Warnings for Fensolvi
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Fensolvi
Initial Rise Of Gonadotropins And Sex Steroid Levels
During the early phase of therapy, gonadotropins and sex steroids rise above baseline because of the initial stimulatory effect of the drug [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Therefore, an increase in clinical signs and symptoms of puberty including vaginal bleeding may be observed during the first weeks of therapy or after subsequent doses [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Instruct patients and caregivers to notify the physician if these symptoms continue beyond the second month after FENSOLVI administration.
Psychiatric Events
Psychiatric events have been reported in patients taking GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. Postmarketing reports with this class of drugs include symptoms of emotional lability, such as crying, irritability, impatience, anger, and aggression. Monitor for development or worsening of psychiatric symptoms during treatment with FENSOLVI [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Convulsions
Postmarketing reports of convulsions have been observed in patients receiving GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. These included patients with a history of seizures, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, central nervous system anomalies or tumors, and patients on concomitant medications that have been associated with convulsions such as bupropion and SSRIs. Convulsions have also been reported in patients in the absence of any of the conditions mentioned above [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension)
Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) have been reported in pediatric patients receiving GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri, including headache, papilledema, blurred vision, diplopia, loss of vision, pain behind the eye or pain with eye movement, tinnitus, dizziness, and nausea [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Symptoms After Initial FENSOLVI Administration
Inform patients and caregivers that during the early phase of therapy with FENSOLVI, gonadotropins and sex steroids rise above baseline because of the initial stimulatory effect of the drug. Therefore, an increase in clinical signs and symptoms of puberty may be observed. Instruct patients and caregivers to notify the physician if these symptoms continue beyond the second month after FENSOLVI administration [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Psychiatric Events
Inform patients and caregivers that psychiatric events have been reported in patients taking GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. Events include emotional lability, such as crying, irritability, impatience, anger, and aggression. Instruct patients and caregivers to monitor for development or worsening of psychiatric symptoms including depression during treatment with FENSOLVI [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Convulsions
Inform patients and caregivers that reports of convulsions have been observed in patients receiving GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. Patients with a history of seizures, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, central nervous system anomalies or tumors, and patients on concomitant medications that have been associated with convulsions may be at increased risk [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension)
Inform patients and caregivers that reports of pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) have been observed in pediatric patients receiving GnRH agonists, including leuprolide acetate. Advise patients and caregivers to monitor for headache, and vision issues such as blurred vision, double vision, loss of vision, pain behind the eye or pain with eye movement, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and nausea. Advise patients and caregivers to contact their healthcare provider if the patient develops any these symptoms. [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Injection Site Reactions
Inform patients and caregivers that injection site related adverse reactions may occur such as transient burning/stinging, pain, bruising, and redness. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience rash or severe injection site reactions [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Pregnancy
FENSOLVI is contraindicated in pregnancy. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking the drug, the patient should be informed of the potential risk to the fetus [see Use In Specific Populations].
Compliance With The Dosing Schedule
Inform caregivers about the importance of adherence to the FENSOLVI dosing schedule of one injection every 24 weeks [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Two-year carcinogenicity studies were conducted with leuprolide acetate in rats and mice. In rats, a dose-related increase of benign pituitary hyperplasia and benign pituitary adenomas was noted at 24 months when the drug was administered subcutaneously at high daily doses (0.6 to 4 mg/kg). There was a significant but not dose-related increase of pancreatic islet-cell adenomas in females and of testicular interstitial cell adenomas in males (highest incidence in the low dose group). In mice, no leuprolide acetate-induced tumors or pituitary abnormalities were observed at a dose as high as 60 mg/kg for two years. Patients have been treated with leuprolide acetate for up to three years with doses as high as 10 mg/day and for two years with doses as high as 20 mg/day without demonstrable pituitary abnormalities. No carcinogenicity studies have been conducted with FENSOLVI.
Mutagenicity studies have been performed with leuprolide acetate using bacterial and mammalian systems. These studies provided no evidence of a mutagenic potential.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
FENSOLVI is contraindicated in pregnancy [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
FENSOLVI may cause fetal harm based on findings from animal studies and the drug’s mechanism of action [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. The available data from published clinical studies and case reports and from the pharmacovigilance database on exposure to leuprolide acetate during pregnancy are insufficient to assess the risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Based on animal reproduction studies, leuprolide acetate may be associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including early pregnancy loss and fetal harm. In animal reproduction studies, subcutaneous administration of leuprolide acetate to rabbits during the period of organogenesis caused embryo-fetal toxicity, decreased fetal weights and a dose-dependent increase in major fetal abnormalities in animals at doses less than the recommended human dose based on body surface area using an estimated daily dose. A similar rat study also showed increased fetal mortality and decreased fetal weights but no major fetal abnormalities at doses less than the recommended human dose based on body surface area using an estimated daily dose (see Data).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the US general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
When administered on day 6 of pregnancy at test dosages of 0.00024 mg/kg, 0.0024 mg/kg, and 0.024 mg/kg (1/3255 to 1/33 of the human dose) to rabbits, leuprolide acetate produced a dose-related increase in major fetal abnormalities. Similar studies in rats failed to demonstrate an increase in fetal malformations. There was increased fetal mortality and decreased fetal weights with the two higher doses of leuprolide acetate in rabbits and with the highest dose (0.024 mg/kg) in rats.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of leuprolide acetate in either animal or human milk, the effects on the breastfed infants, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for FENSOLVI and any potential adverse reactions on the breastfed infant from FENSOLVI or from the underlying maternal condition.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Pregnancy Testing
Exclude pregnancy in women of reproductive potential prior to initiating FENSOLVI if clinically indicated [see Pregnancy].
Contraception
Females
FENSOLVI may cause embryo-fetal harm when administered during pregnancy
FENSOLVI is not a contraceptive. If contraception is indicated, advise females of reproductive potential to use a non-hormonal method of contraception during treatment with FENSOLVI [see Pregnancy].
Infertility
Based on its pharmacodynamic effects of decreasing secretion of gonadal steroids, fertility is expected to be decreased while on treatment with FENSOLVI. Clinical and pharmacologic studies in adults (>18 years) with leuprolide acetate and similar analogs have shown reversibility of fertility suppression when the drug is discontinued after continuous administration for periods of up to 24 weeks [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
There is no evidence that pregnancy rates are affected following discontinuation of FENSOLVI.
Animal studies (prepubertal and adult rats and monkeys) with leuprolide acetate and other GnRH analogs have shown functional recovery of fertility suppression.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of FENSOLVI for the treatment of CPP has been established in pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. Use of FENSOLVI for this indication is supported by evidence from an adequate and uncontrolled open-label, single-arm study of 64 pediatric patients with CPP with an age range of 4 to 9 years [see Clinical Studies]. The safety and effectiveness of FENSOLVI have not been established in pediatric patients less than 2 years old.