What is a Patient Information Leaflet and why is it useful?

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.

PDF icon Download Leaflet View the patient leaflet in PDF format

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original can be viewed in PDF format using the link above.

The text only version may be available from RNIB in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call RNIB Medicine Leaflet Line on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet are: EU/1/14/935/007, EU/1/14/935/001, EU/1/14/935/004.

Envarsus 0.75mg, 1mg & 4mg Prolonged-release tablets (in packs from October 2016)

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

ENVARSUS® 0.75 mg

ENVARSUS® 1mg

ENVARSUS® 4mg

prolonged-release tablets

Tacrolimus

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
  • This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Envarsus is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Envarsus
3. How to take Envarsus
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Envarsus
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Envarsus is and what it is used for

Envarsus contains the active substance tacrolimus. It is an immunosuppressant. Following your kidney or liver transplant, your body’s immune system will try to reject the new organ. Envarsus is used to control your body’s immune response, enabling your body to accept the transplanted organ.

You may also be given Envarsus for an ongoing rejection of your transplanted liver, kidney, heart or other organ when any previous treatment you were taking was unable to control this immune response after your transplantation.

Envarsus is used in adults.

2. What you need to know before you take Envarsus

Do not take Envarsus:

  • if you are allergic to tacrolimus or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
  • if you are allergic to sirolimus or to any macrolide-antibiotic (e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, josamycin).

Warnings and precautions

Envarsus contains the active substance tacrolimus presented in a prolonged release formulation. Envarsus is taken once daily and is not interchangeable with other existing medicines containing tacrolimus (immediate release or prolonged release) on an equal dose by dose basis.

Tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • if you have, or have had, liver problems.
  • if you have diarrhoea for more than one day.

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Envarsus.

You should keep in regular contact with your doctor. From time to time, your doctor may need to do blood, urine, heart, or eye tests, to set the right dose of Envarsus.

You should limit your exposure to the sun and UV (ultraviolet) light whilst taking Envarsus. This is because immunosuppressants could increase the risk of skin cancer. Wear appropriate protective clothing and use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.

Children and adolescents

The use of Envarsus is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years.

Other medicines and Envarsus

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal preparations.

It is not recommended that Envarsus is taken with ciclosporin (another medicine used for the prevention of transplant organ rejection).

Envarsus blood levels can be affected by other medicines you take, and blood levels of other medicines can be affected by taking Envarsus, which may require interruption, an increase or a decrease in Envarsus dose. In particular, you should tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken medicines like:

  • antifungal medicines and antibiotics, particularly so-called macrolide antibiotics, used to treat infections (e.g. ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, josamycin, and rifampicin)
  • HIV protease inhibitors (e.g ritonavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir), used to treat HIV infection
  • HCV protease inhibitors (e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir), used to treat hepatitis C infection
  • medicines for stomach ulcer and acid reflux (e.g. omeprazole, lansoprazole or cimetidine)
  • antiemetics, used to treat nausea and vomiting (e.g. metoclopramide)
  • cisapride or the antacid magnesium-aluminium-hydroxide, used to treat heartburn
  • the contraceptive pill or other hormone treatments with ethinylestradiol, hormone treatments with danazol
  • medicines used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems (e.g. nifedipine, nicardipine, diltiazem and verapamil)
  • anti-arrhythmic substances (e.g. amiodarone) used to control arrhythmia (uneven beating of the heart)
  • medicines known as “statins”, used to treat elevated cholesterol and triglycerides
  • phenytoin or phenobarbital, used to treat epilepsy
  • prednisolone and methylprednisolone, belonging to the class of corticosteroids used to treat inflammations or suppress the immune system (e.g. in transplant rejection)
  • nefazodone, used to treat depression
  • herbal preparations containing St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Tell your doctor if you are taking or need to take ibuprofen (used to treat fever, inflammation and pain), amphotericin B (used to treat fungal infections) or antivirals (used to treat viral infections, e.g. aciclovir). These may worsen kidney or nervous system problems when taken together with Envarsus.

While you take Envarsus your doctor also needs to know if you are taking potassium supplements or certain diuretics used for heart failure, hypertension and kidney disease (e.g. amiloride, triamterene, or spironolactone), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances (NSAIDs, e.g. ibuprofen) used for fever, inflammation and pain, anticoagulants (blood thinners), or oral medicines for diabetes.

If you need to have any vaccinations, please tell your doctor before.

Envarsus with food and drink

Avoid grapefruit (also as juice) while on treatment with Envarsus, since it can affect its levels in the blood.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Tacrolimus crosses the placenta. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Tacrolimus passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should not breast-feed whilst taking Envarsus.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive or use any tools or machines if you feel dizzy or sleepy, or have problems seeing clearly after taking Envarsus. These effects are more frequent if you also drink alcohol.

Envarsus contains lactose

Envarsus contains lactose (milk sugar). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Envarsus

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

This medicine should only be prescribed for you by a doctor with experience in the treatment of transplant patients.

Make sure that you receive the same tacrolimus medicine every time you collect your prescription, unless your transplant specialist has agreed to change to a different tacrolimus medicine.

This medicine should be taken once a day. If the appearance of this medicine is not the same as usual, or if dosage instructions have changed, speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible to make sure that you have the right medicine.

The starting dose to prevent the rejection of your transplanted organ will be determined by your doctor calculated according to your body weight. Initial daily doses just after transplantation will generally be in the range of:
0.11 - 0.17 mg per kg body weight per day depending on the transplanted organ. When treating rejection, the same doses may be used.

Your dose depends on your general condition and on which other immunosuppressive medicines you are taking. Following the initiation of your treatment with this medicine, frequent blood tests will be taken by your doctor to define the correct dose. Afterwards regular blood tests by your doctor will be required to define the correct dose and to adjust the dose from time to time. Your doctor will usually reduce your Envarsus dose once your condition has stabilised.

You will need to take Envarsus every day as long as you need immunosuppression to prevent rejection of your transplanted organ. You should keep in regular contact with your doctor.

Envarsus is taken orally once daily, generally on an empty stomach.

Take the tablets immediately following removal from the blister. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not swallow the desiccant contained in the foil wrapper.

If you take more Envarsus than you should

If you have accidentally taken too much Envarsus, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

If you forget to take Envarsus

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Take the tablet as soon as possible on the same day.

If you stop taking Envarsus

Stopping your treatment with Envarsus may increase the risk of rejection of your transplanted organ. Do not stop your treatment unless your doctor tells you to do so.

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.

Tacrolimus reduces your body’s defence mechanism (immune system), which will not be as good at fighting infections. Therefore, you may be more prone to infections while you are taking Envarsus.

Please contact your doctor immediately, should you experience severe effects.

Severe effects may occur, including allergic and anaphylactic reactions. Benign and malignant tumours have been reported following Envarsus treatment.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

  • increased blood sugar, diabetes mellitus, increased potassium in the blood
  • difficulty in sleeping
  • trembling, headache
  • increased blood pressure
  • liver function tests abnormal
  • diarrhoea, nausea
  • kidney problems

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

  • reduction in blood cell counts (platelets, red or white blood cells), increase in white blood cell counts, changes in red blood cell counts (seen in blood tests)
  • reduced magnesium, phosphate, potassium, calcium or sodium in the blood, fluid overload, increased uric acid or lipids in the blood, decreased appetite, increased acidity of the blood, other changes in the blood salts (seen in blood tests)
  • anxiety symptoms, confusion and disorientation, depression, mood changes, nightmare, hallucination, mental disorders
  • fits, disturbances in consciousness, tingling and numbness (sometimes painful) in the hands and feet, dizziness, impaired writing ability, nervous system disorders
  • blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, eye disorders
  • ringing sound in your ears
  • reduced blood flow in the heart vessels, faster heartbeat
  • bleeding, partial or complete blocking of blood vessels, reduced blood pressure
  • shortness in breath, disorders of the respiratory tissues in the lung, collection of liquid around the lung, inflammation of the pharynx, cough, flu-like symptoms
  • stomach problems such as inflammation or ulcer causing abdominal pain or diarrhoea, bleeding in the stomach, inflammation or ulcer in the mouth, collection of fluid in the belly, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, passing wind, bloating, loose stools
  • bile duct disorders, yellowing of the skin due to liver problems, liver tissue damage and inflammation of the liver
  • itching, rash, hair loss, acne, increased sweating
  • pain in joints, limbs or back, muscle cramps
  • insufficient function of the kidneys, reduced production of urine, impaired or painful urination
  • general weakness, fever, collection of fluid in your body, pain and discomfort, increase of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase in your blood, weight gain, feeling of temperature disturbed
  • insufficient function of your transplanted organ

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

  • changes in blood clotting, reduction in the number of all types of blood cells (seen in blood tests)
  • dehydration, inability to urinate
  • abnormal blood test results: reduced protein or sugar, increased phosphate, increase of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase
  • coma, bleeding in the brain, stroke, paralysis, brain disorder, speech and language abnormalities, memory problems
  • clouding of the eye lens, impaired hearing
  • irregular heartbeat, stop of heartbeat, reduced performance of your heart, disorder of the heart muscle, enlargement of the heart muscle, stronger heartbeat, abnormal ecg, heart rate and pulse abnormal
  • blood clot in a vein of a limb, shock
  • difficulties in breathing, respiratory tract disorders, asthma
  • obstruction of the gut, increased blood level of the enzyme amylase, reflux of stomach contents in your throat, delayed emptying of the stomach
  • inflammation of the skin, burning sensation in the sunlight
  • joint disorders
  • painful menstruation and abnormal menstrual bleeding
  • multiple organ failure, flu-like illness, increased sensitivity to heat and cold, feeling of pressure on your chest, jittery or abnormal feeling, weight loss

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

  • Small bleedings in your skin due to blood clots
  • Increased muscle stiffness
  • Blindness, deafness
  • Collection of fluid around the heart
  • Acute breathlessness
  • Cyst formation in your pancreas
  • Problems with blood flow in the liver
  • Serious illness with blistering of skin, mouth, eyes and genitals; increased hairiness
  • Thirst, fall, feeling of tightness in your chest, decreased mobility, ulcer

Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

  • Muscular weakness
  • Abnormal heart scan
  • Liver failure
  • Painful urination with blood in the urine
  • Increase of fat tissue

Unknown frequencies side effects (may affect less than 1 in 10,000 people):

  • Cases of pure red cell aplasia (a very severe reduction in red blood cell counts),
  • agranulocytosis (a severely lowered number of white blood cells)
  • haemolytic anaemia (decreased number of red blood cells due to abnormal breakdown)

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. You can also report side effects directly via

UK: Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard .

ROI:

HPRA Pharmacovigilance
Earlsfort Terrace
IRL - Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6764971
Fax: +353 1 6762517
Website: www.hpra.ie
E-mail: medsafety@hpra.ie

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Envarsus

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, blister and wrapper after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not store above 25°C.

Store in the original aluminium foil wrapper in order to protect from light.

Use all the prolonged-release tablets within 45 days of opening the aluminium wrapping.

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 Envarsus contains

  • The active substance is tacrolimus.
    Each prolonged-release tablet contains 0.75 mg tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
    Each prolonged-release tablet contains 1.0 mg tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
    Each prolonged-release tablet contains 4.0 mg tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
  • The other excipients are hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, macrogol 6000, poloxamer 188, magnesium stearate, tartaric acid (E334), butylated hydroxytoluene (E321), dimethicone 350.

What Envarsus looks like and contents of the pack

Envarsus 0.75 mg prolonged-release tablets are oval, white to off-white uncoated tablet, debossed with “0.75” on one side and “TCS” on the other side.

Envarsus 1 mg prolonged-release tablets are oval, white to off-white uncoated tablet, debossed with “1” on one side and “TCS” on the other side.

Envarsus 4 mg prolonged-release tablets are oval, white to off-white uncoated tablet, debossed with “4” on one side and “TCS” on the other side.

Envarsus is supplied in PVC blisters containing 10 tablets. 3 blisters are packed together within a protective aluminium foil wrapper, including a desiccant. Packs of 30, 60 and 90 prolonged-release tablets are available.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
Via Palermo, 26/A
43122 Parma

Manufacturer

Rottendorf Pharma GmbH
Ostenfelder Straβe 51 - 61
59320 Ennigerloh
North Rhine-Westphalia
Germany

For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:

United Kingdom
Chiesi Ltd
Tel: + 44 161 4885555

This leaflet was last revised in October 2016

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu.

CP0051/2

0108002190/01