eMC - trusted, up to date and comprehensive information about medicines
Link to eMC medicine guides website
eMC homepage
Get Medicines Compendium UK app here

Pharmacia Limited

Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ
Telephone: +44 (0)1304 616 161
Fax: +44 (0)1304 656 221

Before you contact this company: often several companies will market medicines with the same active ingredient. Please check that this is the correct company before contacting them. Why?

Summary of Product Characteristics last updated on the eMC: 30/04/2012
SPC Arthrotec 50 Tablets

When a pharmaceutical company changes an SPC or PIL, a new version is published on the eMC. For each version, we show the dates it was published on the eMC and the reasons for change.

Updated on 30/04/2012 and displayed until Current
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 7 - Marketing Authorisation Holder
  • Change to section 8 - MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   01-Apr-2012
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

Sections 7 (MA Holder), 8 (MA Number), 10 (date of revision)
Updated on 23/09/2009 and displayed until 30/04/2012
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   01-Sep-2009
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



The change to the SmPC is to section 4.8 - update in line with MedDRA terminology

Updated on 21/07/2009 and displayed until 23/09/2009
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.6 - Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   01-Jun-2009
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



4.6 - update to lactation section - misoprostol acid and diclofenac are excreted in breast milk

10 - date last updated revised

Updated on 05/05/2009 and displayed until 21/07/2009
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   01-Apr-2009
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company



Section 4.4 - additional hypertension wording:

"can lead to the onset of new hypertension or worsening of pre-existing hypertension, use with caution in patients with hypertension, blood pressure should be monitored closely"

Updated on 20/09/2007 and displayed until 05/05/2009
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 1 -Name of the Medicinal product
  • Change to section 2 - Qualitative and quantitative composition
  • Change to section 3 - Pharmaceutical form
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contraindications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.5 - Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
  • Change to section 4.6 - Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Change to section 6.1 - List of Excipients
  • Change to section 6. 6 - Instructions for use, handling and disposal
  • Change to section 9 - Date of first Authorisation/renewal of the Authorisation
  • Change to section 10 date of revision of the text
  • Change to section 5.1 - Pharmacodynamic Properties
  • Change to section 5.2 - Pharmacokinetic Properties
  • Change to section 6. 4 - Special Precautions for Storage
  • Change to section 6. 5 - Nature and Contents of Container
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   06/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

 

1 – the name has been updated to Arthrotec 50 or 75 modified-release tablets

2 – update to include amount of lactose

3 – Pharmaceutical form updated to modified-release tablet  

4.2 – undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest dose for the shortest duration necessary, monitoring to also include cardiac impairment

4.3 – deletion of lactation/breast-feeding, rewording of GI contraindication, addition of severe heart failure, severe renal and hepatic failure, treatment of peri-operative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft surgery

4.4 – warnings: avoid use with concomitant NSAIDs/COX-2s; precautions: undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest dose for the shortest duration necessary, Renal/Cardiac/Hepatic section rewritten to provide updated advice on treatment and monitoring of patients with liver/heart/kidney impairments, including Pharmacovigilance Working Party text & CHMP Key elements, Blood system/Gastrointestinal, Skin reactions sections significantly expanded to provide advice on patients at most risk of developing complications, caution required and action to be taken if events occur, standard lactose warning added.

4.5 – update to spelling of ciclosporin, addition of warnings regarding tacrolimus, anti-coagulants, anti-platelet agents, antihypertensives and SSRIs. Expansion of section on renal function and ACE inhibitors.

4.6 – expansion of reason for contraindication, addition of advise to counsel women of childbearing age on the need for adequate contraception and direction to discontinue treatment if pregnancy is suspected

4.8 – addition of post-marketing adverse events: GI bleeding, sometimes fatal, particularly in the elderly, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, flatulence, constipation, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, ulcerative stomatitis, gastritis, dermatitis exfoliative, erythema multiforme, urticaria, mucocutaneous reactions, changes in mood, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, blurred vision, abnormal uterine contractions, uterine rupture/perforation, retained placenta, amniotic fluid embolism, incomplete abortion, premature birth, foetal death, uterine haemorrhage, birth defects, chills and fever. Data suggest that diclofenac, particularly at high doses and in long term treatment may be associated with a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events.

6.1 – excipients split into core and mantle/coat and names updated in line with current regulatory guidance

6.6 – heading updated

9 – layout and dates updated

10 – date of revision updated

 

4.4 – addition of advice regarding long term treatment with Arthrotec

4.5 – Cases of hypo and hyperglycaemia have been reported when diclofenac was associated with antidiabetic agents, antacids may delay absorption of diclofenac

4.8 – updated with table of clinical trials adverse events and expanded post-marketing adverse events

5.1 – addition of ATC code

5.2 – section expanded to provide information on terminal half life, clearance, volume of distribution and plasma binding of diclofenac, absorption and metabolism of misoprostol

6.4, 6.5, 6.6 – administrative updates

Updated on 25/05/2007 and displayed until 20/09/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 7 - Marketing Authorisation Holder
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   03/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

 
Section 7 address changed from Milton Keynes to Ramsgate Road, Sandwich
Updated on 27/03/2007 and displayed until 25/05/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contraindications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   02/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

4.2 – addition of instruction to use lowest dose to minimise side effects

4.3 – addition of contraindication: severe heart failure

4.4 – additional CV precautions, potential increased risk at high dose & long term treatment, use lowest does for shortest time possible

4.8 – oedema, hypertension & cardiac failure reported with NSAID treatment, suggested risk at high dose and in long term use

Updated on 21/03/2007 and displayed until 27/03/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contraindications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   02/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

4.2 – addition of instruction to use lowest dose to minimise side effects

4.3 – addition of contraindication: severe heart failure

4.4 – additional CV precautions, potential increased risk at high dose & long term treatment, use lowest does for shortest time possible

4.8 – oedema, hypertension & cardiac failure reported with NSAID treatment, suggested risk at high dose and in long term use

Updated on 13/03/2007 and displayed until 21/03/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.2 - Posology and method of administration
  • Change to section 4.3 - Contraindications
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special warnings and precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Pending awaiting re-submission
Date of revision of text on the SPC:   02/2007
Legal Category:   POM
Black Triangle (CHM):   NO

Free-text change information supplied by the pharmaceutical company

4.2 – addition of instruction to use lowest dose to minimise side effects

4.3 – addition of contraindication: severe heart failure

4.4 – additional CV precautions, potential increased risk at high dose & long term treatment, use lowest does for shortest time possible

4.8 – oedema, hypertension & cardiac failure reported with NSAID treatment, suggested risk at high dose and in long term use

Updated on 09/06/2003 and displayed until 13/03/2007
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 4.4 - Special Warnings and Precautions for Use
  • Change to section 4.5 - Interactions with other Medicaments and other forms of Interaction
  • Change to section 4.6 - Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Change to section 4.8 - Undesirable Effects
  • Change to section 10 (date of (partial) revision of the text
Updated on 26/09/2002 and displayed until 09/06/2003
Reasons for adding or updating:
  • Change to section 7 - Marketing Authorisation Holder
  • Change to section 8 - MA number
  • Change to section 9 - Date of Renewal of Authorisation
  • Change to section 10 (date of (partial) revision of the text

Active Ingredients/Generics

 
   misoprostol
   diclofenac sodium