SAMSCA®
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
SAMSCA contains the active ingredient tolvaptan. SAMSCA is used to treat hyponatraemia
in adults, including patients who have conditions such as heart failure, and “syndrome
of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion” (SIADH).
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using SAMSCA? in the full CMI.
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to SAMSCA or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I take SAMSCA? in the full CMI.
Some medicines may interfere with SAMSCA and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
Take SAMSCA once a day with or without food
The dose can be from 15 mg to 60 mg once a day
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I take SAMSCA? in the full CMI.
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking SAMSCA
Make sure you have access to water and continue to drink when thirsty
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop taking SAMSCA or lower the dose unless you notice side effects requiring
urgent medical attention or if your doctor tells you to do so
Do not use SAMSCA to treat any complaint other than that directed by your doctor
Do not give SAMSCA to someone else even if their symptoms are the same
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Driving or using machines
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SAMSCA may occasionally make you feel dizzy or weak or you may faint for a short period
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Drinking alcohol
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Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol
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Looking after your medicine
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Store SAMSCA below 25°C and away from light and moisture
Do not leave it in the car on hot or cold days
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while taking SAMSCA? in the full CMI.
Common side effects are thirst; dry mouth; making large amounts of urine and urinating
often. Serious side effects include difficulty swallowing and speaking; seizures or
convulsions; vomiting bright red blood; vomiting dark blood clots, or materials that
looks like coffee-grounds; passing blood or stool mixed with blood; lethargy/fatigue
(tiredness); mood changes; difficulty moving arms or legs, or uncontrollable movements.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
SAMSCA®
Active ingredient(s):
tolvaptan (tol-vap-tan)
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using SAMSCA. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using SAMSCA.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
SAMSCA contains the active ingredient tolvaptan. SAMSCA belongs to a group of medicines called vasopressin antagonists. This means
that it prevents vasopressin having its effect on water retention. This leads to a
reduction in the amount of water in the body by increasing urine production and as
a result it increases the concentration of sodium in your blood.
SAMSCA is used to treat hyponatraemia in adults, including patients who have conditions
such as heart failure, and “syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion”
(SIADH). These conditions result in an inappropriate amount of the hormone vasopressin
causing the sodium levels in your blood to get too low (hyponatraemia). That can lead
to difficulties in concentration and memory, or in keeping your balance.
Do not take SAMSCA if:
you are allergic to tolvaptan, any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet,
or any other similar medicine such as benzapine derivatives
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
have any of the following medical conditions:
you cannot replace fluids by drinking
you cannot feel if you are thirsty
you have a condition which is associated with a very low blood volume
you are not producing or passing urine
you are taking the following medicine(s):
medicines to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole or itraconazole
medicines to treat bacterial infections such as clarithromycin or telithromycin
medicines to treat HIV infection such as saquinavir, nelfinavir or ritonavir
medicines to treat depression i.e. nefazodone
you need to increase the sodium level in your blood right away - the safety and efficacy
in these patients have not been studied
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions such as:
you cannot drink enough water or you are fluid restricted
difficulties in urination or have an enlarged prostate
liver disease including cirrhosis
diabetes
hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland)
hypoadrenalism (an underactive adrenal gland)
take any medicines for any other condition
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
It is not known if SAMSCA will harm your unborn baby or if it passes into breast milk. This medicine contains sugars as lactose.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars,
tell your doctor before taking SAMSCA.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with SAMSCA and affect how it works. These include:
medicines to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or fluconazole
macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin or telithromycin or erythromycin
treatments for high blood pressure and chest pain such as diltiazem or verapamil
treatments of irregularities of heart beat and heart failure such as digoxin
treatments for epilepsy/seizures and some sleep disorders such as barbiturates, phenytoin
or carbamazepine
medicines to treat tuberculosis such as rifampicin rifabutin or rifapentin
medicines to immunosuppressant therapy such as cyclosporine
treatments used to prevent or control bleeding, i.e. vasopressin analogs
treatments of HIV infection such as saquinavir, nelfinavir or ritonavir; and
medicines used to treat depression, i.e. nefazodone or St. John's Wort
other medicines that increase the level of sodium in your blood or which contain large
amounts of salt, such as tablets that dissolve in water and indigestion remedies
These medicines may be affected by SAMSCA or may affect how well it works. You may
need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor will have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while
taking SAMSCA.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect SAMSCA.
Treatment with SAMSCA should be started and re-started only in a hospital, where the
sodium levels in your blood can be monitored closely.
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to keep taking SAMSCA after you leave a hospital,
it is important that you do not stop and restart SAMSCA on your own.
You may need to go back to a hospital to re-start SAMSCA. Talk to your doctor right
away if you stop taking SAMSCA for any reason.
It is important to stay under the care of your doctor while taking SAMSCA and follow
their instructions.
If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Take SAMSCA once a day
You can take SAMSCA with or without food
Tablets should be swallowed without chewing and with a glass of water
Do not take SAMSCA with grapefruit juice
The dose can be from 15 mg to 60 mg once a day. Your doctor will start with a dose
of 15 mg and may then increase it to a maximum of 60 mg to achieve the desired level
of serum sodium.
Ask your doctor of pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you, they
will tell you exactly how much to take
Follow the instructions provided and use SAMSCA until your doctor tells you to stop
SAMSCA should not be taken for longer than 30 days
If you take the wrong dose, SAMSCA may not work as well and your problem may not improve
Do not take more than the dose your doctor has recommended
When to take SAMSCA
SAMSCA should be taken the same time each day, preferably in the morning
This will help you remember when to take the medicine
Certain medicines or illnesses may keep you from drinking fluids or may cause you
to lose too much body fluid, such as vomiting or diarrhoea. If you have these problems,
call your doctor right away.
If you forget to take SAMSCA
SAMSCA should be used regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at
the usual time, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take too much SAMSCA
If you think that you have taken too much SAMSCA, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26), or
(by calling 13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention. Remember to take the medicine pack with you
so that it is clear what you have taken.
Symptoms of an overdose may include:
thirst
dehydration
passing more urine than normal
low blood volume causing very low blood pressure
a rise in concentration of sodium concentration the blood
If your doctor tells you to stop taking SAMSCA, follow their instructions about limiting
the amount of fluid you should drink.
Things you should do
Make sure you have access to water and continue to drink when thirsty.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking SAMSCA.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking
this medicine.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this
medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Call your doctor straight away if you:
become pregnant while taking this medicine
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using SAMSCA.
Things you should not do
Do not use SAMSCA to treat any complaint other than that directed by your doctor
Do not give SAMSCA to someone else even if their symptoms are the same
Do not stop taking SAMSCA or lower the dose unless you notice side effects requiring
urgent medical attention or if your doctor tells you to do so. This may lead to reoccurrence
of your low sodium.
Drinking enough water
SAMSCA causes water loss because it increases your urine production. This water loss
commonly results in dry mouth and thirst, and less commonly severe side effects such
as kidney problems. It is therefore important that you have access to water and that
you are able to drink sufficient amounts when you feel thirsty.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how SAMSCA
affects you.
SAMSCA may occasionally make you feel dizzy or weak or you may faint for a short period.
Looking after your medicine
Store SAMSCA below 25°C and away from light and moisture.
Do not leave it in the car on hot or cold days. Heat, cold and dampness can destroy
some medicines.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Keep SAMSCA in the pack until it is time to take your dose. If it is removed from
the pack, it may not keep well.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If your doctor tells you to stop taking SAMSCA or it is out of date, ask your doctor
what to do with any SAMSCA that is left.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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General well-being related:
thirst
dry mouth
weakness
increased blood sugar levels
feel dizzy or faint. These may be symptoms that you have lost too much body fluid
loss of appetite
nausea
Infection related:
fever
Bladder related:
making large amounts of urine and urinating often
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Gastrointestinal related
constipation
have vomiting or diarrhoea, and cannot drink normally
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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General well-being related:
difficulty swallowing
lethargy/fatigue (tiredness)
mood changes
difficulty moving arms or legs, or uncontrollable movements
seizures or convulsions
Gastrointestinal related:
you vomit bright red blood
you vomit dark blood clots, or material that looks like coffee-grounds
you pass blood or stool mixed with blood
Speech related:
difficulty speaking
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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SAMSCA may affect your liver function. Therefore, please inform your doctor at any
time if you have signs that could indicate potential liver problems such as:
unusual exhaustion
loss of appetite
pain in your right upper stomach
dark urine
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
During treatment with SAMSCA, your doctor may arrange blood tests to check for changes
in your liver function or electrolytes (salts).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What SAMSCA contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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tolvaptan
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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maize starch
hyprolose
lactose monohydrate
magnesium stearate
microcrystalline cellulose
indigo carmine aluminium lake
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Potential allergens
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sugars as lactose
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SAMSCA tablets contain 15 mg of tolvaptan.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
