WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Congestive Heart Failure, Peripheral Edema, And Pulmonary Edema
Cases of CHF, peripheral edema, and pulmonary edema have been reported with itraconazole administration among patients being treated for onychomycosis and/or systemic fungal infections. [See CONTRAINDICATIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]
Cardiac Dysrhythmias
Life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and/or sudden death have occurred in patients using cisapride, pimozide, levacetylmethadol (levomethadyl), methadone, or quinidine concomitantly with itraconazole and/or other CYP3A4 inhibitors. Concomitant administration of these drugs with ONMEL is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATION, and DRUG INTERACTIONS]
Cardiac Disease
ONMEL should not be administered in patients with evidence of ventricular dysfunction such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or a history of CHF.
Itraconazole has been shown to have a negative inotropic effect. When itraconazole was administered intravenously to anesthetized dogs, a dose-related negative inotropic effect was documented. In a healthy volunteer study of itraconazole injection, transient, asymptomatic decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed using gated SPECT imaging; these resolved before the next infusion, 12 hours later.
For patients with risk factors for congestive heart failure, physicians should carefully review the risks and benefits of ONMEL therapy. These risk factors include cardiac disease such as ischemic and valvular disease; significant pulmonary disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and renal failure and other edematous disorders. Such patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of CHF, should be treated with caution, and should be monitored for signs and symptoms of CHF during treatment. If signs or symptoms of CHF appear during administration of ONMEL, discontinue administration.
Hepatic Effects
Itraconazole has been associated with rare cases of serious hepatotoxicity, including liver failure and death. Some of these cases had neither pre-existing liver disease nor a serious underlying medical condition, and some of these cases developed within the first week of treatment. If clinical signs or symptoms develop that are consistent with hepatotoxicity, treatment should be discontinued immediately and liver function testing performed.
In patients with elevated or abnormal liver enzymes or active liver disease, or who have experienced liver toxicity with other drugs, treatment with itraconazole is not recommended. Liver function monitoring should be done in patients with pre-existing hepatic function abnormalities or those who have experienced liver toxicity with other medications and should be considered in all patients receiving ONMEL.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers can have negative inotropic effects which may be additive to those of itraconazole. In addition, itraconazole can inhibit the metabolism of calcium channel blockers. Therefore, caution should be used when co-administering itraconazole and calcium channel blockers due to an increased risk of CHF. Concomitant administration of ONMEL and nisoldipine is contraindicated.
Neuropathy
If neuropathy occurs that may be attributable to ONMEL, the treatment should be discontinued.
Hearing Loss
Transient or permanent hearing loss has been reported in patients receiving treatment with itraconazole. Several of these reports included concurrent administration of quinidine which is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING and DRUG INTERACTIONS] The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped, but can persist in some patients.
Patient Counseling Information
[See FDA-approved Patient Labeling.]
Information For Patients
- Instruct patients that hearing loss can occur with the use of itraconazole. The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped, but can persist in some patients. Advise patients to inform their physicians if any hearing loss occurs.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or impairment of fertility studies were conducted with ONMEL.
Itraconazole did not exhibit any carcinogenic potential in mice receiving oral doses up to 80 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons) for 23 months. A slightly increased incidence of soft tissue sarcoma was observed in male rats administered 25 mg/kg/day (1.3 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons). These tumors may have been related to hypercholesterolemia caused by chronic treatment with itraconazole in rats; hypercholesterolemia is not observed with such treatment in dogs or humans. Compared to untreated controls, female rats receiving 50 mg/kg/day (2.5 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons) had a statistically insignificant increase in squamous cell carcinoma in lungs (2/50), an uncommon tumor in rats.
Itraconazole did not exhibit any mutagenic or genotoxic effects when evaluated in a DNA repair test (unscheduled DNA synthesis) in primary rat hepatocytes, in Ames tests (6 Salmonella strains and E. coli), in the mouse lymphoma gene mutation test, in a sex-linked recessive lethal mutation (Drosophila melanogaster) test, in chromosome aberration test (human lymphocytes), in a cell transformation assay (C3H/10T½ C18 mouse embryo fibroblasts), in a dominant lethal mutation test in male and female mice, and in micronucleus tests in mice and rats.
Itraconazole did not affect the fertility in male or female rats treated with oral doses up to 40 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons); however, parental toxicity occurred at this dosage. More severe parental toxicity was observed at 160 mg/kg/day (10 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons).
Clinical Studies
The efficacy of ONMEL for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toenail was examined in a randomized, multi-center, placebo-controlled, third-party blinded trial comparing ONMEL to two 100 mg itraconazole capsules and placebo tablets.
In the clinical study, 791 subjects with diagnosis of distal and/or lateral subungual onychomycosis were randomized to ONMEL (N= 593) or placebo tablets (N= 198) once daily for 12 consecutive weeks. The median age of subjects enrolled in the trial was 48 years and 75% were males. At baseline, 95.1% of subjects had onychomycosis due to T. rubrum with a baseline global severity score of 'Moderate' which was defined as a target toenail involvement ≤ 50% dystrophy and/or discoloration with clear evidence of subungual hyperkeratosis and/or onycholysis.
The primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects with a Complete Cure at Week 52, nine months after completion of study medication. A Complete Cure was defined as both a Clinical Cure (no evidence of onychomycosis in target nail; normal nail unit without subungual hyperkeratosis or onycholysis) and Mycological Cure (negative KOH and negative culture). The following table illustrates the study results for ONMEL and Placebo:
Table 7: Primary Efficacy Results at Week 52
Endpoint | ONMEL N=593 | Placebo N=198 |
Complete Cure* | 22.3% | 1.0% |
* Complete Cure defined as Clinical Cure (no evidence of onychomycosis in target nail; normal nail unit without subungual hyperkeratosis or onycholysis) and Mycological Cure (negative KOH and negative culture) |
The Mycologic Cure rate was 44% and the Clinical Cure rate was 26% for subjects treated with ONMEL. Comparatively, the Mycological Cure rate was 6% and the Clinical Cure rate was 3% for subjects treated with Placebo Tablets.
Efficacy results comparing ONMEL to 200 mg of itraconazole capsules (two 100 mg capsules) were similar.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Teratogenic effects
Pregnancy Category C
There are no adequate and well-controlled clinical trials in the pregnant women with itraconazole. However, cases of congenital abnormalities have been reported with itraconazole drug products in post-marketing reports. Therefore, ONMEL should not be administered to pregnant women, women planning pregnancy, or women of child bearing potential unless these onychomycosis patients are using effective contraception measures to prevent pregnancy. Effective contraceptive measures should continue throughout the treatment period and for two months thereafter. ONMEL should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Itraconazole produced a significant dose-related increase in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats at dose levels of 40-160 mg/kg/day (2-10 times the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD], based on mg/m²/day comparisons), and in mice at 80 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons). Teratogenic changes in rats included major skeletal defects; encephalocele and/or macroglossia developed in mice.
Nursing Mothers
Itraconazole is excreted in human milk; therefore, the expected benefits of ONMEL therapy for the mother should be weighed against the potential risk from exposure of itraconazole to the infant.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of ONMEL in pediatric patients
WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Congestive Heart Failure, Peripheral Edema, And Pulmonary Edema
Cases of CHF, peripheral edema, and pulmonary edema have been reported with itraconazole administration among patients being treated for onychomycosis and/or systemic fungal infections. [ See CONTRAINDICATIONS, and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]
Cardiac Dysrhythmias
Life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and/or sudden death have occurred in patients using cisapride, pimozide, levacetylmethadol (levomethadyl), methadone, or quinidine concomitantly with itraconazole and/or other CYP3A4 inhibitors. Concomitant administration of these drugs with ONMEL is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, and DRUG INTERACTIONS]
Cardiac Disease
ONMEL should not be administered in patients with evidence of ventricular dysfunction such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or a history of CHF.
Itraconazole has been shown to have a negative inotropic effect. When itraconazole was administered intravenously to anesthetized dogs, a dose-related negative inotropic effect was documented. In a healthy volunteer study of itraconazole injection, transient, asymptomatic decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed using gated SPECT imaging; these resolved before the next infusion, 12 hours later.
For patients with risk factors for congestive heart failure, physicians should carefully review the risks and benefits of ONMEL therapy. These risk factors include cardiac disease such as ischemic and valvular disease; significant pulmonary disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and renal failure and other edematous disorders. Such patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of CHF, should be treated with caution, and should be monitored for signs and symptoms of CHF during treatment. If signs or symptoms of CHF appear during administration of ONMEL, discontinue administration.
Hepatic Effects
Itraconazole has been associated with rare cases of serious hepatotoxicity, including liver failure and death. Some of these cases had neither pre-existing liver disease nor a serious underlying medical condition, and some of these cases developed within the first week of treatment. If clinical signs or symptoms develop that are consistent with hepatotoxicity, treatment should be discontinued immediately and liver function testing performed.
In patients with elevated or abnormal liver enzymes or active liver disease, or who have experienced liver toxicity with other drugs, treatment with itraconazole is not recommended. Liver function monitoring should be done in patients with pre-existing hepatic function abnormalities or those who have experienced liver toxicity with other medications and should be considered in all patients receiving ONMEL.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers can have negative inotropic effects which may be additive to those of itraconazole. In addition, itraconazole can inhibit the metabolism of calcium channel blockers. Therefore, caution should be used when co-administering itraconazole and calcium channel blockers due to an increased risk of CHF. Concomitant administration of ONMEL and nisoldipine is contraindicated.
Neuropathy
If neuropathy occurs that may be attributable to ONMEL, the treatment should be discontinued.
Hearing Loss
Transient or permanent hearing loss has been reported in patients receiving treatment with itraconazole. Several of these reports included concurrent administration of quinidine which is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, and DRUG INTERACTIONS] The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped, but can persist in some patients.
Patient Counseling Information
Information For Patients
- Instruct patients that hearing loss can occur with the use of itraconazole. The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped, but can persist in some patients. Advise patients to inform their physicians if any hearing loss occurs.
[See FDA-approved Patient Labeling.]
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or impairment of fertility studies were conducted with ONMEL.
Itraconazole did not exhibit any carcinogenic potential in mice receiving oral doses up to 80 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons) for 23 months. A slightly increased incidence of soft tissue sarcoma was observed in male rats administered 25 mg/kg/day (1.3 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons). These tumors may have been related to hypercholesterolemia caused by chronic treatment with itraconazole in rats; hypercholesterolemia is not observed with such treatment in dogs or humans. Compared to untreated controls, female rats receiving 50 mg/kg/day (2.5 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons) had a statistically insignificant increase in squamous cell carcinoma in lungs (2/50), an uncommon tumor in rats.
Itraconazole did not exhibit any mutagenic or genotoxic effects when evaluated in a DNA repair test (unscheduled DNA synthesis) in primary rat hepatocytes, in Ames tests (6 Salmonella strains and E. coli), in the mouse lymphoma gene mutation test, in a sex-linked recessive lethal mutation ( Drosophila melanogaster) test, in chromosome aberration test (human lymphocytes), in a cell transformation assay (C3H/10T C18 mouse embryo fibroblasts), in a dominant lethal mutation test in male and female mice, and in micronucleus tests in mice and rats.
Itraconazole did not affect the fertility in male or female rats treated with oral doses up to 40 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons); however, parental toxicity occurred at this dosage. More severe parental toxicity was observed at 160 mg/kg/day (10 times MRHD, based on mg/m²/day comparisons).
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects.
Pregnancy Category C
There are no adequate and well-controlled clinical trials in the pregnant women with itraconazole. However, cases of congenital abnormalities have been reported with itraconazole drug products in post-marketing reports. Therefore, ONMEL should not be administered to pregnant women, women planning pregnancy, or women of child bearing potential unless these onychomycosis patients are using effective contraception measures to prevent pregnancy. Effective contraceptive measures should continue throughout the treatment period and for two months thereafter. ONMEL should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Itraconazole produced a significant dose-related increase in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats at dose levels of 40-160 mg/kg/day (2-10 times the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD], based on mg/m /day comparisons), and in mice at 80 mg/kg/day (2 times MRHD, based on mg/m /day comparisons). Teratogenic changes in rats included major skeletal defects; encephalocele and/or macroglossia developed in mice.
Nursing Mothers
Itraconazole is excreted in human milk; therefore, the expected benefits of ONMEL therapy for the mother should be weighed against the potential risk from exposure of itraconazole to the infant.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of ONMEL in pediatric patients have not been established. No pharmacokinetic data on ONMEL are available in children.
Geriatric Use
ONMEL was evaluated in 42 of 593 subjects (7.1%) greater than 65 years of age.
Transient or permanent hearing loss has been reported in elderly patients receiving treatment with itraconazole. Several of these reports included concurrent administration of quinidine which is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, DRUG INTERACTIONS, and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Itraconazole should be used with care in elderly patients. [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Renal Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral itraconazole in patients with renal impairment. Caution should be exercised when ONMEL is administered to patients with renal impairment. [See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]
Hepatic Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral itraconazole in patients with hepatic impairment. Caution should be exercised when ONMEL is administered to patients with hepatic impairment. [See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]
have not been established. No pharmacokinetic data on ONMEL are available in children.
Geriatric Use
ONMEL was evaluated in 42 of 593 subjects (7.1%) greater than 65 years of age.
Transient or permanent hearing loss has been reported in elderly patients receiving treatment with itraconazole. Several of these reports included concurrent administration of quinidine which is contraindicated. [See BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, DRUG INTERACTIONS, and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] Itraconazole should be used with care in elderly patients. [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Renal Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral itraconazole in patients with renal impairment. Caution should be exercised when ONMEL is administered to patients with renal impairment. [See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]
Hepatic Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral itraconazole in patients with hepatic impairment. Caution should be exercised when ONMEL is administered to patients with hepatic impairment. [See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]