Scheriproct Suppositories

For the symptomatic relief of haemorrhoids and pruritus ani in the short term (5-7 days).

One Scheriproct suppository to be inserted daily. In severe cases one suppository two to three times daily at the beginning of treatment. The suppositories should be inserted after defaecation.

Viral infections. Primary bacterial or fungal infections. Secondary infections of the skin in the absence of appropriate anti-infective therapy. Known sensitivity to local anaesthetics.

Warnings: In infants, long-term continuous therapy with topical corticosteroids should be avoided. Occlusion is not appropriate on the perineum. Adrenal suppression can occur, even without occlusion. As with all topical steroids, there is a risk of developing skin atrophy following extensive therapy. The application of unusually large quantities of topical corticoids may result in the absorption of systemically active amounts of corticoid. Secondarily infected dermatoses definitely require additional therapy with antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents. This treatment can often be topical, but for heavy infections systemic antibacterial therapy may be necessary. If fungal infections are present, a topically active antimycotic should be applied.

The excipient (hard fat) in Scheriproct suppositories may reduce the effectiveness of latex products such as condoms.

Visual disturbance:

Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. If a patient presents with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma or rare diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use of systemic and topical corticosteroids.

The label will state mild steroid.

Co-treatment with CYP3A inhibitors, including cobicistat-containing products, is expected to increase the risk of systemic side-effects. The combination should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the increased risk of systemic corticosteroid side-effects, in which case patients should be monitored for systemic corticosteroid side-effects.

Pregnancy

There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy. Epidemiological studies suggest that there could possibly be an increased risk of oral clefts among newborns of women who were treated with glucocorticoids during the first trimester of pregnancy. Topical administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development, including cleft palate and intrauterine growth retardation. There may therefore be a very small risk of such effects on the human foetus. Also, hypoadrenalism may occur in the neonate. In general, the use of topical preparations containing glucocorticoids should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy. The clinical indication for treatment with Scheriproct must be carefully reviewed and the benefits weighed against the risks in pregnant and lactating women. In particular, prolonged use must be avoided. When corticosteroids are essential however, patients with normal pregnancies may be treated as though they were in the non-gravid state. Patients with pre-eclampsia or fluid retention require close monitoring.

Breast-feeding

Corticosteroids are excreted in small amounts in breast milk and infants of mothers taking pharmacological doses of steroids should be monitored carefully for signs of adrenal suppression.

None known.

As with all topical steroids, there is a risk of developing skin atrophy following extensive therapy. Allergic skin reactions may occur.

Eye disorders

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):

Vision, blurred (see also section 4.4).

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.

None stated.

Prednisolone hexanoate - On local application, exerts a powerful anti-inflammatory action which is superior to that of both cortisone and hydrocortisone. Its effects include a reduction of capillary dilatation, intercellular oedema and inflammatory infiltration within tissues, and the inhibition of vascularisation.

Cinchocaine hydrochloride - Has a local anaesthetic effect on mucous membranes and, in combination with prednisolone hexanoate, provides a quick relief of painful and pruritic symptoms.

No data are available on the rectal absorption of prednisolone hexanoate in humans. However, the extent of the rectal absorption from a similar lipophilic corticosteroid ester, fluocortolone pivalate, amounted to only about 15% of the dose with the cream and only 5% of the dose from the suppository.

No data are available on the elimination of prednisolone hexanoate in humans. It is known that corticosteroids are excreted in the urine.

In-vitro and in-vivo investigations with corticosteroid esters (halogenated and non- halogenated corticoids) have shown that these compounds are split extremely rapidly into the corticoid and fatty acid by the esterases which are ubiquitously present in the body. For this reason, after topical application and percutaneous absorption of prednisolone hexanoate, the steroid alcohol, prednisolone, becomes systemically available.

Inactivation of free prednisolone is carried out by the liver and to a small extent by the kidneys.

There are no preclinical safety data which could be of relevance to the prescriber and which are not already included in other relevant sections of the SPC.

Hard fat

None known.

3 years

Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).

Laminated aluminium foil strip packs. Packs of 12 suppositories.

In order to restore the consistency of suppositories which have become soft owing to warm temperature, they should be put into cold water before the covering is removed.

Keep out of reach of children.