Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet (ePIL).
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD.
For further information call emc accessibility on
0800 198 5000.
The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 04425/0573.
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 Frumil Tablets are and what they are used for 2. What you need to know before you take Frumil Tablets 3. How to take Frumil Tablets 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Frumil Tablets 6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Frumil Tablets are and what they are used for
What Frumil Tablets are
The name of your medicine is Frumil 40mg/5mg Tablets (called Frumil Tablets throughout this leaflet). Frumil Tablets contain two different medicines called: furosemide and amiloride hydrochloride. Both belong to a group of medicines called diuretics (water tablets).
What Frumil Tablets are used for
Frumil Tablets can be used to stop the build up of extra water in your body. This extra water can cause swollen ankles, shortness of breath and feeling more tired than usual.
How Frumil Tablets work
Frumil Tablets work by helping you to pass more water (urine) than you usually do. If the extra water in your body is not removed, it can put extra strain on the heart, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys or liver.
2. What you need to know before you take Frumil Tablets
Do not take Frumil Tablets if:
You are allergic (hypersensitive) to furosemide, amiloride hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6) Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
You are allergic to sulphonamides such as sulfadiazine or co-trimoxazole
You have severe problems with your kidneys
You have severe liver problems
Your doctor has told you that you have a low blood volume or are dehydrated
You are not passing any water (urine)
You have too much or too little potassium or sodium in your blood (shown in blood tests)
You have an illness called ‘Addison’s Disease’. This can make you feel tired and weak.
You are breast-feeding (see “Pregnancy and breast-feeding” section below)
You are taking other medicines which change the amount of potassium in your blood (see “Taking other medicines” section below)
If the person taking the medicine is under 18 years. Frumil Tablets are not suitable for children
Do not take Frumil Tablets if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Frumil Tablets.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Frumil Tablets if:
You have difficulty in passing water (urine)
You are 65 years of age or older
You have liver or kidney problems
You are an elderly patient with dementia and are also taking risperidone
You have diabetes
You have low blood pressure or feel dizzy when you stand up
You have prostate problems
You have gout
You feel dizzy or dehydrated. This can happen if you have lost a lot of water through being sick, having diarrhoea or passing water very often. It can also happen if you are having trouble drinking or eating
You are going to have a glucose test
You are taking any other water tablets
You have systemic lupus erythematosus
You are elderly, or you are on other medications which can cause the drop of the blood pressure and you have other medical conditions that are risks for the drop of blood pressure.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Frumil Tablets.
Other medicines and Frumil Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Frumil Tablets can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some medicines can affect the way Frumil Tablets work.
Do not take this medicine, and tell your doctor, if you are taking:
Medicines which change the amount of potassium in your blood. These include potassium supplements such as potassium chloride or certain water tablets (diuretics) such as triamterene
Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions if you are taking one of the following medicines:
Aliskiren – used to treat high blood pressure.
The following medicines can affect the way Frumil Tablets work and increase the chance of you getting side effects:
Medicines such as ramipril, enalapril, perindopril (called ‘ACE inhibitors’) or losartan, candesartan, irbesartan (called ‘angiotensin II receptor antagonists’). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your tablets or ask you to stop taking them
Medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine
Medicines used as a general anaesthetic for relaxing your muscles during surgery
Medicines for diabetes. These may not work as well when you are taking Frumil Tablets.
Theophylline - used for wheezing or difficulty in breathing
Phenytoin - used for epilepsy. This can lower the effect of Frumil Tablets
The following medicines can increase the chance of side effects when taken with Frumil Tablets:
Lithium - used for mental illnesses. To help stop side effects your doctor may need to change the dose of your lithium and check the amount of lithium in your blood.
Cisplatin - used for some cancers
Digoxin - used for heart problems. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) - used for pain and inflammation such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen or indometacin
Carbamazepine - used for epilepsy
Aminoglutethimide - used for breast cancer
Ciclosporin - used to stop the rejection of organs after a transplant
Methotrexate - used for cancers of the skin, joint or bowel diseases
Carbenoxolone - used for ulcers of the food-pipe (gullet)
Reboxetine - used for depression
Amphotericin - used for fungal infections if used for a long time
Corticosteroids - used for inflammation such as prednisolone
Liquorice - often used in cough medicines if taken in large amounts
Probenecid (used with another HIV medicine)
Medicines for infection such as gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin, netilmicin, tobramycin, vancomycin or high doses of cephalosporins
Medicines used as injections before X-ray examinations
Medicines used for constipation (laxatives) if used for a long time such as bisacodyl or senna
Medicines for asthma when given in high doses such as salbutamol, terbutaline sulphate, salmeterol, formoterol or bambuterol
Other water tablets (diuretics) such as bendroflumethiazide. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine
Aliskiren - used to treat high blood pressure.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Frumil Tablets if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, might become pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby.
Do not breast-feed if you are taking Frumil Tablets.
This is because small amounts may pass into the mothers milk. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.
Driving and using machines
You may feel dizzy or unwell after taking Frumil Tablets. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Frumil Tablets contain Sunset Yellow and Lactose
This medicine contains:
A colour called ‘sunset yellow’ (E110). This may cause allergic reactions.
Lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Information on sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.
3. How to take Frumil Tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
Take this medicine by mouth
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water
If you feel the effect of your medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor
How much Frumil Tablets to take
The usual dose is one or two tablets first thing in the morning. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take.
If you are taking sucralfate (a medicine for stomach ulcers)
Do not take sucralfate at the same time as Frumil Tablets. Take your dose at least 2 hours before or after Frumil Tablets. This is because it can affect the way your medicine works.
If you take more Frumil Tablets than you should
If you think you may have taken more Frumil Tablets than you should, or if a child has swallowed any of your tablets, tell your doctor or go to your nearest hospital casualty department straight away. Remember to take with you any medicine that is left so the doctor knows what you have taken. The following effects may happen: dry mouth, feeling thirsty, muscle pain or cramps, feeling sick or being sick (vomiting), weak or uneven heartbeat, feeling dizzy, weak or sleepy.
If you forget to take Frumil Tablets
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. Then continue the following morning as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Frumil Tablets
Keep taking Frumil Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop taking it.
Blood tests
Your doctor may carry out blood tests to check that the levels of some salts in the blood are at the correct levels.
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.
Tell a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
If you have an allergic reaction. The signs may include inflammation of the kidney (nephritis), swollen ankles or high blood pressure, skin rashes, change in skin colour, severe blistering of the skin, being more sensitive to the sun than usual, high temperature (fever), and itching
Severe allergic reactions. The signs may include shock such as difficulty in breathing, cold clammy skin, pale skin colour and racing heart beat
Severe stomach or back pain. These could be signs of ‘pancreatitis’
Bruising more easily, getting more infections, feeling weak or tired more than usual. Frumil Tablets can affect the number of blood cells, causing serious blood problems
Increased thirst, headache, feeling dizzy or light-headed, fainting, confusion, muscle or joint pains or weakness, cramps or spasms, stomach upsets or uneven heartbeats. These could be signs of dehydration or changes in your normal body chemicals. Severe dehydration can also lead to blood clots or ‘gout’
You notice yellowing of your skin or eyes and your urine becomes darker in colour. These could be signs of a liver problem. In patients who already have liver problems, a more serious liver problem known as liver encephalopathy may occur. Symptoms include forgetfulness, fits, mood changes and coma.
Blistering or peeling of the skin around the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals, flu-like symptoms and fever. This could be a condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In a more severe form of the condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, layers of the skin may peel off to leave large areas of raw exposed skin all over the body.
Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) (acute febrile drug eruption), symptoms include the skin becoming red with swollen areas covered in numerous small pustules
Dizziness, fainting and loss of consciousness
Tell a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Deafness (sometimes irreversible)
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Problems hearing or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). This especially affects people who already have problems with their kidneys
Tingling or feeling numb on the skin
Small changes in your mood such as feeling agitated or anxious.
Headaches, feeling dizzy or light-headed when standing up quickly. Also loss of concentration, slower reactions, feeling sleepy or weak, problems with your sight, dry mouth. This could be due to low blood pressure
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet
Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Feeling sick (nausea) or a general feeling of being unwell, diarrhoea and being sick (vomiting) and constipation
People with bladder and prostate problems may notice pain when passing water. This is due to an increase in the amount of water passed
If you have diabetes you may be less able to control the levels of glucose in your blood
Passing more water (urine) than you usually do. This normally happens 1 or 2 hours after taking this medicine.
Symptoms vary considerably between patients but the most common are: joint aches and pains, swollen joints, headaches, increased sensitivity to sunlight, skin rashes, kidney problems, fatigue and weakness, mouth ulcers, hair loss, anxiety and depression, fevers and night sweats, abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, anaemia (Systemic lupus erythematosus)
Lichenoid reactions, characterized as small, itchy reddish-purple, polygon-shaped lesions on the skin, genitals or in the mouth.
Blood tests
Frumil Tablets can change the levels of liver enzymes or body fats known as cholesterol and triglycerides shown up on blood tests.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. 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 Frumil Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not take Frumil Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister pack after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
Store below 25°C. Keep the blister strip in the outer carton in order to protect from light and moisture.
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 to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Frumil Tablets contain
One of the active ingredients in this medicine is furosemide 40mg. This is the new name for frusemide 40mg. The ingredient itself has not changed
The active substances are furosemide and amiloride hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 40mg furosemide and 5mg amiloride hydrochloride (as anhydrous)
The other ingredients are lactose, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycollate, talc, sunset yellow dye (E110), colloidal anhydrous silica and magnesium stearate
What Frumil Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Frumil Tablets are orange, evenly mottled circular tablets with bevel edges and ‘FRUMIL’ embossed on one side, with a break line on the other side.
Your tablets are available in blister packs of 4, 7, 28, 56 and 1400 tablets or bottles containing 50, 100 or 500 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Sanofi 410 Thames Valley Park Drive Reading Berkshire RG6 1PT UK
Sanofi S.r.l. Strada Statale 17 Km 22 67019 Scoppito (L’Aquila) Italy
This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.