Placil 25mg Tablets 250 (5 x 50) Authority Script

  Information General Information Consumer Medicine InformationWhat is in this leafletThis leaflet answers some common questions about Placil.It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Placil against the benefits expected for you.If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.Please read this leaflet carefully and keep it with your medicine. You may need to read it again.What Placil is used forPlacil is used to treat: depression obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias in adults muscle weakness in people with a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.Placil belongs to a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants. These medicines are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals called amines.Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Placil has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed Placil for another reason.Placil is not approved for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age for the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders.The safe use and effectiveness of Placil in treating the above conditions, for this age group, has not been established.Placil is available only with a doctor's prescription.Before you take PlacilWhen you must not take itDo not take Placil if you are allergic to: medicines containing clomipramine or any other tricyclic antidepressant any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty in swallowing; wheezing or shortness of breath.Do not take Placil if you are taking, or have taken within the last 14 days another medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Taking Placil with a MAOI or taking it too soon after stopping a MAOI may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to start taking Placil after stopping the MAOI.Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if you have been taking one of these medicines.Do not take Placil if you have: recently had a heart attack congenital long QT syndrome - people with this inherited heart condition have electrical disturbances in the heart, which may cause sudden, extremely rapid heart rates.Taking Placil could make your condition worse.Do not take Placil if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.Do not take Placil if the packaging shows signs of tampering or if the tablets do not look right.If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.Before you start to take itTell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There have been reports of some babies experiencing complications immediately after delivery. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking Placil during pregnancy.Tell your doctor if you smoke. Nicotine in cigarette smoke can affect the amount of Placil that is in your body. Changes in your usual smoking habits can also change the effects of Placil.Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Placil. The active ingredient passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following: heart or blood vessel problems including coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), abnormal heart beat, or congenital long QT syndrome liver or kidney problems high or low blood pressure glaucoma, a condition characterised by an increased pressure in the eye difficulty in passing urine, prostate problems overactive thyroid any mental illness other than the one being treated (e.g. mania, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia) Parkinson's disease epilepsy or fits tumour of the adrenal gland, a small gland on top of the kidney chronic constipation hypokalaemia, or low potassium levels in the blood lactose or galactose intolerance (Placil tablets contain lactose).If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start Placil.Taking other medicinesTell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may be affected by Placil, or may affect how well it works. These include: other medicines for depression such as:- MAOIs, such as phenelzine (e.g. Nardil), tranylcypromine (e.g. Parnate) and moclobemide (e.g. Aurorix, Arima) (see "When you must not take it" section)- SSRIs and SNRIs, such as fluoxetine (e.g. Prozac, Lovan), paroxetine (e.g. Aropax, Paxtine), sertraline (e.g. Zoloft), fluvoxamine (e.g. Luvox, Movox), and nefazodone (Serzone) sleeping tablets or sedatives some medicines for anxiety other medicines for mental illness some medicines for high blood pressure or irregular heart beats certain cough and cold preparations including nose drops antihistamines, medicines for allergy, hayfever or travel sickness medicines to relieve gut cramps or spasms, e.g. hyoscine (Buscopan), mebeverine (Colofac) certain medicines for Parkinson's disease such as biperiden (Akineton), benztropine (Cogentin) medicines for epilepsy, such as carbamazepine (Teril, Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin) medicines to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Marevan) cimetidine (Tagamet, Magicul), a medicine used to treat reflux and ulcers methylphenidate (Ritalin, Attenta), a medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy medicines containing oestrogen such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy nicotine in medicines used to help you quit smoking, such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges or inhalers diuretics, also called fluid tablets disulfiram, a medicine used to deter alcohol consumption medicines for thyroid problems rifampicin, an antibiotic.Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Placil.How to take PlacilFollow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist.How much to takeThe dose varies from person to person.Take Placil exactly as directed by your doctor. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day and when to take them. The dose may depend on your age, your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.Placil is usually started using low doses. Your doctor may gradually increase this dose depending on how you respond to this medicine.For depression, obsessive compulsive disorders and phobias, treatment is usually started with a low dose of 2 or 3 tablets each day. The usual adult maintenance dose is between 2 to 4 tablets each day.For muscle weakness in people with narcolepsy, the dose is usually from 1 to 3 tablets each day.Elderly people may need smaller doses.How to take itSwallow the tablets with a glass of water.Placil can be taken with or without food.When to take itThe tablets are usually taken in 2 to 3 doses spaced throughout the day, unless your doctor advises you otherwise.Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.If you forget to take itIF YOU TAKE ONE DOSE A DAY AT BEDTIMEDo not take the missed dose the next morning until you have checked with your doctor. This medicine may cause some side effects during the day if you take the whole dose in the morning.IF YOU TAKE MORE THAN ONE DOSE A DAYIf it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.If you are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.How long to take itKeep taking Placil for as long as your doctor recommends. The length of treatment will depend on your condition and how you respond to Placil.Most medicines of this type take time to work, so do not be discouraged if you do not feel better right away.Some of your symptoms may improve in 1 or 2 weeks, but it can take up to 4 or 6 weeks to feel the full benefit of Placil. Even when you feel well, you will usually have to take Placil for several months or longer, to make sure that the benefits last.If you take too much (overdose) Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital; if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Placil.Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.If you take too much Placil, you may feel sleepy, restless or agitated, stiff or have unusual muscle movements. You may also vomit, sweat, have a fever, fits, have an irregular heart beat or have difficulty breathing.You may lose consciousness.Keep Placil out of the reach of children. Children are much more sensitive than adults to tricyclic antidepressants such as Placil. An accidental overdose is especially dangerous.While you are taking PlacilThings you must doTell your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes. Occasionally, the symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first one to two months of treatment until the full antidepressant effect of the medicine becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur in young adults under 25 years of age.Contact your doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment if you or someone you know is showing any of the following warning signs of suicide: worsening of your depression thoughts or talk of death or suicide thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others any recent attempts of self-harm increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or any other unusual changes in behaviour or mood.All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.Keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may want to take some blood tests and check your heart and blood pressure from time to time. This helps prevent unwanted side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Placil. Do not stop taking your tablets until you have spoken to your doctor.Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Placil.Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Placil.If you plan to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor, anaesthetist or dentist that you are taking Placil. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking Placil a few days before elective surgery.Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.Things you must not doDo not stop taking Placil or lower the dose without checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out of medicine over weekends or holidays. Suddenly stopping Placil may cause nervousness, headache and nausea.Your doctor will tell you how to gradually reduce the amount of Placil you are taking before stopping completely.Do not use Placil to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.Do not give Placil to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.Things to be careful ofBe careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Placil affects you. Placil may cause drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness or lightheadness in some people. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Placil. Combining alcohol with Placil can make you more drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while being treated with Placil.Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position. Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting may occur, especially when you get up quickly. Getting up slowly may help.Be careful to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Placil may cause your skin to be more sensitive than usual to sunlight. Wear protective clothing and use SPF 30+ sunscreen.Tell your doctor or dentist if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks. Placil may cause dry mouth. This can be relieved by frequent sips of water, sucking sugarless lollies or chewing sugarless gum. However, continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay and gum disease.Families and carers should be aware that special care might be needed when elderly patients take Placil.They may become confused and are more likely to experience side effects when taking Placil.Side effectsTell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Placil. Like all other medicines, Placil may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.If you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you: dryness of the mouth sweating, hot flushes feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea changes in taste, increased appetite and weight gain constipation blurred vision dizziness, shakiness, muscle spasms drowsiness, tiredness, yawning headache, loss of memory or reduced concentration restlessness, anxiety, confusion disturbed sleep and nightmares difficulty in passing urine changes in sex drive ringing in the ears increased sensitivity to the sun change in sense of taste.These are the more common but milder side effects of Placil.Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:any numbness or weakness of the arms or legs unsteadiness when walking or difficulty coordinating your movements signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers bruising or bleeding more easily than usual eye pain signs of liver disease such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and dark coloured urine abnormal ideas or hallucinations mood swings alternating from one of excitement, overactivity and uninhibited behaviour to a depressed mood.The above list includes serious side effects that require medical attention.See your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following: fainting, collapse fast, irregular or pounding heart beat, chest pain fits or seizures a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions sudden signs of an allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty in swallowing, wheezing or shortness of breath.These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. This is not a complete list of all possible side effects.Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.After using PlacilStorageKeep Placil where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 °C.Do not store Placil or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.Do not leave Placil in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.DisposalIf your doctor tells you to stop taking Placil, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.Product descriptionWhat it looks likePlacil is a white, biconvex tablet, marked "Cl 25" on one side and "G" on the other.Each pack contains 50 tablets.IngredientsThe active ingredient in Placil is clomipramine hydrochloride. Each Placil tablet contains 25 mg of clomipramine hydrochloride.The tablets also contain: lactose maize starch povidone sodium starch glycollate magnesium stearate talc Opadry Complete film coating system White Y-1-7000, Proprietary Ingredient No. 1475Placil does not contain gluten.SponsorAlphapharm Pty Limited(ABN 93 002 359 739)Chase Building 2Wentworth Park RoadGlebe NSW 2037Phone: (02) 9298 3999www.alphapharm.com.auMedical InformationPhone: 1800 028 365Australian registration numbers: AUST R 143879This leaflet was prepared on 5 May 2008. Miscellaneous Drug Interactions Warnings Common Uses Ingredients Directions Indications