Lexotan

Generic Name: bromazepam
Product Name: Lexotan

Indication: What Lexotan is used for

Lexotan contains the active ingredient bromazepam.

Lexotan belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines which are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals.

Lexotan is used for anxiety, tension or agitation. Anxiety or tension associated with the normal stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with medicines.

Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Lexotan for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions why Lexotan has been prescribed for you.

In general, benzodiazepines such as Lexotan should be taken for short time periods only (for example 2 to 4 weeks). Continuous long-term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor.

This medicine may be addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription

Action: How Lexotan works

Bromazepam is a benzodiazepine with anxiolytic action.

At low doses, Lexotan selectively reduces tension and anxiety. At high doses, sedative and muscle-relaxant properties appear.

Its active ingredient is bromazepam. Each 3 mg tablet contains 3 mg bromazepam and each 6 mg tablet contains 6 mg bromazepam.

Its inactive ingredients for both 3 mg and 6 mg tablets contain lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (460), talc (553), magnesium stearate (470). The 3 mg tablets also contain the colouring agent iron oxide red CI 77491 (172(ii)) while the 6 mg tablets contain the colouring agents indigotine CI 73015 (132), iron oxide yellow, CI 77492 (172 (iii)).

Lexotan tablets are gluten free.

Dose advice: How to use Lexotan

Before you take Lexotan

Do not take Lexotan if:

• You have had an allergic reaction to Lexotan, other benzodiazepines or any ingredients listed here.
  • Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
    • Shortness of breath;
    • Wheezing or difficulty breathing;
    • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body;
    • Rash, itching or hives on the skin;
• You have severe and chronic lung disease;
• You have severe liver disease;
• You suffer from sleep apnoea (temporary stops in breathing when asleep);
• You have a muscle weakness disease known as myasthenia gravis;
• The package is torn or shows signs of tampering;
• The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed
  • If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

Do not give Lexotan to children. Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

If you are not sure if you should be taking Lexotan, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to take it:

Your doctor must know about all the following before you start to take Lexotan.

Tell your doctor if:

• You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • Lexotan is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Lexotan if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant;
• You are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • Lexotan passes into breast milk and therefore there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected.
  • Lexotan is not recommended for use whilst breastfeeding;
• You have any other health problems, especially the following:
  • Liver, kidney or lung disease;
  • High or low blood pressure;
  • You suffer from depression, psychosis or schizophrenia;
  • You suffer from fits or convulsions (epilepsy);
  • You have high pressure in the eye (glaucoma);
  • History of alcohol or drug abuse;
• You drink alcohol regularly.
  • Alcohol may increase the effects of Lexotan;
• You are lactose intolerant;
• You are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Lexotan.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you have bought without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Lexotan. These medicines include:

• Other sleeping tablets, sedatives or tranquillisers;
• Other medicines for anxiety;
• Medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions;
• Medicines for depression such as fluvoxamine;
• Medicines to control fits (epilepsy);
• Some medicines used to treat allergies and colds;
• Pain relievers;
• Muscle relaxants;
• Anaesthetics;
• Some medicines used to treat bacterial infections;
• Some medicines used to treat HIV infection;
• Some medicines used to treat heart conditions or high blood pressure;
• Cimetidine – a medicine used to treat ulcers;
• Disulfiram – a medicine used in the treatment of alcohol abuse

These medicines may be affected by Lexotan, or may affect how well Lexotan works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid whilst taking Lexotan.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Lexotan. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.

How to take Lexotan

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained here.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

Take Lexotan exactly as your doctor has prescribed. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day.

The dose varies from person to person depending on age and the condition being treated. The usual dose is between 6 to 12 mg daily. Elderly patients may need to take less.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

When to take it

Take the tablets as directed by your doctor. It should be taken on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before food.

How long to take it

Do not use Lexotan for longer than your doctor says.

Lexotan should be used for short periods only (for example 2 to 4 weeks). Continuous long-term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor.

The use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence on the medicine.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take a double a dose to make up for one you have missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Lexotan, immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too much Lexotan you may feel drowsy, confused, tired, dizzy, have difficulty breathing, feel weak or become unconscious.

Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

While you are taking Lexotan

Things you must do

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Lexotan.

Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Lexotan.

Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.

Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.

Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.

Things you must not do

Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Lexotan affects you. Lexotan may cause drowsiness or dizziness in some people and therefore may affect alertness. Make sure you know how you react to Lexotan before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy, dizzy or not alert.

Even if you take Lexotan at night, you may still be drowsy or dizzy the next day.

Do not take Lexotan for a longer time than your doctor has prescribed. Lexotan should be taken for short periods only (for example 2 to 4 weeks), unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Do not change your dose without first checking with your doctor.

Do not stop taking Lexotan or lower the dose, without first checking with your doctor. Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause some unwanted effects. Your doctor will explain how you should slowly reduce your dose of Lexotan before you can stop taking it completely.

Do not suddenly stop taking Lexotan if you suffer from epilepsy. Suddenly stopping this medicine may make your epilepsy worse.

Do not give Lexotan to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not use Lexotan to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.

Things to be careful of

Be careful if you are elderly, unwell, drinking alcohol or taking other medicines. Some people may experience side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, dizziness and unsteadiness, which may increase the risk of a fall. Your doctor may suggest that you avoid alcohol or reduce the amount of alcohol you drink while you are taking Lexotan.

After taking Lexotan

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.

Keep Lexotan in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep Lexotan where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking Lexotan, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.

Schedule of Lexotan

Lexotan is an S4 – prescription only medicine.

Side effects of Lexotan

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Lexotan. Lexotan helps most people with anxiety but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• Drowsiness, tiredness;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• Unpleasant dreams;
• Muscle weakness.

These are the more common side effects of Lexotan.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• Blurred vision;
• Rash;
• Tremor;
• Loss of appetite;
• Dry mouth
• Slurred speech
• Loss of memory, inattentiveness, confusion, lack of concentration.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Sudden anxiety or excitation;
• Seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there;
• Nightmares.

These are serious side effects and you may need medical attention.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you notice any of the following:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing.

These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t understand anything on this list.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

For further information talk to your doctor.

References

1. Lexotan Consumer Medicine Information (CMI). Dee Why, NSW: Roche Products Pty Limited. September 2015. [PDF]
2. Lexotan Product Information (PI). Dee Why, NSW: Roche Products Pty Limited. September 2015. [PDF]