Moclobemide
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons
living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common
questions about . It does
not contain all the information that is known about
. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks
and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine
against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have
any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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What is AMIRA
The name of your medicine is AMIRA.
AMIRA belongs to a group of medicines called antidepressants.
It contains the active ingredient called moclobemide.
AMIRA is available in two strengths: 150 mg and 300 mg tablets.
What AMIRA is used for
Antidepressants are used to treat depression and work on the central nervous system. They are thought to work by their action
on brain chemicals called amines, which are involved in controlling mood.
There are many different types of medicines used to treat depression. AMIRA belongs to a group of medicines called reversible
inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (ARIMA).
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed AMIRA for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions why AMIRA has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take AMIRA
Do not take AMIRA if:
You have ever had an allergic reaction to AMIRA or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
You are suffering from severe confusion
You are taking clomipramine (Anafranil) or selegeline (Eldepryl)
Taking AMIRA with these medicines may cause a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome. This can cause a sudden increase
in body temperature, increase in blood pressure and convulsions.
Do not take AMIRA after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
It may have no effect at all or, worse, an entirely unexpected effect if you take it after the expiry date.
Do not take AMIRA if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the tablets appear damaged in some way.
If you are not sure if you should be taking AMIRA, talk to your doctor.
You must tell your doctor if:
1.
You are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
2.
You have any other health problems including:
liver disease
high blood pressure
kidney problems
thyrotoxicosis, a condition of excessive thyroid hormones
mental illness other than depression
phaeochromocytoma, a rare tumour of the adrenal gland
3.
you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
4.
you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using AMIRA when pregnant and while breastfeeding.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking AMIRA.
Use in children and adolescent (less than 18 years)
AMIRA is not recommended for use in children and adolescents less than 18 years of age. The safety and efficacy of AMIRA
in this age group has not been established.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop.
Some commonly used medicines that may interfere with AMIRA are:
cimetidine (Tagamet), a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers or reflux
dextromethorphan, cough suppressant, usually in some cough and cold medicines
pethidine, a strong pain killer
medicines used to relieve migraine (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan)
buspirone, a medicine to treat anxiety disorders
Other antidepressant medicines may interfere with AMIRA such as:
fluoxetine (Prozac)
paroxetine (Aropax)
sertraline (Zoloft)
amitryptyline (Tryptanol)
nortriptyline (Allegron)
Moclobemide may cause an additional drop in blood pressure if you are taking metoprolol (e.g. Betaloc and Minax)
Your doctor or pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take AMIRA
Use AMIRA exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how many AMIRA tablets to take each day.
How to take it
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
It may be possible to change from other antidepressants to AMIRA by ceasing the other antidepressant one day and starting
AMIRA the next; however, you should follow your doctor's instructions carefully and report any unexpected effects if they
occur.
When to take it
AMIRA should be taken morning and evening at the end of your meal.
How long to take it
For depression, the length of treatment will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve. Most antidepressants take time
to work so don't be discouraged if you don't feel better right away.
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Some of your symptoms may improve in 1 or 2 weeks but it can take up to 4 or 6 weeks to feel any real improvement. Even when
you feel well, you will usually have to take AMIRA for several months or even longer to make sure the benefits will last.
If you forget to take it
If 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 it as soon as you remember then go back to taking it as soon as you would normally.
Do not double a dose to make up for one you have missed.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency
at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much AMIRA. Do this even if there are no
signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Some signs and symptoms of overdose include convulsions, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, reduced reflexes and
agitation.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking AMIRA
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking AMIRA.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking AMIRA.
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.
If you are being treated for depression, be sure to discuss with your doctor any problems you may have and how you feel.
This will help your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Tell 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.
If you or someone you know is showing the following warning signs of suicide while taking AMIRA, contact your doctor or a
mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment:
Worsening of depression
Thoughts or talk about death or suicide
Thoughts or talk about self-harm or doing harm to others
Any recent attempts of self-harm
An increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or agitation.
All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking AMIRA or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else even if his or her symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use AMIRA to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how AMIRA affects you.
AMIRA causes dizziness in some people at first.
Although drinking alcohol is unlikely to affect your response to AMIRA, your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while you
are being treated for depression.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking AMIRA.
AMIRA helps most people with depression but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side
effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the
side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
In the first week or two you may experience:
Sleep disturbances, dizziness, nausea and headache.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
dizziness
nausea
headache
disturbed sleep
upset stomach
dry mouth
restlessness
blurred vision
feeling of fullness
skin rash
flushing
feeling of confusion
insomnia
anxiety
diarrhoea
constipation
Stop taking AMIRA and contact your doctor or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital if any of the following
happens:
allergic reaction including swelling of limbs, face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Sudden increase in body temperature, agitation, shivering, severe convulsions
Fast heart beat, sweating, muscle spasm, racing thoughts, restlessness
(see also Things you must do - warning signs of suicide.)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After taking AMIRA
Storage
Keep AMIRA where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep AMIRA in a cool dry place where it stays below 25 degrees C. Protect from moisture.
Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your tablets in the packaging until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the packaging they may not keep well.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking AMIRA, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do
with any tablets that are left over.
Product Description
What AMIRA looks like
AMIRA comes in two strengths.
AMIRA 150 mg tablets are a yellow, round, biconvex film coated tablet, scored on one side.
AMIRA 300 mg tablets are a white to yellowish-white, oblong, biconvex film coated tablet, scored on one side.
Ingredients
Active ingredient:
Each AMIRA 150 mg tablet contains 150 mg of moclobemide.
Each AMIRA 300 mg tablet contains 300 mg of moclobemide.
Inactive ingredients
AMIRA 150 mg & AMIRA 300 mg tablets contain the following inactive ingredients:
Lactose, sodium starch glycollate, povidone, pregelatinised maize starch, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, microcrystalline
cellulose, PEG-8 stearate, propylene glycol and titanium dioxide.
AMIRA 150 mg tablets also contain an additional colouring agent yellow iron oxide.
AMIRA tablets are gluten free.
Both strengths are available in blister packs containing 60 tablets.
The Australian Registration Numbers are:
AMIRA 150 mg tablets (AUST R 126317)
AMIRA 300 mg tablets (AUST R 126318)
Supplier
Alphapharm Pty Limited
Chase Building 2
Wentworth Park Road
Glebe NSW 2037
ABN 93 002 359 739
www.alphapharm.com.au
Date of leaflet preparation:
5 May 2008.