Sunday 7 October 2012

Zicron 40mg Tablets





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Gliclazide 40mg Tablets



Zicron 40mg Tablets


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Gliclazide 40mg



For Excipients, see 6.1



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Tablet



White to off-white, circular, flat, bevelled edged, uncoated tablets with “40” on one side, plain on reverse.



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Non insulin dependant diabetes mellitus.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



For oral administration.



Adults:



The total daily dose may vary from 40 to 320 mg taken orally. The dose should be adjusted according to the individual patient's response, commencing with 40-80 mg daily (1 – 2 tablets) and increasing until adequate control is achieved. A single dose should not exceed 160 mg (4 tablets). When higher doses are required, gliclazide should be taken twice daily and according to the main meals of the day.



In obese patients or those not showing adequate response to gliclazide alone, additional therapy may be required.



Elderly:



Plasma clearance of gliclazide is not altered in the elderly and steady state plasma levels can therefore be expected to be similar to those in adults under 65 years. Clinical experience in the elderly to date shows that gliclazide is effective and well tolerated. Care should be exercised, however, when prescribing sulphonylureas in the elderly due to a possible age-related increased risk of hypoglycaemia.



Children:



Gliclazide as with other sulphonylureas, is not indicated for the treatment of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus.



4.3 Contraindications



Gliclazide should not be used in:



- Juvenile onset diabetes.



- Diabetes complicated by ketosis and acidosis.



- Pregnancy.



- Diabetes undergoing surgery, after severe trauma or during infections.



- Patients known to have hypersensitivity to other sulphonylureas and related drugs or any of the other tablet ingredients.



- Diabetic pre-coma and coma.



- Severe renal or hepatic insufficiency.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



- Hypoglycaemia: all sulphonylurea drugs are capable of producing moderate or severe hypoglycaemia, particularly in the following conditions:



- in patients controlled by diet alone,



- in cases of accidental overdose,



- When calorie or glucose intake is deficient,



- in patients with hepatic and/or renal impairment; however, in long-term clinical trials, patients with renal insufficiency have been treated satisfactorily, using gliclazide at reduced doses.



In order to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia it is therefore recommended:



- to initiate treatment for non-insulin dependant diabetes by diet alone, if this is possible,



- to take into account the age of the patient: blood sugar levels not strictly controlled by diet alone might be acceptable in the elderly,



- to adjust the dose of gliclazide according to the blood glucose response and to the 24 hour urinary glucose during the first days of treatment.



Dosage adjustments may be necessary:



- on the occurrence of mild symptoms of hypoglycaemia (sweating, pallor, hunger pangs, tachycardia, sensation of malaise). Such findings should be treated with oral glucose and adjustments made in drug dosage and/or meal patterns,



- on the occurrence of severe hypoglycaemic reactions (coma or neurological impairment, see overdose),



- loss of control of blood glucose (hyperglycaemia). When a patient stabilised on any diabetic regimen is exposed to stress such as fever, trauma, infection or surgery, a loss of control may occur. At such times, it may be necessary to increase progressively the dosage of gliclazide and it this is insufficient, to discontinue the treatment with gliclazide and to administer insulin. As with other sulphonylureas, hypoglycaemia will occur if the patient's dietary intake is reduced or of they are receiving a larger dose of gliclazide than required.



- Care should be exercised in patients with hepatic and/or renal impairment and a small starting dose should be used with careful patient monitoring.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Care should be taken when giving gliclazide with drugs which are known to alter the diabetic state or potentiate the drug's action.



The hypoglycaemic effect of gliclazide may be potentiated by phenylbutazone, salicylates, sulphonamides, coumarin derivatives, MAOIs, beta adrenergic blocking agents, tetracycline compounds, chloramphenicol, clofibrate, disopyramide, miconazole (oral forms) and cimetidine.



It may be diminished by corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, thiazide diuretics, Phenothiazine derivatives, thyroid hormones and abuse of laxatives.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Pregnancy:



Gliclazide is contraindicated during pregnancy (see section 4.3 contra-indications).



Lactation:



It has not been established whether gliclazide is transferred to human milk. However, other sulphonylureas have been found in milk and there is no evidence to suggest that gliclazide differs from the group in this respect. Gliclazide should, therefore, not be taken while the mother is breast-feeding.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



Patients should be informed that their concentration may be affected if their diabetes is not satisfactorily controlled, especially at the beginning of treatment (see special warnings and precautions).



4.8 Undesirable Effects



- Hypoglycaemia (see special warnings and precautions).



- Abnormalities of hepatic function are not uncommon during gliclazide therapy. There are rare reports of hepatic failure, hepatitis and jaundice following treatment with gliclazide.



- Mild gastro-intestinal disturbances including nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, constipation have been reported but this type of adverse reaction can be avoided if gliclazide is taken during a meal.



- Skin reactions including rash, pruritus, Erythema, bullous eruption; blood dyscrasia including anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia have been observed during treatment with gliclazide but are not known to be directly attributable to the drug.



4.9 Overdose



The symptoms to be expected of overdose would be hypoglycaemia. The treatment is gastric lavage and correction of the hypoglycaemia by appropriate means with continual monitoring of the patient's blood sugar until the effect of the drug has ceased.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



A10B B09 Oral Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs



Gliclazide is a hypoglycaemic sulphonylurea differing from other related compounds by the addition of an azabicyclo-octane ring.



In man, apart from having similar hypoglycaemic effect to the other sulphonylureas, gliclazide has been shown to reduce platelet adhesiveness and aggregation and increase fibrinolytic activity. These factors are thought to be implicated in the pathogenesis of long-term complications of diabetes mellitus.



Gliclazide primarily enhances the first phase of insulin secretion, but also to a lesser degree its second phase. Both phases are diminished in non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



The drug is well absorbed and its half-life in man is approximately 10-12 hours. Gliclazide is metabolised in the liver; less than 5% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



No data of relevance which is additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Lactose monohydrate



Microcrystalline cellulose



Magnesium stearate



Purified talc



Croscarmellose sodium



Povidone



6.2 Incompatibilities



Not applicable



6.3 Shelf Life



2 years



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage







Blisters:

Do not store above 25ºC. Store in the original package.

Tablet containers:

Do not store above 25ºC. Keep the container tightly closed.


6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



Al/PVC/PVDC blister, pack sizes of 20, 28, 56, 60, 84, 100 tablets.



HDPE tablet containers, pack sizes of 100, 250, 500 or 1000 tablets.



Not all pack sizes may be marketed.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



No special requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



Bristol Laboratories Limited



Unit 3, Canalside



Northbridge Road



Berkhamsted



Hertfordshire



HP4 1EG



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



PL 17907/0067



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



12/06/2007



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



July 2008




Friday 5 October 2012

Mepron





Dosage Form: oral suspension
Mepron®

(atovaquone)

Suspension

Mepron Description


Mepron (atovaquone) is an antiprotozoal agent. The chemical name of atovaquone is trans-2-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclohexyl]-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione. Atovaquone is a yellow crystalline solid that is practically insoluble in water. It has a molecular weight of 366.84 and the molecular formula C22H19ClO3. The compound has the following structural formula:



Mepron Suspension is a formulation of micro-fine particles of atovaquone. The atovaquone particles, reduced in size to facilitate absorption, are significantly smaller than those in the previously marketed tablet formulation. Mepron Suspension is for oral administration and is bright yellow with a citrus flavor. Each teaspoonful (5 mL) contains 750 mg of atovaquone and the inactive ingredients benzyl alcohol, flavor, poloxamer 188, purified water, saccharin sodium, and xanthan gum.



MICROBIOLOGY



Mechanism of Action


Atovaquone is a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, an analog of ubiquinone, with antipneumocystis activity. The mechanism of action against Pneumocystis carinii has not been fully elucidated. In Plasmodium species, the site of action appears to be the cytochrome bc1 complex (Complex III). Several metabolic enzymes are linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain via ubiquinone. Inhibition of electron transport by atovaquone will result in indirect inhibition of these enzymes. The ultimate metabolic effects of such blockade may include inhibition of nucleic acid and ATP synthesis.



Activity In Vitro


Several laboratories, using different in vitro methodologies, have shown the IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) of atovaquone against rat P. carinii to be in the range of 0.1 to 3.0 mcg/mL.



Drug Resistance


Phenotypic resistance to atovaquone in vitro has not been demonstrated for P. carinii. However, in 2 patients who developed P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) after prophylaxis with atovaquone, DNA sequence analysis identified mutations in the predicted amino acid sequence of P. carinii cytochrome b (a likely target site for atovaquone). The clinical significance of this is unknown.



Mepron - Clinical Pharmacology



Pharmacokinetics


Absorption

Atovaquone is a highly lipophilic compound with low aqueous solubility. The bioavailability of atovaquone is highly dependent on formulation and diet. The suspension formulation provides an approximately 2-fold increase in atovaquone bioavailability in the fasting or fed state compared to the previously marketed tablet formulation. The absolute bioavailability of a 750-mg dose of Mepron Suspension administered under fed conditions in 9 HIV-infected (CD4 >100 cells/mm3) volunteers was 47% ± 15%. In the same study, the bioavailability of a 750-mg dose of the previously marketed tablet formulation was 23% ± 11%.


Administering atovaquone with food enhances its absorption by approximately 2 fold. In one study, 16 healthy volunteers received a single dose of 750 mg Mepron Suspension after an overnight fast and following a standard breakfast (23 g fat: 610 kCal). The mean (±SD) area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values were 324 ± 115 and 801 ± 320 hr●mcg/mL under fasting and fed conditions, respectively, representing a 2.6 ± 1.0-fold increase. The effect of food (23 g fat: 400 kCal) on plasma atovaquone concentrations was also evaluated in a multiple-dose, randomized, crossover study in 19 HIV-infected volunteers (CD4 <200 cells/mm3) receiving daily doses of 500 mg Mepron Suspension. AUC was 280 ± 114 hr●mcg/mL when atovaquone was administered with food as compared to 169 ± 77 hr●mcg/mL under fasting conditions. Maximum plasma atovaquone concentration (Cmax) was 15.1 ± 6.1 and 8.8 ± 3.7 mcg/mL when atovaquone was administered with food and under fasting conditions, respectively.


Dose Proportionality

Plasma atovaquone concentrations do not increase proportionally with dose. When Mepron Suspension was administered with food at dosage regimens of 500 mg once daily, 750 mg once daily, and 1,000 mg once daily, average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentrations were 11.7 ± 4.8, 12.5 ± 5.8, and 13.5 ± 5.1 mcg/mL, respectively. The corresponding Cmax concentrations were 15.1 ± 6.1, 15.3 ± 7.6, and 16.8 ± 6.4 mcg/mL. When Mepron Suspension was administered to 5 HIV-infected volunteers at a dose of 750 mg twice daily, the average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration was 21.0 ± 4.9 mcg/mL and Cmax was 24.0 ± 5.7 mcg/mL. The minimum plasma atovaquone concentration (Cmin) associated with the 750-mg twice-daily regimen was 16.7 ± 4.6 mcg/mL.


Distribution

Following the intravenous administration of atovaquone, the volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) was 0.60 ± 0.17 L/kg (n = 9). Atovaquone is extensively bound to plasma proteins (99.9%) over the concentration range of 1 to 90 mcg/mL. In 3 HIV-infected children who received 750 mg atovaquone as the tablet formulation 4 times daily for 2 weeks, the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of atovaquone were 0.04, 0.14, and 0.26 mcg/mL, representing less than 1% of the plasma concentration.


Elimination

The plasma clearance of atovaquone following intravenous (IV) administration in 9 HIV-infected volunteers was 10.4 ± 5.5 mL/min (0.15 ± 0.09 mL/min/kg). The half-life of atovaquone was 62.5 ± 35.3 hours after IV administration and ranged from 67.0 ± 33.4 to 77.6 ± 23.1 hours across studies following administration of Mepron Suspension. The half-life of atovaquone is long due to presumed enterohepatic cycling and eventual fecal elimination. In a study where 14C-labelled atovaquone was administered to healthy volunteers, greater than 94% of the dose was recovered as unchanged atovaquone in the feces over 21 days. There was little or no excretion of atovaquone in the urine (less than 0.6%). There is indirect evidence that atovaquone may undergo limited metabolism; however, a specific metabolite has not been identified.



Special Populations


Pediatrics

In a study of Mepron Suspension in 27 HIV-infected, asymptomatic infants and children between 1 month and 13 years of age, the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone were age dependent. These patients were dosed once daily with food for 12 days. The average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentrations in the 24 patients with available concentration data are shown in Table 1.























Table 1. Average Steady-State Plasma Atovaquone Concentrations in Pediatric Patients

Age



Dose of Mepron Suspension



10 mg/kg



30 mg/kg



45 mg/kg


 

Average Css in mcg/mL (mean ± SD)



1-3 months



5.9


(n = 1)



27.8 ± 5.8


(n = 4)



______



>3-24 months



5.7 ± 5.1


(n = 4)



9.8 ± 3.2


(n = 4)



15.4 ± 6.6


(n = 4)



>2-13 years



16.8 ± 6.4


(n = 4)



37.1 ± 10.9


(n = 3)



______


Hepatic/Renal Impairment

The pharmacokinetics of atovaquone have not been studied in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.



Drug Interactions


Rifampin

In a study with 13 HIV-infected volunteers, the oral administration of rifampin 600 mg every 24 hours with Mepron Suspension 750 mg every 12 hours resulted in a 52% ± 13% decrease in the average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration and a 37% ± 42% increase in the average steady-state plasma rifampin concentration. The half-life of atovaquone decreased from 82 ± 36 hours when administered without rifampin to 50 ± 16 hours with rifampin.


Rifabutin, another rifamycin, is structurally similar to rifampin and may possibly have some of the same drug interactions as rifampin. No interaction trials have been conducted with Mepron and rifabutin.


Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)

The possible interaction between atovaquone and TMP-SMX was evaluated in 6 HIV-infected adult volunteers as part of a larger multiple-dose, dose-escalation, and chronic dosing study of Mepron Suspension. In this crossover study, Mepron Suspension 500 mg once daily, or TMP-SMX tablets (160 mg trimethoprim and 800 mg sulfamethoxazole) twice daily, or the combination were administered with food to achieve steady state. No difference was observed in the average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration after coadministration with TMP-SMX. Coadministration of Mepron with TMP-SMX resulted in a 17% and 8% decrease in average steady-state concentrations of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in plasma, respectively. This effect is minor and would not be expected to produce clinically significant events.


Zidovudine

Data from 14 HIV-infected volunteers who were given atovaquone tablets 750 mg every 12 hours with zidovudine 200 mg every 8 hours showed a 24% ± 12% decrease in zidovudine apparent oral clearance, leading to a 35% ± 23% increase in plasma zidovudine AUC. The glucuronide metabolite:parent ratio decreased from a mean of 4.5 when zidovudine was administered alone to 3.1 when zidovudine was administered with atovaquone tablets. This effect is minor and would not be expected to produce clinically significant events. Zidovudine had no effect on atovaquone pharmacokinetics.



Relationship Between Plasma Atovaquone Concentration and Clinical Outcome


In a comparative study of atovaquone tablets with TMP-SMX for oral treatment of mild-to-moderate Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE), where AIDS patients received 750 mg atovaquone tablets 3 times daily for 21 days, the mean steady-state atovaquone concentration was 13.9 ± 6.9 mcg/mL (n = 133). Analysis of these data established a relationship between plasma atovaquone concentration and successful treatment. This is shown in Table 2.







































Table 2. Relationship Between Plasma Atovaquone Concentration and Successful Treatment

Steady-State Plasma


Atovaquone Concentrations

Successful Treatment*


(No. Successes/No. in Group) (%)
(mcg/mL)ObservedPredicted†
0 to <50/6(0%)1.5/6(25%)
5 to <1018/26(69%)14.7/26(57%)
10 to <1530/38(79%)31.9/38(84%)
15 to <2018/19(95%)18.1/19(95%)
20 to <2518/18(100%)17.8/18(99%)
25+6/6(100%)6/6(100%)

*  Successful treatment was defined as improvement in clinical and respiratory measures persisting at least 4 weeks after cessation of therapy. This was based on data from patients for which both outcome and steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration data are available.


†  Based on logistic regression analysis.


A dosing regimen of Mepron Suspension for the treatment of mild-to-moderate PCP has been selected to achieve average plasma atovaquone concentrations of approximately 20 mcg/mL, because this plasma concentration was previously shown to be well tolerated and associated with the highest treatment success rates (Table 2). In an open-label PCP treatment study with Mepron Suspension, dosing regimens of 1,000 mg once daily, 750 mg twice daily, 1,500 mg once daily, and 1,000 mg twice daily were explored. The average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentration achieved at the 750-mg twice-daily dose given with meals was 22.0 ± 10.1 mcg/mL (n = 18).



Indications and Usage for Mepron


Mepron Suspension is indicated for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients who are intolerant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).


Mepron Suspension is also indicated for the acute oral treatment of mild-to-moderate PCP in patients who are intolerant to TMP-SMX.



Prevention of PCP


The indication for prevention of PCP is based on the results of 2 clinical trials comparing Mepron Suspension to dapsone or aerosolized pentamidine in HIV-infected adult and adolescent patients at risk of PCP (CD4 count <200 cells/mm3 or a prior episode of PCP) and intolerant to TMP-SMX.


Dapsone Comparative Study

This randomized, open-label trial enrolled a total of 1,057 patients at 48 study centers. Patients were randomized to receive 1,500 mg Mepron Suspension once daily (n = 536) or 100 mg dapsone once daily (n = 521). Median follow-up was 24 months. Patients randomized to the dapsone arm who were seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii and had a CD4 count <100 cells/mm3 also received pyrimethamine and folinic acid. PCP event rates are shown in Table 3. There was no significant difference in mortality rates between the groups.


Aerosolized Pentamidine Comparative Study

This randomized, open-label trial enrolled a total of 549 patients at 35 study centers. Patients were randomized to receive 1,500 mg Mepron Suspension once daily (n = 175), 750 mg Mepron Suspension once daily (n = 188), or 300 mg aerosolized pentamidine once monthly (n = 186). Median follow-up was 11.3 months. The results of the PCP event rates appear in Table 3. There were no significant differences in mortality rates among the groups.

























Table 3. Confirmed or Presumed/Probable PCP Events(As-Treated Analysis)*
AssessmentStudy 115-211Study 115-213

Atovaquone


1,500 mg/day


(n = 527)

Dapsone


100 mg/day


(n = 510)

Atovaquone


750 mg/day


(n = 188)

Atovaquone


1,500 mg/day


(n = 172)

Aerosolized


Pentamidine


300 mg/month


(n = 169)
 
%15%19%23%18%17%

Relative Risk†


(CI)‡

0.77


(0.57, 1.04)

1.47


(0.86, 2.50)

1.14


(0.63, 2.06)

*  Those events occurring during or within 30 days of stopping assigned treatment.


†  Relative risk <1 favors atovaquone and values >1 favor comparator. These trials were designed to show superiority of atovaquone to the comparator. This was not shown.


‡  The confidence level of the interval for the dapsone comparative study was 95% and for the pentamidine comparative study was 97.5%.


An analysis of all PCP events (intent-to-treat analysis) showed results similar to those above.



Treatment of PCP


The indication for treatment of mild-to-moderate PCP is based on the results of comparative pharmacokinetic studies of the suspension and tablet formulations (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY) and clinical efficacy studies of the tablet formulation which established a relationship between plasma atovaquone concentration and successful treatment. The results of a randomized, double-blind trial comparing Mepron to TMP-SMX in AIDS patients with mild-to-moderate PCP (defined in the study protocol as an alveolar-arterial oxygen diffusion gradient [(A-a)DO2]1≤45 mm Hg and PaO2≥60 mm Hg on room air) and a randomized trial comparing Mepron to IV pentamidine isethionate in patients with mild-to-moderate PCP intolerant to trimethoprim or sulfa-antimicrobials are summarized below:


TMP-SMX Comparative Study

This double-blind, randomized trial initiated in 1990 was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of Mepron to that of TMP-SMX for the treatment of AIDS patients with histologically confirmed PCP. Only patients with mild-to-moderate PCP were eligible for enrollment.


A total of 408 patients were enrolled into the trial at 37 study centers. Eighty-six patients without histologic confirmation of PCP were excluded from the efficacy analyses. Of the 322 patients with histologically confirmed PCP, 160 were randomized to receive Mepron and 162 to TMP-SMX.


Study participants randomized to treatment with Mepron were to receive 750 mg Mepron (three 250-mg tablets) 3 times daily for 21 days and those randomized to TMP-SMX were to receive 320 mg TMP plus 1,600 mg SMX 3 times daily for 21 days.


Therapy success was defined as improvement in clinical and respiratory measures persisting at least 4 weeks after cessation of therapy. Therapy failures included lack of response, treatment discontinuation due to an adverse experience, and unevaluable.


There was a significant difference (P = 0.03) in mortality rates between the treatment groups. Among the 322 patients with confirmed PCP, 13 of 160 (8%) patients treated with Mepron and 4 of 162 (2.5%) patients receiving TMP-SMX died during the 21-day treatment course or 8-week follow-up period. In the intent-to-treat analysis for all 408 randomized patients, there were 16 (8%) deaths in the arm treated with Mepron and 7 (3.4%) deaths in the TMP-SMX arm (P = 0.051). Of the 13 patients treated with Mepron who died, 4 died of PCP and 5 died with a combination of bacterial infections and PCP; bacterial infections did not appear to be a factor in any of the 4 deaths among TMP-SMX-treated patients.


A correlation between plasma atovaquone concentrations and death was demonstrated; in general, patients with lower plasma concentrations were more likely to die. For those patients for whom day 4 plasma atovaquone concentration data are available, 5 (63%) of the 8 patients with concentrations <5 mcg/mL died during participation in the study. However, only 1 (2.0%) of the 49 patients with day 4 plasma atovaquone concentrations ≥5 mcg/mL died.


Sixty-two percent of patients on Mepron and 64% of patients on TMP-SMX were classified as protocol-defined therapy successes (Table 4).















































Table 4. Outcome of Treatment for PCP-Positive Patients Enrolled in the TMP-SMX Comparative Study

Number of Patients


(% of Total)
Outcome of Therapy*

Mepron


(n = 160)

TMP-SMX


(n = 162)

P


Value
Therapy success99(62%)103(64%)0.75
Therapy failure
  -Lack of response28(17%)10(6%)<0.01
  -Adverse experience11(7%)33(20%)<0.01
  -Unevaluable22(14%)16(10%)0.28
Required alternate PCP therapy during study55(34%)55(34%)0.95

*  As defined by the protocol and described in study description above.


The failure rate due to lack of response was significantly larger for patients receiving Mepron while the failure rate due to adverse experiences was significantly larger for patients receiving TMP-SMX.


There were no significant differences in the effect of either treatment on additional indicators of response (i.e., arterial blood gas measurements, vital signs, serum LDH levels, clinical symptoms, and chest radiographs).


Pentamidine Comparative Study

This unblinded, randomized trial initiated in 1991 was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of Mepron to that of pentamidine for the treatment of histologically confirmed mild or moderate PCP in AIDS patients. Approximately 80% of the patients either had a history of intolerance to trimethoprim or sulfa-antimicrobials (the primary therapy group) or were experiencing intolerance to TMP-SMX with treatment of an episode of PCP at the time of enrollment in the study (the salvage treatment group).


Patients randomized to Mepron were to receive 750 mg atovaquone (three 250-mg tablets) 3 times daily for 21 days and those randomized to pentamidine isethionate were to receive a 3- to 4-mg/kg single IV infusion daily for 21 days.


A total of 174 patients were enrolled into the trial at 22 study centers. Thirty-nine patients without histologic confirmation of PCP were excluded from the efficacy analyses. Of the 135 patients with histologically confirmed PCP, 70 were randomized to receive Mepron and 65 to pentamidine. One hundred and ten (110) of these were in the primary therapy group and 25 were in the salvage therapy group. One patient in the primary therapy group randomized to receive pentamidine did not receive study medication.


There was no difference in mortality rates between the treatment groups. Among the 135 patients with confirmed PCP, 10 of 70 (14%) patients randomized to Mepron and 9 of 65 (14%) patients randomized to pentamidine died during the 21-day treatment course or 8-week follow-up period. In the intent-to-treat analysis for all randomized patients, there were 11 (12.5%) deaths in the arm treated with Mepron and 12 (14%) deaths in the pentamidine arm. For those patients for whom day 4 plasma atovaquone concentrations are available, 3 of 5 (60%) patients with concentrations <5 mcg/mL died during participation in the study. However, only 2 of 21 (9%) patients with day 4 plasma concentrations ≥5 mcg/mL died.


The therapeutic outcomes for the 134 patients who received study medication in this trial are presented in Table 5.


















































































Table 5. Outcome of Treatment for PCP-Positive Patients Enrolled in the Pentamidine Comparative Study
Primary TreatmentSalvage Treatment
Outcome of Therapy

Mepron


(n = 56)

Pentamidine


(n = 53)
P Value

Mepron


(n = 14)

Pentamidine


(n = 11)
P Value
Therapy success32(57%)21(40%)0.0913(93%)7(64%)0.14
Therapy failure
  -Lack of response16(29%)9(17%)0.1800
  -Adverse experience2(3.6%)19(36%)<0.0103(27%)0.07
  -Unevaluable6(11%)4(8%)0.751(7%)1(9%)1.00
Required alternate PCP therapy during study19(34%)29(55%)0.0404(36%)0.03

Contraindications


Mepron Suspension is contraindicated for patients who develop or have a history of potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to any of the components of the formulation.



Warnings


Clinical experience with Mepron for the treatment of PCP has been limited to patients with mild-to-moderate PCP [(A-a)DO2≤45 mm Hg]. Treatment of more severe episodes of PCP has not been systematically studied with this agent. Also, the efficacy of Mepron in patients who are failing therapy with TMP-SMX has not been systematically studied.



Precautions



General


Absorption of orally administered Mepron is limited but can be significantly increased when the drug is taken with food. Plasma atovaquone concentrations have been shown to correlate with the likelihood of successful treatment and survival. Therefore, parenteral therapy with other agents should be considered for patients who have difficulty taking Mepron with food (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). Gastrointestinal disorders may limit absorption of orally administered drugs. Patients with these disorders also may not achieve plasma concentrations of atovaquone associated with response to therapy in controlled trials.


Based upon the spectrum of in vitro antimicrobial activity, atovaquone is not effective therapy for concurrent pulmonary conditions such as bacterial, viral, or fungal pneumonia or mycobacterial diseases. Clinical deterioration in patients may be due to infections with other pathogens, as well as progressive PCP. All patients with acute PCP should be carefully evaluated for other possible causes of pulmonary disease and treated with additional agents as appropriate.


Rare cases of hepatitis, elevated liver function tests and one case of fatal liver failure have been reported in patients treated with atovaquone. A causal relationship between atovaquone use and these events could not be established because of numerous confounding medical conditions and concomitant drug therapies. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.)


If it is necessary to treat patients with severe hepatic impairment, caution is advised and administration should be closely monitored.



Information for Patients


The importance of taking the prescribed dose of Mepron should be stressed. Patients should be instructed to take their daily doses of Mepron with meals, as the presence of food will significantly improve the absorption of the drug.



Drug Interactions


Atovaquone is highly bound to plasma protein (>99.9%). Therefore, caution should be used when administering Mepron concurrently with other highly plasma protein-bound drugs with narrow therapeutic indices, as competition for binding sites may occur. The extent of plasma protein binding of atovaquone in human plasma is not affected by the presence of therapeutic concentrations of phenytoin (15 mcg/mL), nor is the binding of phenytoin affected by the presence of atovaquone.


Rifampin

Coadministration of rifampin and Mepron Suspension results in a significant decrease in average steady-state plasma atovaquone concentrations (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Drug Interactions). Alternatives to rifampin should be considered during the course of PCP treatment with Mepron.


Rifabutin, another rifamycin, is structurally similar to rifampin and may possibly have some of the same drug interactions as rifampin. No interaction trials have been conducted with Mepron and rifabutin.



Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions


It is not known if Mepron interferes with clinical laboratory test or assay results.



Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility


Carcinogenicity studies in rats were negative; 24-month studies in mice showed treatment-related increases in incidence of hepatocellular adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma at all doses tested which ranged from 1.4 to 3.6 times the average steady-state plasma concentrations in humans during acute treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Atovaquone was negative with or without metabolic activation in the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity assay, the Mouse Lymphoma mutagenesis assay, and the Cultured Human Lymphocyte cytogenetic assay. No evidence of genotoxicity was observed in the in vivo Mouse Micronucleus assay.



Pregnancy


Pregnancy Category C. Atovaquone was not teratogenic and did not cause reproductive toxicity in rats at plasma concentrations up to 2 to 3 times the estimated human exposure. Atovaquone caused maternal toxicity in rabbits at plasma concentrations that were approximately one half the estimated human exposure. Mean fetal body lengths and weights were decreased and there were higher numbers of early resorption and post-implantation loss per dam. It is not clear whether these effects were caused by atovaquone directly or were secondary to maternal toxicity. Concentrations of atovaquone in rabbit fetuses averaged 30% of the concurrent maternal plasma concentrations. In a separate study in rats given a single 14C-radiolabelled dose, concentrations of radiocarbon in rat fetuses were 18% (middle gestation) and 60% (late gestation) of concurrent maternal plasma concentrations. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Mepron should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.



Nursing Mothers


It is not known whether atovaquone is excreted into human milk. Because many drugs are excreted into human milk, caution should be exercised when Mepron is administered to a nursing woman. In a rat study, atovaquone concentrations in the milk were 30% of the concurrent atovaquone concentrations in the maternal plasma.



Pediatric Use


Evidence of safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients has not been established. A relationship between plasma atovaquone concentrations and successful treatment of PCP has been established in adults (see Table 2). In a study of Mepron Suspension in 27 HIV-infected, asymptomatic infants and children between 1 month and 13 years of age, the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone were age-dependent (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations). No drug-related treatment-limiting adverse events were observed in the pharmacokinetic study.



Geriatric Use


Clinical studies of Mepron did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.



Adverse Reactions


Because many patients who participated in clinical trials with Mepron had complications of advanced HIV disease, it was often difficult to distinguish adverse events caused by Mepron from those caused by underlying medical conditions. There were no life-threatening or fatal adverse experiences caused by Mepron.



PCP Prevention Studies


In the dapsone comparative study of Mepron Suspension, adverse experience data were collected only for treatment-limiting events. Among the entire population (n = 1,057), treatment-limiting events occurred at similar frequencies in patients treated with Mepron Suspension or dapsone (Table 6). Among patients who were taking neither dapsone nor atovaquone at enrollment (n = 487), treatment-limiting events occurred in 43% of patients treated with dapsone and 20% of patients treated with Mepron Suspension (P <0.001). In both populations, the type of treatment-limiting events differed between the 2 treatment arms. Hypersensitivity reactions (rash, fever, allergic reaction) and anemia were more common in patients treated with dapsone, while gastrointestinal events (nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting) were more common in patients treated with Mepron Suspension.










































Table 6. Treatment-Limiting Adverse Experiences in the Dapsone Comparative PCP Prevention Study

Treatment-Limiting


Adverse Experience
Percentage of Patients with Treatment-Limiting Adverse Experience
All PatientsPatients Not Taking Either Drug at Enrollment

Mepron


1,500 mg/day


(n = 536)

Dapsone


100 mg/day


(n = 521)

Mepron


1,500 mg/day


(n = 238)

Dapsone


100 mg/day


(n = 249)
 
Any event24.4%25.9%20.2%43.4%
Rash6.3%8.8%7.6%16.1%
Nausea4.1%0.6%2.5%0.8%
Diarrhea3.2%0.2%2.1%0.4%
Vomiting2.2%0.6%1.3%0.8%
Allergic reaction1.1%2.9%0.8%4.8%

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Azocan 200





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Azocan 200mg Capsules.



Fluconazole 200mg Capsules


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each capsule contains Fluconazole 200mg.



For excipients, see 6.1.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Hard capsule.



A hard gelatin size “0” capsule with a violet cap and white body containing a white free flowing powder.



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Therapy may be instituted before the results of the cultures and other laboratory studies are known; however, once these results become available, anti-infective therapy should be adjusted accordingly.



Fluconazole is indicated for the treatment of the following conditions:



1. Genital candidiasis. Vaginal candidiasis, acute or recurrent. Candidal balanitis. The treatment of partners who present with symptomatic genital candidiasis should be considered.



2. Mucosal candidiasis. These include oropharyngeal, oesophageal, non-invasive bronchopulmonary infections, candiduria, mucocutaneous and chronic oral atrophic candidiasis (denture sore mouth). Normal hosts and patients with compromised immune function may be treated.



3. Tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea versicolor and dermal Candida infections. Fluconazole is not indicated for nail infections.



4. Systemic candidiasis including candidaemia, disseminated candidiasis and other forms of invasive candidal infection. These include infections of the peritoneum, endocardium and pulmonary and urinary tracts. Candi infections in patients with malignancy, in intensive care units or those receiving cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapy may be treated.



5. Cryptococcosis, including cryptococcal meningitis and infections of other sites (e.g. pulmonary, cutaneous). Normal hosts, and patients with AIDS, organ transplants or other causes of immunosuppression may be treated. Fluconazole can be used as maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of cryptococcal disease in patients with AIDS.



6. For the prevention of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients considered at risk as a consequence of neutropenia following cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, including bone marrow transplant patients



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



For oral use.



The daily dose of fluconazole should be based on the nature and severity of the fungal infection. Most cases of vaginal candidiasis respond to single dose therapy. Therapy for those types of infections requiring multiple dose treatment should be continued until clinical parameters or laboratory tests indicate that active fungal infection has subsided. An inadequate period of treatment may lead to recurrence of active infection. Patients with AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis usually require maintenance therapy to prevent relapse.



In Adults:



1) Candidal vaginitis or balanitis: 150mg single oral dose.



2) Mucosal candidiasis



a) Oropharyngeal candidiasis: The usual dose is 50mg once daily for 7–14 days. Treatment should not normally exceed 14 days except in severely immunocompromised patients.



b) For atrophic oral candidiasis associated with dentures: The usual dose is 50mg once daily for 14 days administered concurrently with local antiseptic measures to the denture.



c) For other candidal infections of mucosa except genital candidiasis (see above), e.g. oesophagitis, non-invasive bronchopulmonary infections, candiduria, mucocutaneous candidiasis etc., the usual effective dose is 50mg daily, given for 14 – 30 days.



In unusually difficult cases of mucosal candidal infections the dose may be increased to 100mg daily.



3) For tinea pedis, corporis, cruris, versicolor, and dermal Candida infections: The recommended dose is 50mg once daily. Duration of treatment is normally 2 to 4 weeks but tinea pedis may require treatment for up to 6 weeks. Duration of treatment should not exceed 6 weeks



4) For candidaemia, disseminated candidiasis and other invasive candidal infections: The usual dose is 400mg on the first day followed by 200mg daily. Depending on the clinical response the dose may be increased to 400mg daily. Duration of treatment is based upon the clinical response.



5) For cryptococcal meningitis and cryptococcal infections at other sites: The usual dose is 400mg on the first day followed by 200mg – 400mg once daily. Duration of treatment for cryptococcal infections will depend on the clinical and mycological response, but is usually at least 6 - 8 weeks for cryptococcal meningitis.



6) For the prevention of relapse of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS, after the patient receives a full course of primary therapy: Fluconazole may be administered indefinitely at a daily dose of 100 – 200mg.



7) For the prevention of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients considered at risk as a consequence of neutropenia following cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy: The dose should be 50 – 400mg once daily, based on the patient's risk for devoping fungal infection. For patients at high risk of systemic infection, e.g. patients who are anticipated to have profound or prolonged neutropenia such as during bone marrow transplantation, the recommended dose is 400mg once daily. Fluconazole administration should start several days before the anticipated onset of neutropenia, and continue for 7 days after the neutrophil count rises above 1000 cells per mm3.



In Children:



As with similar infections in adults, the duration of treatment is based on the clinical and mycological response. Fluconazole is administered as a single daily dose each day.



For children with impaired renal function, see dosing in “Use in patients with impaired renal function”.



Children over 4 weeks of age (and where a capsule preparation is suitable):



1) For Mucosal candidiasis: The recommended dose of fluconazole is 3mg/kg body weight daily. A loading dose of 6mg/kg body weight may be used on the first day to achieve steady state levels more rapidly.



2) For Systemic candidiasis and cryptococcal infections: The recommended dose is 6-12mg/kg body weight daily, depending on the severity of the disease.



3) For prevention of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients considered at risk as a consequence of neutropenia following cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy: The dose should be 3 – 12mg/kg body weight daily, depending on the extent and duration of the induced neutropenia (see adult dosing).



A maximum dosage of 400mg daily should not be exceeded in children.



Despite extensive data supporting the use of fluconazole in children there are limited data available on the use of fluconazole for genital candidiasis in children below 16 years of age. Use at present is not recommended unless antifungal treatment is imperative and no suitable alternative agent exists.



Children below 4 weeks of age:



(Capsule form is not suitable for this age group)



Neonates excrete fluconazole slowly. In the first two weeks of life the same mg/kg dosing as in older children should be used but administered every 72 hours. During weeks 2 – 4 of life the same dose should be given every 48 hours.



A maximum dosage of 12 mg/kg every 72 hours should not be exceeded in children below two weeks of life. For children between 2 – 4 weeks of life 12 mg/kg every 48 hours should not be exceeded.



For children with impaired renal function the daily dose should be reduced in accordance with the guidelines given for adults.



To facilitate accurate measurement of doses less than 10mg, fluconazole should only be administered to children in hospital using preparations available in oral suspension or intravenous infusion.



In the Elderly:



The normal adult dose should be used if there is no evidence of renal impairment. In patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 50ml/min) the dosage schedule should be adjusted as described below.



Use in patients with impaired renal function:



Fluconazole is excreted predominantly in the urine as unchanged drug. No adjustments in single dose therapy are required. In patients (including children) with impaired renal function who will receive multiple doses of fluconazole, the normal recommended dose (according to indication) should be given on day 1, followed by a daily dose based on the following table:












Creatinine clearance (ml/min)




Percent of recommended dose




> 50




100%







50%




Regular dialysis




100% after each dialysis



4.3 Contraindications



Fluconazole should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to fluconazole or to related azole compounds or to any of the other ingredients.



Co-administration of terfenadine or cisapride is contraindicated in patients receiving fluconazole. (See “Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction”).



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the LAPP lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.



Use with caution in patients with renal impairment. (See “Use in patients with impaired renal function” in Section 4.2).



In some patients, particularly those with serious underlying diseases such as AIDS and cancer, abnormalities in haematological, hepatic, renal and other biochemical function test results have been observed during treatment with fluconazole but the clinical significance and relationship to treatment is uncertain.



Very rarely, patients who died with severe underlying disease and who had received multiple doses of fluconazole had post-mortem findings which included hepatic necrosis. These patients were receiving multiple concomitant medications, some known to be potentially hepatotoxic, and/or had underlying diseases which could have caused the hepatic necrosis.



In cases of hepatotoxicity, no obvious relationship to total daily dose of fluconazole, duration of therapy, sex or age of the patient has been observed; the abnormalities have usually been reversible on discontinuation of fluconazole therapy.



As a causal relationship with fluconazole cannot be excluded, patients who develop abnormal liver function tests during fluconazole therapy should be monitored for the development of more serious hepatic injury. Fluconazole should be discontinued if clinical signs or symptoms consistent with liver disease develop during treatment with fluconazole.



Patients have rarely developed exfoliative cutaneous reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, during treatment with fluconazole. AIDS patients are more prone to the development of severe cutaneous reactions to many drugs. If a rash develops in a patient treated for a superficial fungal infection which is considered attributable to fluconazole, further therapy with this agent should be discontinued. If patients with invasive/systemic fungal infections develop rashes, they should be monitored closely and fluconazole discontinued if bullous lesions or erythema multiforme develop.



In rare cases, as with other azoles, anaphylaxis has been reported.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Rifampicin



Concomitant administration of fluconazole and rifampicin resulted in a 25% decrease in the AUC and 20% shorter half-life of fluconazole. In patients receiving concomitant rifampicin, an increase in the fluconazole dose should be considered.



Hydrochlorothiazide



In a kinetic interaction study, co-administration of multiple-dose hydrochlorothiazide to healthy volunteers receiving fluconazole increased plasma concentrations of fluconazole by 40%. An effect of this magnitude should not necessitate a change in the fluconazole dose regimen in subjects receiving concomitant diuretics, although the prescriber should bear it in mind.



Anticoagulants



In an interaction study, fluconazole increased the prothrombin time (12%) after warfarin administration in healthy males. As with other azole antifungals, bleeding events (bruising, epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, haematuria and melaena) have been reported in association with increases in prothrombin time in patients receiving fluconazole concurrently with warfarin. Prothrombin time in patients receiving coumarin-type anticoagulants should be carefully monitored.



Benzodiazepines (Short acting)



Following oral administration of midazolam, fluconazole resulted in substantial increases in midazolam concentrations and psychomotor effects. This effect on midazolam appears to be more pronounced following oral administration of fluconazole than with fluconazole administered intravenously. If concomitant benzodiazepine therapy is necessary in patients being treated with fluconazole, consideration should be given to decreasing the benzodiazepine dosage and the patients should be appropriately monitored.



Sulphonylureas



Fluconazole has been shown to prolong the serum half-life of concomitantly administered oral sulphonylureas (chlorpropamide, glibenclamide, glipizide and tolbutamide) in healthy volunteers. Fluconazole and oral sulphonylureas may be co-administered to diabetic patients, but the possibility of a hypoglycaemic episode should be borne in mind.



Phenytoin



Concomitant administration of fluconazole and phenytoin may increase the levels of phenytoin to a clinically significant degree. If it is necessary to administer both drugs concomitantly, phenytoin levels should be monitored and the phenytoin dose adjusted to maintain therapeutic levels.



Oral contraceptives



Two kinetic studies with combined oral contraceptives have been performed using multiple doses of fluconazole. There were no relevant effects on either hormone level in a 50mg fluconazole study, while at 200mg daily the AUCs of ethinyloestradiol and levonorgestrel were increased 40% and 24% respectively. Thus multiple dose use of fluconazole at these doses is unlikely to have an effect on the efficacy of the combined oral contraceptive.



Endogenous steroid



Fluconazole 50mg daily does not affect endogenous steroid levels in females: 200 – 400mg daily has no clinically significant effect on endogenous steroid levels or on ACTH stimulated response in healthy male volunteers.



Ciclosporin



A kinetic study in renal transplant patients found fluconazole 200mg daily to slowly increase ciclosporin concentrations. However, in another multiple dose study with 100mg daily, fluconazole did not affect ciclosporin levels in patients with bone marrow transplants. Ciclosporin plasma concentration monitoring in patients receiving fluconazole is recommended.



Theophylline



In a placebo controlled interaction study, the administration of fluconazole 200mg for 14 days resulted in an 18% decrease in the mean plasma clearance of theophylline. Patients who are receiving high doses of theophylline or who are otherwise at increased risk for theophylline toxicity should be observed for signs of theophylline toxicity while receiving fluconazole, and the therapy modified appropriately if signs of toxicity develop.



Terfenadine



Because of the occurrence of serious dysrhythmias secondary to prolongation of the QTc interval in patients receiving other azole antifungals in conjunction with terfenadine, interactions studies have been performed. One study at a 200mg daily dose of fluconazole failed to demonstrate a prolongation in QTc interval. Another study at a 400mg and 800mg daily dose of fluconazole demonstrated that fluconazole taken in multiple doses of 400mg per day or greater significantly increased plasma levels of terfenadine when taken concomitantly. There have been spontaneously reported cases of palpitations, tachycardia, dizziness, and chest pain in patients taking concomitant fluconazole and terfenadine where the relationship of the reported adverse events to drug therapy or underlying medical conditions was not clear. Because of the potential seriousness of such an interaction, it is recommended that terfenadine not be taken in combination with fluconazole. (See “Contra-indications”).



Cisapride



There have been reports of cardiac events including torsades de pointes in patients to whom fluconazole and cisapride were co-administered. In most of these cases, the patients appear to have been predisposed to arrhythmias or had serious underlying illnesses, and the relationship of the reported events to a possible fluconazole-cisapride drug interaction is unclear. Because of the potential seriousness of such an interaction, co-administration of cisapride is contra-indicated in patients receiving fluconazole. (See “Contra-indications”).



Zidovudine



Two kinetic studies resulted in increased levels of zidovudine most likely caused by the decreased conversion of zidovudine to its major metabolite. One study determined zidovudine levels in AIDS or ARC patients before and following fluconazole 200mg daily for 15 days. There was a significant increase in zidovudine AUC (20%). A second randomised, two-period, two- treatment cross-over study examined zidovudine levels in HIV infected patients. On two occasions, 21 days apart, patients received zidovudine 200mg every eight hours either with or without fluconazole 400mg daily for seven days. The AUC of zidovudine significantly increased (74%) during co- administration with fluconazole. Patients receiving this combination should be monitored for the development of zidovudine-related adverse reactions.



Rifabutin



There have been reports that an interaction exists when fluconazole is administered concomitantly with rifabutin, leading to increased serum levels of rifabutin. There have been reports of uveitis in patients to whom fluconazole and rifabutin were co-administered. Patients receiving rifabutin and fluconazole concomitantly should be carefully monitored.



Tacrolimus



There have been reports that an interaction exists when fluconazole is administered concomitantly with tacrolimus, leading to increased serum levels of tacrolimus. There have been reports of nephrotoxicity in patients to whom fluconazole and tacrolimus were co-administered. Pateints receiving tacrolimus and fluconazole concomitantly should be carefully monitored.



The use of fluconazole in patients concurrently taking astemizole or other drugs metabolised by the cytochrome P450 system may be associated with elevations in serum levels of these drugs. In the absence of definitive information, caution should be used when co-administering fluconazole. Patients should be carefully monitored.



Interaction studies have shown that when oral fluconazole is co-administered with food, cimetidine, antacids or following total body irradiation for bone marrow transplantation, no clinically significant impairment of fluconazole absorption occurs.



Physicians should be aware that drug-drug interaction studies with other medications have not been conducted, but that such interactions may occur.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Use during pregnancy



There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. There have been reports of multiple congenital abnormalities in infants whose mothers were being treated for 3 or more months with high dose (400-800 mg/day) fluconazole therapy for coccidioidomycosis. The relationship between fluconazole and these events is unclear.



Accordingly, fluconazole should not be used in pregnancy, or in women of childbearing potential unless adequate contraception is employed. Use in pregnancy should be avoided except in patients with severe or potentially life-threatening fungal infections in whom fluconazole may be used if the anticipated benefit outweighs the possible risk to the foetus.



Use during lactation



Fluconazole is found in human breast milk at concentrations similar to plasma, hence its use in nursing mothers is not recommended.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



Experience with fluconazole indicates that therapy is unlikely to impair a patient's ability to drive or use machinery.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



The following treatment–related undesirable effects were reported in 4,048 patients receiving fluconazole for 7 or more days in clinical trials:












































































Organ systems




Very Common



>1/10




Common



>1/100,



<1/10




Uncommon



>1/1,000,



<1/100




Rare



>1/10,000,



<1/1,000




Very rare



<1/10,000




General




 



 




 



 




fatigue, malaise, asthenia, fever




 



 




 



 




Central and Peripheral Nervous System




 



 




Headache




Convulsions, dizziness, Paraesthesia, tremor,



vertigo




 



 




 



 




Skin and Appendages




 



 




Skin Rash




Pruritus




Exfoliative Skin disorder (Stevens- Johnson Syndrome)




 



 




Gastrointestinal




 



 




Nausea and Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea




Anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence




 



 




 



 




Musculoskeletal



 



 




 



 




 



 




Myalgia




 



 




 



 




Autonomic Nervous System




 



 




 



 




Dry mouth, increased sweating




 



 




 



 




Psychiatric




 



 




 



 




Insomnia, somnolence




 



 




 



 




Liver and Biliary System




 



 




Clinically significant increase of AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase




Cholestasis, hepatocellular damage, jaundice. Clinically significant increase o total bilirubin




Hepatic Necrosis




 



 




Special Senses




 



 




 



 




Taste perversion




 



 




 



 




Hematopoietic and Lymphatic




 



 




 



 




Anaemia




 



 




 



 




Immunologic




 



 




 



 




 



 




Anaphylaxis




 



 



Adverse clinical events were reported more frequently in HIV infected patients (21%) than in non-HIV infected patients (13%). However, the patterns of adverse events in HIV infected and non-HIV infected patients were similar.



In addition, the following adverse events have occurred under conditions where a causal association is uncertain (e.g. open trials, during post-marketing experience):














































Organ Systems




Very Common



>1/10




Common



> 1/100,



< 1/10




Uncommon



> 1/1,000,



< 1/1,00



 



 




Rare



> 1/10,000,



< 1/1,000




Very rare



< 1/10,000




Central and Peripheral Nervous System




 



 




 



 




 



 




Seizures




 



 




Skin and Appendages




 



 




 



 




 



 




Alopecia




Exfoliative skin disorder (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis), erythema exudativum multiforme




Liver and Biliary system




 



 




 



 




 



 




Hepatic Failure,hepatitis, hepatic necrosis




 



 




Immunologic




 



 




 



 




 



 




 



 




Anaphylaxis, angiodema, face oedema and pruritus




Hematopoietic and Lymphatic




 



 




 



 




 



 




Leukopenia, including neutropenia and agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia




 



 




Metabolic




 



 




 



 




 



 




Hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypokalaemia




 



 



4.9 Overdose



There have been reports of overdosage with fluconazole and in one case, a 42 year-old patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus developed hallucinations and exhibited paranoid behaviour after reportedly ingesting 8200mg of fluconazole, unverified by his physician. The patient was admitted to the hospital and his condition resolved within 48 hours.



In the event of overdosage, supportive measures and symptomatic treatment, with gastric lavage if necessary, may be adequate.



As fluconazole is largely excreted in the urine, forced volume diuresis would probably increase the elimination rate. A three hour haemodialysis session decreases plasma levels by approximately 50%.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



J02A C01 Antimycotics for systemic use – triazole derivatives Fluconazole, a member of the triazole class of antifungal agents, is a potent and selective inhibitor of fungal enzymes necessary for the synthesis of ergosterol.



Fluconazole shows little pharmacological activity in a wide range of animal studies. Some prolongation of pentobarbital sleeping times in mice (p.o.), increased mean arterial and left ventricular blood pressure and increased heart rate in anaesthetised cats (i.v.) occurred. Inhibition of rat ovarian aromatase was observed at high concentrations.



There have been reports of cases of superinfection with Candida species other than C. albicans, which are often inherently not susceptible to fluconazole (e.g. Candida krusei). Such cases may require alternative antifungal therapy.



Fluconazole is highly specific for fungal cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes. Fluconazole 50mg daily given up to 28 days has been shown not to affect testosterone plasma concentrations in males or steroid concentrations in females of child-bearing age. Fluconazole 200-400mg daily has no clinically significant effect on endogenous steroid levels or on ACTH stimulated response in healthy male volunteers. Interaction studies with antipyrine indicate that single or multiple doses of fluconazole 50mg do not affect its metabolism.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



The pharmacokinetic properties of fluconazole are similar following administration by the intravenous or oral route. After oral administration fluconazole is well absorbed and plasma levels (and systemic bioavailability) are over 90% of the levels achieved after intravenous administration. Oral absorption is not affected by concomitant food intake. Peak plasma concentrations in the fasting state occur between 0.5 and 1.5 hours post-dose with a plasma elimination half-life of approximately 30 hours. Plasma concentrations are proportional to dose. Ninety percent steady-state levels are reached by day 4-5 with multiple once daily dosing.



Administration of a loading dose (on day 1) of twice the usual daily dose enables plasma levels to approximate to 90% steady-state levels by day 2. The apparent volume of distribution approximates to total body water. Plasma protein binding is low (11-12%).



Fluconazole achieves good penetration in all body fluids studied. The levels of fluconazole in saliva and sputum are similar to plasma levels. In patients with fungal meningitis, fluconazole levels in the CSF are approximately 80% of the corresponding plasma levels.



High skin concentrations of fluconazole, above serum concentrations, are achieved in the stratum corneum, epidermis-dermis and eccrine sweat. Fluconazole accumulates in the stratum corneum. At a dose of 50mg once daily, the concentration of fluconazole after 12 days was 73 microgram/g and 7 days after cessation of treatment the concentration was still 5.8 microgram/g.



The major route of excretion is renal, with approximately 80% of the administered dose appearing in the urine as unchanged drug. Fluconazole clearance is proportional to creatinine clearance. There is no evidence of circulating metabolites.



The long plasma elimination half-life provides the basis for single dose therapy for genital candidiasis and once daily dosing for other indications.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Reproductive Toxicity increases in fetal anatomical variants (supernumary ribs, renal pelvis dilation) and delays in ossification were observed at 25 and



50mg/kg and higher doses. At doses ranging from 80mg/kg (approximately 20-60x the recommended human dose) to 320mg/kg embryolethality in rats was increased and fetal abnormalities included wavy ribs, cleft palate and abnormal cranio-facial ossification.



Carcinogenesis Fluconazole showed no evidence of carcinogenic potential in mice and rats treated orally for 24 months at doses of 2.5, 5 or 10mg/kg/day. Male rats treated with 5 and 10mg/kg/day had an increased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas.



Mutagenesis Fluconazole, with or without metabolic activation, was negative in tests for mutagenicity in 4 strains of S.typhimurium and in the mouse lymphoma L5178Y system. Cytogenetic studies in vivo (murine bone marrow cells, following oral administration of fluconazole) and in vitro (human lymphocytes exposed to fluconazole at 1000µg/ml) showed no evidence of chromosomal mutations.



Impairment of Fertility Fluconazole did not affect the fertility of male or female rats treated orally with daily doses of 5, 10 or 20mg/kg or with parenteral doses of 5, 25 or 75mg/kg, although the onset of parturition was slightly delayed at 20mg/kg p.o. In an intravenous perinatal study in rats at 5, 20 and 40mg/kg, dystocia and prolongation of parturition were observed in a few dams at 20mg/kg and 40mg/kg, but not at 5mg/kg. The disturbances in parturition were reflected by a slight increase in the number of still-born pups and decrease of neonatal survival at these dose levels. The effects on parturition in rats are consistent with the species specific oestrogen-lowering property produced by high doses of fluconazole. Such a hormone change has not been observed in women treated with fluconazole.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Lactose



Pregelatinised Maize Starch



Sodium Laurilsulfate



Colloidal Anhydrous Silica



Magnesium Stearate



Purified Talc



Capsule shell:



Gelatin



Brilliant Blue E133



Erythrosin E127



Titanium Dioxide E171



Water



Sodium Laurilsulfate



6.2 Incompatibilities



No specific incompatibilities have been noted.



6.3 Shelf Life



2 years



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 25°C.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



Aluminium and PVC/PVdC blister.



Pack size: 7 capsules.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



Not applicable.



Administrative Data


7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



FDC International Ltd



Unit 6 Fulcrum 1



Solent Way



Whiteley



Fareham



Hants



PO15 7FE



United Kingdom



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



PL15872/0014



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



16 November 2006



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



17 June 2009