Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief 250 mg /250 mg /65 mg film coated tablets

Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief is indicated in adults for the acute treatment of headache and of migraine attacks with or without aura.

Posology

Adults (18 years and older)

For headache:

The usual recommended dosage is 1 tablet; an additional tablet can be taken, with 4 to 6 hours between doses. In case of more intense pain, it is possible to take 2 tablets. If needed, additional 2 tablets can be taken, with 4 to 6 hours between doses.

Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief is intended for episodic use, up to 4 days for headache.

For migraine:

Take 2 tablets when symptoms appear. If needed additional 2 tablets can be taken, with 4 to 6 hours between doses.

Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief is intended for episodic use, up to 3 days for migraine.

For both headache and migraine, intake must be limited to 6 tablets in 24 hours. The medicinal product must not be used for a longer period or at a higher dosage without first consulting a doctor. (see section 4.4).

Drink a full glass of water with each dose.

Children and adolescents (under 18 years of age)

Safety and efficacy of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief in children and adolescents have not been evaluated. Use of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief in children and adolescents is therefore not recommended (see section 4.4).

Elderly

Based on general medical considerations, caution should be exercised in the elderly, particularly in elderly patients with low body weight.

Hepatic and renal impairment

The effect of hepatic or renal disease on the pharmacokinetics of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief has not been evaluated. Due to the mechanism of action of acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol, this could enhance the renal or hepatic impairment. Thus, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic or severe renal impairment and failure (e.g. GFR <30mL/min/1.73m²) (see section 4.3), and should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate hepatic or mild to moderate renal impairment (GFR >30mL/min/1.73²) (see section 4.4).

• Hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, caffeine or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1. Patients in whom attacks of asthma, bronchospasm, angioedema, urticaria, or acute rhinitis are precipitated by acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac or ibuprofen.
• Active gastric or intestinal ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation and in patients with a history of peptic ulceration.
• Haemophilia or other haemorrhagic disorders
• Severe hepatic failure or severe renal impairment or failure (GFR <30mL/min/1.73m2)
• Severe cardiac failure
• Last trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.6)

General:

• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should not be taken together with other products containing acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol.
• As with other acute migraine therapies, before treating a suspected migraine in patients not previously diagnosed as migraineurs, and in migraineurs who present with atypical symptoms, care should be taken to exclude other potentially serious neurological conditions.
• Patients who experience vomiting with > 20% of their migraine attacks or who require bedrest with >50% of their migraine attacks should not use Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief.
• If the patient gets no migraine relief from the first 2-tablet dose of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief, the patient should seek the advice of a physician.
• Prolonged use of any type of painkiller for headaches can make them worse. If this situation is experienced or suspected, medical advice should be obtained and treatment should be discontinued. The diagnosis of medication overuse headache (MOH) should be suspected in patients who have chronic headaches (15 days or more per month) with concurrent overuse of headache medications for more than 3 months. Therefore, this product should not be used on more than 10 days per month for more than 3 months.
• Caution should be exercised in patients at risk of being dehydrated (e.g. by sickness, diarrhoea, or before or after major surgery).
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief may mask the signs and symptoms of infection due to its pharmacodynamic properties.

Due to the presence of acetylsalicylic acid:

• The concomitant use of acetylsalicylic acid with other systemic NSAIDs, including cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors, should be avoided due to the potential for additive undesirable effects (see section 4.5).
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should be used with caution in patients suffering from gout, impaired renal or hepatic function, dehydration, uncontrolled hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.
• Acetylsalicylic acid in low doses reduces uric acid excretion. Due to this fact, patients who tend to have reduced uric acid excretion may experience gout attacks.
• Acetylsalicylic acid is known to cause sodium and water retention which may exacerbate hypertension, congestive heart failure and renal impairment.
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should be used with caution in patients suffering from severe glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, as acetylsalicylic acid may induce hemolysis or hemolytic anemia. Factors that may increase the risk of hemolysis are e.g. high dosage, fever or acute infections.
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief may lead to an increased bleeding tendency during and after surgical operations (including minor surgeries, e.g. dental extractions) because of the inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation of acetylsalicylic acid which persists for about 4 to 8 days after administration.
• Acetylsalicylic acid decreases platelet adhesiveness and increases bleeding time. Hematological and hemorrhagic effects can occur and may be severe. Patients should report any unusual bleeding symptoms to their physician.
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should not be taken together with anticoagulant or other medicines that inhibit platelet aggregation without a doctor's supervision (see section 4.5). Patients with defects of haemostasis should be carefully monitored. Caution should be exercised in case of metrorrhagia or menorrhagia.
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief must be withdrawn immediately if gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or ulceration occurs in patients receiving this medicinal product. GI bleeding, ulceration or perforation, which can be fatal, have been reported with all NSAIDs and may occur at any time during treatment, with or without warning symptoms or a previous history of serious GI events. They generally have more serious consequences in the elderly. The risk of GI bleeding could be enhanced by alcohol, corticosteroids and NSAIDs (see section 4.5).
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief may precipitate bronchospasm and induce asthma exacerbations (so-called intolerance to analgesics / analgesics-asthma) or other hypersensitivity reactions. Risk factors are present bronchial asthma, seasonal allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic infection of the respiratory tract (especially if linked to allergic rhinitis-like symptoms). This applies also for patients showing allergic reactions (e.g. cutaneous reactions, itching, urticaria) to other substances. Special precaution is recommended in such patients (readiness for emergency).
• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should not be given to children and adolescents aged under 18 years unless specifically indicated because there is a possible association between acetylsalicylic acid and Reye's syndrome when given to children and adolescents. Reye's syndrome is a very rare disease, which affects the brain and liver, and can be fatal.
• Acetylsalicylic acid can interfere with thyroid function tests due to falsely low concentrations of levothyroxine (T₄) or tri-iodothyronine (T₃) (see section 4.5).
• Rare cases of acute myocardial ischemia with or without myocardial infarction as part of a hypersensitivity reaction (Kounis syndrome) have been reported in patients treated with acetylsalicylic acid. In the event of confirmed Kounis syndrome due to acetylsalicylic acid, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should be discontinued immediately.

Due to the presence of paracetamol:

• Paracetamol overdose may cause liver failure which may require liver transplant or lead to death. Underlying liver disease increases the risk of paracetamol- related liver damage.
• The overall benefit-risk should be considered in patients diagnosed with liver or kidney impairment before use.
• Cases of hepatic dysfunction/failure have been reported in patients with depleted glutathione levels, such as those who are severely malnourished, anorexic, have a low body mass index or are chronic heavy users of alcohol or have sepsis.
• In patients with glutathione depleted states, the use of paracetamol may increase the risk of metabolic acidosis.
• The risk of paracetamol toxicity may be increased in patients receiving other potentially hepatotoxic medicinal products or medicinal products that induce liver microsomal enzymes (e.g. rifampicin, isoniazide, chloramphenicol, hypnotics and antiepileptics including phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine).
• Patients should be warned not to take other products containing paracetamol concurrently due to the risk of severe liver damage in case of overdose (see section 4.9).
• Alcoholic beverages should be avoided while taking this medicine because alcohol use in combination with paracetamol may cause liver damage (see section 4.5).
• Cases of high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) due to pyroglutamic acidosis have been reported in patients with severe illness such as severe renal impairment and sepsis, or in patients with malnutrition and other sources of glutathione deficiency (e.g. chronic alcoholism) who were treated with paracetamol at therapeutic dose for a prolonged period or a combination of paracetamol and flucloxacillin. If HAGMA due to pyroglutamic acidosis is suspected, prompt discontinuation of paracetamol and close monitoring is recommended. The measurement of urinary 5-oxoproline may be useful to identify pyroglutamic acidosis as underlying cause of HAGMA in patients with multiple risk factors.

Due to the presence of caffeine:

• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief should be given with care to patients with gout, hyperthyroidism and arrhythmia.
• The patient should limit the use of caffeine containing products when taking Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief, as excess caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness and occasionally rapid heart beat.

Information concerning excipients:

• Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief contains 0.03 mg benzoic acid per tablet. Benzoic acid may increase jaundice in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old).

Acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine combination medicines should not be used together with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including acetylsalicylic acid and cylcooxygenase-2 specific inhibitors as these may increase the risk of adverse effects.

Medicinal product interactions with other substances that might be caused by each individual ingredient are well-known and there is no indication that those might change through combined use. There are no safety-relevant interactions between acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol.

Table 4-1 Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)

Table 4-2 Paracetamol

Table 4-3 Caffeine

Interaction with laboratory testing

• High doses of ASA can affect the results of several clinical-chemical laboratory tests.
• Paracetamol intake can affect the results of uric acid when using the phosphotungstic acid method and for glycaemia when using the glucose oxidase/peroxidase method.
• Caffeine can inverse the effects of dipyridamole and adenosine on myocardial blood flow, thereby interfering with the results of myocardial imaging tests. It is recommended that the ingestion of caffeine be suspended at least 24 hours prior to the test.

Pregnancy

Not recommended for use during pregnancy. This medicine is contraindicated during the third trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.3).

There are no adequate data available from the use of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief in pregnant women. Animal studies have not been performed with acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine in combination (see section 5.3).

Acetylsalicylic acid

Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may adversely affect the pregnancy and/or the embryo/foetal development. Data from epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of miscarriage and of cardiac malformation and gastroschisis after use of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor in early pregnancy. The risk is believed to increase with dose and duration of therapy. In animals, administration of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor has been shown to result in increased pre- and post-implantation loss and embryo-foetal lethality. In addition, increased incidences of various malformations, including cardiovascular, have been reported in animals given a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor during the organogenetic period. During the first and second trimester of pregnancy, acetylsalicylic acid should not be given unless clearly necessary. If acetylsalicylic acid is used by a woman attempting to conceive, or during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, the dose should be kept as low and duration of treatment as short as possible.

During the third trimester of pregnancy, all prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors may have the following effects:

On the foetus:

  • cardiopulmonary toxicity (with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension);
  • renal dysfunction, which may progress to renal failure with oligo-hydroamniosis;

On the mother and the neonate:

  • at the end of pregnancy, possible prolongation of bleeding time, an anti-aggregating effect which may occur even at very low doses;
  • inhibition of uterine contractions resulting in delayed or prolonged labour.

Consequently, acetylsalicylic acid is contraindicated during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Paracetamol

A large amount of data on pregnant women indicate neither malformative, nor feto/neonatal toxicity. Epidemiological studies on neurodevelopment in children exposed to paracetamol in utero show inconclusive results. If clinically needed, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy, however it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible frequency.

Caffeine

There is evidence that the prolonged intake of high amounts of caffeine may lead to spontaneous abortion or premature birth in pregnant women. Non-clinical studies have shown reproductive toxicity at very high doses.

Breast-feeding

Salicylate, paracetamol and caffeine are excreted into breast milk. Due to the content of caffeine, the behaviour of the suckling child may be influenced (excitement, poor sleeping pattern). Due to the salicylate, there may also be a potential for adverse effects on platelet function in the infant (could cause slight bleeding), though none have been reported. Also, there are concerns with the use of ASA in case of potential development of Reye's Syndrome in infants. Therefore, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief is not recommended during breastfeeding.

Fertility

Acetylsalicylic acid

There is some evidence that medicinal products that inhibit cyclo-oxygenase / prostaglandin synthesis may cause impairment of female fertility by an effect on ovulation. This is reversible on withdrawal of treatment.

No studies on the effects of the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. If you notice undesirable effects such as dizziness or drowsiness, you should not drive or use machines. Tell your doctor as soon as possible.

Many of the following adverse reactions are clearly dose-dependent and variable from one person to another.

Table 4-4 provides a listing of adverse reactions from 16 single-dose clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief in the treatment of migraine, headache or dental pain associated with tooth extraction, involving 4809 Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief-treated subjects, and from post- marketing spontaneous reports. The adverse reactions included in the table were those regarded as at least possibly related to the administration of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief and are listed in descending order of frequency within MedDRA System Organ Classification.

For adverse reactions from the spontaneous reporting system, the frequencies cannot be reliably determined and therefore, is not known.

Adverse reactions are listed below by system organ class and frequency, using the following convention: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), including isolated reports and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Table 4-4 Adverse reactions reported from clinical studies and from post- marketing spontaneous reports

*including rhinitis

**Cases of high anion gap metabolic acidosis due to pyroglutamic acidosis have been observed in patients with risk factors using paracetamol (see section 4.4). Pyroglutamic acidosis may occur as a consequence of low glutathione levels in these patients.

***Acute myocardial ischemia with or without myocardial infarction as part of a hypersensitivity reaction, see section 4.4.

Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.

There is no information available to suggest that the extent and type of adverse events of the individual substances is enhanced or the spectrum broadened when the fixed combination is used as instructed.

Increase of the risk of bleeding can persist for 4-8 days after the intake of acetylsalicylic acid. Very rarely severe bleeding (e.g. intracerebral bleeding) especially in patients with untreated hypertension and / or concomitant treatment with anticoagulants. In single cases these can be life threatening.

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. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Linked to Acetylsalicylic acid:

Symptoms of mild salicylate intoxication include dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, sweating, warm extremities with bounding pulses, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, headache and confusion. These may occur at plasma concentrations of 150 to 300 micrograms/ml. These symptoms can be controlled by reducing the dose, or interrupting the treatment.

More serious intoxication occurs at concentrations above 300 micrograms/ml. The symptoms of severe overdose include hyperventilation, fever, restlessness, ketosis, respiratory alkalosis, and metabolic acidosis. Depression of the CNS may lead to coma. Cardiovascular collapse and respiratory failure may also occur.

Uncommon features include haematemesis, hyperpyrexia, hypoglycaemia, hypokalaemia, thrombocytopenia, increased INR/PTR, intravascular coagulation, renal failure and non-cardiac pulmonary oedema.

Central nervous system features including confusion, disorientation, coma and convulsions are less common in adults than in children.

Treatment of severe overdose

The patient must be transferred to hospital and the Poison Control Center contacted immediately.

When the patient is suspected of ingesting more than 120 mg/kg salicylate within the last hour, repeated doses of activated charcoal are to be given orally.

Plasma concentrations should be measured in patients having ingested more than 120 mg/kg salicylate, although the severity of the poisoning cannot be determined from these alone. Clinical and biochemical features must equally be taken into account.

In plasma concentrations exceeding 500 micrograms/ml (350 micrograms/ml in children under 5 years of age) the intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate is effective in removing salicylate from the plasma. Forced diuresis should not be used alone since it does not enhance salicylate excretion and may cause pulmonary oedema.

Heamodialysis or haemoperfusion are the methods of choice in cases where the plasma salicylate concentration is more than 700 micrograms/ml, or lower in children and elderly people, or if there is a severe metabolic acidosis.

Linked to Paracetamol:

Overdose (>10 g in total in the adult or >150 mg/kg in one intake) can provoke a hepatic cytolysis which can lead to complete and irreversible necrosis (hepatic failure, metabolic acidosis, renal failure) and eventually to coma and possibly death or may require liver transplant. Less often renal tubular necrosis may develop.

Early signs of overdose (very commonly nausea, vomiting, anorexia, pallor, lethargy and sweating) generally settle within first 24 hours.

Abdominal pain may be the first indication of liver damage, which is not usually apparent for the first 24 to 48 hours, and may be delayed for up to 4 to 6 days after ingestion. Liver damage is generally at a maximum 72 to 96 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur. Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis may develop even in the absence of severe liver damage. Cardiac arrhythmias and pancreatitis have been reported.

Patients are considered at high risk when receiving enzyme-inducing medicinal products, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, rifampicin, and St John's wort, or with a history of alcohol abuse, or suffering from malnutrition.

Treatment of overdose:

Immediate medical management is required in the event of overdose, even if symptoms of overdose are not present.

If overdose is confirmed or suspected, seek immediate advice from your Poison Centre and refer patient to nearest Emergency Medical Centre for management and expert treatment. This should happen even in patients without symptoms or signs of overdose due to the risk of delayed liver damage.

When the patient is suspected of ingesting more than 150 mg/kg paracetamol within the last hour, repeated doses of activated charcoal are to be given orally. However, if acetylcysteine or methionine is to be given by mouth the charcoal is best cleared from the stomach to prevent it reducing the absorption of the antidote.

Antidotes

N-acetylcysteine should be administered intravenously or orally as soon as possible after ingestion. It is most effective during the first 8 hours after taking the overdose. The effect of the antidote then diminishes progressively after that. Nevertheless it has been shown that treatment up to and beyond 24 hours after ingestion remains beneficial.

Methionine is most effective within the first 10 hours after ingestion of paracetamol overdose. Hepatic damage is more frequent and severe if treatment with methionine if started more than 10 hours after ingestion.

Oral absorption might be reduced by vomiting or activated charcoal.

Linked to Caffeine:

Common symptoms include epigastric pain, vomiting, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, excitement, muscle twitching, confusion, tremors and convulsions. For high intake of caffeine, hyperglycemia could also appear. Cardiac Symptoms include tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia. The symptoms are controlled by reducing or stopping caffeine intake.

For clinically significant symptoms of caffeine overdose to occur with this product, the amount ingested would be associated with serious paracetamol-related liver toxicity.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Other analgesics and antipyretics; Salicylic acid and derivatives

ATC code: N02B A51.

Mechanism of action

Acetylsalicylic acid has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, primarily due to the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes from arachidonic acid by irreversible acetylation of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes.

Paracetamol has analgesic and antipyretic properties, but unlike acetylsalicylic acid does not inhibit platelet aggregation.

The addition of caffeine augments the antinociceptive effects of acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol.

Pharmacodynamic Effects

Acetylsalicylic acid

Acetylsalicylic acid is an anti-inflammatory agent, mainly due to inhibition of inflammatory mediators via cyclooxygenase inhibition in peripheral tissues. This suppression of cyclooxygenase pathway in peripheral tissues may lead to its primary side effect of gastric irritation.

Low doses of acetylsalicylic acid affect platelet aggregation by irreversibly inhibiting platelet cyclooxygenase (COX-1). This effect lasts for the life of the platelet and prevents the formation of the platelet aggregating factor thromboxane A2. At higher doses (more than 150-300 mg/day), acetylsalicylic acid reversibly inhibits in endothelial cells the cyclooxygenase dependent formation of prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin), which is an arterial vasodilator and inhibits platelet aggregation, however there is no evidence that aspirin is thrombogenic in man.

Paracetamol

Central mechanisms of action have been proposed for paracetamol and peripheral tissues may be influenced differentially. For protective prostaglandins within the gastrointestinal track, only a slight inhibitory effect of paracetamol has been reported.

Caffeine

Caffeine enhances the analgesic effect of paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid and shortens the time to onset of analgesic effect.

Migraine studies

The efficacy of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief tablets in the treatment of acute migraine attacks was confirmed in 3 single-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and in 2 single-dose, double-blind, placebo and active controlled studies, one versus ibuprofen 400 mg and the other one versus sumatriptan 50 mg. In these studies, single-dose of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief consisted of 2 tablets (500 mg acetylsalicylic acid, 500 mg paracetamol, 130 mg caffeine).

In the three placebo-controlled studies, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was superior to placebo in reducing migraine pain intensity to mild or none 2 hours after dose in the drug–treated patients. It started relieving migraine symptoms, such as migraine pain, within 30 minutes.

In a placebo and active controlled study, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief and ibuprofen (2 tablets of ibuprofen 200 mg) were compared in the treatment of migraine. Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was shown to deliver significantly greater pain relief than ibuprofen starting at 2 hours post dose and to deliver clinically meaningful pain relief 20 minutes faster.

In another placebo and active controlled pilot study, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was compared with sumatriptan 50 mg and placebo for the early treatment of migraine. In this study Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was shown to be significantly more effective than sumatriptan 50 mg at reducing migraine pain intensity throughout the 4-hour treatment period. Sumatriptan 50 mg was shown to be superior to placebo with respect to this variable, but not to a statistically significant degree.

In a separate placebo and active controlled post-marketing study, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was not shown to be non-inferior to sumatriptan 100 mg. However in the acute treatment of migraine, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief provided pain and symptom relief over 24 hours.

Overall, the efficacy of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief has been demonstrated in the relief of migraine symptoms such as headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and functional disability.

Headache studies

The efficacy of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief tablets was studied in 4 independent, multi-center, double-blind, paracetamol 1000 mg and placebo-controlled crossover studies in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache. In all of these studies, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief was shown to be consistently superior to placebo and active comparators (mono-substances) regarding all efficacy measures of pain intensity and relief throughout the observation period.

Another multi-centre, double-blind, tension-type headache clinical trial compared the onset of analgesia between Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief, placebo and ibuprofen 400 mg. In this study, Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief-treated subjects reported significantly greater pain relief than placebo-treated subjects from 15 minutes through 4 hours. This finding was evident in both the Pain Relief and Responders endpoints.

Acetylsalicylic acid

Absorption

Acetylsalicylic acid is completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract after oral administration. Approximately 70% of an acetylsalicylic acid dose reaches the circulation unchanged; the remaining 30% is hydrolyzed to salicylic acid during absorption by esterases in the GI tract, liver or plasma. The salicylate peak plasma concentration is reached in 1-2 hours with single doses. Food reduces the speed but not the extent of absorption.

Distribution

Salicylic acid is widely distributed to all tissues and fluids in the body including the central nervous system (CNS). The highest concentrations are found in the plasma, liver, renal cortex, heart, and lungs. Acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid bind partially to serum proteins and mainly to albumin. The protein binding of salicylate is concentration-dependent, i.e., nonlinear. At low concentrations (< 100 micrograms/milliliter (mcg/mL)), approximately 90 percent of plasma salicylate is bound to albumin while at higher concentrations (> 400 (mcg/mL)), only about 40-70% is bound.

Salicylic acid crosses the placenta and is excreted in breast milk.

Metabolism

Acetylsalicylic acid is hydrolyzed in the plasma to salicylic acid (with a half-life of 15-20 minutes) such that plasma levels of acetylsalicylic acid are essentially undetectable 1-2 hours after dosing. Salicylic acid is primarily conjugated in the liver to form salicyluric acid by conjugation with glycine, salicyl phenolic glucuronide and salicyl acyl glucuronide by conjugation with glucuronic acid, and a number of minor metabolites. Following a single 1 g dose of acetylsalicylic acid, the average half-life of salicylic acid is approximately 6 hours. Salicylate metabolism is saturable and total body clearance decreases at higher serum concentrations due to the limited ability of the liver to form both salicyluric acid and phenolic glucuronide. The half-life of salicylate varies with dosage. Following toxic doses (10-20 grams (g)), the plasma half-life may be increased to over 20 hours.

Elimination

Salicylic acid and its metabolites are excreted through the kidneys. Renal excretion of unchanged drug depends upon urinary pH. As urinary pH rises from 5 up to 8, greater fraction of the administered dose is eliminated as free salicylic acid and the renal clearance of free salicylate increases from < 5 percent to > 80 percent. Following therapeutic doses, approximately 10 percent is found excreted in the urine as salicylic acid, 75 percent as salicyluric acid, and 10 percent phenolic and 5 percent acyl glucuronides of salicylic acid.

Paracetamol

Absorption:

Paracetamol is readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract with peak plasma concentrations occurring about 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion.

Distribution:

Plasma-protein binding is negligible at usual therapeutic concentrations but increases with increasing concentrations.

Metabolism:

It is metabolised in the liver and excreted in the urine mainly as the glucuronide and sulphate conjugates.

A minor hydroxylated metabolite which is usually produced in very small amounts by mixed- function oxidases in the liver and which is usually detoxified by conjugation with liver glutathione may accumulate following paracetamol overdose and cause liver damage.

Elimination:

Less than 5% is excreted as unchanged paracetamol. The elimination half-life varies from about 1 to 4 hours.

Caffeine

Absorption:

Caffeine is completely and rapidly absorbed after oral administration with peak concentrations occurring between 5 and 90 minutes after dose in fasted subjects. There is no evidence of pre- systemic metabolism.

Distribution:

Caffeine distributes into all body fluids. The mean plasma protein binding of caffeine is 35%.

Metabolism:

Caffeine is metabolised almost completely via oxidation, demethylation, and acetylation, and is excreted in the urine. The major metabolites are 1-methylxanthine, 7-methylxanthine, 1,7- dimethylxanthine (paraxanthine). Minor metabolites include 1-methyluric acid and 5- acetylamino-6 formylamino-3-methyluracil (AMFU).

Elimination:

Elimination is almost entirely by hepatic metabolism in adults.

In adults, marked individual variability in the rate of elimination occurs. The mean plasma elimination half life is 4.9 hours with a range of 1.9-12.2 hours.

Combination

In the combination of the three active ingredients, the quantity of each substance is low. Therefore no saturation of the elimination processes with the consequential risks of increased half-life and toxicity.

Pharmacokinetic data for the fixed combination of acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine are in line with the pharmacokinetic profiles established either for each of the substances alone or for the combination of each analgesic with caffeine.

Neither critical drug-drug interactions between acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and caffeine nor any increased risk of interactions with other medicinal products through their combined use are known. Findings with respect to pharmacokinetics of Panmigrol Migraine Pain Relief were as expected, and no interactions between the 3 active substances have been observed.

Acetylsalicylic acid

Preclinical studies in animals using acetylsalicylic do not show organ toxicity except for effects on gastrointestinal mucosa and, at high dosages, renal damage. Acetylsalicylic acid is neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic. Salicylates have been found to have teratogenic effects at maternally toxic doses in a number of animal species (e.g. cardiac and skeletal malformations, midline defects). There have been reports of implantation disturbance, embryotoxic and fetotoxic effects, and disturbance of learning capacity in the offspring after prenatal exposure.

Paracetamol

Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans at therapeutically relevant doses based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

Conventional studies using the currently accepted standards for the evaluation of toxicity to reproduction and development are not available.

Overdose may lead to serious hepatotoxicity.

Caffeine

Caffeine was shown to be devoid of mutagenic and oncogenic risk. In animal studies in different species (rat, mice, rabbit), very high doses of caffeine were associated with an increase in birth defects.

Tablet core:

Hydroxypropyl cellulose low substitution

Cellulose microcrystalline (E 460)

Stearic acid

Film-coating:

Hypromellose (E 464)

Titanium dioxide (E 171)

Propylene glycol

Benzoic Acid (E 210)

Carnauba wax (E 903)

Not applicable.

3 years.

Do not store above 25°C.

Child-resistant white opaque or transparent blisters composed of PVC/PCTFE/PVC with lacquered aluminium foil laminate backing.

White opaque or transparent blisters composed of PVC/PCTFE/PVC with lacquered aluminum foil non-laminate backing.

White opaque or transparent blisters composed of PVC/PCTFE/PVC with a child resistant aluminium foil/ polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bilayer backing.

Pack size: 20 film-coated tablets

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.