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ISOPTIN(R)

verapamil hydrochloride

Consumer Medicine Information

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What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about ISOPTIN.

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 ISOPTIN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

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

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What ISOPTIN is used for

There are two types of ISOPTIN:

ISOPTIN tablets (available as ISOPTIN 40mg, ISOPTIN 80mg, ISOPTIN 120mg and ISOPTIN 160mg)
ISOPTIN SR (available as 180mg and 240mg tablets)

The letters SR in the name ISOPTIN SR stand for “sustained release”. This means the medicine is released into the blood over an extended period of time, usually allowing the medicine to be taken only once a day.

Depending on your condition, your doctor will prescribe ISOPTIN or ISOPTIN SR.

In most parts of this leaflet, the name ISOPTIN is used to refer to both ISOPTIN tablets and ISOPTIN SR tablets. Where there is information specific to the type of ISOPTIN, the separate names are used.

ISOPTIN and ISOPTIN SR are used in the treatment of:

high blood pressure, also called hypertension
angina (chest pain)

ISOPTIN tablets are also used to treat irregular heartbeats, also called arrhythmias

Your doctor may have prescribed ISOPTIN for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why ISOPTIN has been prescribed for you.

ISOPTIN and ISOPTIN SR belong to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers or calcium antagonists. They work by opening up blood vessels, which lets more blood and oxygen reach the heart and at the same time lowers high blood pressure. ISOPTIN tablets also help to control irregular heart beats.

ISOPTIN does not change the amount of calcium in your blood or bones. Calcium in your diet or in calcium supplements will not interfere with the way ISOPTIN works.

ISOPTIN SR is not recommended for use in children under the age of 18, as there have been no studies of its effects in this age group.

ISOPTIN is available only with a doctor`s prescription.

There is no evidence that ISOPTIN is addictive.

Before you take ISOPTIN

When you must not take it

Do not take ISOPTIN if you have had an allergic reaction to any medicines containing verapamil hydrochloride.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include severe blisters, skin rash, itching or flaking skin.

Do not take ISOPTIN if you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

Do not take ISOPTIN if you have:

certain other heart conditions (such as heart failure, a very slow heart rate, some irregular heart beats or disease of the heart muscle)
low blood pressure, also called hypotension

Do not use ISOPTIN after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.

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

Do not use ISOPTIN if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking ISOPTIN contact your doctor.

Before you start to take ISOPTIN:

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:

any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, dyes or preservatives.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any medical conditions especially the following:

any other heart problem
blood vessel (circulatory) disease or a stroke
liver or kidney problems
muscle conditions such as Duchenne`s muscular dystrophy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

ISOPTIN may affect your baby if you take it in pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking ISOPTIN during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

ISOPTIN passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking ISOPTIN when breastfeeding.

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

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 ISOPTIN may interfere with each other. These include:

other medicines to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions
cholesterol lowering statins in particular atorvastatin and simvastatin
digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure
fluid tablets, also called diuretics
cimetidine, a medicine commonly used to treat stomach ulcers and reflux
lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
phenobarbitone, a medicine used to treat epilepsy and sleep problems
cyclosporin, a medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection or to treat certain problems with the immune system
carbamazepine, phenytoin, medicines used to treat epilepsy
rifampicin, an antibiotic used in conditions such as tuberculosis (TB)
midazolam, a sedative
theophylline, a medicine used to treat asthma

These medicines may be affected by ISOPTIN, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking ISOPTIN.

How to take ISOPTIN

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you will need to take each day and when to take them. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.

ISOPTIN tablets are usually taken two or three times a day.

The usual dose of ISOPTIN SR is once daily or they may be taken twice daily.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pharmacist`s label fixed on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to take it

Swallow ISOPTIN with a glass of water.

ISOPTIN 40, ISOPTIN 80, ISOPTIN 120 and ISOPTIN 160 are to be swallowed whole. They are not meant to be broken.

Do not crush or chew ISOPTIN SR tablets.

If you crush or chew ISOPTIN SR tablets they will not work as well.

ISOPTIN SR tablets can be broken in half if your doctor has prescribed half a tablet.

When to take it

Take ISOPTIN SR with food.

ISOPTIN 40, ISOPTIN 80, ISOPTIN 120 and ISOPTIN 160 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 it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.

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

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

If you miss more than one dose, or are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

How long to take it

Treatment with ISOPTIN is usually long term. Keep taking ISOPTIN for as long as your doctor recommends.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much ISOPTIN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too much ISOPTIN, you may have a slow heart beat, chest pain, feel very faint or collapse; however, if you are taking Isoptin SR (sustained release) tablets, you may not notice these symptoms immediately.

While you are taking ISOPTIN

Things you must do

If you become pregnant while taking ISOPTIN, tell your doctor.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking ISOPTIN.

If you are being treated for angina, tell your doctor if you continue to have angina attacks or if they become more frequent while you are using ISOPTIN.

If you are going to have surgery including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking ISOPTIN.

Visit your doctor regularly so that they can check on your progress.

Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests to check your liver from time to time.

Things you must not do

Do not take ISOPTIN with grapefruit or its juice.

Do not give ISOPTIN to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not take ISOPTIN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not stop taking ISOPTIN, or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Be careful getting up from a sitting position.

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

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ISOPTIN affects you.

As with other medicines, ISOPTIN may cause dizziness, lightheadedness or tiredness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are tired, dizzy or lightheaded.

If you drink alcohol while taking ISOPTIN, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.

Side effects

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

Like all other medicines, ISOPTIN may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

As with most medicines, if you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects. Report any side effects to your doctor promptly.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.

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

constipation
dizziness, lightheadedness
feeling sick, upset stomach
headache
tiredness
flushing

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

chest pain, fainting, collapse
slow, fast, or irregular heart beat
shortness of breath (sometimes with tiredness, weakness and reduced ability to exercise), which may occur together with swelling of the feet and legs due to fluid build up
fever, upper stomach pain, feeling generally unwell
severe blisters, skin rash, itching or flaking skin

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

After using ISOPTIN

Storage

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 ISOPTIN 40, 80, 120 and 160mg tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.

Keep ISOPTIN SR in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.

Do not store ISOPTIN or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep your tablets where children cannot reach them.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking ISOPTIN, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets left over.

Product description

What it looks like

ISOPTIN is available as:

Isoptin 40mg: White, biconvex film coated tablet with “40” (side 1) and Knoll-triangle (side 2).

Isoptin 80mg: White biconvex film coated tablet with “Isoptin 80” (side 1) and “Knoll” (side 2, scored).

Isoptin 120mg: White biconvex film coated tablet with “Isoptin 120” (side 1) and “Knoll” (side 2, scored).

Isoptin 160mg: White, biconvex film coated tablet with “Isoptin 160” (side 1) and “Knoll” (side 2, scored).

Each pack of ISOPTIN 40mg, 80mg and 120mg contains 100 tablets. Each pack of ISOPTIN 160mg contains 60 tablets.

ISOPTIN SR is available as:

Isoptin 180SR: Light pink capsule shaped, film coated tablets with “SR 180” on one side and “KNOLL” on the other side.

Isoptin SR: Light green, capsule shaped, scored, film coated tablets with a double Knoll triangle on one side.

Each pack of ISOPTIN 180SR and ISOPTIN SR contains 30 tablets.

Ingredients

ISOPTIN tablets and ISOPTIN SR tablets are gluten and sugar free.

The active ingredient in ISOPTIN is verapamil hydrochloride.

ISOPTIN tablets contain either 40mg or 80mg or 120mg or 160mg of verapamil hydrochloride.

These tablets also contain:

calcium hydrogen phosphate (341)
microcrystalline cellulose (460)
croscarmellose sodium (466)
magnesium stearate (470)
colloidal anhydrous silica
hypromellose (464)
talc (553)
sodium lauryl sulfate
macrogol 6000
titanium dioxide (171)

ISOPTIN 180 SR tablets contain 180mg of verapamil hydrochloride.