WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Congestive Heart Failure
TOLSURA can cause or exacerbate congestive heart failure
(CHF) [see BOXED WARNING and ADVERSE REACTIONS]. For patients
with evidence of ventricular dysfunction such as CHF, history or risk factors
for CHF, physicians should carefully review the risks and benefits of TOLSURA
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. Inform such
patients of the signs and symptoms of CHF and monitor carefully for signs and
symptoms of CHF during treatment. If signs or symptoms of CHF appear or worsen
during administration of TOLSURA, reassess the benefit-risk of continuing
treatment.
When itraconazole was administered intravenously to
anesthetized dogs, a dose-related negative inotropic effect was demonstrated.
In a healthy volunteer study of itraconazole intravenous infusion, transient,
asymptomatic decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction were observed using
gated SPECT imaging; these resolved before the next infusion, 12 hours later.
Itraconazole has been associated with reports of CHF,
peripheral edema, and pulmonary edema. In post-marketing experience, heart
failure was more frequently reported in patients receiving higher total daily
doses of itraconazole of 400 mg although there were also cases reported among those
receiving lower total daily doses [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
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,
when co-administering itraconazole and calcium channel blockers, monitor
carefully for signs and symptoms of CHF during treatment due to an increased
risk of CHF. Concomitant administration of TOLSURA and felodipine or
nisoldipine is contraindicated [see CONTRAINDICATIONS, DRUG
INTERACTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS]
Hepatotoxicity
Itraconazole has been associated with 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 liver disease, discontinue treatment
and perform testing for liver disease. Continued TOLSURA use or reinstitution
of treatment with TOLSURA is strongly discouraged unless there is a serious or
life-threatening situation where the expected benefit exceeds the risk [see ADVERSE
REACTIONS].
Cardiac Dysrhythmias
Life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and/or sudden death
have occurred in patients using drugs such as, pimozide, methadone, or
quinidine concomitantly with oral itraconazole and/or other CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Concomitant administration of these drugs with TOLSURA is contraindicated [see
BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Drug Interaction Potential
Itraconazole has a potential for clinically important
drug interactions [see DRUG INTERACTIONS]. Co-administration of specific
drugs with TOLSURA may result in changes in the efficacy of itraconazole and/or
the co-administered drug, life-threatening effects and/or sudden death. [see
BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Peripheral Neuropathy
Cases of peripheral neuropathy have been reported in
patients on long-term therapy with itraconazole. Monitor for and promptly
evaluate neurologic symptoms. If neuropathy attributable to TOLSURA occurs,
discontinue treatment.
Hearing Loss
Reversible 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, CONTRAINDICATIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS]. The hearing
loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped but can persist in some
patients.
Hypersensitivity Reactions
TOLSURA is contraindicated in patients with a known
hypersensitivity to itraconazole [see CONTRAINDICATIONS]. Hypersensitivity
reactions have been reported with the use of itraconazole [see ADVERSE
REACTIONS]. Due to the limited information regarding crosshypersensitivity between
itraconazole and other azole antifungal drugs, careful enquiry about previous
hypersensitivity to other azole antifungal drugs should be made when
prescribing
TOLSURA. If hypersensitivity reactions to TOLSURA occurs,
discontinue the drug and institute appropriate therapy.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient
labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Important Administration Instructions
Instruct the patients that TOLSURA:
- Cannot be interchanged or substituted with other
itraconazole products.
- Must be swallowed whole and administered with food.
Congestive Heart Failure
Inform patients about the signs and symptoms of
congestive heart failure. Instruct them to discontinue TOLSURA and contact
their healthcare provider immediately, if these signs or symptoms occur during
TOLSURA administration [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Hepatoxicity
Instruct patients to stop TOLSURA treatment immediately
and contact their healthcare provider if any signs and symptoms suggestive of
liver dysfunction develop. Such signs and symptoms may include unusual fatigue,
anorexia, nausea and/or vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, or pale stools [see
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Use With Proton Pump Inhibitors And Potential Drug
Interactions
Advise patients to discuss with their physician the use
of TOLSURA with proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole. Instruct patients
to contact their physician before taking any other concomitant medications with
TOLSURA to ensure there are no potential drug interactions [see CONTRAINDICATIONS,
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Hearing Loss
Instruct patients that hearing loss can occur with the
use of TOLSURA. The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped but
can persist in some patients. Advise patients to inform their healthcare
provider if any hearing loss symptoms occur [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Vision Problem
Instruct patients that dizziness or blurred/double vision
can sometimes occur with TOLSURA. Advise patients that if they experience these
dizziness or blurred/double vision, they should contact their healthcare
provider, and instruct the patient not to drive or use machines [see ADVERSE
REACTIONS].
Pregnancy
Advise patients to notify their physician if they become
pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy [see Use In Specific
Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
Itraconazole showed no evidence of carcinogenicity
potential in mice treated orally for 23 months at dosage levels up to 80
mg/kg/day (approximately 12 X MRHD, based on mg/kg comparisons). Male rats
treated with 25 mg/kg/day (4 X MRHD) had a slightly increased incidence of
soft tissue sarcoma. These sarcomas may have been a consequence of hypercholesterolemia,
which is a response of rats, but not dogs or humans, to chronic itraconazole
administration. Female rats treated with 50 mg/kg/day (8 X MRHD) had an increased
incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (2/50) as compared to the
untreated group. Although the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in the lung
is extremely uncommon in untreated rats, the increase in this study was not
statistically significant.
Mutagenesis
Itraconazole produced no mutagenic effects when assayed
in DNA repair test (unscheduled DNA synthesis) in primary rat hepatocytes, in
Ames tests with Salmonella typhimurium (6 strains) and Escherichia coli, in the
mouse lymphoma gene mutation tests, in a sex-linked recessive lethal mutation (Drosophila
melanogaster) test, in chromosome aberration tests in human lymphocytes, in a
cell transformation test with C3H/10T½ C18 mouse embryo fibroblasts cells, in a
dominant lethal mutation test in male and female mice, and in micronucleus
tests in mice and rats.
Impairment Of Fertility
Itraconazole did not affect the fertility of male or
female rats treated orally with dosage levels of up to 40 mg/kg/day (6 X MRHD,
based on mg/kg comparisons), even though parental toxicity was present at this
dosage level.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no data on exposure to itraconazole during
pregnancy for the approved indications. Published epidemiologic studies of
women exposed to short courses of treatment with itraconazole in the first
trimester of pregnancy have reported no risk of major birth defects overall and
inconclusive findings on the risk of miscarriage (see Data).
In animal reproduction studies, itraconazole was found to
cause a dose-related increase in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, and
teratogenicity in rats at dosage levels of approximately (6- 25 times the
maximum recommended human dose [MRHD] of 390 mg/day based on mg/kg comparisons),
and in mice at dosage levels of approximately 80 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD).
All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect,
loss, or other adverse outcomes. The estimated background risk of major birth
defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. 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
Published prospective and retrospective cohort studies of
women exposed to short courses of treatment with itraconazole in the first
trimester of pregnancy (sample size 198-687) have reported no increase in the
rate of major birth defects. The most important methodological limitation of
these studies is the short duration of exposure in pregnancy (mean duration 6.9
to 8.5 days), or the lack of information on treatment duration. The risk of
prolonged exposure in pregnancy is not known.
Published prospective and retrospective cohort studies of
pregnant women exposed to itraconazole (sample size 131-198) have reported
inconsistent findings on the risk of miscarriage. Available data are
inconclusive and limited by possible bias due to earlier enrollment and
possible residual confounding in the exposed group compared to the unexposed group.
Animal Data
Itraconazole has been shown to cross the placenta in a
rat model. In animal reproduction studies, itraconazole administration to rats
and mice during organogenesis resulted in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity and
teratogenicity at and above 40 and 80 mg/kg respectively (doses equivalent to
6- and 12-times the MRHD of 390 mg/day, based on mg/kg comparisons). In rats,
the teratogenicity consisted of major skeletal defects; in mice, it consisted
of encephaloceles and/or macroglossia.
Lactation
Risk Summary
Itraconazole is excreted in human milk; however, there
are no data on the amount of itraconazole in human milk, the effects on the
breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and
health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical
need for TOLSURA and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from TOLSURA
or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not
been established.
The long-term effects of itraconazole on bone growth in
children are unknown. Bone lesions were observed in the young adult rats dosed
with oral itraconazole for 3 to 12 months [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of itraconazole did not include
sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years and over to determine whether they
respond differently from younger subjects. It is advised to use TOLSURA
Capsules in these patients only if it is determined that the potential benefit
outweighs the potential risks. In general, it is recommended that the dose
selection for an elderly patient should be taken into consideration, reflecting
the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of
concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Reversible 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 and DRUG
INTERACTIONS].
Renal Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral
itraconazole in patients with renal impairment. It is recommended that patients
with renal impairment be carefully monitored when taking TOLSURA [see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Hepatic Impairment
Limited data are available on the use of oral
itraconazole in patients with hepatic impairment. It is recommended that
patients with impaired hepatic function be carefully monitored when taking TOLSURA.
It is recommended that the prolonged elimination half-life of itraconazole
observed in the single oral dose clinical trial with itraconazole capsules in
cirrhotic patients be considered when deciding to initiate therapy with other
medications metabolized by CYP3A4 [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
In patients with elevated or abnormal liver enzymes or
active liver disease, or who have experienced liver toxicity with other drugs,
treatment with TOLSURA is strongly discouraged unless there is a serious or
life-threatening situation where the expected benefit exceeds the risk. It is
recommended that liver function monitoring be done in patients with
pre-existing hepatic function abnormalities or those who have experienced liver
toxicity with other medications [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and WARNINGS
AND PRECAUTIONS].