What it is and what it is used for

for Gefitinib Tablets contains the active substance gefitinib which blocks a protein called 'epidermal growth factor receptor' (EGFR). This protein is involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Gefitinib Tablets is used to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer. This cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung.

2.

What you need to know before you take it

e Gefitinib Tablets Do not take Gefitinib Tablets:

• if you are allergic to gefitinib or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6, 'What Gefitinib contains')
• if you are breastfeeding. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Gefitinib Tablets:
• if you have ever had any other lung problems. Some lung problems may get worse during treatment with Gefitinib Tablets.
• if you have ever had problems with your liver. Children and adolescents Gefitinib is not indicated in children and adolescents under 18 years. Other medicines and Gefitinib Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Phenytoin or carbamazepine (for epilepsy).
• Rifampicin (for tuberculosis).
• Itraconazole (for fungal infections).
• Barbiturates (a type of medicine used for sleeping problems).
• Herbal remedies containing St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum, used for depression and anxiety).
• Proton-pump inhibitors, H2-antagonists and antacids (for ulcers, indigestion, heartburn and to reduce acids in the stomach). These medicines may affect the way Gefitinib tablets works.
• Warfarin (a so-called oral anticoagulant, to prevent blood clots). If you are taking a medicine containing this active substance, your doctor may need to do blood tests more often. If any of the above applies to you, or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Gefitinib Tablets. Pregnancy and breastfeeding 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 taking this medicine. It is recommended that you avoid becoming pregnant during treatment with Gefitinib because this medicine could harm your baby. Do not take Gefitinib Tablets if you are breastfeeding for the safety of your baby. Driving and using machines If you feel weak whilst taking this medicine, take care driving or using tools or machines. Gefitinib Tablets contains lactose monohydrate If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. Gefitinib Tablets contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

3.

How to take it

Gefitinib Tablets Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. • • •

The recommended dose is one 250 mg tablet per day. Take the tablet at about the same time each day. You can take the tablet with or without food.

•

Do not take antacids (to reduce the acid level of your stomach) 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking Gefitinib.

If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, dissolve it in half a glass of still (non-fizzy) water. Do not use any other liquids. Do not crush the tablet. Swirl the water until the tablet has dissolved. This may take up to 20 minutes. Drink the liquid straight away. To make sure that you have drunk all of the medicine, rinse the glass very well with half a glass of water and drink it. If you take more Gefitinib Tablets than you should If you have taken more tablets than you should, talk to a doctor or pharmacist straight away. If you forget to take Gefitinib tablets What to do if you forget to take a tablet depends on how long it is until your next dose. • •

If it is 12 hours or more until your next dose: take the missed tablet as soon as you remember. Then take the next dose as usual. If it is less than 12 hours until your next dose: skip the missed tablet. Then take the next tablet at the usual time.

Do not take a double dose (two tablets at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose. 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 notice any of the following side effects-you may need urgent medical treatment:

• Allergic reaction (common), particularly if symptoms include swollen face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty to swallow, hives, nettle rash and difficulty breathing.
• Serious breathlessness, or sudden worsening breathlessness, possibly with a cough or fever. This may mean that you have an inflammation of the lungs called 'interstitial lung disease'. This may affect about 1 in 100 patients taking gefitinib and can be life-threatening.
• Severe skin reactions (rare) affecting large areas of your body. The signs may include redness, pain, ulcers, blisters, and shedding of the skin. The lips, nose, eyes and genitals may also be affected.
• Dehydration (common) caused by long term or severe diarrhoea, vomiting (being sick), nausea (feeling sick) or loss of appetite.
• Eye problems (uncommon), such as pain, redness, watery eyes, light sensitivity, changes in vision or ingrowing eyelashes. This may mean that you have an ulcer on the surface of the eye (cornea). Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following side effects: Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
• Diarrhoea.
• Vomiting.
• Nausea.

• • • • •

Skin reactions such as an acne-like rash, which is sometimes itchy with dry and/or cracked skin. Loss of appetite. Weakness. Red or sore mouth. Increase of a liver enzyme known as alanine aminotransferase in a blood test; if too high, your doctor may tell you to stop taking gefitinib.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Dry mouth
• Dry, red or itchy eyes.
• Red and sore eyelids.
• Nail problems.
• Hair loss.
• Fever.
• Bleeding (such as nose bleed or blood in your urine).
• Protein in your urine (shown in a urine test).
• Increase of bilirubin and the other liver enzyme known as aspartate aminotransferase in a blood test; if too high, your doctor may tell you to stop taking IRESSA.
• Increase of creatinine levels in a blood test (related to kidney function).
• Cystitis (burning sensations during urination and frequent, urgent need to urinate). Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Inflammation of the pancreas. The signs include very severe pain in the upper part of the stomach area and severe nausea and vomiting.
• Inflammation of the liver. Symptoms may include a general feeling of being unwell, with or without possible jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). This side effect is uncommon; however, some patients have died from this.
• Gastrointestinal perforation.
• Skin reaction on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet including tingling, numbness, pain, swelling or reddening (known as palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome or hand and foot syndrome). Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin. This may give the appearance of bruising or patches of non-blanching rash on the skin.
• Haemorrhagic cystitis (burning sensations during urination and frequent, urgent need to urinate with blood in the urine). Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme, Website: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5.

How to store it

Gefitinib Tablets •

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• • •

6.

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. 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. This medicinal product does not require any special storage condition.

Contents of the pack and other information

What Gefitinib Tablets contains

• The active substance is gefitinib. Each film-coated tablets contains 250 mg of gefitinib
• The other ingredients are:
• Tablet core: Lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate.
• Tablet coating: Polyvinyl alcohol-part hydrolysed (E1203), macrogol ( E1521), talc, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172). What Gefitinib Tablets looks like and contents of the pack Gefitinib 250 mg film-coated tablets are round, biconvex, brown film coated tablets debossed with 'C' on one side and plain on the other side. Diameter: 11.00 mm ± 0.20 mm. Gefitinib 250 mg film-coated Tablets comes in blister packs of 30 tablets. The blister foil may be perforated.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Cipla (EU) Limited Dixcart House,Addlestone Road, Bourne Business Park Addlestone KT15 2LE United Kingdom.

Manufacturer Cipla (EU) Limited Dixcart House,Addlestone Road, Bourne Business Park Addlestone KT15 2LE United Kingdom. This leaflet was last revised in 11/2023