MOGADON Tablet Ref.[27521] Active ingredients: Nitrazepam

Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB)  Revision Year: 2021  Publisher: Mylan Products Ltd, Station Close, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1TL, United Kingdom

4.1. Therapeutic indications

Short-term treatment of insomnia when it is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to unacceptable distress, where daytime sedation is acceptable.

An underlying cause for insomnia should be sought before deciding upon the use of benzodiazepines for symptomatic relief.

Benzodiazepines are not recommended for the primary treatment of psychotic illness.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults

5 mg before retiring. This dose may, if necessary, be increased to 10 mg.

Elderly

Elderly or debilitated patients: the elderly or patients with impaired renal and/or hepatic function will be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of Mogadon. Doses should not exceed half those normally recommended.

If organic brain changes are present, the dosage of Mogadon should not exceed 5mg in these patients.

Other populations

In patients with chronic pulmonary insufficiency and in patients with chronic renal or hepatic disease, the dosage may need to be reduced.

Paediatric population

Mogadon tablets are contraindicated for use in children.

Dosage should be adjusted on an individual basis. Treatment should, if possible, be on an intermittent basis.

Treatment should be as short as possible and should be started with the lowest recommended dose. The maximum dose should not be exceeded. Generally the duration of treatment varies from a few days to two weeks with a maximum of four weeks; including the tapering off process. Patients who have taken benzodiazepines for a prolonged time may require a longer period during which doses are reduced. Specialist help may be appropriate. Little is known regarding the efficacy or safety of benzodiazepines in long-term use.

In certain cases, extension beyond the maximum treatment period may be necessary; if so, it should not take place without re-evaluation of the patient’s status. Long-term chronic use is not recommended. It may be useful to inform the patient when treatment is started that it will be of limited duration and to explain precisely how the dosage will be decreased. Moreover, it is important that the patient should be aware of the possibility of rebound phenomena (see Undesirable Effects) thereby minimising anxiety over such symptoms should they occur while the medicinal product is being discontinued. Mogadon therapy should not be stopped abruptly, but the dose tapered off.

The product should be taken just before going to bed.

In addition, for long acting benzodiazepines, it must be stated that the patient should be checked regularly at the start of treatment in order to decrease, if necessary, the dose or frequency of administration to prevent overdose due to accumulation.

Method of administration

Mogadon tablets are for oral administration.

4.9. Overdose

When taken alone in overdosage Mogadon presents few problems in management and should not present a threat to life unless combined with other CNS depressants (including alcohol).

In the management of overdose with any medicinal product, it should be borne in mind that multiple agents may have been taken.

Symptoms

Overdosage of benzodiazepines is usually manifested by degrees of central nervous system depression ranging from drowsiness to coma. In mild cases, symptoms include drowsiness, mental confusion, dysarthria and lethargy; in more serious cases, symptoms may include ataxia, hypotonia, hypotension, respiratory depression, rarely coma and very rarely death.

Management

Following overdose with oral benzodiazepines, vomiting should be induced (within one hour) if the patient is conscious, or gastric lavage undertaken with the airway protected if the patient is unconscious. If there is no advantage in emptying the stomach, activated charcoal should be given to reduce absorption.

Special attention should be paid to respiratory and cardiovascular functions in intensive care. The value of dialysis has not been determined. Flumazenil is a specific IV antidote for use in emergency situations. Patients requiring such intervention should be monitored closely in hospital (see separate prescribing information).

The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil is not indicated in patients with epilepsy who have been treated with benzodiazepines. Antagonism of the benzodiazepine effect in such patients may trigger seizures.

If excitation occurs, barbiturates should not be used.

6.3. Shelf life

HDPE or glass bottles: 5 years.

PVC/Aluminium blisters: 5 years.

Clic-loc containers and polypropylene mini kegs: 2 years.

6.4. Special precautions for storage

The recommended maximum storage temperature for Mogadon tablets is 25°C.

All packs should be protected from light and the blister packs should be protected from moisture i.e. stored in a dry place.

6.5. Nature and contents of container

HDPE or glass bottles, in packs of 30 or 100.

PVC/Aluminium blister packs, containing 30 or 50 tablets.

Clic-loc containers, in a pack of 10.

Polypropylene mini-kegs, containing 5000 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6. Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Any unused product should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

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