These include genetic defects, stroke, head injury, infection or immune disorders. The cause of epilepsy may not be identifiable (“unknown cause”).3,4
The first step in classifying epilepsy is by looking at the area of onset - where the seizure starts in the brain.5
Your doctor has prescribed ONTOZRY® in addition to your current epilepsy treatments, to help you manage your condition. Taking ONTOZRY® regularly can help you manage your focal-onset seizures.
If you need advice or have any questions about your epilepsy or the treatment you have been prescribed, please speak to a healthcare professional.
WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
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Click Here1. What ONTOZRY® is and what it is used for
ONTOZRY® contains the active substance cenobamate. It belongs to a group of medicines called ‘anti-epileptics’. These medicines are used to treat epilepsy, a condition where someone has seizures or fits because of abnormal activity in the brain.
ONTOZRY® is used in combination with other antiepileptic medicines in
adult patients with epilepsy who have not been adequately controlled despite treatment with at least
2 anti-epileptic products, to treat a type of epilepsy that has focal-onset seizures, with or
without secondary generalisation. Focal-onset seizures are those caused by abnormal brain activity
starting in a part of the brain on one side, and secondary generalisation means that that the
abnormal activity is spreading to both sides of the brain.
The medicine can be used only in adults.
2. What you need to know before you take ONTOZRY®
Do not take ONTOZRY®
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking ONTOZRY® or during treatment if:
Children and adolescents
ONTOZRY® is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years, as it was not investigated in this group.
Other medicines and ONTOZRY®
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Taking ONTOZRY® with certain other medicines may affect how the other medicines work or how ONTOZRY® works. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as your dose may need to be adjusted:
ONTOZRY® with alcohol
Do not take this medicine with alcohol. ONTOZRY® can increase the effects of alcohol such as feeling tired or sleepy and you should not drink alcohol with this medicine.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
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 you take this medicine.
Only take ONTOZRY® during pregnancy if you and your doctor decide that it is absolutely necessary. You must use effective contraception during use of ONTOZRY® and until 4 weeks after you stop taking this medicine. Ask your doctor for advice regarding effective measures of birth control. You should stop breast-feeding while taking ONTOZRY®.
Driving and using machines
ONTOZRY® contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, speak with your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take ONTOZRY®
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
You will take ONTOZRY® with other medicines to treat epilepsy.
The recommended dose
You will start ONTOZRY® with a daily dose of one 12.5 mg tablet for the first 2 weeks, followed by one 25 mg tablet once a day for the next 2 weeks. Then your dose will be gradually adjusted every 2 weeks until you reach the dose that works best. Your doctor will work out the right daily dose for you and may need to adjust it over time.
The recommended daily dose is between 200 mg and 400 mg once daily.
Method of use
Take the recommended dose once a day at around the same time. You can take ONTOZRY® at any time either during the day or in the evening, with food or between meals.
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not break the tablets in half because the tablets are not suitable for splitting into two equal halves.
If you take more ONTOZRY® than you should
Talk to your doctor. You may feel dizzy, tired and sleepy.
If you forget to take ONTOZRY®
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember, if fewer than 12 hours have passed since you should have taken it. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the forgotten dose and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking ONTOZRY®
Do not reduce the dose or stop taking ONTOZRY® without checking with your doctor. Your doctor will explain how to stop taking ONTOZRY® by reducing the dose gradually.
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.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following serious side effects:
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
You may get the following other side effects with this medicine. Tell the doctor if you have any of the following:
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system (see bottom of page). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store ONTOZRY®
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
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 protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What ONTOZRY® contains
The active substance is cenobamate.
The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), lactose monohydrate, sodium starch glycolate, silica colloidal anhydrous (E551), magnesium stearate (E470b)
What ONTOZRY® looks like and contents of the pack
Please note, not all pack sizes may be available.
References
1. Epilepsy: a public health imperative. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
2. Tidy, C. Epilepsy in Adults. Available at: https://patient.info/doctor/epilepsy-in-adults. Accessed August 2021.
3. Berg AT, et al. Revised terminology and concepts for organization of seizures and epilepsies: report of the ILAE Commission on Classification and Terminology, 2005-2009. Epilepsia 2010;51(4):676-85.
4. Scheffer IE, et al. ILAE classification of the epilepsies: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia 2017;58(4):512-21.
5. Fisher RS, et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classifications and Terminology. Epilepsia 2017;58(4):522-30.
6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Epilepsies: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline CG137. 2012, updated 2021. Available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137. Accessed September 2021.
▼ This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. You can also call Arvelle Therapeutics UK on 02034889643 or at UKIReporting@angelinipharma.com. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
NP-UK-CE-2100054 | December 2021