MANERIX Film-coated tablet Ref.[8223] Active ingredients: Moclobemide

As with other antidepressants, treatment may exacerbate the schizophrenic symptoms of depressive patients with schizophrenic or schizoaffective psychoses. If possible, therapy with long-acting neuroleptics should be continued in such patients.

Manerix is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A (RIMA). It causes less potentiation of tyramine than traditional irreversible MAOIs, and therefore Manerix does not generally necessitate the special dietary restrictions required for these irreversible MAOIs. However, as a few patients may be especially sensitive to tyramine, all patients should be advised to avoid the consumption of large amounts of tyramine rich food (mature cheese, yeast extracts and fermented soya bean products).

Patients should be advised to avoid sympathomimetic agents such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (contained in many proprietary cough and cold medications) (see section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).

Depressive patients with excitation or agitation as the predominant clinical feature should either not be treated with Manerix or only in combination with a sedative (e.g. a benzodiazepine). The sedative should only be used for a maximum of 2 to 3 weeks.

If a depressive episode is treated in bipolar disorders, manic episodes can be provoked.

Due to the lack of clinical data, patients with concomitant schizophrenia or schizo-affective organic disorders should not be treated with Manerix. As with other antidepressants, treatment may exacerbate the schizophrenic symptoms of depressive patients with schizophrenic or schizoaffective psychoses. If possible, therapy with long-acting neuroleptics should be continued in such patients.

Theoretical pharmacological considerations indicate that MAO inhibitors may precipitate a hypertensive reaction in patients with thyrotoxicosis. As experience with Manerix in this population group is lacking, caution should be exercised before prescribing Manerix.

In patients receiving Manerix, caution should be exercised when co-administering drugs that enhance serotonin in order to prevent precipitation of serotoninergic syndrome (see section 4.3 Contraindications and section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction).

Hypersensitivity may occur in susceptible individuals. Symptoms may include rash and oedema.

Hyponatraemia, (usually in the elderly and possibly due to inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone) has been associated with all types of antidepressants, although very rarely with Manerix (see 4.8 Undesirable effects), and should be considered in all patients who develop drowsiness, confusion or convulsions while taking an antidepressant.

St John’s Wort (Hypericum) – containing phytotherapeutic products should be used with care in combination with moclobemide as this may increase the serotonin concentration.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Suicide/suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening

Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide (suicide-related events). This risk persists until significant remission occurs. As improvement may not occur during the first few weeks or more of treatment, patients should be closely monitored until such improvement occurs. It is general clinical experience that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery.

Other psychiatric conditions for which Manerix is prescribed can also be associated with an increased risk of suicide-related events. In addition, these conditions may be co-morbid with major depressive disorder. The same precautions observed when treating patients with major depressive disorder should therefore be observed when treating patients with other psychiatric disorders.

Patients with a history of suicide-related events, or those exhibiting a significant degree of suicidal ideation prior to commencement of treatment are known to be at greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, and should receive careful monitoring during treatment.

A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in adult patients with psychiatric disorders showed an increased risk of suicidal behaviour with antidepressants compared to placebo in patients less than 25 years old.

Close supervision of patients and in particular those at high risk should accompany drug therapy especially in early treatment and following dose changes. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behaviour or thoughts and unusual changes in behaviour and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.

Owing to the presence of lactose, patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Insomnia or nervousness or jitteriness at the beginning of treatment with moclobemide can justify a dose reduction or temporary symptomatic treatment. In case of occurrence of mania or hypomania, or the onset of early symptoms of those reactions (grandiosity, hyperactivity (including increased speech), reckless impulsivity), treatment with moclobemide will be interrupted and alternative treatment will be initiated.

Co-administration of Manerix with pethidine or selegiline is contraindicated (see section 4.3 Contraindications).

Co-administration of Manerix with triptans is contraindicated, because they are potent serotonin receptor agonists and metabolized by monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and various cytrochrome P450 enzymes and the plasma concentrations of the triptans increases, e.g. sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, almotriptan, naratriptan, frovatriptan and eletriptan.

Co-administration of Manerix with tramadol, bupropion, dextromethorphan and linezolid are contraindicated.

In animals, Manerix potentiates the effects of opiates. Opiate analgesics, such as, Morphine, Codeine and fentanyl should be used with caution. A dosage adjustment may be necessary for these drugs.

Since the action of Manerix is selective and reversible, its propensity to interact with tyramine is slight and short-lasting, as pharmacological studies in animals and man have shown (see section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use). The potentiation of the pressor effect was even lower or did not occur when moclobemide was administered after a meal.

The combination with pethidine is contra-indicated because of the increased risk of serotonergic syndrome (confusion, fever, convulsions, ataxia, hyperreflexia, myoclonus, diarrhoea).

The daily dose of moclobemide should be reduced to half or one-third in patients whose hepatic metabolism is severely inhibited by a drug that blocks microsomal mixed function oxidase activity, such as cimetidine (see section 4.2 Posology and method of administration).

Care should be taken with concomitant use of drugs that are metabolised by CYP2C19 as moclobemide is an inhibitor of this enzyme. The plasma concentration of these drugs (such as proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole), fluoxetine and fluvoxamine) may be increased when concomitantly used with moclobemide. Similarly, moclobemide inhibits the metabolism of omeprazole in CYP2C19 extensive metabolisers resulting in a doubling of the omeprazole exposure.

Care should be taken with concomitant use of trimipramine and maprotiline as the plasma concentration of these monoamine reuptake inhibitors increases upon concomitant administration with moclobemide.

In patients receiving Manerix, additional drugs that enhance serotonin, such as many other antidepressants, particularly in multiple-drug combinations, should be given with caution. This is particularly true for anti-depressants such as venlafaxine, fluvoxamine, clomipramine, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine and sertraline. In isolated cases there have been combinations of serious symptoms and signs, including hyperthermia, confusion, hyperreflexia and myoclonus, which are indicative of serotonergic overactivity (see section 4.3 Contraindications, section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use and section 4.8 Undesirable effects). Should such combined symptoms occur, the patient should be closely observed by a physician (and if necessary hospitalised) and appropriate treatment given.

Treatment with a tricyclic or other antidepressant could be initiated the next day after withdrawal of moclobemide. When switching from a serotonin reuptake inhibitor to Manerix the half-life of the former should be taken into account (see section 4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use). Generally, an interval of 14 days is recommended for switching from an irreversible MAO inhibitor to moclobemide (e.g. phenelzine, tranylcypromine).

Concomitant use with St. John’s wort (Hypericum) is not recommended as this may increase the serotonin concentration in the central nervous system.

The pharmacologic action of systemic regimens of sympathomimetic agents may possibly be intensified and prolonged by concurrent treatment with moclobemide.

Isolated cases of severe central nervous system adverse reactions have been reported after co-administration of Manerix and dextromethorphan. Since cough and cold medicines may contain dextromethorphan, they should not be taken without prior consultation with the physician, and if possible, alternatives not containing dextromethorphan should be given (see section 4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use).

Data from clinical studies suggests that no interactions exist between moclobemide and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), in hypertensive patients, with oral contraceptives, digoxin, phenprocoumon, and alcohol.

As sibutramine is a norepinephrine-serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which would increase the effect of MAOIs, the concomitant use with moclobemide is not recommended.

Concomitant use of dextropropoxyphene is not advised as moclobemide may potentiate the effects of dextropropoxyphene.

Pregnancy

Reproduction studies in animals have not revealed any risk to the foetus, but the safety of Manerix in human pregnancy has not been established. Therefore the benefits of drug therapy during pregnancy should be weighed against possible risk to the foetus.

Lactation

Since only a small amount of Manerix passes into breast milk (approximately 1/30 of the maternal dose), the benefits of continuing drug therapy during nursing should be weighed against possible risks to the child.

This class of medicine is in the list of drugs included in regulations under 5a of the Road Traffic Act 1988. When prescribing this medicine, patients should be told:

• The medicine is likely to affect your ability to drive.
• Do not drive until you know how the medicine affects you.
• It is an offence to drive while under the influence of this medicine.
• However, you would not be committing an offence (called ‘statutory defence’) if:
  • The medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical or dental problem and
  • You have taken it according to the instructions given by the prescriber and in the information provided with the medicine and
  • It was not affecting your ability to drive safely.

Within the system organ classes, adverse reactions are listed under headings of frequency (number of patients expected to experience the reaction), using the following categories:

Very Common (≥1/10)
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10)
Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
Very rare (<1/10,000)
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

The following undesirable effects have been observed:

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Rare: Decreased appetite*, Hyponatraemia*

Psychiatric disorders

Very common: Sleep disorder

Common: Agitation, anxiety, restlessness

Uncommon: Suicidal ideation, Confusional state (these have resolved quickly on discontinuation of therapy)

Rare: Suicidal behaviours, delusion*

Nervous system disorders

Very common: Dizziness, headache

Common: Paraesthesia

Uncommon: Dysgeusia

Eye disorders

Uncommon: Visual impairment

Vascular disorders

Common: Hypotension

Uncommon: Flushing

Gastrointestinal disorders

Very common: Dry mouth, nausea

Common: Vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common: Rash

Uncommon: Oedema, pruritus, urticaria

General disorders and administration site conditions

Common: Irritability

Uncommon: Asthenia

Investigations

Rare: Serotonin syndrome* (co-administered with drugs that enhance serotonin, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and many other antidepressants), Increased hepatic enzymes (without associated clinical sequelae.)

* Adverse reactions that were not reported in clinical studies but were only reported post-marketing are indicated by an asterix (*)

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Not applicable.