patient information leaflet bricanyl respules

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Bricanyl®

Respules® 2.5 mg/ml

Nebuliser solution

terbutaline sulphate

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BRICANYL® RESPULES®

terbutaline sulphate

This leaflet applies only to Bricanyl Respules. If you have any questions, or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist). Remember, this medicine is only for you. Do not give it to anyone else, even if their symptoms are similar to yours.

WHAT IS IN YOUR MEDICINE?

Respules are single dose plastic units containing 2 millilitres (ml) of solution. Bricanyl Respules contain 5 mg of the active ingredient, terbutaline sulphate (2.5 mg/ml). They also contain sodium chloride, disodium edetate, hydrochloric acid and water. The solution must be nebulised (made into a fine mist) before it can be breathed in.

Bricanyl Respules are available in boxes of 20.

Terbutaline sulphate belongs to a group of medicines called beta2-agonists. These relax certain muscles, for example they open up the airways in the lungs.

WHAT IS YOUR MEDICINE FOR?

Bricanyl Respules help to relieve bronchospasm (tightening of the chest and difficulty breathing) in breathing disorders such as asthma.

BEFORE USING BRICANYL RESPULES

Make sure that you have told your doctor about any other medicines you are taking, including those you have bought without a prescription.

Please read the following questions carefully.

They are being asked to help check that the medicine is suitable for you to take. If the answer to any of these questions is YES, you should talk to your doctor BEFORE taking this medicine.

Are you pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant or breast-feeding? If you become pregnant whilst taking Bricanyl, talk to your doctor immediately.
Are you diabetic? If so, you may need some additional blood sugar tests when you start taking Bricanyl.
Do you have a heart problem?
Do you have an overactive thyroid gland?
Are you taking any steroid medicines (e.g. prednisolone) or xanthines (e.g. theophylline)?
Are you taking a beta-blocker (e.g. propranolol), including eye drops (e.g. timolol)?
Are you taking diuretics or water pills (e.g. frusemide)?

Important: You should not be given Bricanyl Respules if you have had problems in the past when taking medicines containing terbutaline sulphate or any of the other ingredients in this medicine, listed earlier.

TAKING YOUR MEDICINE

It is important to take your medicine as your doctor has told you to. The instructions on the label will remind you of what the doctor said. The solution must be nebulised using a nebuliser then inhaled through the nebuliser face mask or mouthpiece. Instructions for using your nebuliser are given after the dosage section. Do not stop taking your medicine without first discussing it with your doctor.

Dosage

The usual dose for adults and the elderly is 1 to 2 Respules, 2 to 4 times a day. The usual dose for children (over 8 years of age) is one Respule, 2 to 4 times a day. Younger children are usually prescribed lower doses.

Contact your doctor immediately if:

You are not getting relief from your current dose
Your breathing is getting worse
You often wake at night with asthma
You start getting chest tightness

These are signs that your asthma is not being controlled and you may need different or additional treatment immediately.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH

If you accidentally take too much, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

1. Break off the Respule from the strip of Respules leaving the rest in the foil envelope.
2. Hold upright and open by twisting the wing tab off.
3. Place the open end of the Respule firmly inside the nebuliser cup and squeeze slowly. Replace the top on the nebuliser cup. Throw the empty Respule away.
4. Connect the top end of the cup to the face mask or mouthpiece and the bottom end to the air pump. The air pump should be connected to the compressor unit.
5. Turn on the nebuliser and breathe in the mist calmly and deeply using the face mask or mouthpiece. If you are using a face mask, make sure the face mask fits tightly.
6. The length of time it takes to nebulise all the medicine will vary with the type of equipment you use and the amount of medicine to be taken. You will know when your treatment is complete because the fine mist will stop coming out of your mask or mouthpiece.
7. You must wash the nebuliser cup and mouthpiece (or face mask) in warm soapy water and rinse well after each use. Dry these parts by turning on the compressor and allowing air to blow through them.

AFTER TAKING YOUR MEDICINE

Like all medicines, as well as the effects that are needed Bricanyl Respules may sometimes cause side effects such as:

Trembling or shaking
Headache
Nausea (feeling sick)
Cramp or feeling tense
Mouth and throat irritation
Palpitations

These side effects, if they do occur, usually go away within the first week of starting treatment.

Rarely, you may experience the effects of low levels of potassium in your blood e.g. muscle weakness, thirst, pins and needles.

Changes in sleeping patterns and changes in behaviour, such as agitation, hyperactivity and restlessness, have sometimes been seen.

In rare cases, inhaled drugs may cause severe difficulty in breathing with wheezing immediately after inhaling a dose. If this occurs, stop using your nebuliser and contact your doctor straight away.

Rarely, fast heart beats occur with drugs of this type. Other heart problems such as unusual heart beats have occurred, usually only in susceptible patients.

Very rarely, allergic reactions such as swollen face, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure and collapse have occurred with beta2-agonist treatment. If these occur, stop using your nebuliser and seek medical advice immediately.

If you experience any of these effects, or if you notice anything else unusual, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

STORING THIS MEDICINE

Keep in a safe place, out of the reach and sight of children.
Once a foil envelope has been opened, the Respules inside should be used within 3 months. NOTE: It is best to mark the opening date on the foil envelope to help you remember.
Once you have opened a single Respule, it should be used within 12 hours. After this time the Respule and any remaining contents should be thrown away.
Do not store above 30°C. Store Bricanyl Respules in their original carton and foil, and out of direct sunlight.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the packaging.

Medicine: bricanyl respules