post-title portfolio-title Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets USP 450mg Taj Pharma 2020-01-21 05:54:28 no no

Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets USP 450mg Taj Pharma

  1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets USP 300mg Taj Pharma
Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets USP 400mg Taj Pharma
Lithium carbonate extended-release tablets USP 450mg Taj Pharma

  1. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

a) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? 300mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s

b) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?400mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?q.s

c) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? 450mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

  1. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

tablet

  1. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

The treatment and prophylaxis of mania, manic-depressive illness and recurrent depression, and the treatment of aggressive or self-mutilating behaviour.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Lithium Carbonate 300mg/400mg/450mg tablets are usually administered according to a twice daily regimen.

When lithium levels have stabilised, a once daily regimen may be preferred

Lithium carbonate has a narrow therapeutic window. The dose required for treatment must be titrated and adjusted on the basis of regular monitoring of the serum concentration (see section 4.4).

Lithium therapy should not be initiated unless adequate facilities for routine monitoring of plasma concentrations are available. On initiation of treatment, plasma therapy concentrations should be measured weekly until stabilisation is achieved, then weekly for one month and at monthly intervals thereafter.

Additional measurements should be made if signs of lithium toxicity occur, on dosage alteration, development of significant intercurrent disease, signs of manic depressions or depressive relapse and if significant change in sodium or fluid intake occurs. More frequent monitoring is required if patients are receiving any drug treatment that affects renal clearance of lithium e.g. diuretics and NSAID (see sections 4.4 and 4.5). As bioavailability may vary between formulations, should a change of preparations be made, blood levels should be monitored weekly until restabilisation is achieved.

Toxic symptoms are usually associated with concentrations exceeding 1.5 mmol/l and levels above 1.5mmol/l should be avoided. In the event of toxicity, lithium should be withdrawn immediately.

Withdrawal

If lithium is to be discontinued for other reasons, particularly in cases of high doses the dose should be reduced gradually over a suitable period of time, e.g. 2 weeks, to prevent the risk of relapse.

Posology

Acute mania:

Adults:?Treatment should be initiated in hospital where regular monitoring of plasma lithium levels can be conducted. The dosage of Lithium Carbonate should be adjusted to produce a plasma lithium level between 0.6 and 1.0 mmol/l 12 hours after the last dose. The required plasma lithium level may be achieved in one of two ways but, whichever is adopted, regular estimations must be carried out to ensure maintenance of levels within the therapeutic range.

For consistent results it is essential that the blood samples for plasma lithium estimations are taken 12 hours after the last dose of lithium.

  1. 1,000-1,500 mg of lithium carbonate are administered daily for the first five days. A blood sample for plasma lithium estimation is taken 12 hours after the last dose on the fifth day, and the dosage of Lithium Carbonate is adjusted to keep the plasma lithium level within the therapeutic range. Subsequently, regular plasma lithium estimations must be carried out and, where necessary, the dosage of Lithium Carbonate adjusted accordingly. The precise initial dose of lithium should be decided in the light of the age and weight of the patient; young patients often require a dose higher than average and older patients a lower dose.
  2. A lithium clearance test is carried out and the initial dosage calculated from the results.Even when the initial dosage is calculated in this way, it is still desirable that plasma lithium levels should be determined at weekly intervals during the first three weeks of treatment, and any necessary adjustments to dosage made as a result of the levels actually obtained.

Most of the above applies in the treatment of hypomania as well as mania, but the patient (if not too ill) can be started on treatment as an outpatient provided that facilities for regular plasma lithium monitoring are available, and assays are initiated within one week.

Prophylaxis of recurrent affective disorders:

Adults:?(Including unipolar mania & unipolar depressions and bipolar manicdepressive illness): A low dose of 300-300mg/400mg/450mg of lithium carbonate can be administered daily for the first seven days. A blood sample for plasma lithium estimation is then taken 12 hours after the last dose, and the dosage of Lithium Carbonate is adjusted to keep the plasma lithium level within the range of 0.4- 0.8 mmol/l.

Aggressive and self-mutilating behaviour:

Adults:?Dosage is at the lower end of the range for the treatment for manic

depressive illness.

Special Populations

Elderly

Start treatment with a low dose.

Elderly patients often require lower lithium dosage to achieve therapeutic serum levels. As for prophylaxis above, but 12-hour lithium levels should be kept in the range of 0.4-0.7 mmol/l as toxic symptoms are likely with plasma concentrations above 1.0 mmol/l. Toxic symptoms are more likely at lower concentrations than in the general population.

Paediatric population

Lithium Carbonate should not be used in children.

Method of administration

For oral administration.

4.3 Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
  • Severely impaired renal function
  • Untreated or untreatable hypothyroidism.
  • Cardiac disease associated with rhythm disorder.
  • Brugada syndrome or family history of Brugada syndrome (see section 4.4)
  • Low body sodium levels for example dehydrated patients, those on low sodium diets, or those with Addison’s disease.
  • Breast-feeding.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Lithium carbonate has a narrow therapeutic window. The dose required for treatment must be titrated and adjusted on the basis of regular monitoring of serum concentration of lithium. Lithium therapy should not be initiated unless adequate facilities for routine monitoring of plasma concentrations are available.

Elderly patients are particularly liable to lithium toxicity. Use with care as lithium excretion may also be reduced. They may also exhibit adverse reactions at serum levels ordinarily tolerated by younger patients (see section 4.2).

Before beginning a lithium treatment

-It is important to ensure that renal function is evaluated (see sections 4.3 and 4.4)

-Thyroid function should be evaluated. Patients should be euthyroid before initiation of lithium therapy.

-Cardiac function should be assessed especially in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Renal, cardiac and thyroid functions should be re-assessed periodically.

Risk of convulsions

The risk of convulsions may be increased when lithium is co-administered with drugs that lower the epileptic threshold, or in epileptic patients (see sections 4.5 and 4.8).

Benign intracranial hypertension

There have been case reports of benign intracranial hypertension (see section 4.8). Patients should be warned to report persistent headache and/or visual disturbances.

QT prolongation

As a precautionary measure, lithium should be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, and in patients concomitantly treated with drugs that are known to prolong the QT interval (see sections 4.5 and 4.8). Caution should be exercised in patients with risk factors for QT interval prolongation (which include cardiac disease, bradycardia, thyroid disease, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalcaemia, female sex and advanced age.

Brugada syndrome

Lithium may unmask or aggravate Brugada syndrome, a hereditary disease of the cardiac sodium channel with characteristic ECG changes (right bundle branch block and ST segment elevation in right precordial leads), which may lead to cardiac arrest or sudden death. Lithium should not be administered to patients with Brugada syndrome or a family history of Brugada syndrome (see section 4.3) Caution is advised in patients with a family history of cardiac arrest or sudden death.

Concomitant administration of antipsychotics

Concomitant administration of antipsychotics should be avoided.

Monitoring of blood lithium levels

Serum concentration of lithium should be measured on a sample taken just prior to the time when a dose of lithium is due to be taken (i.e. at trough level 12 hours following the last dose).

Toxic effects may be expected at serum-lithium concentrations of about 1.5

mmol/litre, although they can appear at lower concentrations. They call for immediate withdrawal of treatment and should always be considered very seriously

Serum concentration of lithium should be measured every 5 to 7 days from initiation until stabilisation is achieved and at regular intervals for the duration of treatment.

Serum lithium concentrations should be monitored more frequently (revert to weekly monitoring) in the following circumstances:

– Dosage alteration or change of lithium formulation (bioavailability may differ)

– Significant intercurrent disease

– Intercurrent infection

– Significant change in sodium intake

– Significant change in fluid intake

– Treatment with drugs altering renal clearance of lithium

– Treatment with drugs likely to upset electrolyte balance.

Patients should also be warned to report if polyuria or polydipsia develops. Episodes of nausea and vomiting or other conditions leading to salt/water depletion (including severe dieting) should also be reported. Patients should be advised to maintain their usual salt and fluid intake.

Lithium should be stopped 24 hours before major surgery, but the normal dose can be continued for minor surgery if fluids and electrolytes are carefully monitored

Renal impairment

Lithium excretion is reduced in the presence of renal impairment. This increases the risk of toxicity. Lithium is contra-indicated in patients with severe renal impairment (see section 4.3). If patients with mild or moderate renal impairment are being treated with lithium, serum levels should be closely monitored.

Renal function should be monitored in patients with renal impairment, and in patients with polyuria and polydipsia.

Warnings to be given to patients about signs and symptoms of toxicity

Clear instructions regarding the symptoms of impending toxicity should be given by the doctor to all patients receiving long-term lithium therapy (see Section 4.9 for symptoms of intoxication) and advice given for the need for urgency in seeking medical assistance if these symptoms appear.

Renal tumours: cases of microcysts, oncocytomas and collecting duct renal carcinoma have been reported in patients with severe renal impairment who received lithium for more than 10 years (see section 4.8).

Excipients

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Interactions may occur as a result of increased or decreased lithium levels, or may act through other mechanisms, the most important being neurotoxicity which may occur at therapeutic levels when other drugs which act centrally on the CNS are taken concurrently.

Interactions which increase lithium concentrations

Co-administration of the following drugs with lithium may lead to increased lithium concentrations and a risk of toxicity:

  • Any drug which may cause renal impairment has the potential to cause lithium levels to rise, thereby causing toxicity. If the use of the drug is unavoidable, carefully monitor lithium blood level and adapt dosage as necessary.
  • Antibiotics (metronidazole, tetracyclines, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim), N.B. Toxic symptoms may also occur at low or normal levels when used in conjunction with co-trimoxazole or trimethoprim. Lithium toxicity has been reported on isolated occasions in patients receiving spectinomycin.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including selective cyclooxygenase (COX) II inhibitors); monitor serum lithium concentrations more frequently if NSAID therapy is initiated or discontinued.
  • Drugs affecting the renin angiotensin system (ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists).
  • Diuretics (including herbal preparations). In addition to the effects noted above, thiazide diuretics show a paradoxical antidiuretic effect resulting in possible water retention and lithium intoxication. Loop diuretics (furosemide and bumetanide, and etacrynic acid) seem less likely to cause lithium retention, although caution is warranted.
  • Other drugs affecting electrolyte balance, e.g. steroids, may alter lithium excretion and should therefore be avoided.

Interactions which decrease serum lithium concentrations:

Co-administration of the following drugs with lithium may lead to decreased lithium concentrations and a risk of loss of efficacy:

  • xanthine derivatives (e.g. theophylline, caffeine).
  • products containing large quantities of sodium e.g. sodium bicarbonate.
  • carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
  • Urea.

Interactions which may not be associated with increased or reduced

lithium levels:

Concomitant use of the following drugs may precipitate symptoms of toxicity when the lithium level is within the normal range:

  • antipsychotics, including the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine,
  • clozapine and haloperidol at high doses
  • carbamazepine
  • phenytoin
  • methyldopa
  • clonazepam
  • tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants
  • calcium channel blockers. These drugs may cause neurotoxic reactions at therapeutic levels
  • neuromuscular blocking agents. Lithium may cause neurotoxic reactions at therapeutic lithium levels.

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs): Concurrent use with lithium may precipitate a serotonergic syndrome.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including COX II inhibitors: monitor serum lithium concentrations more frequently if NSAID therapy is initiated or discontinued

Triptans: lithium toxicity reported suggestive of serotonin syndrome.

Neuromuscular blockers: Lithium may prolong the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents.

Drugs which lower seizure threshold

Caution is advised if lithium is co-administered with drugs that lower the epileptic threshold (see section 4.4). e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics, anaesthetics and theophylline.

Drugs which prolong the QT interval

Lithium can cause an increase in the QTc interval, particularly at higher blood levels. Therefore, concurrent use of drugs which have a risk of prolonging the QTc interval should be avoided (see section 4.4), and consideration be made of other potential risk factors such as increasing age, female sex, congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac and thyroid disease and the following metabolic disturbances: hypocalcaemia, hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia.

The following products have a high risk of causing QT prolongation and torsade de pointes:

  • Class Ia antiarrhythmics, (ajmaline, cibenzoline, disopyramide, hydroquinidine, procainamide, quinidine),
  • Class III antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, azimilide, cibenzoline, dofetilidem, ibutilide, sotalol),
  • Antipsychotics (amisulpride, haloperidol, droperidol, mesoridazine, pimozide, sertindole, thioridazine and clozaril),
  • Antibiotics (intravenous erythromycin, sparfloxacin),
  • Serotonin antagonists (ketanserin, dolasetron mesylate),
  • Antihistamines (astemizole, terfenadine),
  • Antimalarials (artemisinin derivatives, mefloquine, halofantrine),
  • Other: arsenic trioxide, cisapride and ranolazine.

ECG should be performed after initiation of treatment and at any point where the patient becomes symptomatic or when there are changes in disease or treatment which may increase the risk of interaction or arrhythmia.

Non-Drug Interactions:

  • Low sodium diet. Rapid reduction of sodium intake may cause raised lithium levels.
  • Intercurrent illness may cause lithium toxicity.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Lithium therapy should not be used during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, unless considered essential. There is epidemiological evidence that it may be harmful to the foetus in human pregnancy.

Lithium crosses the placental barrier. An increase in cardiac and other abnormalities, especially Ebstein anomaly, are reported. Therefore, a pre-natal diagnosis such as ultrasound and electrocardiogram examination is strongly recommended. In certain cases where a severe risk to the patient could exist if treatment were stopped, lithium has been continued during pregnancy. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).

If it is considered essential to maintain lithium treatment during pregnancy, serum lithium levels should be closely monitored and measured frequently since renal function changes gradually during pregnancy and suddenly at parturition. Dosage adjustments are required. It is recommended that lithium be discontinued shortly before delivery and reinitiated a few days?post-partum.

Neonates may show signs of lithium toxicity necessitating fluid therapy in the neonatal period. Neonates born with low serum lithium concentrations may have a flaccid appearance that returns to normal without any treatment.

Women of child-bearing potential

It is advisable that women treated with lithium should adopt adequate contraceptive methods. In case of a planned pregnancy, it is strongly recommended to discontinue lithium therapy.

Breast-feeding

Since adequate human data on use during lactation and adequate human reproduction studies are not available and as lithium is secreted in breast milk, bottle-feeding is recommended (see section 4.3 Contraindications).

Fertility

Studies in animals have shown adverse effects on male fertility (see section 5.3).

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Lithium Carbonate has minor to moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

As lithium may cause disturbances of the CNS, patients should be warned of the possible hazards when driving or operating machinery.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Side effects are usually related to serum lithium concentrations and are less common in patients with plasma lithium concentrations below 1.0 mmol/l.

Initial Therapy: fine tremor of the hands, polyuria and thirst may occur.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders:?leucocytosis.

Immune system disorders:?increase in antinuclear antibodies.

Endocrine disorders:?disturbances of thyroid function including (euthyroid) goitre, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid adenoma.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders:?hypercalcaemia, hypermagnesaemia, hyperglycaemia, anorexia, weight gain.

Nervous system disorders:?coma, benign intracranial hypertension, syndrome of irreversible lithium effectuated neurotoxicity (SILENT), encephalopathy, stupor, seizures, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, myasthenia gravis, serotonin syndrome, parkinsonism, extrapyramidal symptoms, ataxia, dizziness, memory impairment, mild cognitive impairment may occur during long term use, giddiness, nystagmus, slurred speech, vertigo, hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, dazed feeling, fine hand tremors.

Eye Disorders:?scotomata and blurred vision.

Cardiac disorders:?cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, Torsade de pointes, QT interval prolongation, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, bradycardia, sinus node dysfunction, ECG changes.

Vascular disorders:?peripheral circulatory collapse, hypotension.

Gastrointestinal disorders:?gastritis, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, dry mouth,

Excessive salivation. Lithium salts have been implicated in dysgeusia.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:?Allergic rash, exacerbation of psoriasis, acneiform eruptions, alopecia, acne, papular skin disorder, folliculitis, pruritus, rash.

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders:?muscle weakness.

Renal and urinary disorders:?symptoms of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, impairment of renal function, permanent changes in the kidney, nephrotic syndrome, histological renal changes with interstitial fibrosis after long term treatment, polyuria, polydipsia.

Frequency unknown: Microcysts, oncocytoma and collecting duct renal carcinoma (in long-term therapy) (see Section 4.4).

Reproductive system and breast disorders:?sexual dysfunction.

General disorders and administration site conditions:?sudden unexplained death, oedema, asthenia, lethargy, thirst, fatigue,?and malaise can occur due to lithium toxicity.

Some adverse events will be seen when Lithium levels are raised ? for symptoms see section 4.9 Overdose.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product.

4.9 Overdose

Lithium carbonate has a narrow therapeutic window. Symptoms of lithium overdose (Lithium intoxication) can therefore occur due to intercurrent illness, iatrogenic causes, and self poisoning.

Any overdose in a patient who has been taking chronic lithium therapy should be regarded as potentially serious.

Acute overdosage

A single acute overdose usually carries low risk and patients tend to show mild symptoms only, irrespective of their serum lithium concentration. However more severe symptoms may occur after a delay if lithium elimination is reduced because of renal impairment, particularly if a slow-release preparation has been taken. The fatal dose, in a single overdose, is probably over 5g.

Acute overdosage in patient on chronic lithium therapy

If an acute overdose has been taken by a patient on chronic lithium therapy, this can lead to serious toxicity occurring even after a modest overdose as the extravascular tissues are already saturated with lithium.

In patients with a raised lithium concentration, the risk of toxicity is greater in those with the following underlying medical conditions: hypertension; diabetes; congestive heart failure; chronic renal failure; schizophrenia; Addison’s disease.

Symptoms

The onset of symptoms may be delayed, with peak effects not occurring for as long as 24 hours, especially in patients who are not receiving chronic lithium therapy or following the use of a sustained release preparation.

Mild:?Nausea, diarrhoea, blurred vision, polyuria, light headedness, fine resting tremor, muscular weakness and drowsiness.

Moderate:?Increasing confusion, blackouts, fasciculation and increased deep tendon reflexes, myoclonic twitches and jerks, choreoathetoid movements, urinary or faecal incontinence, increasing restlessness followed by stupor. Hypernatraemia.

Severe:?Coma, convulsions, cerebellar signs, cardiac dysrhythmias including sino-atrial block, sinus and junctional bradycardia and first-degree heart block. Hypotension or rarely hypertension, circulatory collapse and renal failure.

Management

There is no known antidote to lithium poisoning.

In the event of accumulation, lithium should be stopped and serum estimation should be carried out every 6 hours. Special attention must be given to the maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, and also adequate renal function. Forced diuresis or diuretics should not be used in any circumstances. Appropriate supportive care may include measures to control hypotension and convulsions.

All patients should be observed for a minimum of 24 hours. ECG should be monitored in symptomatic patients. Steps should be taken to correct hypotension.

Consider gastric lavage for non-sustained-release preparations if more than 4g has been ingested by an adult within one hour or definite ingestion of a significant amount by a child. Slow-release tablets do not disintegrate in the stomach and most are too large to pass up a lavage tube. Gut decontamination is not useful for chronic accumulation. Whole bowel irrigation may be helpful in patients ingesting large quantities of a slow-release preparation.

Note: Activated charcoal does not adsorb lithium.

Haemodialysis is the treatment of choice for severe poisoning and should be considered in all patients with marked neurological features. It is the most efficient method of lowering lithium concentrations rapidly but substantial rebound increases can be expected when dialysis is stopped, and prolonged, or repeated treatments may be required.

It should be considered also in acute, acute on chronic or chronic overdose in patients with severe symptoms regardless of serum lithium concentration; discuss with your local poisons service.

Note: Clinical improvement generally takes longer than reduction of serum lithium concentrations regardless of the method used.

  1. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Psycholeptics, antipsychotics,

Mechanism of action

The precise mechanism of action of lithium as a mood-stabilising agent remains unknown, although many cellular actions of lithium have been characterised.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Distribution

It crosses the placenta and is excreted in breast milk.

The pharmacokinetics of lithium are extremely well documented. A single oral dose of LITHIUM CARBONATE 400 gives a peak plasma level approximately 3-4 hours later, with the level at 24 hours being approximately 40% of peak levels.

Elimination

Lithium is excreted almost exclusively in the urine by the kidneys.

The half-life of lithium varies considerably between formulations, but generally is considered to be about 12 to 24 hours following a single dose.

Special populations

Elderly

Half-lives of up to 36 hours have been reported for elderly patients and 40 to 50 hours for patients with renal impairment. Steady-state concentrations may not be attained until 4 to 7 days after starting treatment.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Lithium is teratogenic in rats and mice. In rats, lithium caused a reduction in fetal weights, numbers of live fetuses, delayed development of the skeleton and kidney toxicity in newborns at maternally toxic doses. In male rats, lithium caused morphological and histological changes in sperm tube epithelium and spermatids at doses comparable to human dosing, and reduced testicular weights and sperm production at doses more than 20 times higher than the human administered dose. The safety margin for these effects cannot be estimated due to an absence of exposure data.

  1. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
  2. a) Each tablet contains:
    Lithium carbonate USP 300mg
    Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s.
  3. b) Each tablet contains:
    Lithium carbonate USP 400mg
    Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?q.s.
  4. c) Each tablet contains:
    Lithium carbonate USP 450mg
    Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s.

6.1 List of excipients

Maize Starch, Acacia, Magnesium stearate, Sodium laurilsulfate, Hypromellose, Macrogol 400, Opaspray M-1-7111B

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf life

3 years.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25?C. Keep the container tightly closed.

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

PVC/PVDC/Al blisters.

Pack sizes: Blisters: 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 90, 100 and 500 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

No special requirements.

 

  1. MANUFACTURED IN INDIA BY:


TAJ PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
Mumbai, India
Unit No. 214.Old Bake House,
Maharashtra chambers of ?Commerce Lane,
Fort, Mumbai – 400001
at:Gujarat, INDIA.
Customer Service and Product Inquiries:
1-800-TRY-FIRST (1-800-222-434 & 1-800-222-825)
Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST
E-mail:?tajgroup@tajpharma.com

LITHIUM CARBONATE EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLETS 300MG / 400MG / 450MG TAJ PHARMA

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or
  • 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
  • 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
WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET:
  1. What LITHIUM CARBONATE is and what it is used for
  2. What you need to know before you take LITHIUM CARBONATE
  3. How to take LITHIUM CARBONATE
  4. Possible side effects
  5. How to store LITHIUM CARBONATE
  6. Contents of the pack and other

 

1. WHAT LITHIUM CARBONATE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

LITHIUM CARBONATE 400 mg controlled-release tablets contain lithium carbonate, which is used to treat and prevent mania or manic depressive illness and recurrent depression in adults. It is sometimes used to treat other behavioural disorders.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE LITHIUM CARBONATE DO NOT TAKE LITHIUM CARBONATE:
  • if you are allergic to lithium or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in
  • section 6)
  • if you have serious kidney disease
  • if you have hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones) that is difficult to treat
  • if you have problems with the rhythm of your heart
  • if you have a condition called Brugada syndrome (a hereditary syndrome that affects the heart), or if anyone in your family has had Brugada syndrome
  • if you have low sodium levels in your body. This can happen if you are dehydrated, on a low sodium diet, or if you have an illness called ?Addison?s disease? this happens when your body does not produce enough hormones and therefore making you feel tired, weak, lightheaded and areas of your skin may go darker
  • if you are breast-feeding.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking LITHIUM CARBONATE:
  • if you have epilepsy and take medicines to treat it
  • if you take antipsychotic medications
  • if you have heart disease
  • if you develop persistent headaches and or visual disturbances
  • if you have low amounts of potassium, magnesium and calcium in your blood – your doctor will tell you

Kidney tumours:

Patients with severe kidney impairment who received lithium for more than 10 years may have a risk of developing a benign or malignant kidney tumour (microcysts, oncocytoma or collecting duct renal carcinoma).

Whilst you are taking LITHIUM CARBONATE

Before you start taking LITHIUM CARBONATE, and while you are taking it, your doctor should check on you?re:

  • kidneys and urine
  • thyroid

It is important that you tell your doctor if you notice any side effects or are ill whilst you are taking LITHIUM CARBONATE. These could be early signs that your doctor should give you another check-up. Elderly patients should take particular care about this. Possible side effects are described later in this leaflet.

Other situations where you may need your blood monitoring more often are:

  • if there is a change in your dose or you change brands of lithium tablets
  • you have an infection or another existing disease/disorder
  • large changes in the amount of fluid you drink or sodium (salt) you consume
  • taking other medicines
  • you have kidney disease that you have been told by your doctor is not

Other medicines and LITHIUM CARBONATE

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

You should tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

These medicines may increase the amount of lithium in your body making you more likely to have side effects:

Any medicine which may cause kidney problems

  • antibiotics called tetracyclines, metronidazole, co-trimoxazole, trimethoprim and spectinomycin
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. diclofenac or ibuprofen) including COX- II inhibitors such as celecoxib. These are used for rheumatism and for other pains. You can also get pain killers of this type without a prescription so check with your pharmacist before you buy them
  • a group of medicines for your heart or blood pressure called ACE inhibitors such as ramipril or lisinopril or angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan or irbesartan
  • diuretics (water tablets), including herbal preparations
  • steroids – used for inflammation and allergies (such as prednisolone, betamethasone or hydrocortisone).

These medicines may decrease the amount of lithium in your body meaning it will not work as well:

  • theophylline (for asthma), or caffeine
  • anything containing sodium bicarbonate
  • a special group of diuretics (water tablets) called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
  • urea ? used to treat skin

These medicines may cause other side effects when taken with LITHIUM CARBONATE:

  • medicines used to treat schizophrenia such as haloperidol, olanzapine or clozapine
  • carbamazepine, phenytoin or clonazepam used for epilepsy
  • methyldopa used for the treatment of high blood pressure
  • anti-depressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) e.g. fluoxetine or paroxetine, or tricyclics e.g. amitriptyline or tetracyclics
  • calcium channel blockers for angina, high blood pressure or other heart problems such as amlodipine or diltiazem
  • muscle relaxants used in anaesthesia
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin used to reduce pain and inflammation
  • triptans such as sumatriptan used for

Some medicines, when taken with LITHIUM CARBONATE, can cause serious heart rhythm disorders. These include:

  • quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, amiodarone, ajmaline, cibenzoline, hydroquinidine, azimilide, dofetilide, ibutilide and sotalol all for heart rhythm disorders
  • ranolazine for heart disease (angina)
  • arsenic trioxide for the treatment of leukaemia
  • erythromycin (given into a vein) and sparfloxacin for the treatment of infections
  • amisulpride, haloperidol, pimozide, sertindole, mesoridazine, clozaril, droperidol and thioridazine for schizophrenia and other behavioural disorders
  • terfenadine and astemizole (antihistamines)
  • cisapride used to treat stomach and gut problems
  • mefloquine, artemisinin derivatives and halofantrine used to prevent malaria
  • ketanserin which may be being used for high blood pressure
  • dolasetron which may be being used for nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick) following

LITHIUM CARBONATE with food and drink

It does not matter if you take LITHIUM CARBONATE with or without food but if you want to go on any sort of diet talk to your doctor first. Any large changes in how much water you drink or how much sodium (salt) is in your diet may mean you need your blood monitoring more often.

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 for advice before taking this medicine.

Pregnancy

Do not take LITHIUM CARBONATE if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant unless otherwise recommended by your doctor.

Breast-feeding

Do not take LITHIUM CARBONATE whilst breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

As LITHIUM CARBONATE may cause dizziness or other nervous disorders, your ability to drive or use machines may be impaired.

LITHIUM CARBONATE contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ?sodium-free?.

  1. HOW TO TAKE LITHIUM CARBONATE

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

When starting LITHIUM CARBONATE 400 mg tablets are usually taken twice a day but when your blood tests are stable you may be able to take it once a day.

Your doctor will give you a blood test to tell you how many tablets to take and when to take them. Your doctor will repeat the blood test regularly whilst you are taking LITHIUM CARBONATE.

Try to take your tablets at the same times every day. Use in children

LITHIUM CARBONATE should not be used in children.

If you take more LITHIUM CARBONATE than you should

Contact a doctor or the nearest hospital immediately if you take more LITHIUM CARBONATE than you should.

Signs of taking too much LITHIUM CARBONATE include abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea, sickness, diarrhoea, blurred vision, passing a lot of water, light-headedness, tremor, muscle twitching, muscle weakness or drowsiness and feeling very tired. In extreme cases unconsciousness, coma, fits, heart rhythm problems (slow or irregular heartbeat) and kidney failure can occur.

Tell your family about lithium side effects so they know what to look for too. If you forget to take LITHIUM CARBONATE

If you forget to take LITHIUM CARBONATE, take it as soon as you remember. If you forget for more than 6 hours, just take the next dose when it is due. Tell your doctor if you forget a few doses. 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.

  1. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Contact your doctor immediately if you:

  • notice any changes in heart rate, for example a slower, faster or irregular heartbeat
  • have a high fever, agitation, confusion, trembling, and abrupt contractions of muscles, these may be signs of a rare condition called serotonin syndrome
  • experience a high temperature with rigid muscles, confusion or agitation, and sweating, or jerky muscle movements which you can?t control, these may be symptoms of a serious condition known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome
  • Experience persistent headaches and or visual

Other side effects include:

  • heart rhythm problems including a fast or irregular heartbeat and abnormal heart muscle function. Tests on your heart may show changes in the way your heart is working
  • encephalopathy (alteration of brain function)
  • syndrome of irreversible lithium effectuated neurotoxicity (permanent nerve tissue damage)
  • kidney problems, which may not be reversible. Symptoms may include passing a lot of urine, or feeling thirsty and swollen ankles
  • benign/malignant kidney tumours (microcysts, oncocytoma or collecting duct renal carcinoma) (in long-term therapy)
  • parkinsonism (a condition characterised by tremor, slow body movements, rigid muscles, inability to stand steady, tendency to stoop, and a shuffling walk)
  • thyroid problem and a condition known as parathyroid adenoma (a non-cancerous tumour close to the thyroid gland in the neck that controls the use and removal of calcium)
  • oedema (usually seen as swelling caused by too much fluid)
  • weight gain, loss of appetite or too much calcium, magnesium or sugar in the blood

hand tremor, vertigo, dazed feeling, not being able to think clearly, difficulty remembering, fits, changes of the sense of taste, shaky movements, slurred speech, dizziness, rapid eye movements, blurred vision, or blind spots in your eyesight, unconsciousness, coma and myasthenia gravis (a long-term disease characterised by abnormal tiredness and muscle weakness)

  • skin problems including worsening of psoriasis, hair loss, acne, soreness around the hair root, itching rashes and redness of the skin
  • low blood pressure
  • blood tests can show an increase in white blood cells (leucocytosis)
  • sickness, feeling sick, diarrhoea, upset stomach, dry mouth or too much saliva
  • sexual problems including being unable to get an erection, having delayed ejaculation or being unable to have an orgasm
  • Abnormal taste

It is important to have the right level of lithium in the blood. If it is too high, then you are more likely to get a side effect.

Tell your family about lithium side effects so they know what to look for too. Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

  1. HOW TO STORE LITHIUM CARBONATE

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25?C. Keep the container tightly closed.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle label and on the carton 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.

  1. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION WHAT LITHIUM CARBONATE CONTAINS

a) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? 300mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s

b) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?400mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?q.s

c) Each tablet contains:
Lithium carbonate USP? ? ? ? ? ? ? 450mg
Excipients? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? q.s

The other ingredients are maize starch, acacia, magnesium stearate, sodium laurilsulfate (see section 2 ?LITHIUM CARBONATE contains sodium?), hypromellose, macrogol 400 and Opaspray.

What LITHIUM CARBONATE looks like and contents of the pack

PVC/PVDC/Al blisters.

Pack sizes: Blisters: 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 90, 100 and 500 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

7. MANUFACTURED IN INDIA BY:
TAJ PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
Mumbai, India
Unit No. 214.Old Bake House,
Maharashtra chambers of ?Commerce Lane,
Fort, Mumbai – 400001
at:Gujarat, INDIA.
Customer Service and Product Inquiries:
1-800-TRY-FIRST (1-800-222-434 & 1-800-222-825)
Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST
E-mail:?tajgroup@tajpharma.com

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