Dificlir
fidaxomicin
fidaxomicin
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 DIFICLIR is and what it is used for
What you need to know before you take DIFICLIR
How to take DIFICLIR
Possible side effects
How to store DIFICLIR
Contents of the pack and other information
DIFICLIR is an antibiotic which contains the active substance fidaxomicin.
DIFICLIR film-coated tablets are used in adults, adolescents and children with a body weight of at least 12.5 kg to treat infections of the lining of the colon (large intestine) with certain bacteria called Clostridioides difficile. This serious illness can result in painful, severe diarrhoea. DIFICLIR works by killing the bacteria that cause the infection and helps to reduce the associated diarrhoea.
If you are allergic to fidaxomicin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking DIFICLIR.
If you feel that you might have a severe allergic reaction such as trouble breathing (dyspnea), swelling of the face or throat (angioedema), severe rash, severe itching (pruritus) or severe hives (urticaria), stop taking DIFICLIR and seek medical advice urgently from your doctor, pharmacist or at your local hospital emergency department (see section 4).
If you are allergic to macrolides (a class of antibiotics), ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. Your doctor will tell you whether this medicine is suitable for you.
If you have kidney or liver problems, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. Your doctor will tell you whether this medicine is suitable for you.
There are limited data available on the use of fidaxomicin in severe cases of the disease (e.g. pseudomembranous colitis). Your doctor will know whether your disease falls in the severe categories and will tell you whether this medicine is suitable for you.
Do not give this medicine to children with a body weight below 12.5 kg, because these children require a reduced dose. For appropriate dosing in these patients, DIFICLIR granules for oral suspension may be used.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
DIFICLIR blood levels can be affected by other medicines you take, and blood levels of other medicines can be affected by taking DIFICLIR. Examples of such medicines are:
cyclosporin (a medicine used to dampen down the body’s immune reactions, used e.g. after an
organ or bone marrow transplant, for psoriasis or eczema, or for rheumatoid arthritis or nephrotic syndrome)
ketoconazole (a medicine used to treat fungal infections)
erythromycin (a medicine used to treat ear, nose, throat, chest and skin infections)
clarithromycin (a medicine used to treat chest infections, throat and sinus infections, skin and tissue infections and Helicobacter pylori infections associated with duodenal or stomach ulcer)
verapamil (a medicine used to treat high blood pressure or to prevent chest pain attacks, or used
following a heart attack to prevent another one)
dronedarone and amiodarone (medicines used to control the heartbeat)
dabigatran etexilat (a medicine used to prevent the formation of blood clots after hip or knee replacement surgery)
You should not use DIFICLIR in combination with one of these medicines, unless your doctor tells
you otherwise. If you use one of these medicines, please ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
You should not take DIFICLIR if you are pregnant, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. This is because it is not known whether fidaxomicin can harm your baby.
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
It is not known whether fidaxomicin passes into breast milk, but it is not expected to do so.
If you are breastfeeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
DIFICLIR is not expected to affect your ability to drive, use tools or machines.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium- free’.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose for patients weighing at least 12.5 kg is one tablet (200 mg) twice daily (one tablet every 12 hours) for 10 days.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. You can take DIFICLIR before, during or after meals.
DIFICLIR granules for oral suspension should be used for patients with a body weight of less than
12.5 kg. This form of this medicine (oral suspension) may also be more suitable for patients above
12.5 kg; ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have taken more tablets than you should have, talk to a doctor. Take the medicine pack with you so the doctor knows what you have taken.
Take the tablet as soon as you remember, unless it is time for the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Do not stop taking DIFICLIR, unless your doctor has advised you to do so. Keep taking this medicine until the course is finished, even if you feel better. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, the infection may come back.
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.
A severe allergic reaction may occur, including trouble breathing (dyspnea), swelling of the face or throat (angioedema), severe rash or severe itching (pruritus) (see section 2). If such reaction occurs, stop taking DIFICLIR and seek medical advice urgently from your doctor, pharmacist or at your local hospital emergency department.
The most common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are:
vomiting
nausea
constipation.
Other possible side effects are the following:
decreased appetite
dizziness, headache
dry mouth, altered taste (dysgeusia)
bloated feeling, wind (flatulence)
rash, itching (pruritus)
− swelling of the face and throat (angioedema), trouble breathing (dyspnea)
hives
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 after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
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 to protect the environment.
The active substance is fidaxomicin. Each film-coated tablet contains 200 mg of fidaxomicin.
The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, sodium starch glycolate and magnesium stearate
Coating: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, polyethylene glycol and lecithin (soy)
DIFICLIR 200 mg film-coated tablets are capsule shaped tablets, white to off-white in colour, with “FDX” on one side and “200” on the other side.
DIFICLIR is available in:
100 x 1 film-coated tablet in alu/alu perforated unit dose blisters. 20 x 1 film-coated tablet in alu/alu perforated unit dose blisters.
DIFICLIR is also available in the form of granules for oral suspension. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Tillotts Pharma GmbH
Warmbacher Strasse 80
79618 Rheinfelden Germany