Warnings for Atzumi
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Atzumi
Peripheral Ischemia Following Coadministration with Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors
Serious and/or life-threatening peripheral ischemia has been associated with the coadministration of dihydroergotamine with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including protease inhibitors, macrolide antibiotics, and antifungals. Because CYP3A4 inhibition elevates the serum levels of dihydroergotamine, the risk for vasospasm leading to cerebral ischemia and/or ischemia of the extremities is increased. Hence, concomitant use of ATZUMI with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors is contraindicated [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Myocardial Ischemia And/Or Infarction, Other Cardiac Adverse Reactions, And Fatalities
The potential for cardiac adverse reactions exists with ATZUMI treatment. Serious adverse cardiac events, including some that have been fatal, have occurred following use of dihydroergotamine.
These events have included acute myocardial infarction, life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm (e.g., ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation), coronary artery vasospasm, and transient myocardial ischemia.
Prior to initiation of ATZUMI, a cardiovascular evaluation is recommended to determine if the patient is free of coronary artery and ischemic myocardial disease or other significant underlying cardiovascular disease. If, during the cardiovascular evaluation, the patient's medical history (including risk factors), or electrocardiographic investigation, findings are consistent with coronary artery vasospasm or myocardial ischemia, ATZUMI should not be administered [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
For patients with risk factors predictive of coronary artery disease (e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoker, obesity, diabetes, strong family history of coronary artery disease, females who are surgically or physiologically postmenopausal, or males who are over 40 years of age) who are determined to have a satisfactory cardiovascular evaluation, it is strongly recommended that administration of the first dose of ATZUMI take place in the setting of an equipped healthcare facility, unless the patient has previously received dihydroergotamine. During the interval immediately following the first use of ATZUMI, an electrocardiogram is recommended in those patients with risk factors because ischemia can occur in the absence of clinical symptoms.
Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions And Fatalities
The potential for adverse cerebrovascular adverse reactions exists with ATZUMI treatment. Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, stroke, and other cerebrovascular events have been reported in patients treated with dihydroergotamine; and some have resulted in fatalities. In a number of cases, it appears possible that the cerebrovascular events were primary, the dihydroergotamine having been administered in the incorrect belief that the symptoms experienced were a consequence of migraine, when they were not. It should be noted that patients with migraine may be at increased risk of certain cerebrovascular events (e.g., stroke, hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack). Discontinue ATZUMI if a cerebrovascular event is suspected.
Other Vasospasm Related Adverse Reactions
ATZUMI, like other ergot alkaloids, may cause vasospastic reactions other than coronary artery vasospasm. Myocardial, peripheral vascular, and colonic ischemia have been reported with dihydroergotamine.
Dihydroergotamine associated vasospastic phenomena may also cause muscle pains, numbness, coldness, pallor, and cyanosis of the digits. In patients with compromised circulation, persistent vasospasm may result in gangrene or death. ATZUMI should be discontinued immediately if signs or symptoms of vasoconstriction develop.
Patients who experience other symptoms or signs suggestive of decreased arterial flow, such as ischemic bowel syndrome or Raynaud's syndrome, following the use of any 5-HT1 agonist, including ATZUMI, should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Increase In Blood Pressure
Significant elevation in blood pressure has been reported on rare occasions in patients with and without a history of hypertension treated with dihydroergotamine. ATZUMI is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
An 18% increase in mean pulmonary artery pressure was seen following dosing with another 5-HT1 agonist in a study evaluating subjects undergoing cardiac catheterization.
Medication Overuse Headache
Overuse of acute migraine drugs (e.g., ergotamines, triptans, opioids, or a combination of these drugs for 10 or more days per month) may lead to exacerbation of headache (i.e., medication overuse headache). Medication overuse headache may present as migraine-like daily headaches or as a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks. Detoxification of patients including withdrawal of the overused drugs and treatment of withdrawal symptoms (which often includes a transient worsening of headache) may be necessary.
Preterm Labor
Based on the mechanism of action of dihydroergotamine and findings from the published literature, ATZUMI may cause preterm labor. Avoid use of ATZUMI during pregnancy [see Use In Specific Populations and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Fibrotic Complications
The potential for fibrotic complications exists with ATZUMI treatment. There have been reports of pleural and retroperitoneal fibrosis in patients following prolonged daily use of dihydroergotamine . Rarely, prolonged daily use of other ergot alkaloid drugs has been associated with cardiac valvular fibrosis. Rare cases have also been reported in association with the use of dihydroergotamine; however, in those cases, patients also received drugs known to be associated with cardiac valvular fibrosis.
Administration of ATZUMI should not exceed the dosing guidelines and should not be used for chronic daily administration [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Local Irritation
Local irritative symptoms were reported in 29% of patients treated with at least one dose of ATZUMI in an open-labeled trial, which allowed repeated use of ATZUMI up to 12 months. The common local irritative symptoms (at least 1% of patients) were nasal discomfort (11%), altered taste (8%), nasal congestion (5%), nasopharyngitis (5%), rhinorrhea (4%), cough (3%), nasal pain (3%), epistaxis (2%), sneezing (2%), nasal pruritus (1%), and increased lacrimation (1%). If a severe local irritation event occurs for no other attributable reasons, avoid further use of ATZUMI until the event resolves. Monitor patients for severe recurrent local irritation.
Nasal tissue in animals treated with dihydroergotamine mesylate daily showed mild mucosal irritation characterized by mucous cell and transitional cell hyperplasia and squamous cell metaplasia. Changes in rat nasal mucosa at 64 weeks were less severe than at 13 weeks. Local effects on respiratory tissue after chronic intranasal dosing in animals have not been evaluated.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide and Instructions for Use).
Serious And/Or Life-Threatening Reactions With Coadministration Of CYP3A4 Inhibitors
Inform patients that serious and/or life-threatening peripheral ischemia (cerebral ischemia and/or ischemia of the extremities) has been associated with the coadministration of dihydroergotamine and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as macrolide antibiotics and protease inhibitors [see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Myocardial Ischemia And/Or Infarction, Other Cardiac Events, Cerebrovascular Events, And Fatalities
Inform patients of the risk for serious cardiac, cerebrovascular, and other vasospasm related events. Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they develop any risk factors or symptoms while taking ATZUMI. Inform patients that nicotine may provoke vasoconstriction predisposing to a greater ischemic response [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Increase In Blood Pressure
Inform patients of the risk for significant elevation in blood pressure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Medication Overuse Headache
Inform patients that use of drugs to treat migraine attacks for 10 or more days per month may lead to an exacerbation of headache, and encourage patients to record headache frequency and drug use (e.g., by keeping a headache diary) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Local Irritation
Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they have bothersome local irritation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Drug Interactions
Advise patients to inform their healthcare providers if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, since there is a potential for interactions [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Pregnancy
Advise patients of the risk for preterm birth. Advise women to inform their healthcare provider if they are pregnant or intend to become pregnant [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Use In Specific Populations].
Lactation
Advise patients not to breastfeed during treatment with ATZUMI [see Use In Specific Populations].
Administration Instructions
Instruct patients not to squeeze ATZUMI before inserting it into the nostril because priming is not required. Inform patients that they will need to squeeze the air pump on the ATZUMI device three separate times into one nostril to give a dose. Instruct the patient to squeeze while inhaling, release to allow the air pump to expand back to its original shape, then repeat two more times [see Instructions for Use]. Tell patients to use fast, complete, pulse-like squeezes to deliver their dose. [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
In a 2-year mouse carcinogenicity study, subcutaneous administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate (0, 0.5, 1.5, or 5 mg/kg/day) resulted in an increased incidence of fibrosarcoma at the injection sites in males and females at the high dose.
In a 2-year rat carcinogenicity study, intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate (0, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.6 mg/day for 13 weeks, followed by 0, 0.08, 0.24, or 0.8 mg/day for the remainder of the study) did not result in an increase in tumors.
Mutagenesis
Dihydroergotamine mesylate was negative in an in vitro mutagenicity (Ames) assay and positive in in vitro chromosomal aberration (V79 Chinese hamster cell assay with metabolic activation, and human peripheral blood lymphocyte) assays. Dihydroergotamine was negative in in vivo micronucleus assays in mouse and hamster.
Impairment Of Fertility
Intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine to rats at doses up to 1.6 mg/day was not associated with adverse effects on fertility.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Available data from published literature indicate an increased risk of preterm delivery with dihydroergotamine, the active moiety in ATZUMI, use during pregnancy. Avoid use of ATZUMI during pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Data collected over decades have shown no increased risk of major birth defects or miscarriage with the use of dihydroergotamine during pregnancy.
In animal reproduction studies, adverse effects on development were observed following intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate during pregnancy (decreased fetal body weight and/or skeletal ossification) in rats and rabbits or during pregnancy and lactation in rats (decreased body weight and impaired reproductive function in the offspring) at doses that were not associated with maternal toxicity (see Data).
All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriages in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. The estimated rate of major birth defects (2.2% to 2.9%) and miscarriage (17%) among deliveries to women with migraine are similar to rates reported in women without migraine.
Clinical Considerations
Disease-Associated Maternal And/Or Embryo/Fetal Risk
Published data have suggested that women with migraine may be at increased risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension during pregnancy.
Data
Animal Data
Intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate to pregnant rats throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in decreased fetal body weight and/or skeletal ossification at doses of 0.16 mg/day and greater. A no-effect level for adverse effects on embryofetal development was not identified in rats.
Intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate to pregnant rabbits throughout organogenesis resulted in decreased skeletal ossification at 3.6 mg/day. The no-effect dose for adverse effects on embryofetal development in rabbits was 1.2 mg/day.
Intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation resulted in decreased body weight and impaired reproductive function (decreased mating indices) in the offspring at doses of 0.16 mg/day or greater. A no-effect dose for adverse effects on pre- and postnatal development in rats was not established. Effects on offspring development occurred at doses below those that produced evidence of significant maternal toxicity in these studies.
Dihydroergotamine-induced intrauterine growth retardation has been attributed to reduced uteroplacental blood flow resulting from prolonged vasoconstriction of the uterine vessels and/or increased myometrial tone.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of dihydroergotamine in human milk; however, ergotamine, a related drug, is present in human milk. There are reports of diarrhea, vomiting, weak pulse, and unstable blood pressure in breastfed infants exposed to ergotamine. ATZUMI may reduce milk supply because it may decrease prolactin levels. Because of the potential for reduced milk supply and serious adverse events in the breastfed infant, including diarrhea, vomiting, weak pulse, and unstable blood pressure, advise patients not to breastfeed during treatment with ATZUMI and for 3 days after the last dose. Breast milk supply during this time should be pumped and discarded.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of ATZUMI have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of ATZUMI and other dihydroergotamine products did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.