Monday 8 October 2012

Omacor






OMACOR



1000 mg soft capsules


Omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90



Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.


Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.


If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.


This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.


If any of the side-effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.




In this leaflet:



1. What Omacor is and what it is used for

2. Before you take Omacor

3. How to take Omacor

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Omacor

6. Further information





What Omacor Is And What It Is Used For


Omacor contains highly purified omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.


Omacor belongs to a group of so called reducers of cholesterol and triglycerides.


Omacor is used:


  • together with other medicines for treatment after a heart attack.

  • to treat certain forms of increased triglycerides (fats) in the blood after changes to the diet have not worked.



Before You Take Omacor



Do not take Omacor, if


  • you are allergic (hypersensitive) to the main ingredient or any of the other ingredients of Omacor (see Section: Important information about some of the ingredients, and Section 6: Further Information).

If any of the above applies to you, do not take this medicine, and talk to your doctor.




Take special care with Omacor if:


  • you are due to have or have had surgery recently

  • you have had a trauma recently

  • you have a kidney problem

  • you have diabetes which is not controlled

  • you have problems with your liver. Your doctor will monitor any effects Omacor may have on your liver with blood tests.

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




Using other medicines


If you are using a medicine to stop blood clotting in your arteries, such as warfarin, you may need extra blood tests and your usual dose of your blood thinning medicine may have to be changed.


Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used other medicines including medicines obtained without prescription.




Taking Omacor with food or drink


You should take the capsules at meal times. This is to help lower the chances of side effects that affect the area in and around the stomach (the gastro-intestinal area).



Use in elderly


Use Omacor with care if you are over 70 years.



Use in children


Children should not take this medicine.




Pregnancy and breast-feeding


You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, unless your doctor decides it is absolutely necessary.


Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using any medicine.




Driving and using machines


This medicine is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.




Important Information about some of the ingredients


Omacor may contain soya-bean oil. If you are allergic to peanut or soya, do not use this medicinal product.





How To Take Omacor


Always take Omacor exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.


  • Swallow the capsules with a drink of water.

  • You may take the capsules at meal times to help reduce gastro-intestinal side effects.

  • Your doctor will decide how long you should take this medicine.


Dose after a heart attack


The usual dose is one capsule a day.




Dose to treat high blood triglyceride levels (high levels of fat in the blood or hypertriglyceridaemia)


The usual dose is 2 capsules a day, as recommended by a doctor.


If the medicine is not working well enough at this dose, your doctor may increase this to 4 capsules a day.




If you take more of Omacor than you should


If you accidentally take more of this medicine than you should, do not worry, as this is unlikely to need special treatment.




If you forget to take Omacor


If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose, in which case take the next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose (twice the dose recommended by your doctor) to make up for a forgotten dose.



If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.




Omacor Side Effects


Like all medicines, Omacor can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following are side effects that may happen with this medicine:



Common side effects (occur in 1 to 10 users in 100):


  • stomach problems and indigestion (dyspepsia)

  • feeling sick (nausea)


Uncommon side effects (occur in 1 to 10 users in 1,000):


  • abdominal and stomach pain

  • allergic reactions

  • dizziness

  • problems with taste

  • diarrhoea

  • being sick (vomiting)


Rare side effects (occur in 1 to 10 users in 10,000):


  • headache

  • acne

  • itchy rash (pruritus)

  • high blood sugar levels

  • liver problems


Very rare side effects (occur in less than 1 in 10,000 users):


  • blood in your stools

  • low blood pressure

  • dry nose

  • raised red skin rash (hives or urticaria)

  • changes in the results of certain blood tests

If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.




How To Store Omacor


  • Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

  • Do not use Omacor after the expiry date which is printed on the carton and the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.

  • Do not store Omacor above 25°C. Do not freeze.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.




Further Information



What Omacor contains


The active substances are omega-3-acid ethyl esters, 1000 mg of omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 comprising 460 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 380 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ethyl esters (these substances are called omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) including as antioxidant 4 mg d-alpha- tocopherol (mixed with a vegetable oil e.g. soya-bean oil).


The soft capsule shell is made up of gelatin, glycerol and purified water.




What Omacor looks like and contents of the pack


Omacor capsules are transparent soft gelatin capsules containing pale yellow oil.


Omacor is available in the following pack sizes:


  • 1 x 20 capsules

  • 1 x 28 capsules

  • 1 x 60 capsules

  • 1 x 100 capsules

  • 10 x 28 capsules

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.




Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer


The marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer of Omacor is:



Pronova BioPharma Norge AS

1327 Lysaker

Norway




This leaflet was last updated: April 2010


Omacor is supplied in the United Kingdom by



Abbott Healthcare Products Limited

Mansbridge Road

Southampton

SO18 3JD


1070990 Laetus 35





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