Symmetrel Capsules 100MG Pack Of 100

Symmetrel(R)

amantadine hydrochloride

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Symmetrel.

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

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will provide.

If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What Symmetrel is used for

Symmetrel has two very different uses.

  • 1.It is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson`s disease.

    • Parkinson`s disease is caused by a disturbance in the balance of two substances, dopamine and acetylcholine, that the brain uses to send signals to other parts of the body. Symmetrel helps to fix this imbalance and relieve symptoms
    such as shaking of the limbs, stiffness and slowness of movement which make it difficult to perform usual tasks.

    Symmetrel can be used alone or with other medicines to treat this condition.

  • 2.Symmetrel is also used to prevent a type of influenza (“the flu”) caused by Type A influenza virus.

    • Symmetrel is usually used for people who could become very ill if they get the flu (for example, people who have a serious illness such as lung disease or diabetes). Usually these people will have been vaccinated (had a flu shot). But if, for some reason, they have not been vaccinated, Symmetrel can be given.

    Symmetrel is only used to prevent Type A influenza. It will not help once you have the flu. This medicine cannot prevent colds or types of flu not caused by Type A virus.

    Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

    Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.

    This medicine is only available with a doctor`s prescription. It is not habit-forming.

    There is not enough information to recommend this medicine for children under five years of age.

    Before you take Symmetrel

    When you must not take it

    Do not take Symmetrel if you have ever had an allergy to amantadine hydrochloride (the active ingredient in Symmetrel) or to any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

    Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

    Do not take Symmetrel if you are pregnant.

    It may affect your unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.

    Do not take Symmetrel after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

    In that case, return it to your pharmacist.

    Before you start to take it

    Tell your doctor if you have any of the following health problems / medical conditions:

  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • seizures (fits)
  • a mental disorder
  • heart disease
  • stomach ulcers
  • low blood pressure
  • glaucoma
  • prostate trouble
  • recurring eczema

    • Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have any of the above conditions.

    Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

    The active ingredient in Symmetrel passes into the breast milk and could affect your baby. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits of breast-feeding while you are taking this medicine.

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

    Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.

    Taking other medicines

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

    Some medicines and Symmetrel may interfere with each other. These include:

  • other medicines for Parkinson`s disease
  • medicines for depression or other mental disorders
  • other medicines that affect the nervous system (e.g. medicines to help you sleep or calm you down, pain relievers, alcohol)
  • medicines for colds or allergies
  • medicines for stomach cramps
  • medicines for motion sickness
  • some eye drops
  • some diuretics (water or fluid pills)

    • You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or to take different medicines while you are taking Symmetrel. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.

    If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you start taking this medicine.

  • How to take Symmetrel

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

    These instructions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

    If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

    How much to take

    For Parkinson`s disease in adults up to 65 years old, treatment is usually started with one capsule each day, increasing after a week to one capsule twice each day. Occasionally, higher doses are needed. Adults over 65 years old usually take only one capsule each day.

    For Type A influenza in children and adults aged 10 to 65 years, the usual dose is one capsule twice each day, starting as soon as possible after exposure to the flu virus. If side effects occur, the dose can be reduced to one capsule each day. Children aged 5 to 9 and adults over 65 years old usually take only one capsule each day.

    For people with reduced kidney function due to increasing age or kidney disease, the dose may be reduced to one capsule every 2 to 7 days to help prevent side effects.

    How to take it

    Swallow the capsule with a full glass of water. If your stomach is upset after taking the capsule, take it with a meal or after a snack.

    How long to take it

    If you are taking Symmetrel for Parkinson`s disease, do not stop taking it or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.

    You may have to take Symmetrel for a long time to control your symptoms. Stopping your medicine may make your condition worse or cause severe side effects. If it is necessary to stop your medicine, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount you take each day before stopping it completely.

    Some people find that this medicine loses some of its effect after several weeks. In this case, your doctor may gradually reduce the dose and stop it for a few weeks, then start it again to see if the benefit can be regained.

    For influenza caused by Type A virus, keep taking Symmetrel for at least 10 days.

    Sometimes it may be necessary to keep taking it until the outbreak of influenza is over.

    If you forget to take it

    If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one when you are meant to.

    Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

    Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.

    This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

    If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

    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 your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Symmetrel. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.

    Some of the symptoms of an overdose may include stiffness or unusual muscle movements, seizures (fits), vomiting, difficulty breathing, fast or irregular heartbeat.

    While you are taking Symmetrel

    Things you must do

    If you become pregnant while taking Symmetrel, tell your doctor immediately.

    You should not take it while you are pregnant.

    Be sure to keep all of your doctor`s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

    This helps your doctor to give you the best treatment and to prevent unwanted side effects.

    Before having any surgery or emergency treatment, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking Symmetrel.

    If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Symmetrel.

    Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are taking Symmetrel.

    Things you must not do

    Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their condition seems similar to yours.

    Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

  • Things to be careful of

    Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert while you are taking Symmetrel until you know how it affects you. Children should avoid doing things like riding bicycles or climbing trees.

    This medicine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, difficulty concentrating or blurred vision in some people.

    Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking Symmetrel.

    The combination could make you more dizzy or lightheaded than usual.

    If this medicine makes you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.

    These symptoms may be a sign of low blood pressure. You can usually prevent them by getting up slowly and flexing leg muscles and toes to get the blood flowing. When getting out of bed, dangle your legs over the side for a minute or two before standing up.

    When you are outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ sunscreen. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

    This medicine may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it normally is. Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn. If your skin does appear to be burning, tell your doctor.

    Side effects

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

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

    If you are over 65 years old, you should be especially careful while taking this medicine. Report any side effects promptly to your doctor.

    Symmetrel can cause confusion or disorientation, especially in older people. Your family or carer should be made aware of this.

    Do not be alarmed by these lists of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

    Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

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

  • dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when you get up too quickly from a sitting or lying position
  • purplish-red blotchy spots on the skin, especially of the legs or feet and sometimes in a fish-net pattern. These may appear after taking Symmetrel for a few months and usually go away gradually within a few weeks after stopping the medicine.
  • symptoms of sunburn (such a redness, itching, swelling or blistering of the skin) that happen more quickly than normal
  • indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
  • constipation or diarrhoea
  • blurred vision
  • dry mouth
  • swelling of feet or lower legs due to fluid buildup
  • feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat
  • tiredness or listlessness
  • difficulty concentrating
  • nervousness, anxiety or depression
  • disturbed sleep or nightmares
  • weakness, shakiness or trembling
  • difficulty urinating (passing water) or inability to hold your urine (incontinence)
  • excessive sweating
  • headache
  • hair loss

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

  • signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
  • stiff, rigid muscles accompanied by a sudden increase in body temperature, sweating, fast heartbeat and feeling disoriented
  • constant “flu-like” symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, aching joints, sores in mouth, swollen glands
  • fainting spells or seizures (fits)
  • difficulty in speaking or slurred speech
  • confusion, disorientation or hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there)
  • abnormally high energy or level of activity (mania)
  • sudden loss of vision or trouble focussing your eyes properly
  • yellow colour to the skin and eyes

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

    Some people may have other side effects not yet known or mentioned in this leaflet. Some side effects can only be found when laboratory tests are done.

  • After using Symmetrel

    Storage

  • Keep your medicine in the original container until it is time to take it.
  • Store it in a cool dry place.
  • Do not store Symmetrel or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
  • Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

    • Keep this medicine 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.

  • Disposal

    If your doctor tells you to stop taking Symmetrel or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

    Product description

    What it looks like

    Symmetrel capsules are soft brown gelatin capsules, marked GEIGY on one side and GB on the other; packs of 100 capsules.

    Ingredients

    Symmetrel capsules contain 100 mg of amantadine hydrochloride as the active ingredient. They also contain:

  • rape seed oil
  • lecithin
  • a wax blend composed of white beeswax and hydrogenated soya and vegetable oils
  • sodium ethyl hydroxybenzoate
  • gelatin
  • glycerol
  • iron oxide red CI 77491
  • sorbitol
  • sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate
  • titanium dioxide

    • Symmetrel does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

    Sponsor

    Symmetrel is supplied in Australia by:

  • NOVARTIS Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited
  • ACN 004 244 160
  • 54 Waterloo Road
  • North Ryde NSW 2113
  • Telephone: 1 800 671 203
  • (R) = Registered Trademark
  • This leaflet was prepared in
  • November 2002
  • (sym011102c.doc) based on PI (sym161096i.doc)
  • Australian Registration Number.
  • 100 mg capsule AUST R 11057
    •

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