The experience of treating women older than 65 years is limited.

Transcription

1 NOGEST 5 mg tablets nomegestrol acetate Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using 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 Nogest is and what it is used for 2. What you need to know before you take Nogest 3. How to take Nogest 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Nogest 6. Contents of the pack and other information 1. WHAT NOGEST IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR Nogest belongs to the group of medicines called progestogen. The action of this medicine is located on female sex organs (i.e. breast and sexual organs), such as the progesterone, which is a natural hormone produced in women s body. Nogest is used: - In women before menopause: for the treatment of menstrual cycle disorders caused by the absence or low secretion of progesterone. These troubles of the menstrual cycle can be: - Menstrual cycle length abnormalities, - Bleeding abnormalities during or outside menstruation, - Painful menstruation, - Troubles before menstruation such as nervousness or irritability (premenstrual syndrome), - Breast tenderness. - In post menopausal women: as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopause disorders in addition with a treatment containing estrogen in non-hysterectomized women with at least 6 months since their last natural period. The experience of treating women older than 65 years is limited. 2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE NOGEST Medical history and regular check-ups (in the context of HRT) The use of HRT carries risks which need to be considered when deciding whether to start taking it, or whether to carry on taking it. The experience in treating women with a premature menopause (due to ovarian failure or surgery) is limited. If you have a premature menopause the risks of using HRT may be different. Please talk to your doctor. 1

2 Before you start (or restart) HRT, your doctor will ask about your own and your family s medical history. Your doctor may decide to perform a physical examination. This may include an examination of your breasts and/or an internal examination, if necessary. Once you have started on Nogest you should see your doctor for regular check-ups (at least once a year). At these check-ups, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of continuing with Nogest. Go for regular breast screening, as recommended by your doctor. Do not take NOGEST If any of the following applies to you. If you are not sure about any of the points below, talk to your doctor before taking Nogest. Do not take Nogest: If you have or have ever had breast cancer, or if you are suspected of having it. If you have cancer which is sensitive to estrogens, such as cancer of the womb lining (endometrium), or if you are suspected of having it. If you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding. If you have excessive thickening of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) that is not being treated. If you have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (thrombosis), such as in the legs (deep venous thrombosis) or the lungs (pulmonary embolism). If you have a blood clotting disorder (thrombophilic disorder, such as protein C, protein S, or antithrombin deficiency). If you have or recently have had a disease caused by blood clots, such as a heart attack, stroke or angina. If you have or have ever had liver disease and your liver function tests have not returned to normal. If you have a rare blood problem called porphyria which is passed down in families (inherited). If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to nomegestrol acetate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). If any of the above conditions appear for the first time while taking Nogest, stop taking it at once and consult your doctor immediately. Warnings and precautions Tell your doctor if you have ever had any of the following problems, before you start the treatment, as these may return or become worse during treatment with Nogest. If so, you should see your doctor more often for check-ups: fibroids inside your womb growth of womb lining outside your womb (endometriosis) or a history of excessive growth of the womb lining (endometrial hyperplasia) increased risk of developing blood clots (see Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis) ) increased risk of getting an estrogen-sensitive cancer (such as having a mother, sister or grandmother who has had breast cancer) high blood pressure. a liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour 2

3 diabetes gallstones migraine or severe headaches. a disease of the immune system that affects many organs of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE) epilepsy asthma a disease affecting the eardrum and hearing (otosclerosis) a very high level of fat in your blood (triglycerides) fluid retention due to cardiac or kidney problems Stop taking Nogest and see a doctor immediately If you notice any of the following when taking HRT: any of the conditions mentioned in the Do not take Nogest section yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice). These may be signs of a liver disease a large rise in your blood pressure (symptoms may be headache, tiredness, dizziness). migraine-like headaches which happen for the first time. if you become pregnant if you notice signs of a blood clot, such as: painful swelling and redness of the legs sudden chest pain difficulty in breathing vision disorders painful calves For more information, see Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis) Note: Nogest is not a contraceptive. If it is less than 12 months since your last menstrual period or you are under 50 years old, you may still need to use additional contraception to prevent pregnancy. Speak to your doctor for advice. Nogest HRT and cancer Excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial cancer) Taking oestrogen-only HRT will increase the risk of excessive thickening of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia) and cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer). Taking a progestagen in addition to the oestrogen protects you from this extra risk. Compare In women who still have a womb and who are not taking HRT, on average, 5 in 1000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer between the ages of 50 and 65. For women aged 50 to 65 who still have a womb and take oestrogen-only HRT, between 10 and 60 women in 1000 will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer (i.e. between 5 and 55 extra cases), depending on the dose and for how long it is taken. The addition of a progestagen to oestrogen-only HRT substantially reduces the risk of endometrial cancer. Breast cancer 3

4 Evidence suggests that taking combined oestrogen-progestagen and possibly also oestrogenonly HRT increases the risk of breast cancer. The extra risk depends on how long you take HRT. The additional risk is visible after about 3 years. However, it returns to normal within a few years (at most 5) after stopping treatment. Compare Women aged 50 to 79 who are not taking HRT, on average, 9 to 17 in 1000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 5-year period. For women aged 50 to 79 who are taking oestrogenprogestogen HRT over 5 years, there will be 13 to 23 cases in 1000 users (i.e. an extra 4 to 6 cases). Regularly check your breasts. See your doctor if you notice any changes such as: dimpling of the skin changes in the nipple any lumps you can see or feel Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is rare. A slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer has been reported in women taking HRT for at least 5 to 10 years. Women aged 50 to 69 who are not taking HRT, on average about 2 women in 1000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer over a 5-year period. For women who have been taking HRT for 5 years, there will be between 2 and 3 cases per 1000 users (i.e. up to 1 extra case). Effect of Nogest on heart and circulation Blood clots in a vein (thrombosis) The risk of blood clots in the veins is about 1.3 to 3-times higher in HRT users than in nonusers, especially during the first year of taking it. Blood clots can be serious, and if one travels to the lungs, it can cause chest pain, breathlessness, fainting or even death. You are more likely to get a blood clot in your veins as you get older and if any of the following applies to you. Inform your doctor if any of these situations applies to you: You are pregnant or have recently had a baby You use oestrogen containing preparations You or any of your close relatives have ever had a blood clot in the leg, lung or another organ You are seriously overweight (BMI >30 kg/m 2 ) You have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) You have a blood clotting problem that needs long-term treatment with a medicine used to prevent blood clots (anticoagulant) You are unable to walk for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness (see also section 3, If you need to have surgery) are unable to walk or stand for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness (prolonged immobilisation) You have cancer For signs of a blood clot, see Stop taking Nogest and see a doctor immediately. Compare 4

5 Women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, over a 5-year period, 4 to 7 in 1000 would be expected to get a blood clot in a vein. For women in their 50s who have been taking oestrogen-progestagen HRT for over 5 years, there will be 9 to 12 cases in 1000 users (i.e.an extra 5 cases). Heart disease (heart attack) There is no evidence that HRT will help to prevent a heart attack. Women over the age of 60 years who use oestrogen-progestagen HRT are slightly more likely to develop heart disease than those not taking any HRT. Stroke The risk of getting stroke is about 1.5-times higher in HRT users than in non-users. The risk of stroke strongly depends on age. Therefore, the number of extra cases of stroke due to use of HRT will rise with more advanced age. Compare Looking at women in their 50s who are not taking HRT, on average, 8 in 1000 would be expected to have a stroke over a 5-year period. For women in their 50s who are taking HRT, there will be 11 cases in 1000 users, over 5 years (i.e. an extra 3 cases). Other conditions HRT will not prevent memory loss. The risk of probable memory loss may be somewhat higher in women who start using any kind of HRT after the age of 65. Other medicines and Nogest Some medicines can make Nogest less effective and particularly: - Medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, barbiturates), - Medicines used to treat tuberculosis (e.g. rifampicin), - Medicines used for HIV infections (such as nevirapine, efavirenz, ritonavir and nelfinavir) - Medicines used to treat other infectious diseases (e.g. griseofulvin, rifabutin), - and the Herbal remedies containing St. John s wort (Hypericum perforatum). If you want to use one of these medicines, you should tell your doctor who will adapt your treatment if necessary. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines or other natural products. Laboratory tests If you need a blood test, tell your doctor or the laboratory staff that you are taking Nogest, because this medicine can affect the results of some tests. Pregnancy and breast-feeding 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. You should not use Nogest if you are pregnant. 5

6 You should not use Nogest if you are breastfeeding. Driving and using machines There is no information suggesting that use of Nogest affects driving or use of machines. Nogest contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medical product. 3. HOW TO TAKE NOGEST Dosage Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The usual dosage is one tablet per day (5 mg/day). The tablets should be preferably administered under fasting conditions and not immediately after a meal. Frequency of administration - Women before menopause: the usual dosage is 1 tablet per day during 10 days (from day 15 of the menstrual cycle to day 24 inclusive). - In post-menopausal women or amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation): the Nogest dosage depends on the mode of oestrogen replacement therapy. In cyclic and continuous sequential regimens, Nogest is prescribed for 10 to 14 days per cycle. Duration of treatment Your doctor will decide the duration of treatment. Your doctor will adjust the dosage and the duration of treatment according to severity of the diseases and the effect of Nogest on your body. Your doctor will aim to prescribe the lowest dose to treat your symptom for as short as necessary. Speak to your doctor if you think this dose is too strong or not strong enough. If you take more Nogest than you should Contact your doctor or your pharmacist. If you forget to take NOGEST If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However if it is within twelve hours of the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you need to have surgery If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon that you are taking Nogest. You may need to stop taking Nogest about 4 to 6 weeks before the operation to reduce the risk of a blood clot (see section 2, Blood clots in a vein). Ask your doctor when you can start taking Nogest again. 6

7 4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. 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 national reporting system listed in Appendix V*. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. You should stop taking Nogest immediately and contact your doctor if you have: - A pain in the calf. It can be caused by the forming of blood clots in your leg (phlebitis). - Breathing difficulty. This can be caused by the forming of blood clots in your lungs (pulmonary embolism). - Forming of blood clots in your brain (cerebrovascular accident), heart or eyes. - Headache of particular intensity. - Ocular disorders (double vision, partial or total loss of sight ). The following side effects may occur. If one of these side effects occurs, do not hesitate to contact your doctor or pharmacist who will tell you what to do. Common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100): Headaches Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1000): Changes in menstruation, amenorrhoea (absence of menstruation), breakthrough bleeding. Very rare (affects less than 1 user in 10000): Allergic cutaneous eruption, venous thromboembolic events, gastrointestinal disturbances. You should also see What you need to know before you take Nogest. Other side effects of combined HRT Women using HRT have a slightly increased risk of developing the following diseases: Breast cancer Excessive thickening or cancer of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia or cancer) Ovarian cancer Blood clots in the veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism) Heart disease Stroke Skin and subcutaneous disorders: - Discoloration of the skin especially of the face or neck known as pregnancy patches (chloasma) - Severe condition of the skin that may affect the mouth and other parts of the body (erythema multiforme) - Red-purple swellings on the shins, thighs and, less commonly, the arms. Joint and muscle pains and fever may also occur (erythema nodosum) - Purple or red-brown spots visible through the skin (vascular purpura) Probable memory loss if HRT is started over the age of 65. 7

8 For more information about these side effects, see section HOW TO STORE NOGEST Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. This medicine does not require any special storage conditions. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. 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 Nogest contains - The active substance is nomegestrol acetate (5 mg). - The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, silica colloidal, glyceryl palmitostearate. What Nogest looks like and contents of the pack Nogest is a white, long tablet with a breakable-mark on the two sides to cut the tablet in two parts if necessary. The tablets are supplied in a blister. Each blister contains 10 or 14 tablets. The blisters are supplied in a carton box. Each box contains 1 (blister of 10 tablets), 3 (blisters of 10 or 14 tablets), 6 (blisters of 10 or 14 tablets) or 9 (blisters of 10 tablets) blisters. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder: [To be completed nationally] Manufacturer: HAUPT PHARMA Münster GmbH Schleebrüggenkamp 15, D Münster Germany This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names: Belgium: Nogest 5 mg tablets Luxembourg: Nogest 5 mg tablets 8

9 This leaflet was last revised in {MM/YYYY}. 9