Flomax Relief^® MR

Each capsule contains as active ingredient tamsulosin hydrochloride 400 microgram, equivalent to 367 microgram tamsulosin.

For excipients, see 6.1

Capsule modified release, hard (capsule). Orange/olive green coded with T0.4 and the company logo.

Treatment of functional symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Male 45 to 75 years.

One capsule daily, to be taken after the same meal each day.

The capsule should be swallowed whole and should not be crunched or chewed as this will interfere with the modified release of the active ingredient.

Hypersensitivity to tamsulosin hydrochloride or any other component of the product; a history of orthostatic hypotension; severe hepatic insufficiency.

As with other alpha₁ blockers, a reduction in blood pressure can occur in individual cases during treatment with Flomax Relief, as a result of which, rarely, syncope can occur. At the first signs of orthostatic hypotension (dizziness, weakness) the patient should sit or lie down until the symptoms have disappeared.

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 stopping 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.

Additional warnings when supplied as a non-prescription medicine:

Flomax Relief should not be given to patients receiving antihypertensive medicines with significant alpha₁-adrenoceptor antagonist activity (e.g. doxazosin, indoramin, prazosin, terazosin, verapamil) without first consulting a doctor.

Flomax Relief should not be given to a man who experiences postural hypotension.

Flomax Relief should not be supplied to any man with heart, renal, or liver disease, uncontrolled diabetes, urinary incontinence, or to a man who has had prostate surgery.

Flomax Relief should not be supplied to a man whose symptoms are of less than 3 months' duration.

Flomax Relief should not be given to any man who reports dysuria, haematuria, or cloudy urine, in the past 3 months, or who is suffering from a fever that might be related to a urinary tract infection.

Flomax Relief should not be used in those planning to have eye surgery for cataract, or who have recently experienced blurred or cloudy vision that has not been examined by a GP or Optician.

If urinary symptoms have not improved within 14 days of starting treatment with Flomax Relief, or are getting worse, the patient should stop taking Flomax Relief and be referred to the doctor.

Medical review is required for the diagnosis of BPH. Patients must see their doctor within 6 weeks of starting treatment, for assessment of their symptoms and confirmation that they can continue to take Flomax Relief from their Pharmacist.

Every 12 months, patients should be advised to consult a doctor for a clinical review.

No interactions have been seen when Flomax Relief was given concomitantly with either atenolol, enalapril , nifedipine or theophylline. Concomitant cimetidine brings about a rise in plasma levels of tamsulosin, and furosemide a fall, but as levels remain within the normal range posology need not be changed.

In vitro neither diazepam nor propranolol, trichlormethiazide, chlormadinon, amitryptyline, diclofenac, glibenclamide, simvastatin, and warfarin change the free fraction of tamsulosin in human plasma. Neither does tamsulosin change the free fractions of diazepam, propranolol, trichlormethiazide, and chlormadinon.

No interactions at the level of hepatic metabolism have been seen during in vitro studies with liver microsomal fractions (representative of the cytochrome P₄₅₀-linked drug metabolising enzyme system), involving amitriptyline, salbutamol, glibenclamide and finasteride. Diclofenac and warfarin, however, may increase the elimination rate of tamsulosin.

There is a theoretical risk of enhanced hypotensive effect when given concurrently with drugs which may reduce blood pressure including anaesthetic agents, other alpha₁-adrenoceptor antagonists.

Not applicable as Flomax Relief is intended for male patients only.

No data is available on whether Flomax Relief adversely affects the ability to drive or operate machines. However, in this respect patients should be aware of the fact that drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness and syncope can occur.

As with other alpha-blockers, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth or oedema 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 (see also section 4.4).

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. When large quantities are involved, gastric lavage can be applied and activated charcoal and an osmotic laxative, such as sodium sulphate, can be administered.

Pharmacotherapeutic group:

Alpha₁-adrenoceptor antagonist.

Preparations for the exclusive treatment of prostatic disease.

Mechanism of action:

Tamsulosin binds selectively and competitively to postsynaptic alpha₁-receptors, in particular to the subtype alpha_1A, which bring about relaxation of the smooth muscle of the prostate, whereby tension is reduced.

Pharmacodynamic effects:

Flomax Relief increases maximum urinary flow rate by reducing smooth muscle tension in prostate and urethra and thereby relieving obstruction.

It also improves the complex of irritative and obstructive symptoms in which bladder instability and tension of the smooth muscles of the lower urinary tract play an important role. Alpha₁-blockers can reduce blood pressure by lowering peripheral resistance. No reduction in blood pressure of any clinical significance was observed during studies with Flomax Relief.

Absorption:

Tamsulosin is absorbed from the intestine and is almost completely bioavailable.

Absorption of tamsulosin is reduced by a recent meal.

Uniformity of absorption can be promoted by the patient always taking Flomax Relief after the same meal each day.

Tamsulosin shows linear kinetics.

After a single dose of Flomax Relief in the fed state, plasma levels of tamsulosin peak at around 6 hours and, in the steady state, which is reached by day 5 of multiple dosing, C_max in patients is about two thirds higher than that reached after a single dose. Although this was seen in elderly patients, the same finding would also be expected in young ones.

There is a considerable inter-patient variation in plasma levels both after single and multiple dosing.

Distribution:

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

Biotransformation:

Tamsulosin has a low first pass effect, being metabolised slowly. Most tamsulosin is present in plasma in the form of unchanged drug. It is metabolised in the liver.

In rats, hardly any induction of microsomal liver enzymes was seen to be caused by tamsulosin.

No dose adjustment is warranted in hepatic insufficiency.

None of the metabolites are more active than the original compound.

Elimination:

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

After a single dose of Flomax Relief in the fed state, and in the steady state in patients, elimination half-lives of about 10 and 13 hours respectively have been measured.

The presence of renal impairment does not warrant lowering the dose.

Single and repeat dose toxicity studies were performed in mice, rats and dogs. In addition reproduction toxicity studies were performed in rats, carcinogenicity in mice and rats and in vivo and in vitro genotoxicity were examined. The general toxicity profile as seen with high doses of tamsulosin is consistent with the known pharmacological actions of the alpha-adrenergic blocking agents. At very high dose levels the ECG was altered in dogs. This response is considered to be not clinically relevant. Tamsulosin showed no relevant genotoxic properties.

Increased incidences of proliferative changes of mammary glands of female rats and mice have been reported. These findings which are probably mediated by hyperprolactinaemia and only occurred at high dose levels are regarded as irrelevant.

Flomax Relief modified release capsules contain the following excipients:

Content of capsule:

microcrystalline cellulose

methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer

polysorbate 80

sodium laurilsulfate

triacetin

calcium stearate

talc

Capsule shell:

hard gelatin

indigotine E132

titanium dioxide E171

yellow iron oxide E172

red iron oxide E172

Printing ink:

shellac

propylene glycol

black iron oxide E172

None known.

Shelf life as packaged for sale:

Flomax Relief modified release capsules can be used up to four years after manufacture. The expiry date is printed on the package.

None.

Polypropylene-aluminium blister packs containing 7 capsules per strip; cardboard boxes containing 14 and 28 capsules.

No special instructions.

Boehringer Ingelheim Limited

Consumer Healthcare

Ellesfield Avenue

Bracknell

Berkshire RG12 8YS

United Kingdom

PL 00015/0280

03/12/2009

03/12/2009