CLOPIDOGREL KRKA

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Clopidogrel Krka 75 mg film-coated tablets

clopidogrel
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not give it to other people, even if their symptoms are the same as yours, as it could be harmful.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, including those not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4. Contents of this leaflet:
  1. What Clopidogrel Krka is and what it is used for
  2. What you need to know before taking Clopidogrel Krka
  3. How to take Clopidogrel Krka
  4. Possible side effects
  5. How to store Clopidogrel Krka
  6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Clopidogrel Krka is and what it is used for

Clopidogrel Krka contains clopidogrel and belongs to a group of medicines called
antiplatelet agents. Platelets are microscopic blood components that clump together during blood clotting. By preventing this aggregation, antiplatelet medicines reduce the likelihood of blood clots forming (a process known as thrombosis).
Clopidogrel Krka is taken by adults to prevent the formation of blood clots (thrombi) in hardened blood vessels (arteries), a process known as atherothrombosis, which can lead to atherothrombotic events (such as stroke, heart attack, or death).
Clopidogrel Krka has been prescribed to you to help prevent the formation of blood clots and to reduce the risk of these serious events because:

• you have a condition known as hardening of the arteries (also called atherosclerosis), and you have previously had a heart attack, stroke, or a condition known as peripheral arterial disease, or
• you have previously suffered from severe chest pain known as “unstable angina” or “myocardial infarction” (heart attack). To treat this condition, your doctor may have inserted a stent into the blocked or narrowed artery to restore blood flow. Your doctor may also have prescribed acetylsalicylic acid (a substance found in many medicines used to relieve pain and reduce fever, as well as to prevent blood clotting),
• you have had stroke symptoms that disappear within a short period of time (also known as transient ischaemic attack) or a mild ischaemic stroke. Your doctor may also prescribe acetylsalicylic acid starting within the first 24 hours,
• you have an irregular heartbeat, a condition called “atrial fibrillation”, and you cannot take medicines known as “oral anticoagulants” (vitamin K antagonists) which prevent the formation of new clots and the growth of existing ones. You will have been informed that “oral anticoagulants” are more effective than acetylsalicylic acid or the combination of Clopidogrel Krka and acetylsalicylic acid in treating this condition. If you cannot take “oral anticoagulants” and do not have an increased risk of bleeding, your doctor may have prescribed Clopidogrel Krka plus acetylsalicylic acid.

2. What you need to know before taking Clopidogrel Krka

Do not take Clopidogrel Krka

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to clopidogrel or to any of the other excipients in this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have active bleeding, such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain.
• If you suffer from severe liver disease.

If you think any of these situations apply to you, or if you are unsure, consult your doctor before using Clopidogrel Krka.
Warnings and precautions
If any of the conditions listed below apply to you, inform your doctor before taking Clopidogrel Krka:

• if you have an increased risk of bleeding, such as:
• a medical condition that puts you at risk of internal bleeding (for example, a stomach ulcer)
• a blood disorder that makes you prone to internal bleeding (bleeding inside any tissue, organ, or joint of the body)
• a recent serious injury
• a recent surgical procedure (including dental surgery)
• a surgical procedure (including dental surgery) scheduled within the next seven days
• if you have had a blood clot in an artery of the brain (ischaemic stroke) that occurred within the last seven days
• if you have kidney or liver disease
• if you have had an allergy or reaction to any medicine used to treat your condition
• if you have previously had a non-traumatic brain haemorrhage.

While taking Clopidogrel Krka:

• You must inform your doctor if you are scheduled for surgery (including dental surgery)
• You must also inform your doctor immediately if you develop a medical condition (also known as Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura or TTP) which includes fever and skin bruising appearing as red spots, with or without unexplained extreme fatigue, confusion, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) (see section 4 "Possible side effects")
• If you cut or injure yourself, it may take longer than usual for the bleeding to stop. This is due to the way the medicine works, as it prevents blood clots from forming. For minor cuts or injuries, such as shaving or minor cuts, this usually does not cause problems. However, if you are concerned about bleeding, contact your doctor immediately (see section 4 "Possible side effects")
• Your doctor may prescribe blood tests for you

Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children as it is not effective.
Other medicines and Clopidogrel Krka:
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, including those not requiring a prescription.
Some medicines may affect the use of Clopidogrel Krka or vice versa.
You must inform your doctor precisely if you are taking:

• medicines that may increase your risk of bleeding such as:
  o oral anticoagulants, medicines used to reduce blood clotting,
  o a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, generally used to treat painful and/or inflammatory conditions of muscles or joints,
  o heparin or any other injectable medicine used to reduce blood clotting,
  o ticlopidine or other antiplatelet agents,
  o a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (including but not limited to fluoxetine or fluvoxamine), medicines normally used to treat depression,
  o rifampicin (used to treat serious infections),

• omeprazole or esomeprazole, medicines used to treat stomach problems,

• fluconazole or voriconazole, medicines used to treat fungal infections,

• efavirenz or other antiretroviral medicines (used to treat HIV infection),

• carbamazepine, a medicine used to treat certain forms of epilepsy,

• moclobemide, a medicine used to treat depression,

• repaglinide, a medicine used to treat diabetes,

• paclitaxel, a medicine used to treat cancer,

• opioids: while being treated with clopidogrel, you must inform your doctor before being prescribed any opioid (used to treat severe pain),

• rosuvastatin (used to lower cholesterol levels).

If you have had severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), a transient ischaemic attack, or a mild ischaemic stroke, you may have been prescribed Clopidogrel Krka in combination with acetylsalicylic acid, a substance present in many medicines used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Occasional use of acetylsalicylic acid (not more than 1,000 mg within 24 hours) should generally not cause problems, but prolonged use under other circumstances should be discussed with your doctor.
Clopidogrel Krka with food and drink
Clopidogrel Krka can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It is preferable not to take this medicine during pregnancy.
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking Clopidogrel Krka.
If you become pregnant while taking Clopidogrel Krka, consult your doctor immediately, as clopidogrel is not recommended during pregnancy.
You must not breastfeed while taking this medicine.
If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines:
It is unlikely that Clopidogrel Krka will affect your ability to drive or use machinery.

3. How to take Clopidogrel Krka

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If
you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
The recommended dose, including for patients diagnosed with "atrial fibrillation" (an irregular heartbeat),
is one 75 mg Clopidogrel Krka tablet daily, taken orally during or regardless of meals, and at the same time each day.
If you have experienced severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), your doctor may prescribe
you an initial dose of 300 mg or 600 mg of Clopidogrel Krka (4 or 8 tablets of 75 mg) once at the beginning
of treatment. Afterwards, the recommended dose is one 75 mg Clopidogrel Krka tablet daily, as described above.
If you have experienced symptoms of a stroke that disappear within a short period of time (also known as
transient ischaemic attack) or a mild ischaemic stroke, your doctor may prescribe you an initial dose of
300 mg of Clopidogrel Krka (4 tablets of 75 mg) once at the beginning of treatment. Afterwards, the
recommended dose is one 75 mg Clopidogrel Krka tablet daily, as described above, in combination with
acetylsalicylic acid for 3 weeks. After this, your doctor will prescribe either Clopidogrel Krka alone or
acetylsalicylic acid alone.
Clopidogrel Krka should be taken for as long as your doctor considers it necessary.
If you take more Clopidogrel Krka than you should
Contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department due to the risk of increased
bleeding.
If you forget to take Clopidogrel Krka
If you forget to take a dose of Clopidogrel Krka but remember within 12 hours of your usual time, take one tablet immediately and then take the next dose at your usual time.
If more than 12 hours have passed, simply take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Clopidogrel Krka
Do not stop treatment unless your doctor has told you to do so. Before stopping, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have any questions about how to use this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• fever, signs of infection, or severe weakness. These effects may be due to a rare reduction in certain blood cells.
• signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice), with or without bleeding appearing under the skin as red spots, and/or confusion (see section 2 "Warnings and precautions")
• swelling in the mouth or skin problems such as rash, itching, or skin blisters. These may be signs of an allergic reaction. The most commonly reported side effect with Clopidogrel Krka is bleeding. Bleeding may manifest as gastrointestinal or intestinal bleeding, bruising, haematomas (unusual or subcutaneous bruising), nosebleeds, or blood in the urine. In rare cases, bleeding into the eye, intracranial bleeding, lung bleeding, or joint bleeding have also been reported. If you experience prolonged bleeding while taking Clopidogrel Krka, if you cut or injure yourself, it may take longer than usual for the bleeding to stop. This is due to the way the medicine works, as it prevents blood clots from forming. For minor cuts or injuries, such as shaving cuts, this usually does not cause problems. However, if you are concerned about bleeding, contact your doctor immediately (see section 2 "Warnings and precautions"). Other side effects include

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, indigestion, or stomach burning.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Headache, gastric ulcer, vomiting, nausea, constipation, excessive gas in the stomach or intestine, rash, itching, dizziness, sensations of tingling and numbness.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Dizziness, breast enlargement in males.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Jaundice; severe abdominal pain with or without back pain; fever, breathing difficulties sometimes associated with cough; generalized allergic reactions (for example, widespread sensation of warmth with sudden general malaise up to fainting); swelling in the mouth; skin blisters; skin allergy; mouth pain (stomatitis); decrease in blood pressure; confusion; hallucinations; joint pain; muscle pain; changes or loss of taste.
Side effects with unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): hypersensitivity reactions with chest or abdominal pain, persistent symptoms of hypoglycaemia.
Additionally, your doctor may have identified changes in blood and urine test results.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly through the national reporting system listed in Annex V.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Clopidogrel Krka

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 and blister after
EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Keep the medicine in the original packaging to protect it from moisture and light.
Do not dispose of any medicine via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
dispose of medicines you no longer use. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package contents and other information

What Clopidogrel Krka contains

• The active substance is clopidogrel. Each film-coated tablet contains 75 mg of clopidogrel (as hydrochloride).
• The excipients in the tablet core are: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous colloidal silica, crospovidone (type A), macrogol 6000, hydrogenated castor oil; and in the tablet coating: polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172), talc, and macrogol 3000.

Description of the appearance of Clopidogrel Krka and contents of the pack
The film-coated tablets are pink, round and slightly biconvex. They are supplied in packs containing blisters with 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 84, 90, 100, 112 and 120 film-coated tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder:
KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8501 Novo mesto, Slovenia

Manufacturer:
KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8501 Novo mesto, Slovenia
TAD Pharma GmbH, Heinz-Lohmann-Straße 5, 27472 Cuxhaven, Germany

For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:

België/Belgique/Belgien
KRKA Belgium, SA.
Tél/Tel: + 32 (0) 487 50 73 62

Lietuva
UAB KRKA Lietuva
Tel: + 370 5 236 27 40

България
КРКА България ЕООД
Teл.: + 359 (02) 962 34 50

Luxembourg/Luxemburg
KRKA Belgium, SA.
Tél/Tel: + 32 (0) 487 50 73 62 (BE)

Česká republika
KRKA ČR, s.r.o.
Tel: + 420 (0) 221 115 150

Magyarország
KRKA Magyarország Kereskedelmi Kft.
Tel.: + 36 (1) 355 8490

Danmark
KRKA Sverige AB
Tlf: + 46 (0)8 643 67 66 (SE)

Malta
E. J. Busuttil Ltd.
Tel: + 356 21 445 885

Deutschland
TAD Pharma GmbH
Tel: + 49 (0) 4721 606-0

Nederland
KRKA Belgium, SA.
Tel: + 32 (0) 487 50 73 62 (BE)

Eesti
KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto Eesti filiaal
Tel: + 372 (0)6 671 658

Norge
KRKA Sverige AB
Tlf: + 46 (0)8 643 67 66 (SE)

Ελλάδα
KRKA ΕΛΛΑΣ ΕΠΕ
Τηλ: + 30 2100101613

Österreich
KRKA Pharma GmbH, Wien
Tel: + 43 (0)1 66 24 300

España
KRKA Farmacéutica S.L.
Tel: + 34 911 61 03 80

Polska
KRKA-POLSKA Sp. z o.o.
Tel.: + 48 (0)22 573 7500

France
KRKA France Eurl
Tél: + 33 (0)1 57 40 82 25

Portugal
KRKA Farmacêutica, Sociedade Unipessoal Lda.
Tel: + 351 (0)21 46 43 650

Hrvatska
KRKA – FARMA d.o.o.
Tel: + 385 1 6312 100

România
KRKA Romania S.R.L., Bucharest
Tel: + 4 021 310 66 05

Ireland
KRKA Pharma Dublin, Ltd.
Tel: + 353 1 413 3710

Slovenija
KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto
Tel: + 386 (0) 1 47 51 100

Ísland
LYFIS ehf.
Sími: + 354 534 3500

Slovenská republika
KRKA Slovensko, s.r.o.
Tel: + 421 (0) 2 571 04 501

Italia
KRKA Farmaceutici Milano S.r.l.
Tel: + 39 02 3300 8841

Suomi/Finland
KRKA Finland Oy
Puh/Tel: + 358 20 754 5330

Κύπρος
KI.PA. (PHARMACAL) LIMITED
Τηλ: + 357 24 651 882

Sverige
KRKA Sverige AB
Tel: + 46 (0)8 643 67 66 (SE)

Latvija
KRKA Latvija SIA
Tel: + 371 6 733 86 10

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
KRKA Pharma Dublin, Ltd
Tel: + 353 1 413 3710

More detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu/