Warnings for Prestalia
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Prestalia
Fetal Toxicity
Pregnancy Category D
Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reduces fetal renal function and increases fetal and neonatal morbidity and death. Resulting oligohydramnios can be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. Potential neonatal adverse effects include skull hypoplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, and death. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue PRESTALIA as soon as possible [see Use In Specific Populations].
Anaphylactoid And Possibly Related Reactions
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors affect the metabolism of eicosanoids and polypeptides, including endogenous bradykinin. Patients taking ACE inhibitors (including the one in PRESTALIA) may, therefore, be subject to a variety of bradykinin- or prostaglandin-mediated adverse reactions, some of them serious. Black patients receiving ACE inhibitors have a higher incidence of angioedema compared with non-blacks.
Head And Neck Angioedema
Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis, and larynx has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors (0.1% of patients treated with perindopril in U.S. clinical trials). Angioedema associated with involvement of the tongue, glottis or larynx may be fatal. In such cases, discontinue perindopril treatment immediately and observe until the swelling disappears. When involvement of the tongue, glottis, or larynx appears likely to cause airway obstruction, administer appropriate therapy, such as subcutaneous epinephrine solution 1:1000 (0.3 to 0.5 mL), promptly.
Patients taking concomitant mTOR inhibitor (e.g. temsirolimus) therapy or a neprilysin inhibitor may be at increased risk for angioedema [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Intestinal Angioedema
Intestinal angioedema has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. These patients presented with abdominal pain (with or without nausea or vomiting), and the angioedema was diagnosed by imaging studies such as abdominal CT or ultrasound, or at surgery. In some cases there was no prior history of facial angioedema, and C-1 esterase levels were normal. Symptoms resolved after stopping the ACE inhibitor. Intestinal angioedema should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients on ACE inhibitors presenting with abdominal pain.
Increased Angina And/Or Myocardial Infarction
Worsening angina and acute myocardial infarction can develop after starting or increasing the dose of PRESTALIA, particularly in patients with severe obstructive coronary artery disease.
Hypotension
PRESTALIA can cause symptomatic hypotension. Symptomatic hypotension is most likely to occur in patients who have been volume- or saltdepleted as a result of prolonged diuretic therapy, dietary salt restriction, dialysis, diarrhea, or vomiting.
In patients at risk of excessive hypotension, start PRESTALIA therapy under close medical supervision. Follow patients closely for the first 2 weeks of treatment and whenever the dose of PRESTALIA is increased or a diuretic is added or its dose increased.
If excessive hypotension occurs, immediately place patient in a supine position and, if necessary, treat patient with an intravenous infusion of physiological saline. PRESTALIA treatment can usually be continued following restoration of volume and blood pressure.
Patients with severe aortic stenosis may be more likely to experience symptomatic hypotension. Because of the gradual onset of action, acute hypotension is unlikely.
Surgery/Anesthesia
In patients undergoing major surgery or during anesthesia with agents that produce hypotension, PRESTALIA may block angiotensin II formation secondary to compensatory renin release. If hypotension occurs and is considered to be due to this mechanism, it can be corrected by volume expansion.
Hyperkalemia
Elevations of serum potassium have been observed in some patients treated with ACE inhibitors, including PRESTALIA. Risk factors for the development of hyperkalemia include renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and the concomitant use of agents such as potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, and/or potassium-containing salt substitutes [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Monitor serum potassium periodically in patients receiving PRESTALIA.
Cough
Presumably because of the inhibition of the degradation of endogenous bradykinin, persistent nonproductive cough has been reported with all ACE inhibitors, generally resolving after discontinuation of therapy. Consider ACE inhibitor-induced cough in the differential diagnosis of cough.
Impaired Renal Function
Monitor renal function periodically in patients receiving PRESTALIA. Drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system can cause reductions in renal function, including acute renal failure. Patients whose renal function may depend in part on the activity of the renin-angiotensin system—(e.g., patients with renal artery stenosis, severe heart failure, post-myocardial infarction or volume depletion) or who are on non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAIDS) or angiotensin receptor blockers—may be at particular risk of developing acute renal failure on PRESTALIA. Consider withholding or discontinuing therapy in patients who develop a clinically significant decrease in renal function on PRESTALIA.
Hepatic Failure
Rarely, ACE inhibitors have been associated with a syndrome that starts with cholestatic jaundice and progresses to fulminant hepatic necrosis and sometimes death. The mechanism of this syndrome is not understood. Patients receiving ACE inhibitors who develop jaundice or marked elevations of hepatic enzymes should discontinue the ACE inhibitor and receive appropriate medical follow-up.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Tell female patients of childbearing age that use of drugs like perindopril that act on the renin-angiotensin system can cause serious problems in the fetus and infant, including low blood pressure, poor development of skull bones, kidney failure, and death. Discuss other treatment options with female patients planning to become pregnant. Tell women using PRESTALIA who become pregnant to notify their physician as soon as possible.
In case of a missed dose, have patients resume the usual dose at the next scheduled time.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity or fertility studies have been conducted with the combination of perindopril and amlodipine. However, these studies have been conducted for perindopril and amlodipine alone.
Perindopril
Carcinogenicity
No evidence of carcinogenicity was observed in studies in rats and mice when perindopril was administered at dosages up to 5 times (mg/m2) the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 14 mg/day for 104 weeks.
Mutagenesis
No genotoxic potential was detected for perindopril, perindoprilat, and other metabolites in various in vitro and in vivo investigations, including the Ames test, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4 test, cultured human lymphocytes, thymidine kinase ± mouse lymphoma assay, mouse and rat micronucleus tests, the in vivo micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests, and Chinese hamster bone marrow assay.
Impairment of Fertility
There was no meaningful effect on reproductive performance or fertility in rats given up to 7 times (mg/m2) the MRHD during the period of spermatogenesis in males or oogenesis and gestation in females.
Amlodipine
Carcinogenicity
Rats and mice treated with amlodipine maleate in the diet for up to 2 years, at concentrations calculated to provide daily amlodipine dosage levels of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg/day, showed no evidence of a carcinogenic effect of the drug. For the mouse, the highest dose was, on a body surface area basis, similar to the amlodipine MRHD of 10 mg/day. For the rat, the highest dose was, on a body surface area basis, approximately 2.5 times the MRHD, assuming a patient weight of 60 kg.
Mutagenesis
Mutagenicity studies conducted with amlodipine maleate revealed no drug-related effects at either the gene or chromosome level.
Impairment of Fertility
There was no effect on the fertility of rats treated orally with amlodipine maleate (males for 64 days and females for 14 days prior to mating) at amlodipine doses of up to 10 mg/kg/day, about 10 times the MRHD of 10 mg/day on a body surface area basis.
Reproductive Toxicity
Reproductive toxicity studies have not been conducted with this combination. However, these studies have been conducted for amlodipine alone.
Amlodipine
No evidence of teratogenicity or other embryo/fetal toxicity was found when pregnant rats and rabbits were treated orally with amlodipine maleate at amlodipine doses of up to 10 mg/kg/day (respectively, about 8 and 23 times the maximum recommended human dose of 10 mg on a mg/m2 basis, assuming a patient weight of 50 kg) during their periods of major organogenesis. However, litter size was significantly decreased (by about 50%) and the number of intrauterine deaths was significantly increased (about 5-fold) for rats receiving amlodipine maleate at an amlodipine dose equivalent to 10 mg/kg/day for 14 days before mating and throughout mating and gestation. Amlodipine maleate has been shown to prolong both the gestation period and the duration of labor in rats at this dose.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category D [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reduces fetal renal function and increases fetal and neonatal morbidity and death. Resulting oligohydramnios can be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. Potential neonatal adverse effects include skull hypoplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, and death. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue PRESTALIA as soon as possible. These adverse outcomes are usually associated with use of these drugs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Most epidemiologic studies examining fetal abnormalities after exposure to antihypertensive use in the first trimester have not distinguished drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system from other antihypertensive agents. Appropriate management of maternal hypertension during pregnancy is important to optimize outcomes for both mother and fetus.
In the unusual case that there is no appropriate alternative therapy with drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system for a particular patient, apprise the mother of the potential risk to the fetus. Perform serial ultra-sound examinations to assess the intra-amniotic environment. If oligohydramnios is observed, discontinue PRESTALIA, unless it is considered lifesaving for the mother. Fetal testing may be appropriate, based on the week of pregnancy. Patients and physicians should be aware, however, that oligohydramnios may not appear until after the fetus has sustained irreversible injury. Closely observe infants with histories of in utero exposure to PRESTALIA for hypotension, oliguria, and hyperkalemia [see Pediatric Use].
Radioactivity was detectable in fetuses after administration of 14C-perindopril to pregnant rats.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether perindopril or amlodipine is excreted in human milk, but radioactivity was detected in the milk of lactating rats following administration of 14C-perindopril. Because of the potential for adverse effects on the nursing infant, decide whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue PRESTALIA.
Pediatric Use
Neonates With A History Of In Utero Exposure To PRESTALIA
If oliguria or hypotension occurs, direct attention toward support of blood pressure and renal perfusion. Exchange transfusions or dialysis may be required as a means of reversing hypotension and/or substituting for disordered renal function.
The safety and effectiveness of PRESTALIA in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
The mean blood pressure effect of perindopril was somewhat smaller in patients over 60 years of age than in younger patients, although the difference was not significant. Plasma concentrations of both perindopril and perindoprilat in elderly patients (>65 years) are approximately twice those observed in younger patients. No adverse effects were clearly increased in older patients with the exception of dizziness and rash.
Amlodipine is extensively metabolized in the liver. In the elderly, clearance of amlodipine is decreased with resulting increases in peak plasma levels, elimination half-life, and AUC.
Experience with PRESTALIA is limited in the elderly at doses exceeding 7/5 mg. If doses above 7/5 mg are required, monitor blood pressure up to two weeks following up titration [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Renal Impairment
Pharmacokinetic data indicate that perindoprilat elimination is decreased in renally impaired patients, with a marked increase in accumulation when creatinine clearance drops below 30 mL/min. PRESTALIA is not recommended in patients with creatinine clearances <30 mL/min. For patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 80 mL/min (mild or moderate renal impairment), do not exceed 7/5 mg [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].