Alzain 225 mg Capsules, Hard

Patient Leaflet Updated 11-Jun-2024 | Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Ltd

Alzain 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 225mg, 300mg Capsules, Hard

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Alzain 25 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 50 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 75 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 100 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 150 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 200 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 225 mg Capsules, Hard

Alzain 300 mg Capsules, Hard

Pregabalin

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
  • This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Alzain is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Alzain
3. How to take Alzain
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Alzain
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Alzain is and what it is used for

Alzain belongs to a group of medicines used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults.

Peripheral and central neuropathic pain: Alzain is used to treat long lasting pain caused by damage to the nerves. A variety of diseases can cause peripheral neuropathic pain, such as diabetes or shingles. Pain sensations may be described as hot, burning, throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, aching, tingling, numbness, pins and needles. Peripheral and central neuropathic pain may also be associated with mood changes, sleep disturbance, fatigue (tiredness), and can have an impact on physical and social functioning and overall quality of life.

Epilepsy: Alzain is used to treat a certain form of epilepsy (partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation) in adults. Your doctor will prescribe Alzain for you to help treat your epilepsy when your current treatment is not controlling your condition. You should take Alzain in addition to your current treatment. Alzain is not intended to be used alone, but should always be used in combination with other anti-epileptic treatment.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Alzain is used to treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The symptoms of GAD are prolonged excessive anxiety and worry that are difficult to control. GAD can also cause restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, being easily fatigued (tired), having difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, feeling irritable, having muscle tension or sleep disturbance. This is different to the stresses and strains of everyday life.

2. What you need to know before you take Alzain
Do not take Alzain
  • if you are allergic to pregabalin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Alzain.

  • Some patients taking Alzain have reported symptoms suggesting an allergic reaction. These symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat, as well as diffuse skin rash. Should you experience any of these reactions, you should contact your physician immediately.
  • Serious skin rashes including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis have been reported in association with pregabalin. Stop using pregabalin and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin reactions described in section 4.
  • Alzain has been associated with dizziness and somnolence, which could increase the occurrence of accidental injury (fall) in elderly patients. Therefore, you should be careful until you are used to any effect the medicine might have.
  • Alzain may cause blurring or loss of vision, or other changes in eyesight, many of which are temporary. You should immediately tell your doctor if you experience any changes in your vision.
  • Some patients with diabetes who gain weight while taking pregabalin may need an alteration in their diabetic medicines.
  • Certain side effects may be more common, such as sleepiness, because patients with spinal cord injury may be taking other medicines to treat, for example, pain or spasticity, that have similar side effects to pregabalin and the severity of these effects may be increased when taken together.
  • There have been reports of heart failure in some patients when taking Alzain; these patients were mostly elderly with cardiovascular conditions. Before taking this medicine you should tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease.
  • There have been reports of kidney failure in some patients when taking Alzain. If while taking Alzain you notice decreased urination, you should tell your doctor as stopping the medicine may improve this.
  • Some patients being treated with anti-epileptics such as Alzain have had thoughts of harming or killing themselves or show suicidal behaviour. If at any time you have these thoughts or show such behaviour, immediately contact your doctor.
  • When Alzain is taken with other medicines that may cause constipation (such as some types of pain medicines) it is possible that gastrointestinal problems may occur (e.g., constipation, blocked or paralysed bowel). Tell your doctor if you experience constipation, especially if you are prone to this problem.
  • Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or illegal drugs; it may mean you have a greater risk of becoming dependent on Alzain.
  • There have been reports of convulsions when taking Alzain or shortly after stopping Alzain. If you experience a convulsion, contact your doctor immediately.
  • There have been reports of reduction in brain function (encephalopathy) in some patients taking Alzain when they have other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of any serious medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease.
  • There have been reports of breathing difficulties. If you have nervous system disorders, respiratory disorders, renal impairment, or you are older than 65, your doctor may prescribe you a different dosing regimen. Contact your doctor if you experience trouble breathing or shallow breaths.

Dependence

Some people may become dependent on Alzain (a need to keep taking the medicine). They may have withdrawal effects when they stop using Alzain (see section 3, “How to take Alzain” and “If you stop taking Alzain”). If you have concerns that you may become dependent on Alzain, it is important that you consult your doctor.

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

  • You need to take the medicine for longer than advised by your prescriber
  • You feel you need to take more than the recommended dose
  • You are using the medicine for reasons other than prescribed
  • You have made repeated, unsuccessful attempts to quit or control the use of the medicine
  • When you stop taking the medicine you feel unwell, and you feel better once taking the medicine again

If you notice any of these, speak to your doctor to discuss the best treatment pathway for you, including when it is appropriate to stop and how to do this safely.

Children and adolescents

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

Other medicines and Alzain

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Alzain and certain other medicines may influence each other (interaction). When taken with certain other medicines which have sedative effects (including opioids), Alzain may potentiate these effects and could lead to respiratory failure, coma and death. The degree of dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration may be increased if Alzain is taken together with medicines containing:

Oxycodone – (used as a pain-killer)

Lorazepam – (used for treating anxiety)

Alcohol

Alzain may be taken with oral contraceptives.

Alzain with food, drink and alcohol

Alzain capsules may be taken with or without food.

It is advised not to drink alcohol while taking Alzain.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Alzain should not be taken during pregnancy or when breast-feeding, unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. Pregabalin use during the first 3 months of pregnancy may cause birth defects in the unborn child that require medical treatment. In a study reviewing data from women in Nordic countries who took pregabalin in the first 3 months of pregnancy, 6 babies in every 100 had such birth defects. This compares to 4 babies in every 100 born to women not treated with pregabalin in the study. Abnormalities of the face (orofacial clefts), the eyes, the nervous system (including the brain), kidneys and genitals have been reported.

Effective contraception must be used by women of childbearing potential. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Alzain may produce dizziness, sleepiness and decreased concentration. You should not drive, operate complex machinery or engage in other potentially hazardous activities until you know whether this medicine affects your ability to perform these activities.

Lyrica contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per hard capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

3. How to take Alzain

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Do not take more medicines than prescribed.

Your doctor will determine what dose is appropriate for you.

Alzain is for oral use only.

Peripheral and central neuropathic pain, epilepsy or Generalised Anxiety Disorder:
  • Take the number of capsules as instructed by your doctor.
  • The dose, which has been adjusted for you and your condition, will generally be between 150 mg and 600 mg each day.
  • Your doctor will tell you to take Alzain either twice or three times a day. For twice a day take Alzain once in the morning and once in the evening, at about the same time each day. For three times a day take Alzain once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once in the evening, at about the same time each day.

If you have the impression that the effect of Alzain is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are an elderly patient (over 65 years of age), you should take Alzain normally except if you have problems with your kidneys.

Your doctor may prescribe a different dosing schedule and/or dose if you have problems with your kidneys.

Swallow the capsule whole with water.

Continue taking Alzain until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you take more Alzain than you should

Call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency unit immediately. Take your box of Alzain capsules with you. You may feel sleepy, confused, agitated, or restless as a result of taking more Alzain than you should. Fits and unconsciousness (coma) have also been reported.

If you forget to take Alzain

It is important to take your Alzain capsules regularly at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. In that case, just carry on with the next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Alzain

Do not suddenly stop taking Alzain. If you want to stop taking Alzain, discuss this with your doctor first. They will tell you how to do this. If your treatment is stopped it should be done gradually over a minimum of 1 week.

After stopping short- or long term treatment with Alzain, you need to know that you may experience certain side effects, so called withdrawal effects. These effects include, trouble sleeping, headache, nausea, feeling anxious, diarrhoea, flu-like symptoms, convulsions, nervousness, depression, thoughts of harming or killing yourself, pain, sweating, and dizziness. These effects may occur more commonly or severely if you have been taking Alzain for a longer period of time. If you experience withdrawal effects, you should contact your doctor.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

  • Dizziness, drowsiness, headache.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

  • Increased appetite.
  • Feeling of elation, confusion, disorientation, decrease in sexual interest, irritability.
  • Disturbance in attention, clumsiness, memory impairment, loss of memory, tremor, difficulty with speaking, tingling feeling, numbness, sedation, lethargy, insomnia, fatigue, feeling abnormal.
  • Blurred vision, double vision.
  • Vertigo, problems with balance, fall.
  • Dry mouth, constipation, vomiting, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, swollen abdomen.
  • Difficulties with erection.
  • Swelling of the body including extremities.
  • Feeling drunk, abnormal style of walking.
  • Weight gain.
  • Muscle cramp, joint pain, back pain, pain in limb.
  • Sore throat.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

  • Loss of appetite, weight loss, low blood sugar, high blood sugar.
  • Change in perception of self, restlessness, depression, agitation, mood swings, difficulty finding words, hallucinations, abnormal dreams, panic attack, apathy, aggression, elevated mood, mental impairment, difficulty with thinking, increase in sexual interest, problems with sexual functioning including inability to achieve a sexual climax, delayed ejaculation.
  • Changes in eyesight, unusual eye movement, changes in vision including tunnel vision, flashes of light, jerky movements, reduced reflexes, increased activity, dizziness on standing, sensitive skin, loss of taste, burning sensation, tremor on movement, decreased consciousness, loss of consciousness, fainting, increased sensitivity to noise, feeling unwell.
  • Dry eyes, eye swelling, eye pain, weak eyes, watery eyes, eye irritation.
  • Heart rhythm disturbances, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, high blood pressure, changes in heart beat, heart failure.
  • Flushing, hot flushes.
  • Difficulty breathing, dry nose, nasal congestion.
  • Increased saliva production, heartburn, numb around mouth.
  • Sweating, rash, chills, fever.
  • Muscle twitching, joint swelling, muscle stiffness, pain including muscle pain, neck pain.
  • Breast pain.
  • Difficulty with or painful urination, incontinence.
  • Weakness, thirst, chest tightness.
  • Changes in blood and liver test results (blood creatinine phosphokinase increased, alanine amino transferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, platelet count decreased, neutropaenia, increase in blood creatinine, decrease in blood potassium).
  • Hypersensitivity, swollen face, itchiness, hives, runny nose, nose bleed, cough, snoring.
  • Painful menstrual periods.
  • Coldness of hands and feet.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

  • Abnormal sense of smell, swinging vision, altered perception of depth, visual brightness, vision loss.
  • Dilated pupils, cross eyes.
  • Cold sweat, tightness of the throat, swollen tongue.
  • Inflammation of the pancreas.
  • Difficulty in swallowing.
  • Slow or reduced movement of the body.
  • Difficulty with writing properly.
  • Increased fluid in the abdomen.
  • Fluid in the lungs.
  • Convulsions.
  • Changes in the recording of electrical changes (ECG) in the heart which correspond to heart rhythm disturbances.
  • Muscle damage.
  • Breast discharge, abnormal breast growth, breast growth in males.
  • Interrupted menstrual periods.
  • Kidney failure, reduced urine volume, urinary retention.
  • Decrease in white blood cell count.
  • Inappropriate behaviour, suicidal behaviour, suicidal thoughts.
  • Allergic reactions which may include difficulty breathing, inflammation of the eyes (keratitis) and serious skin reactions characterised by reddish non-elevated, target-like or circular patches on the trunk, often with central blisters, skin peeling, ulcers of mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes. These serious skin rashes can be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
  • Parkinsonism, that is symptoms resembling Parkinson’s disease; such as tremor, bradykinesia (decreased ability to move), and rigidity (muscle stiffness).

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

  • Liver failure.
  • Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

  • Becoming dependent on Alzain (‘drug dependence’).

After stopping a short or long-term treatment with Alzain, you need to know that you may experience certain side effects, so-called withdrawal effects (see “If you stop taking Alzain”).

If you experience swollen face or tongue or if your skin turns red and starts to blister or peel, you should seek immediate medical advice.

Certain side effects may be more common, such as sleepiness, because patients with spinal cord injury may be taking other medicines to treat, for example, pain or spasticity, that have similar side effects to pregabalin and the severity of these effects may be increased when taken together.

The following adverse reaction has been reported in the post-marketing experience: Trouble breathing, shallow breaths.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Alzain

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Alzain 25 mg and 50 mg capsules: Do not store above 25°C.

Alzain 75, 100, 150, 200, 225 and 300 mg capsules: Do not store above 30°C.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Alzain contains
  • The active substance is pregabalin. Each hard capsule contains either 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 225 mg or 300 mg pregabalin.
  • The other ingredients are: mannitol, Co-processed corn starch (consisting of corn starch and pregelatinised corn starch), talc, gelatine, titanium dioxide (E171) and black ink, (which contains shellac, black iron oxide (E172), potassium hydroxide). The 75 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 225 mg and 300 mg capsules also contain red iron oxide (E172).

What Alzain looks like and contents of the pack

25 mg capsules White capsules, hard, size 4 (14.4 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 25” marked on the body.

50 mg capsules White capsules, hard, size 3 (15.8 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 50” marked on the body. The capsule body is marked with a black band.

75 mg capsules White and orange capsules, hard, size 4 (14.4 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 75” marked on the body.

100 mg capsules Orange capsules, hard, size 3 (15.8 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 100” marked on the body.

150 mg capsules White capsules, hard, size 2 (17.8 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 150” marked on the body.

200 mg capsules Light orange capsules, hard, size 1 (19.3 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 200” marked on the body.

225 mg capsules White and light orange capsules, hard, size 1 (19.3 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 225” marked on the body.

300 mg capsules White and orange capsules, hard, size 0 (21.4 ± 0.4 mm), with “PGB 300” marked on the body.

Alzain 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg are available in two pack sizes made of PVC with an aluminium foil backing: a 56 capsules pack and a 84 capsules pack.

Alzain 225 mg and 300 mg are available in one pack size made of PVC with an aluminium foil backing: a 56 capsules pack.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd.
410 Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 0PE
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
Balkanpharma-Dupnitsa AD
3 Samokovsko Shosse Str.
Dupnitsa 2600
Bulgaria

This leaflet was last revised in 06/2024

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