Warnings for Tolsura
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Tolsura
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, lifethreatening 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 cross-hypersensitivity 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×MRHD, based on mg/kg comparisons). Male rats treated with 25 mg/kg/day (4×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×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×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 halflife 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].