Medication Guide

Rufinamide Tablets, USP
(roo fin’ a mide)

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking rufinamide tablets and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about rufinamide?

Do not stop taking rufinamide without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Stopping rufinamide suddenly can cause serious problems.

Rufinamide can cause serious side effects, including:

1.

Like other antiepileptic drugs, rufinamide may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

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thoughts about suicide or dying

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attempt to commit suicide

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new or worse depression

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new or worse anxiety

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feeling agitated or restless

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panic attacks

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trouble sleeping (insomnia)

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new or worse irritability

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acting aggressive, being angry, or violent

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acting on dangerous impulses

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an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

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other unusual changes in behavior or mood

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Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

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Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.

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Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

Do not stop rufinamide without first talking to a healthcare provider.

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Stopping rufinamide suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

2.

Rufinamide may cause you to feel sleepy, tired, weak, dizzy or have problems with coordination and walking.

What is rufinamide?

Rufinamide is a prescription medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in adults and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older.

It is not known if rufinamide is safe and effective in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in pediatric patients under 1 year of age.

Who should not take rufinamide?

Do not take rufinamide if you have a genetic condition called familial short QT syndrome, a problem that affects the electrical system of the heart.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking rufinamide?

Before you take rufinamide, tell your healthcare provider if you:

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have heart problems

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have liver problems

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have any other medical problems

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have or have had suicidal thoughts or actions, depression or mood problems

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are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if rufinamide can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking rufinamide. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take rufinamide while you are pregnant.

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rufinamide may make certain types of birth control less effective. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best birth control methods for you while you take rufinamide.

o

if you become pregnant while taking rufinamide, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicines during pregnancy.

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are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if rufinamide will pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take rufinamide.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Taking rufinamide with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

How should I take rufinamide?

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Take rufinamide exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much rufinamide to take.

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Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose of rufinamide without talking to your healthcare provider.

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Take rufinamide with food.

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Rufinamide tablets can be swallowed whole, cut in half or crushed.

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If you take too much rufinamide, call your local Poison Control Center or get emergency medical help right away.

What should I avoid while taking rufinamide?

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Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking rufinamide until you talk to your healthcare provider. Rufinamide taken with alcohol or medicines that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.

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Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how rufinamide affects you. Rufinamide can slow your thinking and motor skills.

What are the possible side effects of rufinamide?

See "What is the most important information I should know about rufinamide?"

Rufinamide may cause serious side effects including:

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Rufinamide can also cause allergic reactions or serious problems which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following. Symptoms may include:

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swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue

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trouble swallowing or breathing

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a skin rash

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hives

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fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that do not go away or come and go

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swollen glands

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yellowing of your skin or eyes

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dark urine

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unusual bruising or bleeding

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severe fatigue or weakness

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severe muscle pain

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Your seizures happen more often or become worse

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

The most common side effects of rufinamide include:

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headache

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dizziness

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tiredness

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sleepiness

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nausea

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vomiting

Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of rufinamide. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store rufinamide?

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Store rufinamide tablets at 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C).

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Keep rufinamide tablets in a dry place.

Keep rufinamide and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about the safe and effective use of rufinamide.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use rufinamide for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give rufinamide to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about rufinamide. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about rufinamide that is written for health professionals.

For more information please call 1-800-962-8364.

What are the ingredients in Rufinamide Tablets, USP?

Active ingredient: rufinamide, USP

Inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, Opadry Pink, pregelatinized corn starch and sodium lauryl sulfate. Opadry Pink contains: hypromellose, iron oxide red, propylene glycol, talc and titanium dioxide.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Distr. By: Hikma

Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

10010260/01

Revised September 2020