Stronazon

Stronazon 400 micrograms MR Capsules

One capsule contains 0.4 mg of tamsulosin hydrochloride.

Modified-release capsule, hard

Orange/olive-green capsule, with the black printed mark TSL 0.4 and with a black stripe at both ends. The capsules contain white to off-white pellets.

Posology

One capsule a day after breakfast or the first meal of the day.

Method of administration

The capsule is swallowed whole with a glass of water while standing or sitting (not lying down). The capsule should not be broken or pulled apart as this may have an effect on the release of the long-acting active ingredient.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of tamsulosin in children <18 years have not been established.

Orthostatic hypotension observed earlier (history of orthostatic hypotension).

Severe hepatic insufficiency.

The use of tamsulosin may lower blood pressure, which in rare cases may cause fainting. If initial symptoms of orthostatic hypotension start to appear (dizziness, weakness), then the patient should sit or lie down until the symptoms have gone.

The patient should be examined before commencement of therapy with tamsulosin to exclude the presence of other conditions that can produce similar symptoms to those of BPH. The prostate should be examined via the rectum and, if necessary, the prostate specific antigen PSA count determined prior to commencement of treatment and again later at regular intervals.

The treatment of severely renally impaired patients (creatinine clearance of < 10 ml/min) should be approached with caution as these patients have not been studied.

Angio-oedema has been rarely reported after the use of tamsulosin. Treatment should be discontinued immediately, the patient should be monitored until disappearance of the oedema, and tamsulosin should not be re-administered.

The 'Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome' (IFIS, a variant of small pupil syndrome) has been observed during cataract surgery in some patients on or previously treated with tamsulosin. IFIS may lead to increased procedural complications during the operation. The initiation of therapy with tamsulosin in patients for whom cataract surgery is scheduled is not recommended.

Discontinuing tamsulosin 1-2 weeks prior to cataract surgery is anecdotally considered helpful, but the benefit and duration of requirement of stopping the therapy prior to cataract surgery has not yet been established.

During pre-operative assessment, cataract surgeons and ophthalmic teams should consider whether patients scheduled for cataract surgery are being or have been treated with tamsulosin in order to ensure that appropriate measures will be in place to manage the IFIS during surgery.

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However patients should be aware of the fact that dizziness can occur.

During cataract surgery a small pupil situation, known as Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS), has been associated with therapy of tamsulosin during post-marketing surveillance.

Post-marketing experience: In addition to the adverse events listed above, atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, tachycardia and dyspnoea have been reported in association with tamsulosin use. Because these spontaneously reported events are from the worldwide post marketing experience, the frequency of events and the role of tamsulosin in their causation cannot be reliably determined.

Acute overdose with 5 mg tamsulosin hydrochloride has been reported. Acute hypotension (systolic blood pressure 70 mm Hg), vomiting and diarrhoea were observed, which were treated with fluid replacement and the patient could be discharged the same day.

In case of acute hypotension occurring after overdosage cardiovascular support should be given. Blood pressure can be restored and heart rate brought back to normal by lying the patient down. If this does not help then volume expanders and, when necessary, vasopressors could be employed. Renal function should be monitored and general supportive measures applied. Dialysis is unlikely to be of help as tamsulosin is very highly bound to plasma proteins.

Measures, such as emesis, can be taken to impede absorption. If large quantities of the medicinal product are involved, gastric lavage may be performed and activated charcoal and an osmotic laxative, such as sodium sulphate, may be given.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Tamsulosin is an α_1A adrenoreceptor antagonist. The medicinal product is only used for the treatment of prostatic conditions.

ATC code: G04CA02

Mechanism of action

Tamsulosin binds selectively and competitively to postsynaptic α_1A adrenoreceptors, which convey smooth muscle contraction, thereby relaxing prostatic and urethral smooth muscle.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Tamsulosin increases the maximum urinary flow rate by relaxing prostatic and urethral smooth muscle, thus relieving obstruction.

The medicinal product also improves the irritative and obstructive symptoms in which the contraction of smooth muscle in the lower urinary tract plays an important role.

Alpha-blockers can reduce blood pressure by lowering peripheral resistance. No reduction in blood pressure of any clinical significance was observed during studies with tamsulosin in normotensive patients.

The medicinal product's effect on storage and voiding symptoms are also maintained during long-term therapy, as a result of which the need for surgical treatment is significantly postponed.

Paediatric population

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose ranging study was performed in children with neuropathic bladder. A total of 161 children (with an age of 2 to 16 years) were randomized and treated at 1 of 3 dose levels of tamsulosin (low [0.001 to 0.002 mg/kg], medium [0.002 to 0.004 mg/kg], and high [0.004 to 0.008 mg/kg]), or placebo. The primary endpoint was number of patients who decreased their detrusor leak point pressure (LPP) to <40 cm H₂O based upon two evaluations on the same day. Secondary endpoints were: Actual and percent change from baseline in detrusor leak point pressure, improvement or stabilization of hydronephrosis and hydroureter and change in urine volumes obtained by catheterisation and number of times wet at time of catheterisation as recorded in catheterisation diaries. No statistically significant difference was found between the placebo group and any of the 3 tamsulosin dose groups for either the primary or any secondary endpoints. No dose response was observed for any dose level.

Absorption

Tamsulosin is rapidly absorbed from the intestines and its bioavailability is almost complete. Absorption is slowed down if a meal has been eaten before taking the medicinal product. Uniformity of absorption can be assured by always taking tamsulosin after breakfast.

Tamsulosin shows linear kinetics.

Peak plasma levels are achieved at approximately six hours after a single dose of tamsulosin taken after a full meal. The steady state is reached by day five of multiple dosing, when C_max in patients is about two-thirds higher than that reached after a single dose. Although this has been demonstrated only in the elderly, the same result would also be expected in younger patients.

There are huge inter-patient variations in plasma levels of tamsulosin, both after single as well as multiple dosing.

Distribution

In humans, tamsulosin is more than 99% bound to plasma proteins and the volume of distribution is small (about 0.2 l/kg).

Biotransformation

Tamsulosin has a low first pass metabolic effect. Most tamsulosin is found unaltered in plasma. The substance is metabolised in the liver.

In studies on rats, tamsulosin was found to cause only a slight induction of microsomal liver enzymes.

The metabolites are not as effective and toxic as the active medicinal product itself.

Elimination

Tamsulosin and its metabolites are mainly excreted in the urine with about 9% of the dose being present in unchanged form.

The elimination half-life of tamsulosin in patients is approximately 10 hours (when taken after a meal) and 13 hours in the steady state.

• R52.1 – Chronic intractable pain
• R52.2 – Other chronic pain
• R52.9 – Unspecified pain

Content of capsule

Microcrystalline cellulose

Methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer

Polysorbate 80

Sodium laurilsulfate

Triethyl citrate

Talc

Capsule body

Gelatine

Indigotine (E 132)

Titanium dioxide (E 171)

Yellow iron oxide (E 172)

Red iron oxide (E 172)

Black iron oxide (E 172)

Ink

Shellac

Black iron oxide (E 172)

Propylene glycol

Not applicable.

36 months.

Blister packs: Store in the original package.

Tablet containers: Keep the container tightly closed.

PVC/PE/PVDC/Aluminium blister packs in cardboard boxes and HDPE tablet containers with PP child-resistant closures containing 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 90, 100 or 200 modified-release capsules.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Dispose of the medication in accordance with local regulations for medical waste.

Actavis UK Limited (Trading style: Actavis)

Whiddon Valley

BARNSTAPLE

N Devon EX32 8NS

PL 0142/0639

20.01.06

08.01.2013