Dmex 50000 IU

Colecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Tablets BP 50000 IU

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using 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, 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, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible any side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Dmex is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Dmex
3. How to take Dmex
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Dmex
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. WHAT DMEX IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

Dmex contains colecalciferol (vitamin D3). vitamin D3, can be found in some foods and is also produced by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight. vitamin D3 helps the kidneys and intestine absorb calcium and it helps build bones.

Dmex is used:

• to prevent vitamin D3 deficiency when there is a significant risk of deficiency or an increased demand for vitamin D3
• with other medicine to treat certain bone conditions, such as thinning of the bone (osteoporosis).
• to treat vitamin D3 deficiency that has been confirmed by laboratory tests.

2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE DMEX

Do not take Dmex:

• if you are allergic to vitamin D3 or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
• if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia) or urine (hypercalciuria);
• if you have kidney stones (renal calculi);
• if you have serious renal impairment
• if you have high levels of vitamin D3 in your blood (hypervitaminosis D)
• if you have pseudohypoparathyroidism (disturbed parathyroid hormone metabolism)
• if you are pregnant
• if you are under 18 years of age

If any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Dmex.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Dmex if you:

• are undergoing treatment with certain medicines used to treat heart disorders (e.g. cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin);
• have sarcoidosis (an immune system disorder which may cause increased levels of vitamin D3 in the body);
• are taking medicines containing vitamin D3, or eating foods or milk enriched with vitamin D3;
• are likely to be exposed to a lot of sunshine whilst using Dmex;
• take additional supplements containing calcium. Your doctor will monitor your blood levels of calcium to make sure they are not too high whilst you are using Dmex;
• have kidney damage or disease. Your doctor may want to measure the levels of calcium in your blood or urine.

Children

This medicine is not suitable for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Other medicines and Dmex

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines. This is especially important if you are taking:

• medicines that act on the heart or kidneys, such as cardiac glycosides (e.g. digoxin) or diuretics (e.g., bendroflumethazide). When used at the same time as vitamin D3 these medicines may cause a large increase in the level of calcium in the blood and urine;
• medicines containing vitamin D3 or eating food rich in vitamin D3, such as, some types of vitamin D3-enriched milk;
• actinomycin (a medicine used to treat some forms of cancer) and imidazole antifungals (e.g. clotrimazole and ketoconazole, medicines used to treat fungal disease). These medicines may interfere with the way your body process vitamin D3;
• the following medicines because they can interfere with the effect or the absorption of vitamin D3:

– antiepileptic medicines (anticonvulsants), barbiturates,

– glucocorticoids (steroid hormones such as hydrocortisone or prednisolone). These can decrease the effect of vitamin D3;

– medicines that lower the level of cholesterol in the blood (such as cholestyramine, or colestipol)

– certain medicines for weight loss that reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs (e.g. orlistat)

– certain laxatives (such as liquid paraffin).

Dmex with food and drink See section 3 “How to take Dmex”.

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 or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

This high strength formulation is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Driving and using machines

There is limited information on the possible effects of this medicine on your ability to drive. However, it is not expected that it would affect your ability to drive or to operate machinery.

3. HOW TO TAKE DMEX

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The Tablets should be swallowed whole with water.

You should take this medicine preferably together with a large meal to help your body absorb the vitamin D3.

Use in adults

The recommended dose for:

Treatment of vitamin D3 deficiency: 50,000 IU/week (1 tablet) for 6-8 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy (1,400- 2,000 IU/day, such as 1 tablet a month.)

Use in children and adolescents

This high strength formulation is not recommended

Use in pregnancy and breast-feeding

This high strength formulation is not recommended

If you take more Dmex than you should

If you or your child take more medicine than prescribed, stop using this medicine and contact your doctor. If it is not possible to talk to a doctor go to the nearest hospital emergency department and take the medicine package with you.

The most common symptoms of overdose are: nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, the production of large amounts of urine over 24 hours, constipation and dehydration, high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria) shown by lab test.

If you forget to take Dmex

If you forget to take a dose of Dmex, take the forgotten dose as soon as possible. Then take the next dose at the correct time. However, if it is almost time to take the next dose, do not take the dose you have missed; just take the next dose as normal.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Dmex

If you have any further questions on the use of 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. Possible side effects may include:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

– Too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia)

– Too much calcium in your urine (hypercalciuria)

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

– Skin rash

– Itching

– Hives

5. HOW TO STORE DMEX

KEEP THE MEDICINE OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after “Exp”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store below 30°C. Protect from light and moisture

Store in the original packaging in order to protect from light.

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 Dmex contains

– The active substance is colecalciferol (vitamin D3).

Each Tablet contains 50,000 IU colecalciferol (vitamin D3) equivalent to 1.25 mg tablet.

PRESENTATION :

16 Tablets in a pack

 

Marketed by :

272 Bath Street Glasgow,

United Kingdom G2 4JR