Consumer medicine information

GenRx® Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets


Consumer Medicine Information

For a copy of a large print leaflet Ph: 1800 195 055

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some of the common questions about piroxicam dispersible 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 you taking piroxicam dispersible tablets against the benefits the medicine is expected to have 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 GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets are used for

Piroxicam dispersible tablets belongs to a group of medicines called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines work by relieving pain and inflammation.

Piroxicam dispersible tablets treat the symptoms of:

  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
  • ankylosing spondylitis (painful inflammation and stiffening of the spine)

While piroxicam dispersible tablets can relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation associated with the above conditions, it will not cure the underlying disease.

Your doctor, however, may prescribe piroxicam dispersible tablets for another purpose.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Piroxicam dispersible tablets have been prescribed for you.

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

There is no evidence that piroxicam dispersible tablets are addictive.

Before you take GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

When you must not take GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

Do not take piroxicam dispersible tablets if:

  1. you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
  • medicines containing piroxicam, or any other NSAID medicine
  • aspirin
  • any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet

Many medicines used to treat headache, period pain and other aches and pains contain aspirin or NSAID medicines. Your pharmacist or doctor will know if you are taking any of these medicines.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to NSAIDs may include: rash, itching, or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips and tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.

  1. you have or have had a peptic ulcer (ulcer of the stomach or intestine), or bleeding from the stomach or bowel, or active gastrointestinal inflammatory disease (inflammation of the stomach or intestine).
  2. the expiry date on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the date has passed it may have no effect at all, or worse, an entirely unexpected effect.
  3. the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
  4. if the tablets seem damaged (broken or discoloured).
  5. Do not give piroxicam dispersible tablets to children under 12 years of age.

Before you start to take GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

You must tell your doctor if you have any health problems (either now or in the past), especially:

  • allergies to any other medicines or to any foods, dyes or preservatives
  • asthma
  • kidney or liver problems
  • swelling of the feet or ankles (oedema)
  • bleeding problems
  • a current infection. Piroxicam dispersible tablets may hide some signs of infection (such as pain, fever, swelling or redness). This may lead you to mistakenly believe that you are better or that the infection is not serious
  • high blood pressure or heart problems

You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Like most NSAID medicines, piroxicam dispersible is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is a need to consider piroxicam dispersible during your pregnancy, your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits of using it.

You must tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

Piroxicam dispersible passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using piroxicam when breastfeeding.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with piroxicam dispersible tablets. These include:

  • aspirin, salicylates or any other anti-inflammatory agents (also called NSAIDs)
  • warfarin (used to prevent blood clots)
  • cimetidine (used to treat or prevent stomach ulcers or reflux)
  • lithium (used to treat certain types of depression)
  • methotrexate (used to treat arthritis and some cancers)
  • phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy or convulsions)
  • diuretic tablets (also called fluid or water tablets)
  • sulphonamide antibiotics
  • medicines used to treat high blood pressure
  • medicines used to treat diabetes

These medicines may be affected by piroxicam dispersible tablets or affect how well piroxicam dispersible tablets work. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

How to take GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablet

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take:

The recommended starting dose is 10 mg daily. Thereafter the usual dose is 10 to 20 mg taken as a single dose each day, with or immediately after food.

How to take it

Allow the tablet to dissolve in a minimum of 50 mL of water, then drink it straight away.

When to take it

Try to take your piroxicam dispersible tablets at the same time each day, either morning or evening. It is best to take piroxicam dispersible tablets with or immediately after food to reduce the chance of a stomach upset.

What if one or more doses have not been taken?

If you miss a dose and remember in less than 12 hours, take it straight away, then continue as normal the next day. If it is over 12 hours, skip that day’s dose but be sure that to take the next day’s dose when it is due. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you have missed several doses, consult your doctor.

In case of overdose

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) 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 piroxicam dispersible, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too many piroxicam dispersible tablets you may feel sick or have stomach pain, vomiting, headache, dizziness, drowsiness or confusion.

While you are using GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

Things you must do

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking piroxicam dispersible tablets.

If you plan to have surgery, including dental surgery tell your surgeon or dentist you are taking piroxicam dispersible tablets.

If you become pregnant while you are taking piroxicam dispersible tablets, tell your doctor.

If you get an infection while taking piroxicam dispersible tablets, tell your doctor.

Piroxicam dispersible tablets may hide some of the signs of an infection and may make you think, mistakenly, that you are better or that it is not serious. Signs of an infection may include fever, pain, swelling and redness.

Things you must not do

Do not give piroxicam dispersible tablets to anyone else even if they have the same symptoms as you.

Do not use piroxicam dispersible tablets to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Things to be careful of

Be careful of driving or operating machinery until you know how piroxicam dispersible tablets affect you.

As with other NSAID medicines, piroxicam dispersible may cause dizziness, drowsiness and blurred vision in some people. If this occurs do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

If you are 65 years or older you may be more likely to experience side effects. Report any side effects to your doctor promptly.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while taking piroxicam dispersible tablets.

Piroxicam dispersible tablets helps most people with arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, but may have unwanted affects in 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.

If you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • stomach upsets including nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, indigestion
  • constipation, diarrhoea, stomach pain, wind
  • loss of appetite
  • dizziness, sleepiness, drowsiness
  • headache
  • buzzing or ringing in the ears
  • hair loss or thinning
  • loose nails
  • sore mouth or tongue

These side effects are usually mild.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • severe pain or tenderness in the stomach
  • eye problems such as blurred vision, sore red eyes, itching
  • fast or irregular heart beat
  • difficulty hearing, deafness
  • unusual bruising or bleeding, reddish or purple blotches under the skin
  • signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
  • signs of anaemia such as tiredness, being short of breath and looking pale
  • a change in the colour of the urine passed, blood in the urine
  • a change in the amount of urine passed, burning feeling when passing urine
  • yellowing of the eyes or the skin (jaundice)
  • unusual weight gain, swelling of the ankles or legs

These are rare but serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

If any of the following happen, stop taking piroxicam dispersible tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

  • vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
  • bleeding from your back passage (rectum), black sticky stools or bloody diarrhoea
  • swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
  • asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
  • sudden or severe itching, skin rash, hives
  • pain or tightness in the chest

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these side effects are very rare.

Other side effects not listed above also may occur in some people. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

After using GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets

Storage

Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.

If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep as well.

Keep piroxicam dispersible tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 °C.

Do not store piroxicam dispersible tablets or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave piroxicam dispersible tablets in the car or on windowsills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep piroxicam dispersible tablets where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking piroxicam dispersible tablets, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

Product Description

What GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets look like

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible Tablets come in two strengths:

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 10 mg Dispersible Tablet – A white flat, bevel-edged, round tablet of 10 mm in diameter embossed with 10 on one side. Available in blisters of 50 tablets.

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 20 mg Dispersible Tablet – A white capsule shaped tablet with a breakline on one face and embossed with 20 on the other. Available in blisters of 25 tablets.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 10 mg tablets contain 10 mg of piroxicam.

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 20 mg tablets contain 20 mg of piroxicam.

Other ingredients (excipients):

Lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium stearyl fumerate.

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible tablets do not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo food dyes.

Sponsor

GenRx Pty Ltd

ABN 52 096 916 148

Level 21, 390 St Kilda Road

Melbourne, Victoria 3004

Australia

GenRx is a registered trade mark of GenRx Pty Ltd

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 10 mg AUST R 78363

GenRx Piroxicam Dispersible 20 mg AUST R 78364

Date of Preparation: April 2004

Published by MIMS August 2004