Becadexamin
Becadexamin
Becadexamin
BECADEXAMIN
1. GENERIC NAME
4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS
BECADEXAMIN is indicated for the treatment of vitamins and minerals deficiency states
in adults which may be associated with the following conditions:
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• Dietary restrictions: in conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, chronic
diarrhoea or dysentery, etc.
• Malnutrition
• Infections or recovering from infections
• Long term antibiotic use
• Old age
Children
Elderly
Renal Impairment
Caution should be exercised when using BECADEXAMIN in patients with renal disorders
(see 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).
Hepatic Impairment
4.3 Contraindications
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4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use
Concomitant conditions
Caution should be used in case of the following concomitant conditions:
• hepatitis or hepatic disorders,
• kidney disorders,
• intestinal stricture inflammation,
• active duodenal or gastric ulcer,
• diabetes mellitus.
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Patients with ostomies may have altered intestinal transit times.
Cardiac disorders
BECADEXAMIN should be used with caution in the presence of cardiac disease, as it
contains vitamin D.
Vision disorders
Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) should not be used for Leber's disease or tobacco amblyopia
since these optic neuropathies may degenerate further.
Hypercalcaemia
BECADEXAMIN is not recommended for patients with hypercalcaemia or diseases
associated with hypercalcaemia such as sarcoidosis and some malignancies, as it contains
calcium and vitamin D. It should be given cautiously to these patients.
Investigations
As iodine and iodides can affect the thyroid gland, their use may interfere with tests of
thyroid function.
Large doses of riboflavin (vitamin B2) result in a bright yellow discoloration of the urine
that may interfere with certain laboratory tests.
Ascorbic acid, a strong reducing agent, interferes with laboratory tests involving oxidation
and reduction reactions. Falsely-elevated or false-negative test results may be obtained
from plasma, faeces, or urine samples depending on such factors as the dose of ascorbic
acid and specific method used.
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Long-term treatment
Caution is necessary if preparations containing iodine or iodides are taken for long periods.
Long-term use of large doses of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is associated with the development
of severe peripheral neuropathies; the dose at which these occur is not established.
The use of excessive amounts of vitamin A substances over long periods can lead to
toxicity (see 4.9 Overdose).
Risk of overdosage
Other medicinal product containing vitamin A should not be used while taking
BECADEXAMIN as it may cause overdose symptoms (see 4.5 Drug Interaction; 4.9
Overdose).
Other medicinal product containing vitamin E should not be used while taking this product
as it may cause overdose symptoms (see 4.9 Overdose).
Tolerance
Tolerance may be induced with prolonged use of large doses of vitamin C, resulting in
symptoms of deficiency when intake is reduced to normal.
Diuretics
As BECADEXAMIN contains calcium and vitamin D, hypercalcaemia may occur when it
is given with thiazide diuretics.
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Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids reduce calcium absorption.
Corticosteroids may counteract the effect of vitamin D.
Cardiac glycosides
Calcium enhances the effects of digitalis glycosides on the heart and may precipitate
digitalis intoxication.
Antibiotics
Zinc supplements also reduce the absorption of fluoroquinolones.
Tetracycline antibiotics, other than doxycycline also decrease zinc absorption, they should
therefore be administered 2 hours before or 3 hours after the administration of
BECADEXAMIN, in those cases where concomitant use is necessary.
Calcium salts reduce the absorption of some fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines therefore,
doses should be separated by at least 3 hours.
Penicillamine and antituberculous drugs (such as isoniazid) may increase the requirements
for folic acid and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Neomycin used orally may reduce the absorption of vitamin A, vitamin B12 and vitamin E.
Bisphosphonates
As BECADEXAMIN contains calcium and magnesium salts, it reduces the absorption of
bisphosphonates, therefore doses should be separated by at least 3 hours.
Amiodarone
The effects of iodine and iodides on the thyroid may be altered by other compounds
including amiodarone.
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Orlistat may interfere with the absorption of vitamin E.
Retinoids
Combined treatment with retinoids (isotretinoin, etretinate, bexarotene) and vitamin A in
doses exceeding 4000–5000 IU daily may induce vitamin A overdose symptoms (see 4.4
Special Warnings and Precautions for Use; 4.9 Overdose). Thus, the use of
BECADEXAMIN is contraindicated during the treatment with retinoids (see 4.3
Contraindications).
Oral contraceptives
Oral contraceptives may increase vitamin A plasma concentration.
Serum concentration of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid may be decreased by use of
oral contraceptives.
Levodopa
BECADEXAMIN contains vitamin B6 which reduces the effects of levodopa, but this does
not occur if a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor is also given.
Altretamine
BECADEXAMIN contains vitamin B6 which reduces the activity of altretamine.
Lithium
The effects of iodine and iodides on the thyroid may be altered by other compounds
including lithium.
Antiepileptics
Vitamin B6 and folic acid has been reported to decrease serum concentrations of
phenobarbital and phenytoin.
Replacement therapy with folinic acid or folic acid may become necessary during
antiepileptic therapy in order to prevent development of megaloblastic anaemia.
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Concomitant nicotinamide and carbamazepine may decrease carbamazepine clearance.
Hydralazine
Hydralazine may increase the requirements for pyridoxine.
Omeprazole
Omeprazole has been reported to impair the bioavailability of vitamin B12 and dietary
vitamin C.
Anticoagulants
As BECADEXAMIN contains vitamin E, caution should be used during concomitant
administration of anticoagulants (dicoumarol, warfarin, indanediones) due to the risk of
their efficacy reduction, hypoprothrombinaemia and bleeding. During prolonged
administration of vitamin E, the prothrombin time should be monitored on a regular basis.
Cyclosporine
Vitamin E may increase the absorption of cyclosporine.
Calcium, vitamin D
There is an increased risk of hypercalcaemia if vitamin D is given with calcium. Vitamin
D increases the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. Plasma-calcium concentrations
should be monitored in such situations.
Fluoride
As BECADEXAMIN contains calcium, it reduces the absorption of fluoride; therefore doses
should be separated by at least 3 hours.
Phosphates
As BECADEXAMIN contains vitamin D, there is an increased risk of hypercalcaemia if it
is given with phosphate. Plasma-calcium concentrations should be monitored in such
situations.
Iron supplements
The absorption of zinc may be reduced by additionally taken iron supplements.
Zinc supplements
Additionally, taken zinc supplements reduce the absorption of copper.
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Prolonged use of high doses of zinc supplements, leads to copper deficiency with
associated sideroblastic anaemia and neutropenia.
Vitamin C
As BECADEXAMIN contains vitamin C, it may increase the absorption of iron in iron-
deficiency states.
Alcohol
Alcohol enhances the toxic effect of vitamin A and may produce folate deficiency states.
Other
Absorption of vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract may be reduced by aminosalicylic
acid, histamine H2-antagonists, and colchicine. Aluminium, and magnesium salts may
decrease the absorption of fluoride.
Patients over the age of 45 years or with nodular goiter are especially susceptible to
hyperthyroidism when given iodine supplementation. Reduced doses should therefore be
used and supplementation with iodised oil may not be appropriate.
High dose of nicotinamide should be used with caution in patients with peptic ulcer disease,
gastritis, liver disease, gall bladder disease, diabetes and gout.
Fertility
There are no relevant data available.
Pregnancy
BECADEXAMIN should be used by pregnant women only after consultation with a
physician.
Lactation
BECADEXAMIN should be used by lactating women only after consultation with a
physician.
There are no clinical data proving that BECADEXAMIN may have an influence on the
ability to drive or use machines.
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4.8 Undesirable Effects
Multivitamins are generally well tolerated when used within the recommended dose. The
following adverse events have been reported with use of ingredients of BECADEXAMIN.
The frequency of most of these events cannot be estimated from the available data.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are listed below by MedDRA system organ class and by
frequency.
Frequencies are defined as:
Very common ≥1/10
Common ≥1/100 to <1/10
Uncommon ≥1/1000 to <1/100
Rare ≥1/10000 to <1/1000
Very rare <1/10000
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Not Known: Hypersensitivity reactions (see Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders),
anaphylactic reaction
Gastrointestinal disorders
Psychiatric disorders
Metabolic disorders
4.9 Overdose
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Overdose of BECADEXAMIN can lead to the following symptoms and signs.
Treatment
The treatment consists of its withdrawal and symptomatic treatment, if necessary.
Further management should be as clinically indicated.
5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
Vitamin A
Retinol is an essential nutrient needed in small amounts by humans for the normal
functioning of the visual system, growth and development and maintenance of epithelial
cellular integrity, immune function and reproduction.
Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
Vitamin D is required to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphate, which
are in turn needed for the normal mineralization of bone, muscle contraction, nerve
conduction and general cellular function in all cells of the body.
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Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 is an essential component in function of certain co-enzymes important for
energy production taking part in numerous oxidation and reduction reactions. It has also
an important role in maintaining a healthy skin.
Nicotinamide
Nicotinamide is involved in a large number of processes such as production of energy,
synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, steroids, signal transduction and the maintenance of
integrity of genome.
D-Panthenol
D-Panthenol (Dexpanthenol) is the synthetic alcohol form of pantothenic acid. It is
converted to pantothenic acid in the body and therefore, can be considered a provitamin
form of panothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is a precursor of co-enzyme A, necessary for
energy production, involved in fatty acid metabolism, formation of acetylcholine and
improvement of epithelization and wound healing. It is also necessary for folic acid and
carbohydrate metabolism.
Folic acid
It is essential for erythropoiesis, maturation of red blood cells and biosynthesis of the DNA.
Calcium
It activates certain enzymes. It maintains the normal excitability of the myocardium and
nerves and helps in maintenance of capillary wall integrity. It is essential in the structure
of bones and teeth, for muscular contraction and many metabolic processes.
Copper
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It is essential for synthesis of hemoglobin, formation of bone and myelin, for the activity
of certain enzymes, such as cytochrome oxidases (tissue oxidation).
Manganese
It is a co-factor in many enzyme reactions, which involve phosphorylation and synthesis
of cholesterol and fatty acids.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential component of a large number (> 300) of enzymes participating in the
synthesis and degradation of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids as well as in
the metabolism of other micronutrients. Zinc plays a major role in the immune system. It
also acts as an antioxidant. It is important for normal growth, wound healing and sexual
maturation, for crystallization and release of insulin (the pancreas of diabetic individuals
contains only half of the normal quantity of zinc).
Iodine
It has a role in the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
Magnesium
Magnesium functions as a co-factor of many enzymes involved in energy metabolism,
protein synthesis, RNA and DNA synthesis, maintenance of the electrical potential of
nervous tissues, cell membrane stabilizing action and muscle contraction.
6. NONCLINICAL PROPERTIES
7. DESCRITPTION
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Each Soft Gelatin capsule contains:
Vitamin A 5000 IU (as Vitamin A Concentrate Oil IP)
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol IP) 400 IU
Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate IP) 15 mg
Vitamin B1 IP 5 mg
Vitamin B2 IP 5 mg
Nicotinamide IP 45 mg
D-Panthenol IP 5 mg
Vitamin B6 IP 2 mg
Vitamin C IP 75 mg
Folic Acid IP 1000 mcg
Vitamin B12 IP 5 mcg
Dibasic Calcium Phosphate IP 70 mg
Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate BP 0.1 mg
Manganese Sulfate Monohydrate BP 0.01 mg
Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate IP 28.7 mg (equivalent to 10.4 mg of elemental Zinc)
Potassium Iodide IP 0.025 mg
Light Magnesium Oxide IP 0.15 mg
8. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
List of Excipients
Lecithin soyabean, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, yellow beeswax, arachis oil,
purified water.
Capsule shell contains sunset yellow FCF, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, ponceau 4R,
titanium dioxide.
8.1 Incompatibilities
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Capsules in an amber glass bottle.
There are no special requirements for use and handling of this product.
Registered Medical Practitioners may counsel their patients about the special warnings and
precautions for use, drug interactions, undesirable effects, and any relevant contra-
indications of BECADEXAMIN. Patients may also be informed about posology, method of
administration and storage/handling information as applicable.
The Manufacturing Site details are mentioned on the label and packaging.
24-Apr-2020
Version BEC/PI/IN/2020/01
Adapted from:
• Theragran M NCDS version 05 dated 21 January 2020
• PDR for Nutritional Supplements. 2nd edition.
• COBADEX Z Prescribing Information (India).
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