Siklos – Package Leaflet: InfoCons – Consumer Protection presents, in an accessible format, the official package leaflet of the medicine Siklos, as authorised in the European Union and published in the Union Register of medicinal products.
Before anything else
Read all of 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 further questions, ask your doctor , or pharmacist or nurse .
- 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 or nurse . This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
ℹ️ 1. What Siklos is and what it is used for
Siklos is used to prevent painful crises, including sudden chest pain, caused by sickle cell disease , in adults, adolescents and children older than 2 years.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the disc shaped red cells of the blood.
Some cells become abnormal, rigid and take a crescent or sickle shape which leads to anemia.
The sickle cells also get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This can cause acute pain crises and organ damage.
For severe painful crises, most patients require hospitalisation . Siklos will decrease the number of painful crises as well as the need for hospitalisation linked with the disease.
The active substance of Siklos, hydroxycarbamide, is a substance which inhibits growth and proliferation of some cells, such as blood cells . These effects lead to a reduction of circulating red, white and coagulation blood cells (myelosuppressive effect). In sickle cell disease , hydroxycarbamide helps also to prevent red blood cells from taking abnormal shape.
⚠️ 2. What you need to know before you take Siklos
Do not take Siklos
- if you are allergic to hydroxycarbamide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6),
- if you suffer from severe liver disease,
- if you suffer from severe kidney disease,
- if you are myelosuppressed (if you have decreased production of red, white, or coagulating blood cells) as described in section 3 “How to take Siklos, Treatment follow -up”,
- if you are breast -feeding (see section “Pregnancy , breast -feeding and fertility ”).
27 Warning s and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before taking Siklos
- if you have a liver disease ,
- if you have a kidney disease ,
- if you have leg ulcers ,
- if you are taking other myelosuppressive medicines (decrease production of red, white, or coagulating blood cells) or receiving radiation therapy ,
- if you have a known lack of vitamin B 12 or folate .
If you experience (or have experienced) any of the above , please tell your doctor. If you have any question, please ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.
If you experience persistent ocular symptoms such as redness and pain of the eyes, sensitivity to light, and/or reduced vision while taking hydroxycarbamide, please consult a doctor promptly because these can be indicative of a rare but serious ocular dise ase called limbal stem cell deficiency. See also section 4 .
Patients and/or parents or the legal responsible person must be able to follow directions regarding the administration of this medicin e, their monitoring and care.
Other medicines and Siklos
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking , have recently taken or might take any other medicines .
Information sharing is especially required for
- some antiretroviral medicines (those that inhibit or destroy a retrovirus such as HIV), e.g. didanosine, stavudine and indinavir (a drop in your white cell count may occur) ,
- myelosuppressive medicines ( those that decrease production of red, white, or coagulating blood cells) and radiation therapy ,
- some vaccines ,
- continuous glucose monitor (CGM) , used to test your blood glucose (hydroxycarbamide may falsely elevate sensor glucose results from certain CGM systems and may lead to hypoglyc aemia if sensor glucose results are relied upon to dose insulin ).
Pregnancy , breast -feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast -feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Siklos is not recommended during pregnancy . Please contact your doctor immediately if you think you may be pregnant. The use of effective contraception is strongly recommended.
If you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Siklos, your doctor will discuss with you the potential benefits and risks of continuing using Siklos.
For male patients taking Siklos, if your partner becomes pregnant or plans to become pregnant, your doctor will discuss with you the potential benefits and risks of continuing using Siklos.
The active substance of Siklos passes into human breast -milk. You must not breast -feed while taking Siklos.
Hydroxycarbamide may decrease sperm production in male patients while they are being treated .
Driving and using machines
28 Some people may experience dizziness when using Siklos. Do not drive or use any tools or machines if you experience dizziness whilst taking Siklos.
💊 3. How to take Siklos
Always take Siklos exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Dose Your doctor will tell you how much of Siklos to take each day and will describe the dose in whole, half or quarter tablets.
The prescribed dose of Siklos must be taken once daily, preferably in the morning before breakfast.
It can be taken with a glass of water or a very small amount of food.
If you cannot swallow the tablets, you can disintegrate them in water immediately before use :
- Place the required dose (preferably broken if Siklos 1 000 mg tablet is used) in a teaspoon and add some water.
- As soon as the tablet is disintegrated, swallow the content of the teaspoon. You can add a drop of syrup or mix the content with food to mask a possible bitter taste.
- Then drink a large glass of water or any other drink.
Handling Siklos is a cytotoxic medicine that must be handled with care.
Any person, in particular pregnant women, who are not taking Siklos should avoid direct contact with the parts when breaking a tablet. Wash your hands before and after contact with the tablets.
In case the prescribed dose requires breaking the tablet in halves or quarters, this should be done out of the reach of food. Powder spilled from the broken tablet should be wiped up with a damp disposable towel which must be thrown out. For the storage of unused broken tablets, see section 5 “How to store Siklos”.
Treatment follow -up Your doctor will tell you how long to take Siklos .
When taking Siklos you will have regular blood tests and check your liver and kidney .
Depending on the dose you take, these tests may be performed monthly or every two months.
Depending on these results your doctor will adjust your dose of Siklos.
If you take more Siklos than you should
If you take more Siklos tha n you should or if a child has taken any, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital immediately as you may need urgent medical treatment. The most common symptoms of overdose with Siklos are:
- Redness of the skin ,
- Soreness (touch is painful) and swelling of the palms of hands and soles of feet followed by the hands and feet becoming scaly ,
- Skin becoming strongly pigmented ( locally changes of colour ),
- Soreness or swelling in the mouth.
If you forget to take Siklos
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Continue as normal when it is time to take the next dose as prescribed by your doctor.
29 If you stop taking Siklos Do not stop your treatment unless advised by your doctor.
If you have any further question on the use of this medicine , ask your doctor or pharmacist.
❗ 4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Siklos can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following serious side effects :
- A severe infection ,
- Tiredness and/or looking pale ,
- Unexplained bruising (accumulation of blood under the skin) or bleeding ,
- Unusual h eadache ,
- Difficulties in breathing.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following side effects:
- Fever or chills ,
- Feeling sick, or a general feeling of being unwell ,
- Rash (itching red eruption of the skin) ,
- Ulcers or wounds on your legs,
- Sore (op en skin infection) on your skin,
- Disorientation (confusion) and dizziness .
DETAILS OF SIDE EFFECTS
Very common side effects ( may affect more than 1 in 10 people )
Low blood cell counts (myelosuppression), enlargement of red blood cells, Absence or low amount of sperm in the semen (azoospermia or oligospermia). Siklos may hence decrease the ability of men to father children.
Common side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 10 people )
Reduced number of red blood cells (an aemia), low platelet count, headache, skin reactions, inflammation or ulceration of the mouth (oral mucositis).
Uncommon side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Dizziness, nausea, itching red eruption of the skin (rash), black nails (melanonychia), and hair loss.
Rare side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 1 000 people )
Wounds on the legs (leg ulcers), and modification of liver function .
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 000 people) or unknown frequency ( frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
Inflammation of the skin causing red scaly patches and possibly occurring together with pain in the joints.
Isolated cases of malignant disease of blood cells (leukaemia), skin cancer in elderly patients, bleeding, gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting, skin dryness, fever, absence of menstrual cycles (amenorrhoea), eye disease causing redness and pain of the eyes, sensitivity to light, and/or reduced vision ( limbal stem cell deficiency). See also section 2. and weight gain.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects , talk to your doctor or , pharmacist or nurse . This inc ludes 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.
🌡️ 5. How to store Siklos
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Siklos after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the bottle after EXP.
Store below 30C.
Unused broken tablets must be replaced in the bottle and must be used within three months.
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.
📦 6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Siklos contains
- The active substance is hydroxycarbamide.
Each Siklos 100 mg film-coated tablet contains 100 mg hydroxycarbamide.
Each Siklos 1 000 mg film -coated tablet contains 1 000 mg hydroxycarbamide.
- The other ingredients are sodium stearyl fumarate , silicified microcrystalline cellulose and basic butylated methacrylate copolymer.
What Siklos looks like and contents of the pack
Siklos 100 mg film -coated tablets are off -white, oblong -shaped tablets with a break line on both sides.
The tablet can be divided into two equal parts.
Each half of tablet is embossed “H” on one side.
Siklos 100 mg is supplied in plastic bottles containing 60 , 90 or 120 tablets.
Siklos 1 000 mg film -coated tablets are off -white, capsule -shaped tablets marked with three score lines on both sides. The tablet can be divided into four equal parts.
Each quarter of tablet is embossed “T” on one side.
Siklos 1 000 mg is supplied in plastic bottle s containing 30 tablets.
All pack sizes may not be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine France
Manufacturer
Delpharm Lille Parc d’Activités Roubaix -Est 22 rue de Toufflers CS 50070 59452 Lys-lez-Lannoy France 31 For any information about this medicine , please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
België/Belgique/Belgien Norgine N.V./S.A.
Tél/Tel: +32 16 39 27 43 [email protected] Lietuva THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Prancūzija Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 България THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Франция Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Luxembourg/Luxemburg Norgine N.V./S.A.
Tél/Tel: +32 16 39 27 43 [email protected] Česká republika THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Francie Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Magyarország THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Franciaország Tel.: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Danmark Norgine Danmark A/S Kirsten Walthers Vej 8A – 2500 Valby – Danmark Tlf: 80200355 Malta THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Franza Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Deutschland THERAVIA Tel: 0800 10 90 001 Nederland Norgine Pharma B.V.
Tel: +31 20 567 0998 [email protected] Eesti THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Prantsusmaa Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Norge Norgine Danmark A/S Kirsten Walthers Vej 8A – 2500 Valby – Danmark Tlf: 80031531 Ελλάδα Specialty Therapeutics IKE Τηλ: +30 213 02 33 913 Österreich THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Frankreich Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 España Norgine de España, S.L.U.
Tel: +34 913275320 [email protected] Polska THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Francja Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 France THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Portugal Norgine Portugal Farmacêutica Unipessoal, Lda.
Tel:+35 1218945581 [email protected] 32 Hrvatska THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Ireland THERAVIA Tel: +353(0)1 -903 8043 România THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Franţa Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Slovenija THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Francija Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Ísland THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Frakkland Sími: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Slovenská republika THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Francúzsko Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Italia THERAVIA Tel: 800 959 161 Suomi/Finland Norgine Danmark A/S Kirsten Walthers Vej 8A 2500 Valby Tanska Tel: 0800392969 Κύπρος THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Γαλλία Τηλ: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 Sverige Norgine Danmark A/S Kirsten Walthers Vej 8A – 2500 Valby Danmark Tel: +46(0)201604784 Latvija THERAVIA 16 Rue Montrosier 92200 Neuilly -sur-Seine – Francija Tel: +33 (0)1 72 69 01 86 This leaflet was last revised in MM/YYYY .
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu . There are also links to other websites about rare diseases and treatments.
📄 Package Leaflet – official source
This article reproduces the information in the official package leaflet, as authorised in the European Union. You can consult the original document here: Product information Siklos (PDF, ec.europa.eu).
You can check this medicine at any time in the Union Register of medicinal products (EU number EU/1/07/397).
⚠️ Important: This article is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice or the package leaflet inside the medicine box. Read the leaflet carefully before use. For any questions about your treatment, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. If you experience side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist and report them through your national reporting system.