Envarsus
tacrolimus
tacrolimus
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 Envarsus is and what it is used for
What you need to know before you take Envarsus
How to take Envarsus
Possible side effects
How to store Envarsus
Contents of the pack and other information
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.
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).
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.
Talk to your doctor before taking Envarsus:
if you have, or have had, liver problems.
if you have diarrhoea for more than one day.
if you are taking any medicines mentioned below under “Other medicines and Envarsus”.
if you have an alteration of the electrical activity of your heart called “QT prolongation”.
Tell your doctor immediately if during treatment you suffer from:
problems with your vision such as blurred vision, changes in colour vision, difficulty in seeing detail or if your field of vision becomes restricted.
if you feel strong abdominal pain accompanied or not with other symptoms, such as chills,
fever, nausea or vomiting
an infection, leading to problems with your kidney or neurological symptoms
headache, altered mental status, seizures and visual disturbances
weakness, change in skin or eye colour, easy bruising, infection, cough, anaemia
Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Envarsus or will decide to stop treatment with tacrolimus.
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.
The use of Envarsus is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years.
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).
Tell your doctor if you have hepatitis C. Your liver function may change with treatment of hepatitis C and this may affect the levels of tacrolimus in your blood. Your doctor may need to closely monitor tacrolimus blood levels and make adjustments to the dose after you start treatment for hepatitis C.
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,
isavuconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, josamycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and flucloxacillin)
letermovir, used to prevent illness caused by CMV (human cytomegalovirus)
HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir), the booster medicine cobicistat, and combination tablets, used to treat HIV infection
HCV protease inhibitors (e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir, and the combination ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with or without dasabuvir), used to treat hepatitis C
nilotinib and imatinib (used to treat certain cancers)
mycophenolic acid, used to suppress the immune system to prevent transplant rejection
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 and used to treat inflammations or suppress the immune system (e.g. in transplant rejection)
metamizole, used to treat pain and high fever
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), antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections,
e.g. aminoglycosides, vancomycin or clotrimazole) 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), or the antibiotics trimethoprim or cotrimoxazole that may increase levels of potassium in your blood, 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.
Avoid grapefruit (also as juice) while on treatment with Envarsus, since it can affect its levels in the blood.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, 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.
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 (milk sugar).
Envarsus 0.75 mg tablets: 41.7 mg
Envarsus 1 mg tablets: 41.7 mg
Envarsus 4 mg tablets: 104 mg
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
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.
Important information
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 doe instructions have changed, speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible to make
sure that you have the right medicine.
How much Envarsus do I have to take
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.
How should I take the Envarsus tablets
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
How long should I take the Envarsus tablets
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.
If you have accidentally taken too much Envarsus, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Take the tablet as soon as possible on the same day.
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.
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. Some infections could be serious or fatal and may include infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi,
parasites, or other infections.
Tell your doctor immediately if you get signs of an infection including:
fever, cough, sore throat, feeling weak or generally unwell
memory loss, trouble thinking, difficulty walking or loss of vision - these may be due to a very rare, serious brain infection, which can be fatal (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML))
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.
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
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, loss of 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
changes in blood clotting, reduction in the number of all types of blood cells (seen in blood tests)
dehydration, inability to urinate
psychotic behaviour, such as delusions, hallucinations, and confusion
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, partial or total inability to hear
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
acute or chronic inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen, 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
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, pre-stage of a blockage in your bowel
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
Muscular weakness
Impaired hearing
Abnormal heart scan
Liver failure
Painful urination with blood in the urine
Increase of fat tissue
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)
Febrile neutropenia (a decrease in the type of white blood cells which fight infection, accompanied by fever)
Abnormality of the optic nerve (optic neuropathy)
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 the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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.
The active substance is tacrolimus.
Envarsus 0.75 mg prolonged-release tablets
Each prolonged-release tablet contains 0.75 mg tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Envarsus 1 mg prolonged-release tablets
Each prolonged-release tablet contains 1.0 mg tacrolimus (as monohydrate).
Envarsus 4 mg prolonged-release tablets
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.
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/alu 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.
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
Via Palermo, 26/A 43122 Parma
Italy
59320 Ennigerloh Germany
or
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Via San Leonardo 96
43122 Parma Italy
or
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Gonzagagasse 16/16
1010 Wien
Austria
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Chiesi sa/nv
Tél/Tel: +32 (0)2 788 42 00
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Tel: +43 1 4073919
Chiesi Bulgaria EOOD Teл.: +359 29201205
Chiesi sa/nv
Tél/Tel: +32 (0)2 788 42 00
Chiesi CZ s.r.o.
Tel: +420 261221745
Chiesi Pharma AB Tlf: +46 8 753 35 20
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Tel: +39 0521 2791
Chiesi GmbH
Tel: +49 40 89724-0
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals B.V. Tel: +31 0 88 5016400
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Tel: +43 1 4073919
Chiesi Pharma AB Tlf: +46 8 753 35 20
Chiesi Hellas AEBE
Τηλ: +30 210 6179763
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Tel: +43 1 4073919
Chiesi España, S.A.U. Tel: +34 93 494 8000
Chiesi Poland Sp. z.o.o. Tel.: +48 22 620 1421
Chiesi S.A.S
Tél: +33 1 47688899
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Tel: +39 0521 2791
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Tel: +43 1 4073919
Chiesi Romania S.R.L. Tel: +40 212023642
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Tel: +39 0521 2791
Chiesi Slovenija d.o.o. Tel: +386-1-43 00 901
Chiesi Pharma AB Tlf: +46 8 753 35 20
Chiesi Italia S.p.A. Tel: +39 0521 2791
Chiesi Pharma AB Puh/Tel: +46 8 753 35 20
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
Τηλ: +39 0521 2791
Chiesi Pharma AB Tlf: +46 8 753 35 20
Chiesi Pharmaceuticals GmbH Tel: +43 1 4073919
Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Tel: +39 0521 2791
Taking into account the PRAC Assessment Report on the PSURs for tacrolimus (systemic formulations), the scientific conclusions of CHMP are as follows:
In view of available data on cytomegalovirus infection from spontaneous reports (including some cases with a close temporal relationship) and in view of the plausible mechanism of action, the PRAC considers that a causal relationship between systemic tacrolimus and cytomegalovirus infection is at least a reasonable possibility. The PRAC concluded that the product information of products containing systemic tacrolimus should be amended accordingly.
In view of available data on infections from spontaneous reports and in view of the plausible mechanism of action, the PRAC considers that the product information of products containing systemic tacrolimus should be amended accordingly.
In view of available data on interactions with flucloxacillin from the literature and in view of the plausible mechanism of action, the PRAC considers that pharmacokinetic interactions with flucloxacillin are at least a reasonable possibility. The PRAC concluded that the product information of products containing systemic tacrolimus should be amended accordingly.
In view of available data on the pharmacodynamics interaction with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim from spontaneous reports and the literature, the PRAC considers that the pharmacodynamic interaction with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim is at least a reasonable possibility. The PRAC concluded that the product information of products containing systemic tacrolimus should be amended accordingly.
In view of available data on nephrotoxicity and the risk of progression to chronic renal impairment from the literature, the PRAC considers that the product information should be updated to strengthen the warning relating to nephrotoxicity.
The CHMP agrees with the scientific conclusions made by the PRAC.
On the basis of the scientific conclusions for tacrolimus (systemic formulations) the CHMP is of the opinion that the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal products containing tacrolimus (systemic formulations) is unchanged subject to the proposed changes to the product information
The CHMP recommends that the terms of the marketing authorisations should be varied.