Side Effects

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

Visit your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects after taking this medicine.

• Sudden wheeziness, chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
• Swelling of eyelids, face or lips
• Swelling of the tongue and throat which causes great difficulty breathing
• Severe skin reactions including intense skin rash, hives, reddening of the skin over your whole body, severe itching, blistering, peeling and swelling of the skin, inflammation of mucous membranes (Stevens Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) or other allergic reactions
• Heart attack, abnormal heart beat
• Inflamed pancreas which may cause severe abdominal and back pain accompanied with feeling very unwell

The following very common side effect has been reported. If this causes you problems or if it lasts for more than one week, you should contact your doctor.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• Oedema (fluid retention)

The following common side effects have been reported. If any of these cause you problems or if they last for more than one week, you should contact your doctor.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• Headache, dizziness, sleepiness (especially at the beginning of treatment)
• Palpitations (awareness of your heart beat), flushing
• Abdominal pain, feeling sick (nausea)
• Altered bowel habits, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion
• Tiredness, weakness
• Visual disturbances, double vision
• Muscle cramps
• Ankle swelling

Other side-effects that have been reported include the following list. If any of these get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• Mood changes, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness
• Trembling, taste abnormalities, fainting
• Numbness or tingling sensation in your limbs, loss of pain sensation
• Ringing in the ears
• Low blood pressure
• Sneezing/running nose caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis)
• Cough
• Dry mouth, vomiting (being sick)
• Hair loss, increased sweating, itchy skin, red patches on skin, skin discolouration
• Disorder in passing urine, increased need to urinate at night, increased number of times of passing urine
• Inability to obtain an erection; discomfort or enlargement of the breasts in men
• Pain, feeling unwell
• Joint or muscle pain, back pain
• Weight increase or decrease

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• Confusion

Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people

• Decreased numbers of white blood cells, decrease in blood platelets which may result in unusual bruising or easy bleeding
• Excess sugar in blood (hyperglycaemia)
• A disorder of the nerves which can cause muscular weakness, tingling or numbness
• Swelling of the gums
• Abdominal bloating (gastritis)
• Abnormal liver function, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), yellowing of the skin (jaundice), liver enzyme increase which may have an effect on some medical tests
• Increased muscle tension
• Inflammation of blood vessels, often with skin rash
• Sensitivity to light
• Disorders combining rigidity, tremor, and/or movement disorders