Fortical (Page 2 of 4)

WARNINGS

Allergic Reactions

Because calcitonin is a polypeptide, the possibility of a systemic allergic reaction exists. A few cases of serious allergic-type reactions have been reported in patients receiving calcitonin-salmon nasal spray, including cases of anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. With injectable calcitonin-salmon there have been a few reports of serious allergic-type reactions (e.g. bronchospasm, swelling of the tongue or throat, anaphylactic shock), including very rare reports of death attributed to anaphylaxis. The usual provisions should be made for emergency treatment if such a reaction should occur. Allergic reactions should be differentiated from generalized flushing and hypotension.

For patients with suspected sensitivity to calcitonin, skin testing should be considered prior to treatment utilizing a dilute, sterile solution of a calcitonin-salmon injectable product. Physicians may wish to refer patients who require skin testing to an allergist. A detailed skin testing protocol is available from Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-800-654-2299.

PRECAUTIONS

1. Drug Interactions

Formal studies designed to evaluate drug interactions with calcitonin-salmon have not been done.

Concomitant use of calcitonin and lithium may lead to a reduction in plasma lithium concentrations due to increased urinary clearance of lithium. The dose of lithium may need to be adjusted.

The effects of prior use of diphosphonates in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients have not been assessed; however, in patients with Paget’s disease prior diphosphonate use appears to reduce the anti-resorptive response to calcitonin-salmon nasal spray.

2. Periodic Nasal Examinations

Periodic nasal examinations with visualization of the nasal mucosa, turbinates, septum and mucosal blood vessel status are recommended.

The development of mucosal alterations or transient nasal conditions have been reported in up to 9% of patients who received a calcitonin-salmon nasal spray and in up to 12% of patients who received placebo nasal spray in studies in postmenopausal women. The majority of patients (approximately 90%) in whom nasal abnormalities were noted also reported nasally related complaints/symptoms as adverse events. Therefore, a nasal examination should be performed prior to start of treatment with nasal calcitonin and at any time nasal complaints occur.

In all postmenopausal patients treated with a calcitonin-salmon nasal spray, the most commonly reported nasal adverse events included rhinitis (12%), epistaxis (3.5%), and sinusitis (2.3%). Smoking was shown not to have any contributory effect on the occurrence of nasal adverse events. One patient (0.3%) treated with a calcitonin-salmon nasal spray who was receiving 400 International Units daily developed a small nasal wound. In clinical trials in another disorder (Paget’s disease), 2.8% of patients developed nasal ulcerations.

If severe ulceration of the nasal mucosa occurs, as indicated by ulcers greater than 1.5 mm in diameter or penetrating below the mucosa, or those associated with heavy bleeding, calcitonin-salmon nasal spray should be discontinued. Although smaller ulcers often heal without withdrawal of calcitonin-salmon nasal spray, medication should be discontinued temporarily until healing occurs.

3. Information for Patients

Careful instructions on pump assembly, priming of the pump and nasal introduction of FORTICAL® calcitonin-salmon (rDNA origin) Nasal Spray should be given to the patient. Although instructions for patients are supplied with the individual bottle, procedures for use should be demonstrated to each patient. Patients should notify their physician if they develop significant nasal irritation.

Get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:

  • trouble breathing
  • swelling of your face, throat or tongue
  • rapid heartbeat
  • chest pain
  • feel faint or dizzy

Patients should be advised of the following:

  • Store new, unassembled bottles in the refrigerator between 36-46°F (2-8°C).
  • Protect the product from freezing.
  • Keep the bottle of Fortical® Nasal Spray away from light.
  • Before priming the pump and using a new bottle, allow it to reach room temperature.
  • After opening a new bottle of Fortical® Nasal Spray, store bottle in use with pump attached at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C), in an upright position. Each bottle contains enough medicine for 30 doses.
  • Throw away the empty bottle of Fortical® Nasal Spray after you have used 30 doses.
  • See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Priming (Activation) of Pump for complete instructions on priming the pump and administering FORTICAL® calcitonin-salmon (rDNA origin) Nasal Spray.

4. Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Impairment of Fertility

An increased incidence of non-functioning pituitary adenomas has been observed in 1-year toxicity studies in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 Rats administered (subcutaneously) calcitonin-salmon at dosages of 80 International Units per kilogram per day (16-19 times the recommended human parenteral dose and about 130-160 times the human intranasal dose based on body surface area).

The findings suggest that calcitonin-salmon reduced the latency period for development of the pituitary adenomas that do not produce hormones, probably through the perturbation of physiologic processes involved in the evolution of this commonly occurring endocrine lesion in the rat. Although administration of calcitonin-salmon reduces the latency period of the development of nonfunctional proliferative lesions in rats, it did not induce the hyperplastic/neoplastic process.

Calcitonin-salmon was tested for mutagenicity using four strains of Salmonella typhimurium and two strains of Escherichia coli , with and without rat liver metabolic activation, and found to be non-mutagenic. The drug was also not mutagenic in a chromosome aberration test in Chinese Hamster ovary cells in vitro.

5. Laboratory Tests

Urine sediment abnormalities have not been reported in ambulatory volunteers treated with calcitonin-salmon nasal spray. Coarse granular casts containing renal tubular epithelial cells were reported in young adult volunteers at bed rest who were given injectable calcitonin-salmon to study the effect of immobilization on osteoporosis. There was no evidence of renal abnormality and the urine sediment became normal after calcitonin was stopped. Periodic examinations of urine sediment should be considered.

6. Pregnancy

Teratogenic Effects

Category C

Calcitonin-salmon has been shown to cause a decrease in fetal birth weights in rabbits when given by injection in doses 8-33 times the parenteral dose and 70-278 times the intranasal dose recommended for human use based on body surface area.

Since calcitonin does not cross the placental barrier, this finding may be due to metabolic effects on the pregnant animal. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with calcitonin-salmon. FORTICAL® calcitonin-salmon (rDNA origin) Nasal Spray is not indicated for use in pregnancy.

7. Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. As a general rule, nursing should not be undertaken while a patient is on this drug since many drugs are excreted in human milk. Calcitonin has been shown to inhibit lactation in animals.

8. Pediatric Use

There are no data to support the use of FORTICAL® calcitonin-salmon (rDNA origin) Nasal Spray in children. Disorders of bone in children referred to as idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis have been reported rarely. The relationship of these disorders to postmenopausal osteoporosis has not been established and experience with the use of calcitonin in these disorders is limited.

9. Geriatric Use

In a large multi-centered, double-blind, randomized clinical study of calcitonin-salmon nasal spray, 279 patients were less than 65 years old, while 467 patients were 65 to 74 years old and 196 patients were 75 and over. Compared to subjects less than 65 years old, the incidence of nasal adverse events (rhinitis, irritation, erythema, and excoriation) was higher in patients over the age of 65, particularly those over the age of 75. Most events were mild in intensity. 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.

Adverse Reactions to Fortical

The incidence of adverse reactions reported in studies involving postmenopausal osteoporotic patients chronically exposed to calcitonin-salmon nasal spray (N=341) and to placebo nasal spray (N=131), and reported in greater than 3% of calcitonin-salmon nasal spray treated patients are presented in the following table. Most adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity. Nasal adverse events were most common with 70% mild, 25% moderate, and 5% severe in nature (placebo rates were 71% mild, 27% moderate, and 2% severe).

Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 3% of Postmenopausal Patients Treated Chronically
Adverse Reaction Calcitonin-Salmon Nasal SprayN=341% of Patients PlaceboN=131% of Patients
*
Symptom of nose includes: nasal crusts, dryness, redness or erythema, nasal sores, irritation, itching, thick feeling, soreness, pallor, infection, stenosis, runny/blocked, small wound, bleeding wound, tenderness, uncomfortable feeling and sore across bridge of nose.
Rhinitis 12.0 6.9
Symptom of Nose * 10.6 16.0
Back Pain 5.0 2.3
Arthralgia 3.8 5.3
Epistaxis 3.5 4.6
Headache 3.2 4.6

In addition, the following adverse events were reported in fewer than 3% of patients during chronic therapy with calcitonin-salmon nasal spray. Adverse events reported in 1%-3% of patients are identified with an asterisk(*). The remainder occurred in less than 1% of patients. Other than flushing, nausea, possible allergic reactions, and possible local irritative effects in the respiratory tract, a relationship to calcitonin-salmon nasal spray has not been established.

Body as a whole – General Disorders: influenza-like symptoms*, fatigue*, edema (facial, peripheral, and generalized), fever

Integumentary: erythematous rash*, skin ulceration, eczema, alopecia, pruritus, increased sweating

Musculoskeletal/Collagen: arthrosis*, myalgia*, arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, stiffness

Respiratory/Special Senses: sinusitis*, upper respiratory tract infection*, bronchospasm*, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, coughing, dyspnea, taste perversion, parosmia, nasal congestion, sneezing, allergic rhinitis, nasal odor, mucosal excoriation, rhinitis ulcerative

Cardiovascular: hypertension*, angina pectoris*, tachycardia, palpitation, bundle branch block, myocardial infarction

Gastrointestinal: dyspepsia*, constipation*, abdominal pain*, nausea*, diarrhea*, vomiting, flatulence, increased appetite, gastritis, dry mouth

Liver/Metabolic: cholelithiasis, hepatitis, thirst, weight increase

Endocrine: goiter, hyperthyroidism

Urinary System: cystitis*, pyelonephritis, hematuria, renal calculus

Central and Peripheral Nervous System: dizziness*, paresthesia*, vertigo, migraine, neuralgia, agitation

Hearing/Vestibular: tinnitus, hearing loss, earache

Vision: abnormal lacrimation*, conjunctivitis*, blurred vision, vitreous floater, visual disturbance

Vascular: flushing, cerebrovascular accident, thrombophlebitis

Hematologic/Resistance Mechanisms: lymphadenopathy*, infection*, anemia

Psychiatric: depression*, insomnia, anxiety, anorexia

Immune System Disorders: hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock

Common adverse reactions associated with the use of injectable calcitonin-salmon occurred less frequently in patients treated with calcitonin-salmon nasal spray than in those patients treated with injectable calcitonin. Nausea, with or without vomiting, which occurred in 1.8% of patients treated with the nasal spray (and 1.5% of those receiving placebo nasal spray) occurs in about 10% of patients who take injectable calcitonin-salmon. Flushing, which occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with the nasal spray, occurs in 2-5% of patients treated with injectable calcitonin-salmon. Although the administered dosages of injectable and nasal spray calcitonin-salmon are comparable (50-100 units daily of injectable versus 200 units daily of nasal spray), the nasal dosage form has a mean bioavailability of about 3% (range 0.3%-30.6%) and therefore provides less drug to the systemic circulation, possibly accounting for the decrease in frequency of adverse reactions.

The collective foreign marketing experience with calcitonin-salmon nasal spray does not show evidence of any notable difference in the incidence profile of reported adverse reactions when compared with that seen in the clinical trials.

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