PENTAZOCINE CAPSULES BP 50mg

Each capsule contains 50mg Pentazocine Hydrochloride BP.

Orange and grey, hard gelatin capsules.

Orange and grey, hard gelatin capsules printed “C” and the identifying letters “NT” in white.

1) For the relief of moderate to severe pain.

Adults: The usual initial dosage is 50mg every four hours after meals followed by 50-100mg every three to four hours. The maximum daily dose is 12 capsules.

Children under 12 years: It is recommended that another dosage form ie tablets, be used as appropriate for this age group.

Elderly: Dosage should be reduced in the elderly where there is impairment of hepatic or renal function.

For oral administration

Patients with established respiratory depression, raised intra cranial pressure, especially in the presence of cyanosis and excessive bronchial secretion, head injuries or pathological brain conditions where clouding of the sensorium is undesirable. Acute bronchial asthma in heart failure secondary to chronic lung disease, porphyria, and in patients known to be hypersensitive to Pentazocine and any other ingredients.

Administer with caution in patients with severely impaired hepatic or renal function, and to those previously on large doses of narcotics.

Caution should be exercised when administering high doses of pentazocine to patients who have suffered a recent myocardial infarction due to increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

Caution should also be observed in patients with hypothyroidism, adrenocortical insufficiency, prostatic hypertrophy and in patients with inflammatory or obstructive bowel disorders.

Patients already receiving MAOI's needs to be cautious before taking opioids. Some opioids can cause CNS excitation or depression. Opioids can be taken after two weeks of MAOI's discontinuation. Pentazocine should not be used on patients already dependent on other opioids as it can produce the symptoms of withdrawal.

After long term treatment (> 3 months) of analgesics with use every second day or more frequently, headache may develop or aggravate. Headache caused by overuse of analgesics (MOH - medication-overuse headache) should not be treated by increasing the dose. In such cases the use of analgesics should be discontinued in consultation with a doctor.

Agents with sedative action, including phenothiazines and ethyl alcohol can enhance the central depressant effects of pentazocine which are opposed by respiratory stimulants such as doxapram.

As pentazocine is a weak narcotic antagonist, it may provoke withdrawal symptoms if given to narcotic addicts.

Administer with caution to patients receiving MAOI's. Pentazocine should not be used within 14 days of stopping therapy with MAOI's.

There is no epidemiological evidence for the safety of pentazocine in pregnancy but it has been widely used for many years without apparent ill consequences. Doses which produce maternal toxicity in rats have caused harmful effects in the foetus. Pentazocine can enter the foetal circulation and has the potential to cause opioid effects including central depression and abstinence syndrome in the foetus. There is insufficient data on the secretion of pentazocine in breast milk, so it is recommended that infants of nursing mothers who are receiving high doses of pentazocine, be appropriately monitored.

As pentazocine may produce sedation, patients should be warned against the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery; alcohol may potentiate the sedative effect.

Normal therapeutic doses side effects are generally of a minor nature. Sedation and drowsiness, the most common effect, is less than that associated with morphine. The most frequent side effects are light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and sweating. The following side effects have also been reported.

Cardiovascular: transient hypertension, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, circulatory depression, palpitations.

Central and peripheral nervous system: Hallucinations may occur occasionally, dysphoria, disturbances of vision, headache, disorientation, mood changes, nightmares, insomnia, paraesthesia, syncope, euphoria, grand mal convulsions, raised intracranial pressure, confusion, tremor.

Allergic: oedema of the face, flushed skin including facial plethora, skin rashes, urticaria, dermatitis including pruritus.

Gastrointestinal: constipation, dry mouth, ureteric or biliary spasm.

Ophthalmic: miosis.

Respiratory: respiratory depression

Other: urinary retention, constipation, muscle tremor, chills, hypothermia, alterations in rate or strength of uterine contractions during labour, decreased libido or potency, hypotension.

The symptoms of pentazocine overdose will resemble those of morphine and other opioids. They may therefore include somnolence, respiratory depression, hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, hallucinations, or seizures. Circulatory failure and deepening coma may occur in more severe cases, as may convulsions, particularly in patients who have also ingested other CNS depressants such as alcohol, sedatives/hypnotics or antihistamines. Adequate measures to maintain ventilation and general circulatory support should be employed. Gastric lavage and gastric aspiration should be considered where appropriate.

For respiratory depression due to overdosage or unusual sensitivity to pentazocine, parenteral naloxone is a specific and effective antagonist. Initial dose of 0.4 to 0.2mg of naloxone are recommended, repeated at 2-3 minute intervals if needed, up to a total of 10mg. Anti-convulsant therapy may be necessary.

Pentazocine hydrochloride is a narcotic analgesic.

Pentazocine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; following administration by mouth, peak plasma concentrations are reached in 1-3 hours. Pentazocine is almost completely metabolised in the liver and only a small proportion of the dose administered appears unchanged in the urine. It diffuses across the placenta.

There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.

The capsules also contain: lactose, magnesium stearate, polyvidone.

The capsule shell contains: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide (E172)

The printing ink contains: shellac, soya lecithin (E322), 2-ethanoxythanol, dimethylpolysiloxane, titanium dioxide (E171)

None known.

Three years from the date of manufacture.

Store below 25°C in a dry place.

The product containers are rigid injection moulded polypropylene or injection blow-moulded polyethylene containers with polyfoam wad or polyethylene ullage filler and snap-on polyethylene lids; in case any supply difficulties should arise the alternative is amber glass containers with screw caps and polyfoam wad or cotton wool. An alternative closure for polyethylene containers is a polypropylene, twist on, push down and twist off child-resistant, tamper-evident lid.

The product may also be supplied in blister packs and cartons:

a) Carton: Printed carton manufactured from white folding box board.

b) Blister pack: (i) 250µm white rigid PVC. (ii) Surface printed 20µm hard temper aluminium foil with 5-6g/M² PVC and PVdC compatible heat seal lacquer on the reverse side.

Pack sizes: 28s, 30s, 50s, 56s, 60s, 84s, 90s, 100s, 112s, 250s, 500s, 1000s.

Product may also be supplied in bulk packs, for reassembly purposes only, in polybags contained in tins, skillets or polybuckets filled with suitable cushioning material. Bulk packs are included for temporary storage of the finished product before final packaging into the proposed marketing containers.

Maximum size of bulk packs: 50,000.

Not applicable.

Alpharma Limited

(Trading styles: Alpharma, Cox Pharmaceuticals)

Whiddon Valley

BARNSTAPLE

N Devon EX32 8NS

PL 0142/0311

29.11.90

Renewed: 29.11.95, 29.11. 00 & 06.02.2009

21.07.2011