SIDE EFFECTS
The following important adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling:
- Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Thyroid Function Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Cardiac Function Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Decreased Vitamin B12 Levels and Abnormal Schilling’s Tests [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trial of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of BYNFEZIA Pen has been established based on clinical studies of octreotide acetate injection. Below is a description of the adverse reactions from the clinical studies.
Gallbladder Abnormalities
Gallbladder abnormalities, especially stones and/or biliary sludge, frequently develop in patients on chronic octreotide therapy. Single doses of octreotide have been shown to inhibit gallbladder contractility and decrease bile secretion in normal volunteers. In clinical trials [primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis (BYNFEZIA Pen is not indicated for the treatment of psoriasis)], the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received octreotide for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with octreotide for 1 month or less developed gallstones. The incidence of gallstones did not appear related to age, sex or dose. Like patients without gallbladder abnormalities, the majority of patients developing gallbladder abnormalities on ultrasound had gastrointestinal symptoms. The symptoms were not specific for gallbladder disease. A few patients developed acute cholecystitis, ascending cholangitis, biliary obstruction, cholestatic hepatitis, or pancreatitis during octreotide therapy or following its withdrawal. One patient developed ascending cholangitis during octreotide therapy and died.
Cardiac
In acromegalics, sinus bradycardia (<50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias developed in 9% of patients.
Gastrointestinal
Diarrhea, loose stools, nausea and abdominal discomfort were each seen in 34%-61% of acromegalic patients in U.S. studies although only 2.6% of the patients discontinued therapy due to these symptoms. These symptoms were seen in 5%-10% of patients with other disorders.
The frequency of these symptoms was not dose-related, but diarrhea and abdominal discomfort generally resolved more quickly in patients treated with 300 mcg/day than in those treated with 750 mcg/day. Vomiting, flatulence, abnormal stools, abdominal distention, and constipation were each seen in less than 10% of patients.
In rare instances, gastrointestinal side effects may resemble acute intestinal obstruction, with progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness and guarding.
Hypoglycemia And Hyperglycemia
Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively, and in about 1.5% of other patients. Symptoms of hypoglycemia were noted in approximately 2% of patients.
Hypothyroidism
In acromegalics, biochemical hypothyroidism alone occurred in 12% while goiter occurred in 6% during octreotide therapy. In patients without acromegaly, hypothyroidism has been reported in several patients.
Other Adverse Reactions
Pain on injection was reported in 7.7%, headache in 6% and dizziness in 5%. Several cases of pancreatitis have been reported.
Other Adverse Reactions 1%-4%
Other reactions observed in 1%-4% of patients, included fatigue, weakness, pruritus, joint pain, backache, urinary tract infection, cold symptoms, flu symptoms, injection site hematoma, bruise, edema, flushing, blurred vision, pollakiuria, fat malabsorption, hair loss, visual disturbance and depression.
Other Adverse Reactions <1%
Reactions reported in less than 1% of patients are:
Gastrointestinal: hepatitis, jaundice, increase in liver enzymes, GI bleeding, hemorrhoids, appendicitis, gastric/peptic ulcer, gallbladder polyp;
Integumentary: rash, cellulitis, petechiae, urticaria, basal cell carcinoma;
Musculoskeletal: arthritis, joint effusion, muscle pain, Raynaud’s phenomenon;
Cardiovascular: chest pain, shortness of breath, thrombophlebitis, ischemia, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypertensive reaction, palpitations, orthostatic BP decrease, tachycardia;
CNS: anxiety, libido decrease, syncope, tremor, seizure, vertigo, Bell’s Palsy, paranoia, pituitary apoplexy, increased intraocular pressure, amnesia, hearing loss, neuritis;
Respiratory: pneumonia, pulmonary nodule, status asthmaticus;
Endocrine: galactorrhea, hypoadrenalism, diabetes insipidus, gynecomastia, amenorrhea, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, vaginitis;
Urogenital: nephrolithiasis, hematuria;
Hematologic: anemia, iron deficiency, epistaxis;
Miscellaneous: otitis, allergic reaction, increased CK, weight loss.
Antibodies to Octreotide
Evaluation of 20 patients treated for at least 6 months has failed to demonstrate titers of antibodies exceeding background levels. However, antibody titers to octreotide were subsequently reported in three patients and resulted in prolonged duration of drug action in two patients. Anaphylactoid reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported in several patients receiving octreotide.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during the postapproval use of octreotide acetate injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Gastrointestinal: intestinal obstruction
Hematologic: thrombocytopenia