PRECAUTIONS
General
Because of its mechanism of action, Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) is active only in the presence of insulin. Therefore Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) should not be used in type1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic keto-acidosis.
Hypoglycemia: Patients receiving Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) in combination with insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents may be at risk for hypoglycemia and a reduction in the dose of the concomitant agent may be necessary. Hypoglycemia has not been observed during the administration of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) as monotherapy and would not be expected based on the mechanism of action.
Ovulation: In premenopausal anovulatory patients with insulin resistance, Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) treatment may result in resumption of ovulation. These patients may be at risk for pregnancy.
Hematologic: Across all clinical studies, hemoglobin declined by 3 to 4 % in troglitazone-treated patients compared with 1 to 2% in those treated with placebo. White blood cell counts also declined slightly in troglitazone-treated patients compared to those treated with placebo. These changes occurred within the first four to eight weeks of therapy. Levels stabilized and remained unchanged for up to two years of continuing therapy. These changes may be due to the dilutional effects of increased plasma volume and have not een associated with any significant hematologic clinical effects (see ADVERSE REACTIONS, Laboratory Abnormalities).
Use in Patients With Heart Failure
Heart enlargement without microscopic changes has been observed in rodents at exposures of parent compound and active rnetabolite exceeding 7 times the AUC of the 400 mg human dose see PRECAUTIONS
: Carcinogenesis. Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility and Animal Toxicology). Serial echocardiographic evaluations in monkeys treated chronically at exposures at 4-9 times the human exposure to parent compound and active metabolite at the 400 mg dose did not reveal chan nges in heart size or function. In a 2-year echocardiographic clinical study using 600 to 800 mg/day of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) in patients with type II diabetes, no increase in left ventricular mass or decrease in cardiac output was observed. The methodology employed was able to detect a change of about 10% or more in left ventricular mass.
In animal studies, troglitazone treatment was associated with increases of 6% to 15% in plasma volume. In a study of 24 normal volunteers, an increase in plasma volume of 6% to 8% compared to placebo was observed following 6 weeks of troglitazone treatment.
No increased incidence of adverse events potentially related to volume expansion (e.g., congestive heart failure) have been observed during controled clinical trials. However, patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III and IV cardiac status were not studied during clinical trials. Therefore, Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) is not indicated unless the expected benefit is believed to outweigh the potential risk to patients with NYHA Class III or IV cardiac status.
Information for Patients
Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) should be taken with meals. If the dose is missed at the usual meal, it may be taken at the next meal. If the dose is missed on one day, the dose should not be doubled the following day.
It is important to adhere to dietary instructions and to regularly have blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin tested. During periods of stress such as fever, trauma, glucose and glycosyin jection, or surgery, insulin requirements may change and patients should seek the advice of their physician. Patients who develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. fatigue, anorexia, dark urine or other symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction or jaundice should immediately report these signs or symptoms to their physician.
When using combination therapy with insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. the risks of hypoglycemia, its symptoms and treatment, and conditions that predispose to its development should be explained to patients and their family members.
Use of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) can cause resumption of ovulation in women taking oral contraceptives and in patients with polycystic ovary disease. Therefore, a higher dose of an oral contraceptive or an alternative method of contraception should be considered.
Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) may affect other medications used in diabetic patients. Patients started on Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) should ask their physician to review their other medications to make sure that they are not affected by Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) .
Drug Interactions
Oral Contraceptives: Administration of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) with an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone reduced the plasma concentrations of both by approximately 30% which could result in loss of contraception. Therefore, a higher dose of oral contraceptive or an alternative method of contraception should be considered.
Terfenadine: Coadministration of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) with terfenadine decreases the plasma concentration of both terfenadine and its active metabolite by 50-70% and may result in decreased efficacy of terfenadine.
Cholestyramine: Concomitant administration of cholestyramine with Rezulin reduces the absorption of troglitazone by 70%; thus, coadministration of cholestyramine and Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) is not recommended.
Glyburide: Coadministration of Rezulin and glyburide does not appear to alter troglitazone or glyburide pharmacokinetics.
Digoxin: Coadministratjon of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) with digoxin does not alter the steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin.
Warfarin: Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) has no clinically significant effect on prothrombin time when administered to patients receiving chronic warfarin therapy.
Acetaminophen: Coadministration of acetaminophen and Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) does not alter the pharmacokinetics of either drug.
Metformin: No information is available on the use of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) with metformin.
Ethanol: A single administration of a moderate amount of alcohol did not increase the risk of acute hypoglycemia in Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) -treated patients with type II diabetes mellitus.
The above interactions with terfenadine and oral contraceptives suggest that troglitazone may induce drug metabolism by CYP3A4. Studies have not been performed with other drugs metabolized by this enzyme such as: astemizole, calcium channel blockers, cisapride, corticosteroids cyclosporine. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, tacrolimus, triazolam, and trimetrexate. The possi bility of altered safety and efficacy should be considered when Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) is used concomitantly with these drugs.
Patients stable on one or more of these agents when Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) is started should be closely monitored and their therapy adjusted as necessary.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Troglitazone was administered daily for 104 weeks to male rats at 100, 400, or 800 mg/kg and to female rats at 25, 53, or 200 mg/kg. No tumors of any type were increased at the low and mid doses. Plasma drug exposure based on AUC of parent compound and total metabolites at the low and mid doses was up to 24-fold higher than human exposure at 400 mg daily. The highest dose in each sex exceeded the maximum tolerated dose. In a 104-week study in mice given 50, 400, or 800 mg/ kg. incidence of hemangiosarcoma was increased in females at 400 mg/ kg and in both sexes at 800 mg/ kg; incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was increased in females at 800 mg/ kg The lowest dose associated with increased tumor incidence (400 mg/ kg) was associated with AUC values of parent compound and total metabolites that were at least 2-fold higher than the human exposure at 400 mg daily. No tumors of any type were increased in mice at 50 mg/ kg at exposures up to 40% of that in humans at 400 mg daily, based on AUC of parent compound and total metabolites.
Troglitazone was neither mutagenic in bacteria nor clastogenic in bone marrow of mice. Equivocal increases in chromosome aberrations were observed in an in vitro Chinese hamster lung cell assay in mouse lymphoma cellgene mutations assays, results were equivocal when conducted with a microtiter technique and negative with an agar plate technique. A liver unscheduled DNA synthesis assay in rats was negative.
No adverse effects on fertility or reproduction were observed in male or female rats given 40, 200, or 1000 mg/ kg daily prior to and throughout mating and gestation. AUC of parent compound at these doses was estimated to be 3- to 9-fold higher than the human exposure.
Animal Toxicology
Increased heart weight without microscopic changes were observed in mice and rats treated for up to 1 year at exposure (AUC) of parent and active metabolite exceeding 7 times the human AUC at 400 mg/day.These heart weigh increases were reversible in 2- and 13-week studies, were prevented by coadministration of an ACE inhibitor, and 14 days of troglitazone administration to rats did not affect left ventricular performance. In the lifetime carcinogenicity studies, microscopic changes were noted in the hearts of rats but not in mice. In control and treated rats, microscopic changes included myocardial inflammation and fibrosis and karyomegaly of atrial myocytes. The incidence of these changes in drug-treated rats was increased compared to controls at twice the AUC of the 400 mg human dose.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category B. Troglitazone was not teratogenic in rats given up to 2000 mg/ k or rabbits given up to 1000 mg/kg during organogenesis. Compared to human exposure of 4.00 mg daily, estimated exposures in rats (parent compound) and rabbits (parent compound and active metabolite) based on AUC at these doses were up 9-fold and 3-fold higher, respectively. Body weights of fetuses and offspring of rats given 2000mg/kg during gestation were decreased. . Body Delayed postnatal development attributed to decreased body weight, was observed in offspring of rats given 40, 200, or 1000 mg/kg during late gestation and lactation periods; no effects were observed in offspring of rats given 10 or 20 mg/kg.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit justifies the potentia I risk to the fetus.
Because current information strongly su gests that abnormal blood glucose levels during pregnancy are associated with a higher incid ence of congenital anomalies as well as increased neonatal morbidity and mortality, most experts recommend that insulin be used during pregnancy to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether troglitazone is secreted in human milk. Troglitazone is secreted in the milk of lactating rats. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) should not be administered to a breast-feeding woman.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Twenty-two percent of patients in clinical trials of Rezulin (troglitazone (removed from the us market 3/21/00)) were 65 and over. No differences in effectiveness and safety were observed between these patients and younger patients.