Rectiv

RECTIV- nitroglycerin ointment
Allergan, Inc.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

RECTIV® (nitroglycerin) Ointment 0.4% is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissure.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Apply 1 inch of ointment (375 mg of ointment equivalent to 1.5 mg of nitroglycerin) intra-anally every 12 hours for up to 3 weeks. A finger covering, such as plastic-wrap, disposable surgical glove or a finger cot, should be placed on the finger to apply the ointment. To obtain a 1.5 mg dose of nitroglycerin, the covered finger is laid alongside the 1 inch dosing line on the carton.

Figure 1
(click image for full-size original)

Refer to carton for accurate dosage guide.

The tube is gently squeezed until a line of ointment the length of the measuring line is expressed onto the covered finger. The ointment is gently inserted into the anal canal using the covered finger no further than to the first finger joint and the ointment is applied around the side of the anal canal. If this cannot be achieved due to pain, application of the ointment should be made directly to the outside of the anus. Treatment may be continued for up to three weeks.

RECTIV ointment is not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. Hands should be washed after application of the ointment.

See Patients Instruction for Use.

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Ointment, 0.4% w/w (4 mg /1 g) in 30 g tubes.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

4.1 PDE5 inhibitor use

Administration of RECTIV is contraindicated in patients who are using a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), such as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil, as these are shown to potentiate the hypotensive effects of organic nitrates [see 7.1 DRUG INTERACTIONS].

4.2 Severe anemia

RECTIV is contraindicated in patients with severe anemia.

4.3 Increased intracranial pressure

RECTIV is contraindicated in patients with increased intracranial pressure.

4.4 Hypersensitivity

RECTIV is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to it or to other nitrates or nitrites. Skin reactions consistent with hypersensitivity have been observed with organic nitrates.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Cardiovascular disorders

Venous and arterial dilatation as a consequence of nitroglycerin treatment including RECTIV, can decrease venous blood returning to the heart and reduce arterial vascular resistance and systolic pressure. Exercise caution when treating patients with any of the following conditions: blood volume depletion, existing hypotension, cardiomyopathies, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or poor cardiac function for other reasons. If patients with any of these conditions are treated with RECTIV, monitor cardiovascular status and clinical condition. The adverse reactions of RECTIV are likely to be more pronounced in the elderly.

5.2 Headache

RECTIV produces dose-related headaches, which may be severe. Tolerance to headaches occurs.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction 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 most common adverse reaction of RECTIV (nitroglycerin) Ointment 0.4% applied to the anal canal is headache.

Headache may be recurrent following each dose. Headaches are typically of short duration and can be treated with an analgesic, e.g. acetaminophen, and are reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.

In Study REC-C-001, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with a painful chronic anal fissure, the most frequent (≥ 2%) adverse reactions reported were as follows (Table 1):

Table 1: Incidence of Adverse Reactions (≥ 2%) in Study REC-C-001
RECTIV N = 123 Placebo N = 124
System Organ Class Preferred term Patients n (%) Events n Patients n (%) Events n
Nervous system disorders
Headache 79 (64) 938 51 (41) 225
Dizziness 6 (5) 26 0 0

Hypotension

Transient episodes of light-headedness, occasionally related to blood pressure changes, also may occur. Hypotension (including orthostatic hypotension) occurs infrequently, but in some patients may be severe enough to warrant discontinuation of therapy.

Allergic Reactions

Flushing, allergic reactions and application site reactions (including drug rash and exfoliative dermatitis) have been reported rarely.

Methemoglobinemia

In rare cases, therapeutic doses of organic nitrates have caused methemoglobinemia (see 10 OVERDOSAGE).

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS

7.1 PDE5 inhibitors

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors such as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil have been shown to potentiate the hypotensive effects of organic nitrates.

The time course of the interaction appears to be related to the half-life of the PDE5 inhibitor, however, the dose dependence of this interaction has not been studied. Use of RECTIV within a few days of PDE5 inhibitors is contraindicated.

7.2 Antihypertensives

Patients receiving antihypertensive drugs, beta-adrenergic blockers, and other nitrates should be observed for possible additive hypotensive effects when using RECTIV. Marked orthostatic hypotension has been reported when calcium channel blockers and organic nitrates were used concomitantly.

Beta-blockers blunt the reflex tachycardia produced by nitroglycerin without preventing its hypotensive effects. If beta-blockers are used with RECTIV in patients with angina pectoris, additional hypotensive effects may occur.

7.3 Aspirin

Coadministration of aspirin (at doses between 500 mg and 1000 mg) and nitroglycerin has been reported to result in increased nitroglycerin maximum concentrations by as much as 67% and AUC by 73% when administered as a single dose. The pharmacological effects of RECTIV may be enhanced by concomitant administration of aspirin.

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