Neulactil 2.5mg and 10mg Tablets
pericyazine
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you are given this medicine
- 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. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist
In this leaflet:
- 1. What Neulactil Tablets are and what they are used for
- 2. Before you take Neulactil Tablets
- 3. How to take Neulactil Tablets
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Neulactil Tablets
- 6. Further Information
What Neulactil Tablets are and what they are used for
Neulactil Tablets contains a medicine called pericyazine.
This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘phenothiazines’. It works by blocking the effect of a chemical in the brain.
Neulactil Tablets can be used for:
- Schizophrenia
- The short term treatment of anxiety, agitation and violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour when used with other medicines
Before you take Neulactil Tablets
Do not take this medicine and tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to pericyazine or any of the other ingredients of Neulactil Tablets (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 pregnant, might become pregnant or think you may be pregnant (see Section below: ‘Pregnancy and breast-feeding’)
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Neulactil Tablets.
Take special care with Neulactil Tablets
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take this medicine if:
- You have heart problems or a family history of heart problems
- You have ever had a stroke
- You have liver or kidney problems
- You have thyroid problems
- You have Parkinson’s disease
- You have dementia
- You have epilepsy or have had fits (seizures)
- You have depression
- You have ever had alcohol problems
- You have an enlarged prostate gland
- You have had glaucoma (painful eyes with blurred vision)
- You have a tumour on the adrenal gland called ‘phaechromocytoma’
- You have a form of muscle weakness called ‘myasthenia gravis’
- You have a low number of white blood cells (agranulocytosis).
This means you may get infections more easily than usual. Your doctor may do blood tests to check this - You have low blood levels of potassium, calcium and magnesium. Your doctor may do blood tests to check on these
- You are not eating properly
- You are allergic to other phenothiazine medicines such as prochlorperazine
- You are elderly, particularly during very hot or very cold weather. In these conditions, you could be at risk of hyperthermia or hypothermia
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take Neulactil Tablets.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Neulactil Tablets can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some medicines can affect the way Neulactil Tablets work.
In particular, check with your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- Medicines to control your heartbeat such as amiodarone, disopyramide or quinidine
- Medicines for high blood pressure such as doxazosin, terazosin, guanethidine, clonidine or propranolol
- Medicines for indigestion and heartburn (antacids)
- Medicines for diabetes
- Medicines for Parkinson’s disease such as levodopa or selegiline
- Medicines for fits (epilepsy) such as carbamazepine or phenobarbital
- Medicines to help you sleep or lower your anxiety
- Other medicines used to calm emotional and mental problems
- Medicines for depression
- Some medicines used for infections (antibiotics) such as moxifloxacin
- Some medicines used for cancer (cytotoxics)
- Amfetamines - used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Anticholinergic medicines - includes some medicines used for irritable bowel syndrome, asthma or incontinence
- Adrenaline - used for life threatening allergic reactions
- Desferroxamine - used when you have too much iron in your blood
- Lithium - used for some types of mental illness
Taking Neulactil Tablets with food and drink
Do not drink alcohol while being treated with Neulactil Tablets. This is because alcohol can add to the effects of Neulactil Tablets and cause serious breathing problems.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take this medicine if
- You are pregnant, might become pregnant or think you may be pregnant
Do not breast-feed if you are being given Neulactil Tablets. This is because small amounts may pass into mothers’ milk. If you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
You may feel sleepy after taking this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Neulactil Tablets
- Lactose. This medicine contains lactose, a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you can not tolerate some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking Neulactil Tablets
- Methylhydroxybenzoate. Neulactil Tablets contain methylhydroxybenzoate., a type of preservative. This may cause allergic reactions which may not happen straight away. Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue
How to take Neulactil Tablets
Always take Neulactil tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should 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
- Do not touch the tablets for any longer than is necessary as you may get skin redness, swelling and itching (contact skin sensitisation)
- 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 to take
Adults
Schizophrenia
- The starting dose is 75mg daily in divided doses
- The dose may be increased by 25mg per day at weekly intervals depending on your illness
- The highest dose is usually not more than 300mg per day
Anxiety, agitation and violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour
- The starting dose is 15mg to 30mg daily, divided into two doses. The larger dose should be taken in the evening
Elderly
Schizophrenia
- The starting dose is 15mg to 30mg daily, in divided doses
- The dose may then be increased depending on your illness
Anxiety, agitation and violent or dangerously impulsive behaviour
- The starting dose is 5mg to10mg daily, divided into two doses. The larger dose should be taken in the evening
Children
Neulactil Tablets are not recommended for children
Exposure to sunlight
Neulactil Tablets can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Keep out of direct sunlight while taking this medicine.
Tests
Before and during treatment your doctor may want to carry out some tests. These might include blood tests and an ECG to check your heart is working properly.
If you take more Neulactil Tablets than you should
If you take more Neulactil Tablets than you should, tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken. The following effects may happen: feeling drowsy, loss of consciousness, increased or rapid heartbeat, changes in heart beat, uneven heart beats and feeling very cold. You may also experience dizziness, light-headedness, fainting (due to low blood pressure) and movements that you cannot control (for example of the eyes, neck, arms and legs).
If you forget to take Neulactil Tablets
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Neulactil Tablets
Keep taking Neulactil Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.
Do not stop taking Neulactil Tablets just because you feel better.
If you stop taking Neulactil Tablets suddenly, your illness may come back and you may have other effects such as feeling or being sick and difficulty sleeping. In some cases you may also get symptoms such as feeling restless or movements that you cannot control (for example of the eyes, neck, arms and legs).
Your doctor will gradually stop your medicine to prevent these effects happening.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Neulactil Tablets Side Effects
Like all medicines, Neulactil Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking Neulactil Tablets and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if;
- You have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: rash, itching, fever, difficulty in breathing or wheezing, chills, swelling
- You have yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). These could be signs of liver damage
- You have frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers. These could be signs of a blood problem called ‘leucopenia’
- You may get infections more easily than usual. This could be because of a blood disorder (agranulocytosis)
- You have movements that you cannot control, mainly of the tongue, mouth, jaw, arms and legs
- You have a high temperature, sweating, stiff muscles, fast heartbeat, fast breathing and feel confused, drowsy or agitated. These could be signs of a serious but rare side effect called ‘neuroleptic malignant syndrome’
- You have a very fast, uneven or forceful heartbeat (palpitations). You may also have breathing problems such as wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and chest pain
- You have a long lasting, painful erection of the penis
Tell a pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following side effects:
- You are breathing more slowly or less deeply than normal
- Feeling restless and not being able to keep still (akathisia)
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed or faint when you stand or sit up quickly (due to low blood pressure)
- Rigid or stiff muscles, trembling or shaking, difficulty moving
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects gets serious or lasts longer than a few days:
- Abnormal production of breast milk in men and women
- Breast enlargement in men
- Loss of menstrual periods
- Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection (impotence)
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Feeling agitated
- Dry mouth
- Being more sensitive to the sun than usual
- Stuffy nose
- Skin rashes
- Skin redness, swelling and itching (contact skin sensitisation)
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the side effects gets serious or lasts longer than a few days, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet.
As with other phenothiazine medicines, there have been very rare reports of sudden death with Neulactil. These are possibly caused by heart problems.
How to store Neulactil Tablets
Keep this medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it
Do not use Neulactil Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Neulactil Tablets must be protected from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further Information
What Neulactil Tablets contain
- Each tablet contains respectively 2.5mg or 10mg of the active substance, pericyazine
- The other ingredients are lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (E460), sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide (E551) and methylhydroxybenzoate (E218)
What Neulactil Tablets look like and contents of the pack
- Neulactil 2.5mg Tablets are very pale lime-yellow with Neulactil on one face and a breakline on the other. Supplied in blisters of 84 and plastic bottles of 500 tablets
- Neulactil 10mg Tablets are very pale lime-yellow with Neulactil around a central 10 on one face and a breakline on the other. Supplied in blisters of 84 and plastic bottles of 500 tablets
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation Holder for Neulactil Tablets is:
The Manufacturer of Neulactil Tablets is:
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.
This leaflet was last revised in 11/2007
© Sanofi-aventis, 1997 -2007
L7011/01
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