SANOFI

Flagyl 200mg Tablets.

Each tablet contains 200mg of metronidazole.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

Film coated tablet.

White to off-white circular biconvex, film-coated tablets impressed 'Flagyl 200', on one side. Plain reverse.

Metronidazole is indicated in adults and children for the following indications:

In the treatment of urogenital trichomoniasis

In the treatment of acute ulcerative gingivitis.

In the treatment of infections due to E. histolytica (including carrier states).

In the treatment of infections due to G. Lamblia (including carrier states).

In the prevention and treatment of infections due to anaerobic bacteria, particularly species of Bacteroides, anaerobic streptococci, fusobacteria, clostridia, etc.

In the treatment of acute dental infections.

In the treatment of non-specific vaginitis.

Metronidazole is indicated in adults only for the following indications:

In the treatment of chronic pressure sores and ulcers with possible infection due to anaerobes.

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

Oral administration.

Recommended Dosage:

Urogential trichomoniasis

Adults and children over 10 years:

2000mg as a single dose or 200 mg 3 times daily for 7 days or 400mg twice daily for 5-7 days

Children< 10 years:

40mg/kg orally as a single dose or 15 -30 mg/kg/day divided in 2-3 doses for 7 days; not to exceed 2000mg/dose

Acute ulcerative gingivitis

Adults & Children over 10 years:

600 mg daily in 3 divided doses for 3 days.

Children:

Aged 7 to 10 years:

300 mg daily in 3 divided doses for 3 days.

Aged 3 to 7 years:

200 mg daily in 2 divided doses for 3 days.

Aged 1 to 3 years:

150 mg in 3 divided doses for 3 days.

Amoebiasis

Adults and children over 10 years:

400 to 800mg 3 times daily for 5-10 days.

Children:

Aged 7 to 10 years:

200 to 400 mg 3 times daily for 5-10 days

Aged 3 to 7 years:

100 to 200 mg 4 times daily for 5-10 days

Aged 1 to 3 years:

100 to 200mg 3 times daily for 5-10 days.

Alternatively, doses may be expressed by body weight:

35 to 50mg/kg daily in 3 divided doses for 5 to 10 days, not to exceed 2400 mg/day

Giardiasis

Adults and children over 10 years:

2000 mg once daily for 3 days,or 400 mg three times daily for 5 days.

Children:

Aged 7 to 10 years:

1000 mg once daily for 3 days.

Aged 3 to 7 years:

600 mg to 800mg once daily for 3 days.

Aged 1 to 3 years:

500mg once daily for 3 days.

Alternatively, as expressed in mg per kg of body weight: 15-40 mg/kg/day divided in 2- 3 doses.

Anaerobic infections

Treatment

Adults:

800 mg followed by 400 mg 8 hourly.

Children:

Children > 8 weeks to 12 years of age: The usual daily dose is 20-30mg/kg/day as a single dose or divided into 7.5mg/kg every 8 hours. The daily dose may be increased to 40mg/kg, depending on the severity of the infection. Duration of treatment is usually 7 days.

Children < 8 weeks of age: 15mg/kg as a single dose daily or divided into 7.5mg/kg every 12 hours.

In newborns with a gestation age < 40 weeks, accumulation of metronidazole can occur during the first week of life, therefore the concentrations of metronidazole in serum should preferably be monitored after a few days therapy.

Prophylaxis against postoperative infections caused by anaerobic bacteria:

Adults:

400mg at 8 hourly intervals during the 24 hours immediately preceding operation, followed post operatively by intravenous or rectal administration until oral dosing can be resumed.

Children:

Children < 12 years: 20-30 mg/kg as a single dose given 1-2 hours before surgery

Newborns with a gestation age <40 weeks: 10mg/kg body weight as a single dose before operation

Eradication of helicobacter pylori in paediatric patients:

As part of a combination therapy, 20mg/kg/day not to exceed 500mg twice daily for 7-14 days. Official guidelines should be consulted before initiating therapy.

Dental Infections

The usual total daily dose is 600 to 800mg in divided doses. Treatment should generally be continued for 3 to7 days.

Chronic pressure sores and ulcers

Adults:

1200 mg daily in 3 divided doses.

Bacterial Vaginitis

Adults and Adolescents:

A single dose of 2000mg may be used or 400 mg twice daily for 5 7 days.

Adjustment of dosage does not appear necessary in patients with renal impairment.

Metronidazole is removed during haemodialysis and should be administered after the procedure is finished.

Elderly:

Caution is advised particularly at high doses. No information is available on modification of dosage.

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Daily dosage should be reduced to one third and may be given once daily (see precautions).

Metronidazole should be used with caution in patients with active or chronic severe peripheral and central nervous system diseases due to the risk of neurological aggravation. Use in patients with known hypersensitivity to metronidazole.

The use of Flagyl for prolonged treatment duration should be carefully weighed. If prolonged therapy is required, the physician should bear in mind the possibility of peripheral neuropathy or leucopenia. Both effects are usually reversible. It is recommended that haematological tests be carried out regularly and that patients should be monitored for adverse reactions such as peripheral or central neuropathy (such as paraesthesia, ataxia, dizziness, convulsive seizures).

High dosage regimens have been associated with transient epileptiform seizures. Caution is required in patients with active disease of the central nervous system except for brain abscess.

Metronidazole and a metabolite have been shown to be mutagenic in some tests with non mammalian cells.

Intensive or prolonged metronidazole therapy should be conducted only under conditions of close surveillance for clinical and biological effects and under specialist direction.

Metronidazole is removed during haemodialysis and should be administered after the procedure is finished.

Metronidazole is mainly metabolised by hepatic oxidation. Substantial impairment of metronidazole clearance may occur in the presence of advanced hepatic insufficiency. The risk/benefit using metronidazole to treat trichomoniasis in such patients should be carefully considered.

Flagyl should be administered with caution to patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Patients should be warned that metronidazole may darken urine (due to metronidazole metabolite).

Patients should be advised not to take alcohol during metronidazole therapy and for at least 48 hours afterwards (see section 4.5 Interation with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).

Potentiation of the anticoagulant effect and increased hemorrhagic risk caused by decreased hepatic catabolism. In case of coadministration, prothrombin time should be more frequently monitored and anticoagulant therapy adjusted during treatment with metronidazole.

Lithium retention observed by increased plasma lithium levels, accompanied by evidence of possible renal damage has been reported in patients treated simultaneously with lithium and metronidazole. Plasma levels of lithium may be increased by metronidazole. Lithium treatment should be tapered or withdrawn before administering metronidazole. Plasma concentration of lithium, creatinine and electrolytes should be monitored in patients under treatment with lithium while they receive metronidazole.

Phenytoin or Phenobarbital: increased elimination of metronidazole resulting in reduced plasma levels. A similar effect may occur with other drugs which induces hepatic microsomal enzymes.

Patients should be advised not to take alcohol, (or drugs containing alcohol) during metronidazole therapy and for at least 48 hours afterwards because of a disulfiram-like (antabuse effect) reaction (flushing, vomiting, tachycardia).

Disulfiram: psychotic reactions have been reported in patients who were using metronidazole and disulfiram concurrently.

Cyclosporin: risk of elevation of the cyclosporin serum levels. Serum cyclosporin and serum creatinine should be closely monitored when coadministration is necessary.

5-Fluorouracil: reduced clearance of 5 fluorouracil resulting in increased toxicity of 5 fluorouracil.

Busulfan: Plasma levels of busulfan may be increased by metronidazole, which may lead to severe busulfan toxicity.

Metronidazole should only be used during pregnancy or lactation following careful evaluation and only if considered essential by the physician. Its effects on fetal organogenesis are not known. If used, high dosage regimens should be avoided. The drug crosses the placenta and is excreted in breast milk in which concentrations equal those in serum. Unnecessary exposure to the drug should be avoided.

Patients should be warned about the potential for confusion, dizziness, hallucinations, convulsions or eye visual disorders (see section 4.8 Undesirable effects) and advised not to drive or operate machinery if these symptoms occur.

Frequency, type and severity of adverse reactions in children are the same as in adults.

Gastrointestinal disorders

- epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, malaise, diarrohea

- oral mucositis, taste disorders, dry mouth, anorexia.

- reversible cases of pancreatitis.

Immune system disorders

- angioedema, anaphylactic shock.

Nervous system

- peripheral sensory neuropathy, paraesthesia.

- headache, convulsions, dizziness.

- reports of encephalopathy (e.g. confusion) and subacute cerebellar syndrome (e.g. ataxia, dysathria, gait impairment, nystagmus and tremor) which may resolve with discontinuation of the drug.aseptic meningitis

Psychiatric disorders

- psychotic disorders including confusion, hallucinations

- depressed mood

Eye disorders

- transient vision disorders such as diplopia, myopia, blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, changes in color vision.

- Optic neuropathy/neuritis.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

- cases of agranulocytosis, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported.

Hepatobiliary disorders

- increase in liver enzymes (AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase), cholestatic or mixed hepatitis and hepatocellular liver injury, sometimes with jaundice, have been reported.

- cases of liver failure requiring liver transplant have been reported in patients treated with metronidazole mostly when used in combination with other antibiotic drugs.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

- rash, pruritus, flushing, urticaria

- pustular eruptions

General disorders and administration site conditions

- fever

Single oral doses of metronidazole, up to 12g have been reported in suicide attempts and accidental overdoses. Symptoms were limited to vomiting, ataxia and slight disorientation.

There is no specific antidote for metronidazole overdosages. In cases of suspected massive overdosage, a symoptomatic and supportive treatment should be instituted.

Flagyl - has antiprotozoal and antibacterial actions including activity against anaerobic bacteria, entamoeba histolytica etc.

A nitroimidazole derivative is well absorbed and widely distributed in the body. It is metabolised by acid oxidation, hydroxylation and glucuronidation and excreted in urine and faeces with a T½ of about 6 - 10 hours. Metronidazole is excreted in milk but the intake of a suckling infant of a mother receiving normal dosage would be considerably less than the therapeutic dosage for infants.

Metronidazole has been shown to be carcinogenic in the mouse and in the rat. However, similar studies in the hamster have given negative results and epidemiological studies in humans have provided no evidence of an increased carcinogenic risk in humans. Metronidazole has been shown to be mutagenic in bacteria in vitro. In studies conducted in mammalian cells in vitro as well as in rodent and in humans in vivo, there was inadequate evidence of mutagenic effect of metronidazole, with some studies reporting mutagenic effects, while other studies were negative.

Therefore, the use of Flagyl for prolonged treatment duration should be carefully weighed. (See section 4.4 “Warnings and Precautions”).

Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihyrdate

Maize Starch

Povidone

Magnesium Stearate

Hypromellose

Macrogol 400

Not applicable.

3 years.

Store below 30°C in the original packaging in order to protect from light.

Flagyl 200mg Tablets are available in white PVDC coated UPVC/aluminium foil strip packs containing 21 tablets and HDPE containers containing 250 x 200 mg tablets.

No special requirements.

sanofi-aventis Ireland Ltd. T/A SANOFI

Citywest Business Campus,

Dublin 24.

PA 540/100/7

1^st April 1977/1st April 2007

24 April 2013.