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Xiliarx
vildagliptin

Package leaflet: Information for the user


Xiliarx 50 mg tablets

vildagliptin


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 Xiliarx is and what it is used for

  2. What you need to know before you take Xiliarx

  3. How to take Xiliarx

  4. Possible side effects

  5. How to store Xiliarx

  6. Contents of the pack and other information


  1. What Xiliarx is and what it is used for


    The active substance of Xiliarx, vildagliptin, belongs to a group of medicines called “oral antidiabetics”.


    Xiliarx is used to treat adult patients with type 2 diabetes. It is used when diabetes cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone. It helps to control the level of sugar in the blood. Your doctor will prescribe Xiliarx either alone or together with certain other antidiabetic medicines which you will already be taking, if these have not proved sufficiently effective to control diabetes.


    Type 2 diabetes develops if the body does not make enough insulin or if the insulin that the body makes does not work as well as it should. It can also develop if the body produces too much glucagon.


    Insulin is a substance which helps to lower the level of sugar in the blood, especially after meals. Glucagon is a substance which triggers the production of sugar by the liver, causing the blood sugar level to rise. The pancreas makes both of these substances.


    How Xiliarx works

    Xiliarx works by making the pancreas produce more insulin and less glucagon. This helps to control the blood sugar level. This medicine has been shown to reduce blood sugar, which may help to prevent complications from your diabetes. Even though you are now starting a medicine for your diabetes, it is important that you continue to follow the diet and/or exercise which has been recommended for you.

  2. What you need to know before you take Xiliarx


    Do not take Xiliarx:

    • if you are allergic to vildagliptin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). If you think you may be allergic to vildagliptin or any of the other ingredients of Xiliarx, do not take this medicine and talk to your doctor.


      Warnings and precautions

      Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Xiliarx

    • if you have type 1 diabetes (i.e. your body does not produce insulin) or if you have a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.

    • if you are taking an anti-diabetic medicine known as a sulphonylurea (your doctor may want to reduce your dose of the sulphonylurea when you take it together with Xiliarx in order to avoid low blood glucose [hypoglycaemia]).

    • if you have moderate or severe kidney disease (you will need to take a lower dose of Xiliarx).

    • if you are on dialysis.

    • if you have liver disease.

    • if you suffer from heart failure.

    • if you have or have had a disease of the pancreas.


      If you have previously taken vildagliptin but had to stop taking it because of liver disease, you should not take this medicine.


      Diabetic skin lesions are a common complication of diabetes. You are advised to follow the recommendations for skin and foot care that you are given by your doctor or nurse. You are also advised to pay particular attention to new onset of blisters or ulcers while taking Xiliarx. Should these occur, you should promptly consult your doctor.


      A test to determine your liver function will be performed before the start of Xiliarx treatment, at three- month intervals for the first year and periodically thereafter. This is so that signs of increased liver enzymes can be detected as early as possible.


      Children and adolescents

      The use of Xiliarx in children and adolescents up to 18 years of age is not recommended.


      Other medicines and Xiliarx

      Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.


      Your doctor may wish to alter your dose of Xiliarx if you are taking other medicines such as:

      • thiazides or other diuretics (also called water tablets)

      • corticosteroids(generally used to treat inflammation)

      • thyroid medicines

      • certain medicines affecting the nervous system.


      Pregnancy and breast-feeding

      If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.


      You should not use Xiliarx during pregnancy. It is not known if Xiliarx passes into breast milk. You should not use Xiliarx if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.


      Driving and using machines

      If you feel dizzy while taking Xiliarx, do not drive or use machines.

      Xiliarx contains lactose

      Xiliarx 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.


      Xiliarx contains sodium

      This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium free’.


  3. How to take Xiliarx


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


    How much to take and when

    The amount of Xiliarx people have to take varies depending on their condition. Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets of Xiliarx to take. The maximum daily dose is 100 mg.


    The usual dose of Xiliarx is either:

    • 50 mg daily taken as one dose in the morning if you are taking Xiliarx with another medicine called a sulphonylurea.


    • 100 mg daily taken as 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg in the evening if you are taking Xiliarx alone, with another medicine called metformin or a glitazone, with a combination of metformin and a sulphonylurea, or with insulin.


    • 50 mg daily in the morning if you have moderate or severe kidney disease or if you are on dialysis.


      How to take Xiliarx

    • Swallow the tablets whole with some water.


      How long to take Xiliarx

    • Take Xiliarx every day for as long as your doctor tells you. You may have to take this treatment over a long period of time.

    • Your doctor will regularly monitor your condition to check that the treatment is having the desired effect.


      If you take more Xiliarx than you should

      If you take too many Xiliarx tablets, or if someone else has taken your medicine, talk to your doctor straight away. Medical attention may be needed. If you need to see a doctor or go to the hospital, take the pack with you.


      If you forget to take Xiliarx

      If you forget to take a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.


      If you stop taking Xiliarx

      Do not stop taking Xiliarx unless your doctor tells you to. If you have questions about how long to take this medicine, talk to your doctor.

  4. Possible side effects


    Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.


    Some symptoms need immediate medical attention:

    You should stop taking Xiliarx and see your doctor immediately if you experience the following side effects:

    • Angioedema (rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): Symptoms include swollen face, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing, difficulties breathing, sudden onset rash or hives, which may indicate a reaction called “angioedema”.

    • Liver disease (hepatitis) (rare): Symptoms include yellow skin and eyes, nausea, loss of appetite or dark-coloured urine, which may indicate liver disease (hepatitis).

    • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) (frequency not known): Symptoms include severe and persistent pain in the abdomen (stomach area), which might reach through to your back, as well as nausea and vomiting.


      Other side effects

      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx and metformin:

    • Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): Trembling, headache, dizziness, nausea, low blood glucose

    • Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): Tiredness


      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx and a sulphonylurea:

    • Common: Trembling, headache, dizziness, weakness, low blood glucose

    • Uncommon: Constipation

    • Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people): Sore throat, runny nose


      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx and a glitazone:

    • Common: Weight increase, swollen hands, ankle or feet (oedema)

    • Uncommon: Headache, weakness, low blood glucose


      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx alone:

    • Common: Dizziness

    • Uncommon: Headache, constipation, swollen hands, ankle or feet (oedema), joint pain, low blood glucose

    • Very rare: Sore throat, runny nose, fever


      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx, metformin and a sulphonylurea:

    • Common: Dizziness, tremor, weakness, low blood glucose, excessive sweating


      Some patients have had the following side effects while taking Xiliarx and insulin (with or without metformin):

    • Common: Headache, chills, nausea (feeling sick), low blood glucose, heartburn

    • Uncommon: Diarrhoea, flatulence


      Since this product has been marketed, the following side effects have also been reported:

    • Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data): Itchy rash, inflammation of the pancreas, localised peeling of skin or blisters, muscle pain


      Reporting of side effects

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      If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

  5. How to store Xiliarx


    • 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 blister and the carton after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

    • Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.

    • Do not use any Xiliarx pack that is damaged or shows signs of tampering.

    • 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 Xiliarx contains


What Xiliarx looks like and contents of the pack

Xiliarx 50 mg tablets are round, white to light yellowish and flat, with “NVR” on one side and “FB” on the other.


Xiliarx 50 mg tablets are available in packs containing 7, 14, 28, 30, 56, 60, 90, 112, 180 or 336 tablets and in multipacks comprising 3 cartons, each containing 112 tablets.


Not all pack sizes may be marketed in your country.


Marketing Authorisation Holder

Novartis Europharm Limited Vista Building

Elm Park, Merrion Road Dublin 4

Ireland


Manufacturer

Lek d.d. Verovskova ulica 57

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Ljubljana 1526 Slovenia


Novartis Farmacéutica S.A.

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 764 08013 Barcelona

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Spain


Novartis Pharma GmbH Roonstraße 25

D-90429 Nuremberg Germany

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


België/Belgique/Belgien Novartis Pharma N.V. Tél/Tel: +32 2 246 16 11

Lietuva

SIA Novartis Baltics Lietuvos filialas Tel: +370 5 269 16 50


България

Novartis Bulgaria EOOD Тел.: +359 2 489 98 28

Luxembourg/Luxemburg Novartis Pharma N.V. Tél/Tel: +32 2 246 16 11


Česká republika

Novartis s.r.o.

Tel: +420 225 775 111

Magyarország Novartis Hungária Kft. Tel.: +36 1 457 65 00


Danmark

Novartis Healthcare A/S Tlf: +45 39 16 84 00

Malta

Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Tel: +356 2122 2872


Deutschland

Novartis Pharma GmbH Tel: +49 911 273 0

Nederland

Novartis Pharma B.V. Tel: +31 88 04 52 111


Eesti

SIA Novartis Baltics Eesti filiaal Tel: +372 66 30 810

Norge

Novartis Norge AS Tlf: +47 23 05 20 00


Ελλάδα

Novartis (Hellas) A.E.B.E. Τηλ: +30 210 281 17 12

Österreich

Novartis Pharma GmbH Tel: +43 1 86 6570


España

Laboratorios Gebro Pharma, S.A. Tel: +34 93 205 86 86

Polska

Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o. Tel.: +48 22 375 4888


France

Novartis Pharma S.A.S. Tél: +33 1 55 47 66 00

Portugal

Laboratório Normal – Produtos Farmacêuticos Lda.

Tel. +351 21 000 8600


Hrvatska

Novartis Hrvatska d.o.o. Tel. +385 1 6274 220

România

Novartis Pharma Services Romania SRL

Tel: +40 21 31299 01


Ireland

Novartis Ireland Limited Tel: +353 1 260 12 55

Slovenija

Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Tel: +386 1 300 75 50


Ísland

Vistor hf.

Sími: +354 535 7000

Slovenská republika Novartis Slovakia s.r.o. Tel: +421 2 5542 5439


Italia

Novartis Farma S.p.A. Tel: +39 02 96 54 1

Suomi/Finland

Novartis Finland Oy

Puh/Tel: +358 (0)10 6133 200

Κύπρος

Novartis Pharma Services Inc. Τηλ: +357 22 690 690

Sverige

Novartis Sverige AB Tel: +46 8 732 32 00


Latvija

SIA Novartis Baltics Tel: +371 67 887 070

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

Novartis Ireland Limited Tel: +44 1276 698370


This leaflet was last revised in