Active ingredient
- irbesartan
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: EU/1/97/046/027.
Aprovel 300mg film coated tablets (sanofi-aventis)
Package leaflet: Information for the user
APROVEL® 300 mg film-coated tablets
irbesartan
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Aprovel is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Aprovel
3. How to take Aprovel
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Aprovel
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. WHAT APROVEL IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Aprovel belongs to a group of medicines known as angiotensin-II receptor antagonists. Angiotensin-II is a substance produced in the body which binds to receptors in blood vessels causing them to tighten. This results in an increase in blood pressure. Aprovel prevents the binding of angiotensin-II to these receptors, causing the blood vessels to relax and the blood pressure to lower. Aprovel slows the decrease of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Aprovel is used in adult patients
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE APROVEL
Do not take Aprovel
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Aprovel and if any of the following apply to you:
Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading “Do not take Aprovel”.
You must tell you doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Aprovel is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see pregnancy section).
Children and adolescents
This medicinal product should not be used in children and adolescents because the safety and efficacy have not yet been fully established.
Other medicines and Aprovel
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions:
If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren (see also information under the headings “Do not take Aprovel” and “Warnings and precautions”).
You may need to have blood checks if you take:
If you take certain painkillers, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the effect of irbesartan may be reduced.
Aprovel with food and drink
Aprovel can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregnancy
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Aprovel before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will advise you to take another medicine instead of Aprovel. Aprovel is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used after the third month of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Aprovel is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.
Driving and using machines
Aprovel is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, occasionally dizziness or weariness may occur during treatment of high blood pressure. If you experience these, talk to your doctor before attempting to drive or use machines.
Aprovel contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars (e.g. lactose), contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE APROVEL
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Method of administration
Aprovel is for oral use. Swallow the tablets with a sufficient amount of fluid (e.g. one glass of water). You can take Aprovel with or without food. Try to take your daily dose at about the same time each day. It is important that you continue to take Aprovel until your doctor tells you otherwise.
The doctor may advise a lower dose, especially when starting treatment in certain patients such as those on haemodialysis, or those over the age of 75 years.
The maximal blood pressure lowering effect should be reached 4-6 weeks after beginning treatment.
Use in children and adolescents
Aprovel should not be given to children under 18 years of age. If a child swallows some tablets, contact your doctor immediately.
If you take more Aprovel than you should:
If you accidentally take too many tablets, contact your doctor immediately.
If you forget to take Aprovel:
If you accidentally miss a daily dose, just take the next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Some of these effects may be serious and may require medical attention.
As with similar medicines, rare cases of allergic skin reactions (rash, urticaria), as well as localised swelling of the face, lips and/or tongue have been reported in patients taking irbesartan. If you get any of these symptoms or get short of breath, stop taking Aprovel and contact your doctor immediately.
The frequency of the side effects listed below is defined using the following convention:
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
Side effects reported in clinical studies for patients treated with Aprovel were:
Some undesirable effects have been reported since marketing of Aprovel. Undesirable effects where the frequency is not known are: feeling of spinning, headache, taste disturbance, ringing in the ears, muscle cramps, pain in joints and muscles, reduced number of platelets, abnormal liver function, increased blood potassium levels, impaired kidney function, inflammation of small blood vessels mainly affecting the skin (a condition known as leukocytoclastic vasculitis), and severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock). Uncommon cases of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes) have also been reported.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
United Kingdom
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Ireland
You can also report side effects directly via
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE APROVEL
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Aprovel contains
What Aprovel looks like and contents of the pack
Aprovel 300 mg film-coated tablets are white to off-white, biconvex, and oval-shaped with a heart debossed on one side and the number 2873 engraved on the other side.
Aprovel 300 mg film-coated tablets are supplied in blister packs of 14, 28, 30, 56, 84, 90 or 98 film-coated tablets. Unidose blister packs of 56 x 1 film-coated tablet for delivery in hospitals are also available.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
This leaflet was last revised in 11/2019
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu/
For any information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
764348
Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT, UK
+44 (0)800 035 2525