FLECTORGO*20 SOFT CAPSULES 25MG

FLECTORGO 12.5 mg soft capsules
FLECTORGO 25 mg soft capsules

Diclofenac epolamine

Equivalent medicine

What it is and what it is used for
FLECTORGO contains the active ingredient diclofenac epolamine.

FLECTORGO is a medicine belonging to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This medicine is a painkiller that can also reduce inflammation and swelling.

FLECTORGO is used for the short-term symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate pain (such as headache, toothache, menstrual pain, rheumatic pain and muscle pain) in adults and adolescents aged 14 years and over.

What you need to know before taking the medicine
DO NOT take FLECTORGO:
• if you are allergic to diclofenac epolamine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have experienced allergic reactions including swelling of the face and mouth (angioedema), breathing problems, chest pain, runny nose, rash or any other allergic reaction following the use of acetylsalicylic acid or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
• if you currently have a gastric (stomach) or duodenal (intestinal) ulcer, bleeding or perforation
• if you have blood cell production disorders of unknown origin
• if you have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation, related to previous NSAID therapy
• if you have had two or more episodes of gastric (stomach) or duodenal (intestinal) ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding (including blood in vomit, bleeding during bowel movements, fresh blood in stools or black, tarry stools)
• if you suffer from a confirmed heart disease and/or cerebral vasculopathy, for example, you have had a heart attack, a stroke, a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack - TIA) or an obstruction of the blood vessels leading to the heart or brain, or surgery to eliminate or prevent such obstructions
• if you suffer or have suffered from blood circulation problems (peripheral artery disease)
• if you have severe kidney or liver failure
• if you are in the last three months of pregnancy (see also Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility)

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking FLECTORGO if:
• you suffer or have suffered from any stomach or intestinal disorder, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• you are elderly
• you have kidney or liver problems
• you have a condition called porphyria
• you suffer from any blood disorder or bleeding
• you have ever had asthma
• you are breastfeeding
• you suffer from angina pectoris, blood clots, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or triglycerides
• you have diabetes
• you are a smoker
• you have recently undergone surgery
• you are at risk of dehydration (e.g. due to illness or diarrhea)
• you have undergone or are about to undergo surgery on your stomach or intestinal tract before taking Flectorgo, as Flectorgo can sometimes worsen wound healing in the intestine after surgery.

• Since FLECTORGO is an anti-inflammatory medicine, the active ingredient could mask the signs and symptoms of an infection. If you do not feel well and need to see a doctor, do not forget to tell him/her that you are taking FLECTORGO.

Cardiovascular disease
Medicines like FLECTORGO may be associated with a slight increase in the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke. Any risk is more likely with high doses and prolonged treatment. Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment.

Make sure your doctor knows, before you are given FLECTORGO:
• if you smoke
• if you suffer from diabetes
• if you suffer from angina pectoris, blood clots, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol or increased triglycerides

Side effects can be minimized by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms.

Children and adolescents
FLECTORGO is not recommended for children and adolescents under 14 years of age.

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some side effects can be serious.

Stop taking FLECTORGO and tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects:
• acute pain in the upper abdomen, feeling unwell, feeling of discomfort
• vomiting blood or black particles, black stools or blood in the stools
• allergic reactions such as rash, itching, bruising, painful red areas, peeling or blistering
• wheezing or shortness of breath (bronchospasm), difficulty swallowing, collapse
• swelling of the face, lips, hands or fingers
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• persistent sore throat or high temperature, unusual bleeding or bruising
• unexpected change in the amount of urine produced and/or its appearance
• mild cramps and tenderness in the abdomen, starting shortly after starting treatment with FLECTORGO and followed by rectal bleeding or bloody diarrhea, usually within 24 hours of the onset of abdominal pain (frequency not known, frequency cannot be estimated from the available data).

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following reactions:
• chest pain, which may be a sign of a potentially serious allergic reaction called Kounis syndrome

Medicines like FLECTORGO may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke.

The following side effects have also been reported:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• Headache, dizziness, vertigo
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal pain, flatulence, loss of appetite
• Rash and itching

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Increase in liver enzyme values in the blood

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Hypersensitivity, anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions (severe allergic reactions, including blood pressure collapse and shock)
• Allergic swelling including facial edema (angioneurotic edema)
• Drowsiness
• Feeling of airway constriction (asthma) including shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), gastric (stomach) or duodenal (intestinal) ulcer (with or without bleeding or perforation)
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), jaundice
• Hives
• Edema (fluid retention in the body)

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• Disorders of red and white blood cell formation
• Disorientation, depression, insomnia, nightmares, irritability, psychotic reactions
• Sensory disturbances (paresthesia), memory impairment, seizures or spasms, anxiety, tremor, meningitis not associated with an infection, altered taste
• Visual disturbance, blurred or double vision
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), impaired hearing
• Palpitations, chest pain, heart muscle weakness (heart failure)
• High blood pressure (hypertension), inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
• Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
• Inflammation of the colon (colitis), including bleeding and worsening of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, constipation
• Inflammation of the oral mucosa (stomatitis), inflammation of the tongue, esophageal lesions (damage to the esophagus), formation of membranous strictures in the intestine, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Liver failure
• Rash (including eczema and blisters), sensitivity to light, small areas of bleeding in the skin, severe skin reactions such as rash with blistering (e.g. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis / Lyell's syndrome), hair loss
• Acute kidney dysfunction (renal failure), blood in the urine (hematuria), protein in the urine (proteinuria), nephrotic syndrome (fluid retention in the body and high levels of protein passing into the urine), damage to kidney tissue (interstitial nephritis, papillary necrosis)

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.