Dapatabs Indapamide Tablets (Pack of 90)

Dapa-Tabs

contains the active ingredient indapamide hemihydrate
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Dapa-Tabs.

It is not to be used in relation to any other product, which may also contain the same active ingredient.

It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Dapa-Tabs against the benefits expected for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What Dapa-Tabs is used for

Dapa-Tabs is used either alone or in combination with other medicines in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension).

Dapa-Tabs contains the active ingredient indapamide hemihydrate, which is thought to work by relaxing some of the blood vessels in the body causing blood pressure to fall. The exact way in which it does this however, is not fully understood.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Dapa-Tabs has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed Dapa-Tabs for another purpose.

Dapa-Tabs is not recommended for use in children, as its safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Dapa-Tabs is available only with a doctor`s prescription.

There is no evidence that Dapa-Tabs is addictive.

  • Before you take Dapa-Tabs

    When you must not take it

    Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you have an allergy to:

  • medicines containing indapamide
  • sulfonamide or sulfa (sulpha) medicines
  • any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  • Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing; wheezing or shortness of breath.

    Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you have:

  • severe liver disease
  • severe kidney problems such as anuria or progressive and severe oliguria.
  • Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    There is no information on the use of Dapa-Tabs in pregnancy. Therefore, Dapa-Tabs is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Medicines of this type have been associated with unwanted effects in the unborn baby.

    Do not take Dapa-Tabs if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

    Dapa-Tabs is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women, as it is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk and how it may affect your baby.

    Do not take Dapa-Tabs if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.

    If you take this medicine after the expiry date, it may not work as well.

    Do not take Dapa-Tabs if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
    If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

  • Before you start to take it

    Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

  • Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions, especially the following:

  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • gout
  • kidney problems
  • liver problems.
  • Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.

    If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Dapa-Tabs.

    Taking other medicines

    Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

    Some medicines may be affected by Dapa-Tabs, or may affect how well it works. These include:

  • lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
  • other medicines used to treat high blood pressure
  • diuretics, also known as water or fluid tablets
  • barbiturates, medicines used to treat epilepsy, produce calmness or to help you sleep
  • corticosteroids, medicines used in the treatment of conditions such as allergic reactions, asthma, inflammatory and `auto-immune` diseases
  • strong pain killers.
  • Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

    If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

    Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Dapa-Tabs.

    How to take Dapa-Tabs

    Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.

    They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

    If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

    How much to take

    The usual adult dose is one tablet daily, taken in the morning.

    How to take Dapa-Tabs

    Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

    When to take Dapa-Tabs

    Take Dapa-Tabs at about the same time each morning.

    Dapa-Tabs can be taken with or without food.

    If you forget to take it

    If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
    Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
    Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
    If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

    How long to take it for

    To properly control your blood pressure, Dapa-Tabs must be taken every day.

    Keep taking Dapa-Tabs for as long as your doctor recommends.

  • If you take too much (overdose)

    Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Dapa-Tabs.
    Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

    You may need urgent medical attention.

    While you are taking Dapa-Tabs

    Things you must do

    Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Dapa-Tabs.
    Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Dapa-Tabs.
    If you become pregnant while taking Dapa-Tabs, tell your doctor immediately.
    Visit your doctor regularly for check-ups.

    Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure, kidney function, sodium levels and potassium levels while you are taking Dapa-Tabs.

    If you have to have any other blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking Dapa-Tabs.

    Dapa-Tabs may affect the results of some tests.

    Things you must not do

    Do not stop taking Dapa-Tabs or change the dose without checking with your doctor.
    Do not let yourself run out of Dapa-Tabs over weekends or on holidays.

  • Do not use Dapa-Tabs to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
    Do not give Dapa-Tabs to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

    Things to be careful of

    Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Dapa-Tabs affects you.

    Dapa-Tabs may cause tiredness, dizziness or lightheadedness in some people. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

    Dizziness or lightheadedness may be worse if you drink alcohol, take strong pain killers, barbiturates or other medicines for high blood pressure while being treated with Dapa-Tabs.

    Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position.

    Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting may occur, especially when you get up quickly. Getting up slowly may help.

    Make sure you drink enough water in hot weather and during exercise when you are taking Dapa-Tabs, especially if you sweat a lot.
    Also make sure you tell your doctor if you become sick and have severe or continuing vomiting or diarrhoea while taking Dapa-Tabs.

    The loss of additional water and certain salts such as potassium from the body may make you feel faint, lightheaded, weak or sick.

  • Side effects

    Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Dapa-Tabs.

  • Dapa-Tabs helps most people to lower their high blood pressure but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.

    All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

    Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
    Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

    You may not experience any of them.

  • Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • loss of appetite
  • stomach upset
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position
  • headache
  • diarrhoea, constipation.
  • The above list includes the milder side effects of your medicine. Some these may occur during the first month of treatment and are temporary.

  • Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

  • fast or irregular heart beat
  • signs of a water or salt, eg. potassium, imbalance in the body:
  • dryness of mouth
  • increased thirst
  • irregular heartbeat
  • weak pulse
  • muscle cramps or pain
  • nausea or vomiting
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing; wheezing or shortness of breath.
  • The side effects listed above are serious and require urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

    Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

    This is not a complete list of all possible side effects.

    Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Also, some of side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.

    After using Dapa-Tabs

    Storage

    Keep Dapa-Tabs where children cannot reach it.

    A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

    Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.

    If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.

    Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
    Do not store Dapa-Tabs or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
    Do not leave Dapa-Tabs in the car or on window sills.

    Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

  • Disposal

    If your doctor tells you to stop taking Dapa-Tabs, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

  • Product description

    What it looks like

    Dapa-Tabs is a round, pink, film-coated tablet marked “IE” over “2.5” on one side and “G” on the other.

    Each pack contains 90 tablets.

    Ingredients

    The active ingredient in Dapa-Tabs is indapamide hemihydrate.

    Each tablet contains 2.5 mg of indapamide hemihydrate.

    The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:

  • lactose anhydrous
  • microcrystalline cellulose
  • sodium starch glycollate
  • croscarmellose sodium
  • magnesium stearate
  • Opadry Pink OY-6953.
  • Dapa-Tabs tablets are gluten free.

  • Manufacturer

    Dapa-Tabs is made in Australia by:

    Alphapharm Pty Limited

  • (ABN 93 002 359 739)
  • Chase Building 2
  • Wentworth Park Road
  • Glebe NSW 2037
  • Phone: (02) 9298 3999
  • Medical Information
  • Phone: 1800 028 365
  • www.alphapharm.com.au
  • Australian registration number:
  • Dapa-Tabs – AUST R 62367
  • This leaflet was prepared on
  • 20 January 2005.
  • ENQUIRE

    1800 200 736