Arava

ARAVA- leflunomide tablet, film coated
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC

WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY and HEPATOTOXICITY

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

ARAVA is contraindicated for use in pregnant women because of the potential for fetal harm. Teratogenicity and embryo-lethality occurred in animals administered leflunomide at doses lower than the human exposure level. Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment with ARAVA in females of reproductive potential. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ARAVA treatment and during an accelerated drug elimination procedure after ARAVA treatment. Stop ARAVA and use an accelerated drug elimination procedure if the patient becomes pregnant [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.3), Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)], and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] .

Hepatotoxicity

Severe liver injury, including fatal liver failure, has been reported in patients treated with ARAVA. ARAVA is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Concomitant use of ARAVA with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs may increase the risk of liver injury. Patients with pre-existing acute or chronic liver disease, or those with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2 × ULN before initiating treatment, are at increased risk and should not be treated with ARAVA. Monitor ALT levels at least monthly for six months after starting ARAVA, and thereafter every 6 to 8 weeks. If leflunomide-induced liver injury is suspected, stop ARAVA treatment, start an accelerated drug elimination procedure, and monitor liver tests weekly until normalized [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.3), Use in Specific Populations (8.6)] .

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

ARAVA is indicated for the treatment of adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Recommended Dosage

The recommended dosage of ARAVA is 20 mg once daily. Treatment may be initiated with or without a loading dose, depending upon the patient’s risk of ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity and ARAVA-associated myelosuppression. The loading dose provides steady-state concentrations more rapidly.

  • For patients who are at low risk for ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity and ARAVA-associated myelosuppression, the recommended ARAVA loading dose is 100 mg once daily for 3 days. Subsequently administer 20 mg once daily.
  • For patients at high risk for ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity (e.g., those taking concomitant methotrexate) or ARAVA-associated myelosuppression (e.g., patients taking concomitant immunosuppressants), the recommended ARAVA dosage is 20 mg once daily without a loading dose [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.4)] .

The maximum recommended daily dose is 20 mg once per day. Consider dosage reduction to 10 mg once daily for patients who are not able to tolerate 20 mg daily (i.e., for patients who experience any adverse events listed in Table 1).

Monitor patients carefully after dosage reduction and after stopping therapy with ARAVA, since the active metabolite of leflunomide, teriflunomide, is slowly eliminated from the plasma [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . After stopping ARAVA treatment, an accelerated drug elimination procedure is recommended to reduce the plasma concentrations of the active metabolite, teriflunomide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] . Without use of an accelerated drug elimination procedure, it may take up to 2 years to reach undetectable plasma teriflunomide concentrations after stopping ARAVA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] .

2.2 Evaluation and Testing Prior to Starting ARAVA

Prior to starting ARAVA treatment, the following evaluations and tests are recommended:

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

ARAVA Tablets are available in three strengths:

  • Tablets: 10 mg, supplied as white, round film-coated tablet embossed with “ZBN” on one side
  • Tablets: 20 mg, supplied as light-yellow, triangular film-coated tablet embossed with “ZBO” on one side
  • Tablets: 100 mg, supplied as white, round film-coated tablet embossed with “ZBP” on one side

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

ARAVA is contraindicated in:

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

ARAVA may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Teratogenicity and embryo-lethality occurred in animal reproduction studies with leflunomide at doses lower than the human exposure level [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

ARAVA is contraindicated for use in pregnant women [see Contraindications (4)] . Exclude pregnancy before starting treatment with ARAVA in females of reproductive potential [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)] . Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ARAVA treatment and during an accelerated drug elimination procedure after ARAVA treatment [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)] . If a woman becomes pregnant while taking ARAVA, stop treatment with ARAVA, apprise the patient of the potential risk to a fetus, and perform an accelerated drug elimination procedure to achieve nondetectable plasma concentrations of teriflunomide, the active metabolite of leflunomide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] .

Upon discontinuing ARAVA, it is recommended that all females of reproductive potential undergo an accelerated drug elimination procedure. Women receiving ARAVA treatment who wish to become pregnant must discontinue ARAVA and undergo an accelerated drug elimination procedure, which includes verification that plasma concentrations of the active metabolite of leflunomide, teriflunomide, are less than 0.02 mg/L (0.02 mcg/mL). Based on animal data, human plasma concentrations of teriflunomide of less than 0.02 mg/L (0.02 mcg/mL) are expected to have minimal embryo-fetal risk [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.3), and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

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