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Carbocisteine 375 mg Capsules Milpharm Limited

Active Ingredient:
Company:  
Aurobindo Pharma - Milpharm Ltd. See contact details
ATC code: 
R05CB03
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About Medicine
{healthcare_pro_orange} This information is for use by healthcare professionals
Last updated on emc: 16 Jun 2022
1. Name of the medicinal product

Carbocisteine 375 mg Capsules, hard

2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

Each capsule contains 375 mg Carbocisteine.

Excipient(s) with known effect

Each capsule contains 1.38mg of sodium and 3.37 mg of mannitol.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. Pharmaceutical form

Capsule, hard

Hard gelatin capsules with size No 1(app. 19.4 ± 0.3 mm), filled with homogenous white powder. The colour of the capsule body and of the capsule cap is dull-yellow opaque.

4. Clinical particulars
4.1 Therapeutic indications

Carbocisteine is a mucolytic agent for the adjunctive therapy of respiratory tract disorders characterized by excessive, viscous mucus, including chronic obstructive airways disease.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults including the elderly

Dosage is based upon an initial daily dosage of 2250 mg Carbocisteine in divided doses, reducing to 1500 mg daily in divided doses when a satisfactory response is obtained e.g. two capsules three times a day reducing to one capsule four times a day.

Paediatric population

This formulation is not recommended for children. The normal daily dosage is 20 mg/kg body weight in divided doses. It is recommended that this is achieved with Carbocisteine Paediatric Syrup.

Method of administration

Carbocisteine capsules are for oral use.

4.3 Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

• Use in patients with active peptic ulceration.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Caution is recommended in the elderly, in those with a history of gastroduodenal ulcers, or those taking concomitant medications known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding. If gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, patients should discontinue medication.

Carbocisteine contains sodium

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

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no available data on carbocisteine use in pregnant women. No conclusions can be drawn regarding whether or not carbocisteine is safe for use during pregnancy. The use of carbocisteine in pregnant women is not recommended, especially during the first trimester.

Breast-feeding

There are no available data on the presence of carbocisteine in human milk, milk production, or the effects on the breastfed infant. No conclusions can be drawn regarding whether or not carbocisteine is safe for use during breast-feeding. The use of carbocisteine in breastfeeding women is not recommended.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Carbocisteine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8 Undesirable effects

The following CIOMS frequency rating is used, when applicable: Very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to ≤ 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to ≤ 1/1,000); very rare (≤ 1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Immune System Disorders

There have been reports of anaphylactic reactions, allergic skin eruption and fixed drug eruption.

Gastrointestinal disorders

There have been reports of diarrhoea, nausea, epigastric discomfort and gastrointestinal bleeding occurring during treatment with Carbocisteine.

Frequency not known: vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

There have been reports of skin rashes and allergic skin eruptions. Isolated cases of dermatitis bullous such as Stevens– Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme have also been reported.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions 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.

4.9 Overdose

Gastric lavage may be beneficial, followed by observation. Gastrointestinal disturbance is the most likely symptom of Carbocisteine overdosage.

5. Pharmacological properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: respiratory system, mucolytics, ATC code: R05CB03

Mechanism of action

Carbocisteine (S-carboxymethyl L-cysteine) has been shown in normal and bronchitic animal models to affect the nature and amount of mucus glycoprotein which is secreted by the respiratory tract. An increase in the acid: neutral glycoprotein ratio of the mucus and a transformation of serous cells to mucus cells is known to be the initial response to irritation and will normally be followed by hypersecretion. The administration of Carbocisteine to animals exposed to irritants indicates that the glycoprotein that is secreted remains normal; administration after exposure indicates that return to the normal state is accelerated. Studies in humans have demonstrated that Carbocisteine reduces goblet cell hyperplasia. Carbocisteine can therefore be demonstrated to have a role in the management of disorders characterised by abnormal mucus.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Carbocisteine is rapidly absorbed from the GI tract. In an 'in-house' study, at steady state (7 days) Carbocisteine capsules 375 mg given as 2 capsules t.d.s. to healthy volunteers gave the following pharmacokinetic parameters:

Plasma Determinations

Mean

Range

Tmax (Hr)

2.0

1.0 - 3.0

T½ (Hr)

1.87

1.4 - 2.5

KEL (Hr-1)

0.387

0.28 - 0.50

AUC0-7.5 (mcg.Hr.ml-1)

39.26

26.0 - 62.4

Derived Pharmacokinetic Parameters

*CLS (L.Hr-1)

20.2

CLS (ml.min-1)

331

VD (L)

105.2

VD (L.Kg-1)

1/75

*Calculated from dose for day 7 of study

5.3 Preclinical safety data

There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber, which are additional to those already included in other sections of the SmPC.

6. Pharmaceutical particulars
6.1 List of excipients

Capsule Contents:

Mannitol;

Maize starch;

Croscarmellose sodium;

Sodium laurilsulfate, grade K12;

Colloidal anhydrous silica;

Magnesium stearate.

Capsule Shell:

Gelatine;

Red Iron Oxide E 172;

Titanium dioxide E171;

Yellow iron oxide E 172.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf life

3 (three) years.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Store below 30 ° C.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

The capsules are blister-packed in transparent PVC/PVDC/aluminium hard foil. Each blister strip contains 10 capsules.

Pack sizes: 20, 30, 50 or 120 capsules.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

No special requirements.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7. Marketing authorisation holder

Milpharm Limited

Ares Block, Odyssey Business Park

West End Road

Ruislip HA4 6QD

United Kingdom

8. Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 16363/0493

9. Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

14/02/2017

10. Date of revision of the text

10/06/2022

Aurobindo Pharma - Milpharm Ltd.
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Address
Odyssey Business Park, Ares Block, West End Road, South Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6QD
Telephone
+ 44 (0)208 845 8811
Medical Information e-mail
[email protected]
Customer Care direct line
+44 (0)208 845 8811
Medical Information Fax
+44 (0)208 845 8795