced the following side effects after starting treatment with sitagliptin:

Frequent (can affect up to 1 in 10 people): low blood sugar, nausea, gas, vomiting

Infrequent (can affect up to 1 in 100 people): stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, drowsiness

Some patients have experienced diarrhea, nausea, gas, constipation, stomach pain, or vomiting when starting treatment with the combination of sitagliptin and metformina (frequency classified as frequent).

Some patients have experienced the following side effects when taking this medicine with a sulfonylurea such as glimepiride:

Very frequent (can affect more than 1 in 10 people): low blood sugar

Frequent: constipation

Some patients presented the following side effects while taking this medicine in combination with pioglitazone:

Frequent: swelling of hands or feet

Some patients presented the following side effects while taking this medicine in combination with insulin:

Very frequent: low blood sugar

Infrequent: dry mouth, headache

Some patients have experienced the following side effects during clinical studies while taking sitagliptin alone (one of the medicines contained in Velmetia) or during use after approval of Velmetia or sitagliptin alone or with other diabetes medications:

Frequent: low blood sugar, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, congestion or nasal mucosities and throat pain, arthritis, pain in the arm or leg

Infrequent: dizziness, constipation, itching

Rare: reduction in platelet count

Unknown frequency: kidney problems (which sometimes require dialysis), vomiting, joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, interstitial lung disease, bullous pemphigoid (a type of blister on the skin)

Some patients have experienced the following side effects after taking metformin alone:

Very frequent: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and loss of appetite. These symptoms may appear when you start taking metformin and usually disappear

Frequent: metallic taste, decrease or low levels of vitamin B12 in the blood (symptoms may include extreme fatigue, pain and redness of the tongue (glossitis), tingling (paresthesia) or pale or yellowish skin). Your doctor may request tests to determine the cause of your symptoms because some of them may also be caused by diabetes or other unrelated health problems.

Rare: hepatitis (liver problem), urticaria, skin redness (rash) or itching

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through thenational notification 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 blister pack and on the container after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Do not store at a temperature above 25°C.

Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medications that you no longer need. In this way, you will help protect the environment.

Composition of Velmetia

• The active principles are sitagliptin and metformin.

• Each film-coated tablet of Velmetia 50 mg/850 mg contains sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate equivalent to 50 mg of sitagliptin and 850 mg of metformin hydrochloride.
• Each film-coated tablet of Velmetia 50 mg/1,000 mg contains sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate equivalent to 50 mg of sitagliptin and 1,000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.

• The other components are:

• Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose (E460), povidone K 29/32 (E1201), sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium stearate fumarate.
• Film coating: polyvinyl alcohol, macrogol 3350, talc (E553b), titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide red (E172), and iron oxide black (E172).

Appearance of the product and contents of the package

• The film-coated tablets of Velmetia 50 mg/850 mg are oval-shaped, pink in color, and have the inscription “515” on one side.
• The film-coated tablets of Velmetia 50 mg/1,000 mg are oval-shaped, red in color, and have the inscription “577” on one side.

Blister packs (PVC/PE/PVDC and aluminum).Packagesof 14, 28, 56, 60, 112, 168, 180, 196film-coated tablets, multiple packs containing 196(2boxes of 98) and 168(2 boxes of 84)film-coated tablets.Packageof 50 x 1film-coated tablets in a pre-cut single-dose blister pack.

Only some package sizes may be marketed.

Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible for manufacturing

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.

Waarderweg 39

2031 BN Haarlem

Netherlands

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

Last date of revision of this leaflet:{MM/AAAA}.

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