Warnings for Moxatag
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Moxatag
Anaphylaxis And Hypersensitivity Reactions
Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients on penicillin therapy. Although anaphylaxis is more frequent following parenteral therapy, it has occurred in patients on oral penicillins. These reactions are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity and/or a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. There have been reports of individuals with a history of penicillin hypersensitivity who have experienced severe reactions when treated with cephalosporins. Before initiating therapy with MOXATAG, careful inquiry should be made concerning previous hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins, cephalosporins, or other allergens. If an allergic reaction occurs, MOXATAG should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
Serious anaphylactic reactions require immediate emergency treatment with epinephrine. Oxygen, intravenous steroids, and airway management, including intubation, should also be administered as indicated.
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions
MOXATAG may cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR), such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). If patients develop a skin rash they should be monitored closely and MOXATAG discontinued if lesions progress.
Drug-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (DIES)
Drug-induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) has been reported with amoxicillin use [see ADVERSE REACTIONS], with most cases occurring in pediatric patients ≤ 18 years of age. DIES is a non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity reaction characterized by protracted vomiting occurring 1 to 4 hours after drug ingestion in the absence of skin or respiratory symptoms. DIES may be associated with pallor, lethargy, hypotension, shock, diarrhea within 24 hours after ingesting amoxicillin, and leukocytosis with neutrophilia. If DIES occurs, discontinue MOXATAG and institute appropriate therapy.
Clostridioides Difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD)
Clostridioides difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents, including amoxicillin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.
C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. HypertoxinÂproducing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
Mononucleosis Rash
A high percentage of patients with mononucleosis who receive ampicillin develop an erythematous skin rash. Thus, ampicillin-class antibacterial drugs should not be administered to patients with mononucleosis.
Development of Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Prescribing MOXATAG in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
False-Positive Urinary Glucose Tests
High urine concentrations of ampicillin may result in false-positive reactions when testing for the presence of glucose in urine using glucose tests based on the Benedict’s copper reduction reaction that determines the amount of reducing substances like glucose in the urine. Since this effect may also occur with amoxicillin, it is recommended that glucose tests based on enzymatic glucose oxidase reactions should be used.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential. Studies to detect mutagenic potential of amoxicillin alone have not been conducted; however, the following information is available from tests on a 4:1 mixture of amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate. Amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate were non-mutagenic in the Ames bacterial mutation assay, and the yeast gene conversion assay. Amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate were weakly positive in the mouse lymphoma assay, but the trend toward increased mutation frequencies in this assay occurred at doses that were also associated with decreased cell survival. Amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate were negative in the mouse micronucleus test, and in the dominant lethal assay in mice. Potassium clavulanate alone was tested in the Ames bacterial mutation assay and in the mouse micronucleus test, and was negative in each of these assays. In a multi-generation reproduction study in rats, no impairment of fertility or other adverse reproductive effects were seen at doses up to 500 mg/kg (approximately 6 times the human dose based on body surface area comparison).
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Available data from published epidemiologic studies and pharmacovigilance case reports over several decades with amoxicillin use have not established drug-associated risks of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes (see Data). No adverse developmental effects were observed in animal reproduction studies with administration of amoxicillin to pregnant mice and rats at doses up to 12.5 and 25 times the recommended human dose (see Data).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. 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 miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Data
Human Data
While available studies cannot definitively establish the absence of risk, published epidemiological data and post-marketing case reports have not reported a consistent association with amoxicillin and major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when amoxicillin was used during pregnancy. Available studies have methodologic limitations, including small sample size, retrospective data collection, under-capture of non-live births, exposure misclassification and inconsistent comparator groups.
Animal Data
Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rats at doses up to 2,000 mg/kg (12.5 and 25 times the human dose based on body surface area comparison) and have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to amoxicillin.
Lactation
Risk Summary
Data from a published clinical lactation study reports that amoxicillin is present in human milk. Published adverse effects with amoxicillin exposure in the breastfed infant include diarrhea. There are no data on the effects of amoxicillin on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for MOXATAG and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed child from MOXATAG or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of MOXATAG in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older have been established based on results of a clinical trial that included adults and pediatric patients (12 years and older) [see Clinical Studies]. Sixty-three (21%) of the study participants were pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. There were no significant differences in treatment response or adverse reactions from adults. The safety and effectiveness of MOXATAG in pediatric patients younger than 12 years has not been established.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies with MOXATAG did not include a sufficient number of patients aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Other reported clinical experiences with amoxicillin have not yet identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but a greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidneys, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.
Renal Impairment
MOXATAG has not been studied in patients with renal impairment; however, a reduction of amoxicillin dose is generally recommended for patients with severe renal impairment. Therefore, MOXATAG is not recommended for use in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min) or patients on hemodialysis.