Aurorix Consumer Medicine Information
moclobemide 150mg and 300mg tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about AURORIX tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of your taking AURORIX tablets against the benefits expected for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What AURORIX is used for
The name of your medicine is AURORIX. It contains the active ingredient called moclobemide.
AURORIX belongs to a group of medicines called antidepressants. Antidepressants are used to treat depression and sometimes fear of social situations (social phobia), and work on the central nervous system. They are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals called amines which are involved in controlling mood.
There are many different types of medicines used to treat depression and fear of social situations (social phobia). AURORIX belongs to a group of medicines called reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA).
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed AURORIX for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions why AURORIX has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take AURORIX
Do not take AURORIX if:
- you have ever had an allergic reaction to AURORIX or any of the ingredients listed in the Ingredients section of this leaflet
- you are suffering from severe confusion
- you are taking selegeline ( Eldepryl ®, Apo-selegiline ®, Selgene ®)
- you are a child
- do not take AURORIX after the expiry date printed on the pack. It may have no effect at all or, worse, an entirely unexpected effect if you take it after the expiry date. If the Pharmacist has repacked the medicine for you, there may not be an expiry date on the pack.
- do not take AURORIX if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the tablets appear damaged in some way.
You must tell your doctor if:
- you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
- you have any other health problems including:
- liver disease
- high blood pressure
- mental illness other than depression
- thyrotoxicosis (a condition of excessive thyroid hormones)
- phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of adrenal gland).
- you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
- you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using AURORIX when pregnant and while breastfeeding.
Taking certain foods
Generally during therapy with AURORIX, there is no need for special diets or
foods. However, in some people an increased sensitivity to a chemical called
tyramine occurs. This chemical is contained in some foods, for example ripe
cheeses and blue vein cheese, red wine, beer, Marmite/Vegemite and broad beans.
You should avoid consuming large amounts of these foods. Your doctor may
wish to discuss your diet with you.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or healthfood shop.
Some commonly used medicines that may interfere with AURORIX are:
- cimetidine (Tagamet®, Apo-cimetidine®, Cytine®)
- dextromethorphan, which may be contained in cough/cold medicines
- ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which may also be contained in cough/cold medicines or in nasal decongestants
- pethidine.
Other antidepressant medicines may interfere with AURORIX such as clomipramine (Anafranil®, Clopress), fluoxetine (Fluox®, Lovan®, Plinzene®, Prozac®), paroxetine (Aropax®), sertraline (Zoloft®), amitryptyline (Amitrip®, Tryptanol®) and nortriptyline (Allegron®, Norpress®)
Your doctor or pharmacist has a complete list of medicines to avoid while taking AURORIX.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking AURORIX.
How to take AURORIX
Use AURORIX exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how many AURORIX tablets to take each day.
The usual dose is between 300 mg and 600 mg per day. The tablets are taken two or three times daily after meals.
How to take it
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
It may be possible to change from other antidepressants to AURORIX by ceasing the other antidepressant one day and starting AURORIX the next, however you should follow your doctor's instructions carefully and report any unexpected effects if they occur.
When to take it
AURORIX should be taken at the end of your meal, twice or three times daily as prescribed by your doctor.
How long to take AURORIX
The length of treatment will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve. Most antidepressants take time to work so don't be discouraged if you don't feel better right away. Some of your symptoms may improve in 1 or 2 weeks but it can take up to 4 or 6 weeks to feel any real improvement if you have depression. Social phobia may be a chronic condition and treatment should continue for 8 to 12 weeks at least. Even when you feel well, you will usually have to take AURORIX for several months or even longer to make sure the benefits will last. Continue taking it until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you forget to take AURORIX
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, then go back to taking it as soon as you would normally.
Do not double a dose to make up for one you have missed.
In case of an overdose
Immediately telephone your doctor or National Poisons Information Centre (telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much AURORIX, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Some signs and symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, reduced reflexes and agitation.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking AURORIX
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking AURORIX.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking AURORIX.
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.
If you are being treated for depression, be sure to discuss with your doctor any problems you may have and how you feel. This will help your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
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 stop taking AURORIX or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use AURORIX to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how AURORIX affects you.
AURORIX causes dizziness in some people at first.
Although drinking alcohol is unlikely to affect your response to AURORIX, your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are being treated for depression or for social phobia.
Generally during therapy with AURORIX, there is no need for special diets or foods. However, in some people an increased sensitivity to a chemical called tyramine occurs. This chemical is contained in some foods, for example ripe cheeses and blue vein cheese, Marmite/Vegemite, red wine, beer and broad beans. You should avoid consuming large amounts of these foods. Your doctor may wish to discuss your diet with you.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking AURORIX.
AURORIX helps most people with depression or with social phobia 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.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
In the first week or two you may experience:
- Sleep disturbances, dizziness, nausea, headache.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- Disturbed sleep, agitation, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, headache, pins and needles, dry mouth, blurred vision, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, feeling of fullness, upset stomach, skin rash, flushing.
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 in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking AURORIX
Storage
Keep AURORIX where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep AURORIX in a cool dry place where it 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 your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister, they may not keep well.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking AURORIX, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
Product Description
What AURORIX looks like
AURORIX comes in two strengths of tablets.
AURORIX 150 mg are pale yellow oval scored tablets with ROCHE 150 on one side.
AURORIX 300 mg tablets are white oval scored tablets with ROCHE 300 on one side.
Ingredients
Active ingredient - moclobemide
- each 150 mg AURORIX tablet contains 150 mg of the active ingredient moclobemide
- each 300 mg AURORIX tablet contains 300 mg of the active ingredient moclobemide
Inactive ingredients
- both 150 mg and 300 mg tablets contain lactose, maize starch, povidone (1201), sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate (470), methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, talc (553), and are coloured with titanium dioxide (171). 150 mg tablets also contain yellow iron oxide (172).
AURORIX tablets are gluten free.
This leaflet was prepared on 22 March 2001.
Reference: Roche Australia leaflet dated 28 June 2000, with updates from New Zealand datasheet dated 17 July 2000.
