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WARNING
INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM
SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in patients only in a hospital where serum sodium can be monitored closely.
Too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., > 12 mEq/L/24 hours) can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable.
Tolvaptan is (±)-4'-[(7-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-5-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepin-1-yl) carbonyl]-otolu-m-toluidide. The empirical formula is C26H25ClN2O3. Molecular weight is 448.94. The chemical structure is:
 |
SAMSCA tablets for oral use contain 15 mg or 30 mg of tolvaptan. Inactive ingredients include corn starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose and FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake as colorant.
SAMSCA® is indicated for the treatment of clinically significant hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia (serum sodium <125 mEq/L or less marked hyponatremia that is symptomatic and has resisted correction with fluid restriction), including patients with heart failure and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH).
Patients requiring intervention to raise serum sodium urgently to prevent or to treat serious neurological symptoms should not be treated with SAMSCA.
It has not been established that raising serum sodium with SAMSCA provides a symptomatic benefit to patients.
Patients should be in a hospital for initiation and re-initiation of therapy to evaluate the therapeutic response and because too rapid correction of hyponatremia can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death.
The usual starting dose for SAMSCA is 15 mg administered once daily without regard to meals. Increase the dose to 30 mg once daily, after at least 24 hours, to a maximum of 60 mg once daily, as needed to achieve the desired level of serum sodium. Do not administer SAMSCA for more than 30 days to minimize the risk of liver injury [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
During initiation and titration, frequently monitor for changes in serum electrolytes and volume. Avoid fluid restriction during the first 24 hours of therapy. Patients receiving SAMSCA should be advised that they can continue ingestion of fluid in response to thirst [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Following discontinuation from SAMSCA, patients should be advised to resume fluid restriction and should be monitored for changes in serum sodium and volume status.
SAMSCA is available in the following dosage forms and strengths:
SAMSCA® (tolvaptan) tablets are available in the following strengths and packages.
SAMSCA 15 mg tablets are non-scored, blue, triangular, shallow-convex, debossed with “OTSUKA” and “15” on one side.
Blister of 10 NDC 59148-020-50
SAMSCA 30 mg tablets are non-scored, blue, round, shallow-convex, debossed with “OTSUKA” and “30” on one side.
Blister of 10 NDC 59148-021-50
Store at 25°C (77°F), excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP controlled Room Temperature].
Keep out of reach of children.
Manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, 101-8535 Japan. Revised: Apr 2021
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The adverse event information from clinical trials does, however, provide a basis for identifying the adverse events that appear to be related to drug use and for approximating rates.
In multiple-dose, placebo-controlled trials, 607 hyponatremic patients (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) were treated with SAMSCA. The mean age of these patients was 62 years; 70% of patients were male and 82% were Caucasian. One hundred eighty-nine (189) tolvaptan-treated patients had a serum sodium <130 mEq/L, and 52 patients had a serum sodium <125 mEq/L. Hyponatremia was attributed to cirrhosis in 17% of patients, heart failure in 68% and SIADH/other in 16%. Of these patients, 223 were treated with the recommended dose titration (15 mg titrated to 60 mg as needed to raise serum sodium).
Overall, over 4,000 patients have been treated with oral doses of tolvaptan in open-label or placebo-controlled clinical trials. Approximately 650 of these patients had hyponatremia; approximately 219 of these hyponatremic patients were treated with tolvaptan for 6 months or more.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% more than placebo) seen in two 30-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled hyponatremia trials in which tolvaptan was administered in titrated doses (15 mg to 60 mg once daily) were thirst, dry mouth, asthenia, constipation, pollakiuria or polyuria and hyperglycemia. In these trials, 10% (23/223) of tolvaptan-treated patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event, compared to 12% (26/220) of placebo-treated patients; no adverse reaction resulting in discontinuation of trial medication occurred at an incidence of >1% in tolvaptan-treated patients.
Table 1 lists the adverse reactions reported in tolvaptan-treated patients with hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) and at a rate at least 2% greater than placebo-treated patients in two 30-day, double-blind, placebocontrolled trials. In these studies, 223 patients were exposed to tolvaptan (starting dose 15 mg, titrated to 30 and 60 mg as needed to raise serum sodium). Adverse events resulting in death in these trials were 6% in tolvaptantreated patients and 6% in placebo-treated patients.
Table 1: Adverse Reactions (>2% more than placebo) in Tolvaptan-Treated Patients in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Hyponatremia Trials
| System Organ Class MedDRA Preferred Term |
Tolvaptan 15 mg/day to 60 mg/day (N = 223) n (%) |
Placebo (N = 220) n (%) |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders | ||
| Dry mouth | 28 (13) | 9 (4) |
| Constipation | 16 (7) | 4 (2) |
| General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions | ||
| Thirst* | 35 (16) | 11 (5) |
| Asthenia | 19 (9) | 9 (4) |
| Pyrexia | 9 (4) | 2 (1) |
| Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders | ||
| Hyperglycemia† | 14 (6) | 2 (1) |
| Anorexia‡ | 8 (4) | 2 (1) |
| Renal and Urinary Disorders | ||
| Pollakiuria or polyuria§ | 25 (11) | 7 (3) |
| The following terms are subsumed under the referenced ADR in Table 1: * polydipsia, † diabetes mellitus, ‡ decreased appetite, § urine output increased, micturition urgency, nocturia |
||
In a subgroup of patients with hyponatremia (N = 475, serum sodium <135 mEq/L) enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (mean duration of treatment was 9 months) of patients with worsening heart failure, the following adverse reactions occurred in tolvaptan-treated patients at a rate at least 2% greater than placebo: mortality (42% tolvaptan, 38% placebo), nausea (21% tolvaptan, 16% placebo), thirst (12% tolvaptan, 2% placebo), dry mouth (7% tolvaptan, 2% placebo) and polyuria or pollakiuria (4% tolvaptan, 1% placebo).
In patients with cirrhosis treated with tolvaptan in the hyponatremia trials, gastrointestinal bleeding was reported in 6 out of 63 (10%) tolvaptan-treated patients and 1 out of 57 (2%) placebo treated patients.
The following adverse reactions occurred in <2% of hyponatremic patients treated with SAMSCA and at a rate greater than placebo in double-blind placebo-controlled trials (N = 607 tolvaptan; N = 518 placebo) or in <2% of patients in an uncontrolled trial of patients with hyponatremia (N = 111) and are not mentioned elsewhere in the label.
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Cardiac Disorders: Intracardiac thrombus, ventricular fibrillation
Investigations: Prothrombin time prolonged
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ischemic colitis
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Diabetic ketoacidosis
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Rhabdomyolysis
Nervous System: Cerebrovascular accident
Renal and Urinary Disorders: Urethral hemorrhage
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders (female): Vaginal hemorrhage
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: Pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure
Vascular disorder: Deep vein thrombosis
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of SAMSCA. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of an unknown size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Neurologic: Osmotic demyelination syndrome
Investigations: Hypernatremia
Removal of excess free body water increases serum osmolality and serum sodium concentrations. All patients treated with tolvaptan, especially those whose serum sodium levels become normal, should continue to be monitored to ensure serum sodium remains within normal limits. If hypernatremia is observed, management may include dose decreases or interruption of tolvaptan treatment, combined with modification of free-water intake or infusion. During clinical trials of hyponatremic patients, hypernatremia was reported as an adverse event in 0.7% of patients receiving tolvaptan vs. 0.6% of patients receiving placebo; analysis of laboratory values demonstrated an incidence of hypernatremia of 1.7% in patients receiving tolvaptan vs. 0.8% in patients receiving placebo.
Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic shock and rash generalized.
Tolvaptan's AUC was 5.4 times as large and Cmax was 3.5 times as large after co-administration of tolvaptan and 200 mg ketoconazole [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Larger doses of the strong CYP3A inhibitor would be expected to produce larger increases in tolvaptan exposure. Concomitant use of tolvaptan with strong CYP3A inhibitors is contraindicated [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
A substantial increase in the exposure to tolvaptan would be expected when SAMSCA is co-administered with moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Avoid co-administration of SAMSCA with moderate CYP3A inhibitors [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Patients should avoid grapefruit juice beverages while taking SAMSCA [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Co-administration of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers reduces exposure to SAMSCA [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers.
Although specific interaction studies were not performed, in clinical studies, tolvaptan was used concomitantly with beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics. Adverse reactions of hyperkalemia were approximately 1 to 2% higher when tolvaptan was administered with angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics compared to administration of these medications with placebo. Serum potassium levels should be monitored during concomitant drug therapy.
As a V2-receptor antagonist, tolvaptan may interfere with the V2-agonist activity of desmopressin (dDAVP). Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with a V2-agonist.
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Osmotic demyelination syndrome is a risk associated with too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours). Osmotic demyelination results in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma or death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable. In controlled clinical trials in which tolvaptan was administered in titrated doses starting at 15 mg once daily, 7% of tolvaptantreated subjects with a serum sodium <130 mEq/L had an increase in serum sodium greater than 8 mEq/L at approximately 8 hours and 2% had an increase greater than 12 mEq/L at 24 hours. Approximately 1% of placebo-treated subjects with a serum sodium <130 mEq/L had a rise greater than 8 mEq/L at 8 hours and no patient had a rise greater than 12 mEq/L/24 hours. Osmotic demyelination syndrome has been reported in association with SAMSCA therapy [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Patients treated with SAMSCA should be monitored to assess serum sodium concentrations and neurologic status, especially during initiation and after titration. Subjects with SIADH or very low baseline serum sodium concentrations may be at greater risk for too-rapid correction of serum sodium. In patients receiving SAMSCA who develop too rapid a rise in serum sodium, discontinue or interrupt treatment with SAMSCA and consider administration of hypotonic fluid. Fluid restriction during the first 24 hours of therapy with SAMSCA may increase the likelihood of overly rapid correction of serum sodium and should generally be avoided. Co-administration of diuretics also increases the risk of too rapid correction of serum sodium and such patients should undergo close monitoring of serum sodium.
Tolvaptan can cause serious and potentially fatal liver injury. In placebo-controlled studies and an open-label extension study of chronically administered tolvaptan in patients with ADPKD, cases of serious liver injury attributed to tolvaptan, generally occurring during the first 18 months of therapy, were observed. In postmarketing experience with tolvaptan in ADPKD, acute injury resulting in liver failure requiring liver transplantation has been reported. Tolvaptan should not be used to treat ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for ADPKD patients [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
Patients with symptoms that may indicate liver injury, including fatigue, anorexia, right upper abdominal discomfort, dark urine or jaundice should discontinue treatment with SAMSCA.
Limit duration of therapy with SAMSCA to 30 days. Avoid use in patients with underlying liver disease, including cirrhosis, because the ability to recover from liver injury may be impaired [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
SAMSCA therapy induces copious aquaresis, which is normally partially offset by fluid intake. Dehydration and hypovolemia can occur, especially in potentially volume-depleted patients receiving diuretics or those who are fluid restricted. In multiple-dose, placebo-controlled trials in which 607 hyponatremic patients were treated with tolvaptan, the incidence of dehydration was 3.3% for tolvaptan and 1.5% for placebo-treated patients. In patients receiving SAMSCA who develop medically significant signs or symptoms of hypovolemia, interrupt or discontinue SAMSCA therapy and provide supportive care with careful management of vital signs, fluid balance and electrolytes. Fluid restriction during therapy with SAMSCA may increase the risk of dehydration and hypovolemia. Patients receiving SAMSCA should continue ingestion of fluid in response to thirst.
Concomitant use with hypertonic saline is not recommended.
Tolvaptan is a substrate of CYP3A. Moderate to strong CYP3A inhibitors can lead to a marked increase in tolvaptan concentrations [see DRUG INTERACTIONS]. Do not use SAMSCA with strong inhibitors of CYP3A [see CONTRAINDICATIONS] and avoid concomitant use with moderate CYP3A inhibitors.
Treatment with tolvaptan is associated with an acute reduction of the extracellular fluid volume which could result in increased serum potassium. Serum potassium levels should be monitored after initiation of tolvaptan treatment in patients with a serum potassium >5 mEq/L as well as those who are receiving drugs known to increase serum potassium levels.
Patients with partial obstruction of urinary outflow, for example, patients with prostatic hypertrophy or impairment of micturition, have an increased risk of developing acute retention. Do not administer tolvaptan in patients with uncorrected urinary outflow obstruction.
As a part of patient counseling, healthcare providers must review the SAMSCA Medication Guide with every patient [see FDA-Approved Medication Guide].
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to inform their prescriber of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Use In Specific Populations].
Advise patients not to breastfeed an infant if they are taking SAMSCA [see Use In Specific Populations].
The carcinogenic potential of tolvaptan was assessed in 2-year carcinogenicity studies in mice and rats. Tolvaptan did not increase tumors in male or female rats at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (1.24 to 3.26 times the exposure in CHF patients based on AUC at the MRHD of 60 mg), in male mice at doses up to 60 mg/kg/day (0.3 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD) and to female mice at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day (0.4 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD).
Tolvaptan was not clastogenic in the in vitro chromosomal aberration test in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells or the in vivo rat micronucleus assay and was not mutagenic in the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assays.
In a fertility study in which male and female rats were administered tolvaptan orally at 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg/day, altered estrous cycles due to prolongation of diestrus were observed in dams given 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day (6.2 and 11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the 60 mg dose). Tolvaptan had no effect on copulation or fertility indices. There were also no effects on the incidences of early or late resorption, dead fetuses, pre- or post-implantation loss, external anomalies, or fetal body weights.
Available data with SAMSCA use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine if there is a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Tolvaptan did not cause any developmental toxicity in rats or in rabbits at exposures approximately 2.8 and 0.8 times, respectively, the exposure in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 60 mg once daily. However, effects on embryo-fetal development occurred in both species at doses causing significant maternally toxic doses. In rats, reduced fetal weights and delayed fetal ossification occurred at 11 times the exposure in CHF patients, based on AUC. In rabbits, increased abortions, embryo-fetal death, fetal microphthalmia, open eyelids, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations occurred at approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients (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. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, respectively.
Animal Data
Oral administration of tolvaptan during the period of organogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats produced no evidence of teratogenesis at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. Delayed ossification was seen at 1000 mg/kg, which is approximately 11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg (AUC24h 10271 ng*h/mL). The fetal effects are likely secondary to maternal toxicity (decreased food intake and low body weights). In a prenatal and postnatal study in rats, tolvaptan had no effect on physical development, reflex function, learning ability or reproductive performance at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg).
In rabbits, teratogenicity (microphthalmia, embryo-fetal mortality, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations) was observed in rabbits at 1000 mg/kg (approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg dose). This dose also caused maternal toxicity (lower body weight gains and food consumption).
There are no data on the presence of tolvaptan or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Tolvaptan is present in rat milk (see Data). When a drug is present in animal milk, it is possible that the drug will be present in human milk, but relative levels may vary (see Data). Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hypernatremia), hypotension, and volume depletion in breastfed infants, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with SAMSCA.
Data
In lactating rats administered radiolabeled tolvaptan, lacteal radioactivity concentrations reached the highest level at 8 hours after administration and then decreased gradually with time with a half-life of 27.3 hours. The level of activity in milk ranged from 1.5- to 15.8-fold those in maternal blood over a period of 72 hours post-dose. Increased perinatal death and decreased body weight of the offspring were observed during the lactation period and after weaning at approximately 11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg.
Safety and effectiveness of SAMSCA in pediatric patients have not been established.
Of the total number of hyponatremic subjects treated with SAMSCA in clinical studies, 42% were 65 years old and over, while 19% were 75 years old and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Increasing age has no effect on tolvaptan plasma concentrations.
Moderate and severe hepatic impairment do not affect exposure to tolvaptan to a clinically relevant extent. Avoid use of tolvaptan in patients with underlying liver disease.
No dose adjustment is necessary based on renal function. There are no clinical trial data in patients with CrCl <10 mL/min, and, because drug effects on serum sodium levels are likely lost at very low levels of renal function, use in patients with a CrCl <10 mL/min is not recommended. No benefit can be expected in patients who are anuric [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Single oral doses up to 480 mg (8 times the maximum recommended daily dose) and multiple doses up to 300 mg once daily for 5 days have been well tolerated in studies in healthy subjects. There is no specific antidote for tolvaptan intoxication. The signs and symptoms of an acute overdose can be anticipated to be those of excessive pharmacologic effect: a rise in serum sodium concentration, polyuria, thirst, and dehydration/hypovolemia.
No mortality was observed in rats or dogs following single oral doses of 2000 mg/kg (maximum feasible dose). A single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg was lethal in mice, and symptoms of toxicity in affected mice included decreased locomotor activity, staggering gait, tremor and hypothermia.
In patients with suspected SAMSCA overdosage, assessment of vital signs, electrolyte concentrations, ECG and fluid status are recommended. Continue replacement of water and electrolytes until aquaresis abates.
Dialysis may not be effective in removing tolvaptan because of its high binding affinity for human plasma protein (>98%).
SAMSCA is contraindicated in the following conditions:
Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist with an affinity for the V2-receptor that is 1.8 times that of native arginine vasopressin (AVP). Tolvaptan affinity for the V2-receptor is 29 times greater than for the V1a-receptor. When taken orally, 15 to 60 mg doses of tolvaptan antagonize the effect of vasopressin and cause an increase in urine water excretion that results in an increase in free water clearance (aquaresis), a decrease in urine osmolality, and a resulting increase in serum sodium concentrations. Urinary excretion of sodium and potassium and plasma potassium concentrations are not significantly changed. Tolvaptan metabolites have no or weak antagonist activity for human V2-receptors compared with tolvaptan.
In healthy subjects receiving a single dose of SAMSCA 60 mg, the onset of the aquaretic and sodium increasing effects occurs within 2 to 4 hours post-dose. A peak effect of about a 6 mEq increase in serum sodium and about 9 mL/min increase in urine excretion rate is observed between 4 and 8 hours post-dose; thus, the pharmacological activity lags behind the plasma concentrations of tolvaptan. About 60% of the peak effect on serum sodium is sustained at 24 hours post-dose, but the urinary excretion rate is no longer elevated by this time. Doses above 60 mg tolvaptan do not increase aquaresis or serum sodium further. The effects of tolvaptan in the recommended dose range of 15 to 60 mg once daily appear to be limited to aquaresis and the resulting increase in sodium concentration.
Plasma concentrations of native AVP may increase (avg. 2 to 9 pg/mL) with tolvaptan administration.
No prolongation of the QT interval was observed with tolvaptan following multiple doses of 300 mg/day for 5 days.
In healthy subjects, the pharmacokinetics of tolvaptan after single doses of up to 480 mg and multiple doses up to 300 mg once daily have been examined. In hyponatremia subjects, single and multiple doses up to 60 mg have been studied.
In healthy subjects, peak concentrations of tolvaptan are observed between 2 and 4 hours post-dose. Peak concentrations increase less than dose proportionally with doses greater than 240 mg.
The absolute bioavailability of tolvaptan decreases with increasing doses. The absolute bioavailability of tolvaptan following an oral dose of 30 mg is 56% (range 42 to 80%).
Co-administration of 90 mg tolvaptan with a high-fat meal (~1000 calories, of which 50% are from fat) doubles peak concentrations but has no effect on the AUC of tolvaptan; tolvaptan may be administered with or without food.
Tolvaptan binds to both albumin and &alpha1-acid glycoprotein and the overall protein binding is >98%; binding is not affected by disease state. The volume of distribution of tolvaptan is about 3 L/kg. The pharmacokinetic properties of tolvaptan are stereospecific, with a steady-state ratio of the S-(-) to the R-(+) enantiomer of about 3. When administered as multiple once-daily 300 mg doses to healthy subjects or to patients with congestive heart failure or ADPKD, tolvaptan’s accumulation factor is <1.2. There is marked inter-subject variation in peak and average exposure to tolvaptan with a percent coefficient of variation ranging between 30 and 60%.
Tolvaptan is metabolized almost exclusively by CYP3A. Fourteen metabolites have been identified in plasma, urine and feces; all but one were also metabolized by CYP3A and none are pharmacodynamically active. After oral administration of radiolabeled tolvaptan, tolvaptan was a minor component in plasma, representing 3% of total plasma radioactivity; the oxobutyric acid metabolite was present at 52.5% of total plasma radioactivity with all other metabolites present at lower concentrations than tolvaptan. The oxobutyric acid metabolite shows a plasma half-life of ~180 h. About 40% of radioactivity was recovered in urine (<1% as unchanged tolvaptan) and 59% in feces (19% as unchanged tolvaptan). Following intravenous infusion, tolvaptan half-life is approximately 3 hours. Following single oral doses to healthy subjects, the estimated half-life of tolvaptan increases from 3 hours for a 15 mg dose to approximately 12 hours for 120 mg and higher doses due to more prolonged absorption of tolvaptan at higher doses; apparent clearance is approximately 4 mL/min/kg and does not appear to change with increasing dose.
In patients with hyponatremia of any origin the clearance of tolvaptan is reduced to about 2 mL/min/kg.
Moderate or severe hepatic impairment or congestive heart failure decrease the clearance and increase the volume of distribution of tolvaptan, but the respective changes are not clinically relevant. Exposure and response to tolvaptan in subjects with creatinine clearance ranging between 79 and 10 mL/min and patients with normal renal function are not different.
In a study in patients with creatinine clearances ranging from 10 to 124 mL/min administered a single dose of 60 mg tolvaptan, AUC and Cmax of plasma tolvaptan were less than doubled in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) relative to the controls. The peak increase in serum sodium was 5 to 6 mEq/L, regardless of renal function, but the onset and offset of tolvaptan's effect on serum sodium were slower in patients with severe renal impairment [see Use In Specific Populations].
Strong CYP3A Inhibitors
Ketoconazole: Tolvaptan’s Cmax and AUC were, respectively, 3.5 times and 5.4 times as high following ketoconazole 200 mg given one day prior to and concomitantly with 30 mg tolvaptan [see CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors
Fluconazole: Fluconazole 400 mg given one day prior and 200 mg given concomitantly produced an 80% and 200% increase in tolvaptan Cmax and AUC, respectively.
Grapefruit Juice: Co-administration of grapefruit juice and tolvaptan results in an increase in Cmax and AUC of 90% and 60% for tolvaptan, respectively [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
CYP3A4 Inducers
Rifampin: Rifampin 600 mg once daily for 7 days followed by a single 240 mg dose of tolvaptan decreased both tolvaptan Cmax and AUC about 85%.
Other Drugs
Co-administration of lovastatin, digoxin, furosemide, and hydrochlorothiazide with SAMSCA has no clinically relevant impact on the exposure to tolvaptan.
CYP3A Substrates
SAMSCA is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A. Co-administration of lovastatin and SAMSCA increases the exposure to lovastatin and its active metabolite lovastatin-β hydroxyacid by factors of 1.4 and 1.3, respectively. This is not a clinically relevant change.
P-gp Substrates
Digoxin: Digoxin 0.25 mg was administered once daily for 12 days. Tolvaptan 60 mg, was co-administered once daily on Days 8 to 12. Digoxin Cmax and AUC were increased 30% and 20%, respectively.
Transporter Substrates
Tolvaptan is a substrate of P-gp and an inhibitor of P-gp and BCRP. The oxobutyric acid metabolite of tolvaptan is an inhibitor of OATP1B1 and OAT3. Co-administration of tolvaptan with rosuvastatin (BCRP substrate) did not have a clinically significant effect on rosuvastatin exposure. Rosuvastatin Cmax and AUCt increased 54% and 69%, respectively. Administration of rosuvastatin (OATP1B1 substrate) or furosemide (OAT3 substrate) to healthy subjects with elevated oxobutyric acid metabolite plasma concentrations did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin or furosemide.
Other Drugs
Co-administration of tolvaptan does not appear to alter the pharmacokinetics of warfarin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, or amiodarone (or its active metabolite, desethylamiodarone) to a clinically significant degree.
In two double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center studies (SALT-1 and SALT-2), a total of 424 patients with euvolemic or hypervolemic hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) resulting from a variety of underlying causes (heart failure, liver cirrhosis, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone [SIADH] and others) were treated for 30 days with tolvaptan or placebo, then followed for an additional 7 days after withdrawal. Symptomatic patients, patients likely to require saline therapy during the course of therapy, patients with acute and transient hyponatremia associated with head trauma or postoperative state and patients with hyponatremia due to primary polydipsia, uncontrolled adrenal insufficiency or uncontrolled hypothyroidism were excluded. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo (N = 220) or tolvaptan (N = 223) at an initial oral dose of 15 mg once daily. The mean serum sodium concentration at study entry was 129 mEq/L. Fluid restriction was to be avoided if possible during the first 24 hours of therapy to avoid overly rapid correction of serum sodium, and during the first 24 hours of therapy 87% of patients had no fluid restriction. Thereafter, patients could resume or initiate fluid restriction (defined as daily fluid intake of ≤1.0 liter/day) as clinically indicated.
The dose of tolvaptan could be increased at 24-hour intervals to 30 mg once daily, then to 60 mg once daily, until either the maximum dose of 60 mg or normonatremia (serum sodium >135 mEq/L) was reached. Serum sodium concentrations were determined at 8 hours after study drug initiation and daily up to 72 hours, within which time titration was typically completed. Treatment was maintained for 30 days with additional serum sodium assessments on Days 11, 18, 25 and 30. On the day of study discontinuation, all patients resumed previous therapies for hyponatremia and were reevaluated 7 days later. The primary endpoint for these studies was the average daily AUC for change in serum sodium from baseline to Day 4 and baseline to Day 30 in patients with a serum sodium less than 135 mEq/L. Compared to placebo, tolvaptan caused a statistically greater increase in serum sodium (p <0.0001) during both periods in both studies (see Table 2). For patients with a serum sodium of <130 mEq/L or <125 mEq/L, the effects at Day 4 and Day 30 remained significant (see Table 2). This effect was also seen across all disease etiology subsets (e.g., CHF, cirrhosis, SIADH/other).
Table 2: Effects of Treatment with Tolvaptan 15 mg/day to 60 mg/day
| Tolvaptan 15 mg/day to 60 mg/day | Placebo | Estimated Effect (95% CI) | |
| Subjects with Serum Sodium <135 mEq/L (ITT population) | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 4 (mEq/L) | 4.0 (2.8) | 0.4 (2.4) | 3.7 (3.3 to 4.2) |
| Mean (SD) | 213 | 203 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 30 (mEq/L) | 6.2 (4.0) | 1.8 (3.7) | 4.6 (3.9 to 5.2) |
| Mean (SD) | 213 | 203 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Percent of Patients Needing Fluid | 14% | 25% | p =0.0017 |
| Restriction* | 30/215 | 51/206 | |
| Subgroup with Serum Sodium <130 mEq/L | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 4 (mEq/L) | 4.8 (3.0) | 0.7 (2.5) | 4.2 (3.5 to 5.0) |
| Mean (SD) | 110 | 105 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 30 (mEq/L) | 7.9 (4.1) | 2.6 (4.2) | 5.5 (4.4 to 6.5) |
| Mean (SD) | 110 | 105 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Percent of Patients Needing Fluid | 19% | 36% | p <0.01 |
| Restriction* | 21/110 | 38/106 | |
| Subgroup with Serum Sodium <125 mEq/L | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 4 (mEq/L) | 5.7 (3.8) | 1.0 (1.8) | 5.3 (3.8 to 6.9) |
| Mean (SD) | 26 | 30 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Change in average daily serum [Na+] | |||
| AUC baseline to Day 30 (mEq/L) | 10.0 (4.8) | 4.1 (4.5) | 5.7 (3.1 to 8.3) |
| Mean (SD) | 26 | 30 | p <0.0001 |
| N | |||
| Percent of Patients Needing Fluid | 35% | 50% | p = 0.14 |
| Restriction* | 9/26 | 15/30 | |
| *Fluid Restriction defined as <1L/day at any time during treatment period. | |||
In patients with hyponatremia (defined as <135 mEq/L), serum sodium concentration increased to a significantly greater degree in tolvaptan-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients as early as 8 hours after the first dose, and the change was maintained for 30 days. The percentage of patients requiring fluid restriction (defined as ≤1 L/day at any time during the treatment period) was also significantly less (p =0.0017) in the tolvaptan-treated group (30/215, 14%) as compared with the placebo-treated group (51/206, 25%).
Figure 1 shows the change from baseline in serum sodium by visit in patients with serum sodium <135 mEq/L. Within 7 days of tolvaptan discontinuation, serum sodium concentrations in tolvaptan-treated patients declined to levels similar to those of placebo-treated patients.
Figure 1: Pooled SALT Studies: Analysis of Mean Serum Sodium (± SD, mEq/L) by Visit - Patients with Baseline Serum Sodium <135 mEq/L
 |
*p-value <0.0001 for all visits during tolvaptan treatment compared to placebo
Figure 2: Pooled SALT Studies: Analysis of Mean Serum Sodium (± SD, mEq/L) by Visit - Patients with Baseline Serum Sodium <130 mEq/L
 |
*p-value <0.0001 for all visits during tolvaptan treatment compared to placebo
In the open-label study SALTWATER, 111 patients, 94 of them hyponatremic (serum sodium <135 mEq/L), previously on tolvaptan or placebo therapy, were given tolvaptan as a titrated regimen (15 to 60 mg once daily) after having returned to standard care for at least 7 days. By this time, their baseline mean serum sodium concentration had fallen to between their original baseline and post-placebo therapy level. Upon initiation of therapy, average serum sodium concentrations increased to approximately the same levels as observed for those previously treated with tolvaptan and were sustained for at least a year. Figure 3 shows results from 111 patients enrolled in the SALTWATER Study.
Figure 3: SALTWATER: Analysis of Mean Serum Sodium (± SD, mEq/L) by Visit
 |
*p-value <0.0001 for all visits during tolvaptan treatment compared to baseline
In a phase 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled study (EVEREST), 4133 patients with worsening heart failure were randomized to tolvaptan or placebo as an adjunct to standard of care. Long-term tolvaptan treatment (mean duration of treatment of 0.75 years) had no demonstrated effect, either favorable or unfavorable, on all-cause mortality [HR (95% CI): 0.98 (0.9, 1.1)] or the combined endpoint of CV mortality or subsequent hospitalization for worsening HF [HR (95% CI): 1.0 (0.9, 1.1)].
SAMSCA®
(sam-sca) tolvaptan Tablets
Read the Medication Guide that comes with SAMSCA before you take it and each time you get a new prescription. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. Share this important information with members of your household.
What is the most important information I should know about SAMSCA?
1) SAMSCA may make the salt (sodium) level in your blood rise too fast. This can increase your risk of a serious condition called osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS). ODS can lead to coma or death. ODS can also cause new symptoms such as:
You or a family member should tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms even if they begin later in treatment. Also tell your healthcare provider about any other new symptoms while taking SAMSCA.
You may be more at risk for ODS if you have:
To lessen your risk of ODS while taking SAMSCA:
2) SAMSCA may cause liver problems, including life-threatening liver failure. SAMSCA should not be taken for more than 30 days. Tell your doctor right away if you develop or have worsening of any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems:
3) If you have autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), do not use SAMSCA because you should receive the medicine (tolvaptan) through a program that ensures laboratory monitoring of your liver.
What is SAMSCA?
SAMSCA is a prescription medicine used to help increase low sodium levels in the blood, in adults with conditions such as heart failure, and certain hormone imbalances. SAMSCA helps raise salt levels in your blood by removing extra body water as urine.
It is not known if SAMSCA is safe or works in children.
Who should not take SAMSCA?
Do not take SAMSCA if:
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking SAMSCA?
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of SAMSCA?
SAMSCA can cause serious side effects including:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.
The most common side effects of SAMSCA are:
These are not all the possible side effects of SAMSCA. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away while taking SAMSCA.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store SAMSCA?
Store SAMSCA between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
Keep SAMSCA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General Information about SAMSCA
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use SAMSCA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give SAMSCA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about SAMSCA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about SAMSCA that is written for healthcare professionals. For more information about SAMSCA, call 1-877-726-7220 or go to www.samsca.com.
What are the ingredients in SAMSCA?
Active ingredient: tolvaptan.
Inactive ingredients: corn starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake as colorant.
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
