Octreotide Acetate

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cardiac Function Abnormalities : Increased risk for higher degree of atrioventricular blocks. Consider cardiac monitoring in patients receiving octreotide acetate injection intravenously. Bradycardia, arrhythmias, or conduction abnormalities may occur. Use with caution in at-risk patients. Dosage adjustment of cardiac medications may be necessary. ( 5.1 ) Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis : Monitor periodically. Discontinue if complications of cholelithiasis are suspected. ( 5.2 ) Glucose Metabolism : Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia may occur. Glucose monitoring is recommended and anti-diabetic treatment may need adjustment. ( 5.3 ) Thyroid Function : Hypothyroidism may occur. Monitor thyroid levels periodically. ( 5.4 ) Steatorrhea and Malabsorption of Dietary Fats : New onset steatorrhea, stool discoloration, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss may occur. If new occurrence or worsening of these symptoms are reported, evaluate for potential pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. ( 5.5 ) 5.1 Cardiac Function Abnormalities Complete Atrioventricular Block Patients who receive octreotide acetate injection intravenously may be at increased risk for higher degree atrioventricular blocks. In postmarketing reports, complete atrioventricular block was reported in patients receiving IV octreotide acetate injection during surgical procedures. In the majority of patients, octreotide acetate injection was given at higher than recommended doses and/or as a continuous IV infusion. The safety of continuous IV infusion has not been established in patients receiving octreotide acetate injection for the approved indications. Consider cardiac monitoring in patients receiving octreotide acetate injection intravenously. Other Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities Other cardiac conduction abnormalities have occurred during treatment with octreotide acetate injection. In acromegalic patients, bradycardia (< 50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias occurred in 9% of patients during octreotide acetate injection therapy [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . Other electrocardiogram (ECG) changes observed included QT prolongation, axis shifts, early repolarization, low voltage, R/S transition, and early R-wave progression. These ECG changes are not uncommon in acromegalic patients. Dose adjustments in drugs such as beta-blockers that have bradycardia effects may be necessary. In one acromegalic patient with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), initiation of octreotide acetate injection therapy resulted in worsening of CHF with improvement when drug was discontinued. Confirmation of a drug effect was obtained with a positive rechallenge. 5.2 Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis Octreotide acetate injection may inhibit gallbladder contractility and decrease bile secretion, which may lead to gallbladder abnormalities or sludge. Acute cholecystitis, ascending cholangitis, biliary obstruction, cholestatic hepatitis, or pancreatitis have been reported with octreotide acetate injection therapy. In clinical trials (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis), the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received octreotide acetate injection for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with octreotide acetate injection for 1 month or less developed gallstones. One patient developed ascending cholangitis during octreotide acetate injection therapy and died. If complications of cholelithiasis are suspected, discontinue octreotide acetate injection and treat appropriately. 5.3 Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia Octreotide acetate injection alters the balance between the counter-regulatory hormones, insulin, glucagon and GH, which may result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. The hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia which occurs during octreotide acetate injection therapy is usually mild but may result in overt diabetes mellitus or necessitate dose changes in insulin or other anti-diabetic agents. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred on octreotide acetate injection in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively [see Adverse Reactions (6)]. Severe hyperglycemia, subsequent pneumonia, and death following initiation of octreotide acetate injection therapy was reported in one patient with no history of hyperglycemia. Monitor glucose levels during octreotide acetate injection therapy. Adjust dosing of insulin or other anti-diabetic therapy accordingly. 5.4 Thyroid Function Abnormalities Octreotide suppresses secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which may result in hypothyroidism. Baseline and periodic assessment of thyroid function (TSH, total, and/or free T4) is recommended during chronic therapy [see Adverse Reactions (6)]. 5.5 Steatorrhea and Malabsorption of Dietary Fats New onset steatorrhea, stool discoloration and loose stools have been reported in patients receiving somatostatin analogs, including octreotide acetate. Somatostatin analogs reversibly inhibit secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, which may result in malabsorption of dietary fats and subsequent symptoms of steatorrhea, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss. If new occurrence or worsening of these symptoms are reported in patients receiving octreotide acetate, evaluate patients for potential pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and manage accordingly 5.6 Changes in Vitamin B 12 Levels Depressed vitamin B 12 levels and abnormal Schilling’s tests have been observed in some patients receiving octreotide acetate injection therapy, and monitoring of vitamin B 12 levels is recommended during octreotide acetate injection therapy.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Complete Atrioventricular Block [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Thyroid Function Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Steatorrhea and Malabsorption of Dietary Fats [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) Changes in Vitamin B 12 Levels [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) in patients with acromegaly are gallbladder abnormalities, sinus bradycardia, diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, abdominal discomfort, hyperglycemia, and hypothyroidism. In other patients, most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) are gallbladder abnormalities. ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Gland Pharma Limited at 864-879-9994 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience 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. Gallbladder Abnormalities Gallbladder abnormalities, especially stones and/or biliary sludge, frequently develop in patients on chronic octreotide acetate injection therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . In clinical trials (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis), the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received octreotide acetate injection for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with octreotide acetate injection for 1 month or less developed gallstones. Cardiac In acromegalics, sinus bradycardia (< 50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias developed in 9% of patients during octreotide acetate injection therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Gastrointestinal Diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, and abdominal discomfort were each seen in 34% to 61% of acromegalic patients in U.S. studies. 2.6% of the patients discontinued therapy due to these symptoms. These symptoms were seen in 5% to 10% of patients with carcinoid tumors and VIPomas. The frequency of these symptoms was not dose related, but diarrhea and abdominal discomfort generally resolved more quickly in patients treated with 300 mcg/day than in those treated with 750 mcg/day. Vomiting, flatulence, abnormal stools, abdominal distention, and constipation were each seen in less than 10% of patients. In rare instances, gastrointestinal side effects may resemble acute intestinal obstruction, with progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness, and guarding. Hypo/Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively, but only in about 1.5% of other patients. Symptoms of hypoglycemia were noted in approximately 2% of patients. Hypothyroidism In acromegalics, biochemical hypothyroidism alone occurred in 12% while goiter occurred in 8% and 4% required initiation of thyroid replacement therapy during octreotide acetate injection therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . In patients without acromegaly, hypothyroidism has only been reported in several isolated patients and goiter has not been reported. Other Adverse Events Pain on injection was reported in 7.7%, headache in 6%, and dizziness in 5%. Pancreatitis was also observed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Other Adverse Events 1% to 4% Other events, each observed in 1% to 4% of patients, included fatigue, weakness, pruritus, joint pain, backache, urinary tract infection, cold symptoms, flu symptoms, injection site hematoma, bruise, edema, flushing, blurred vision, pollakiuria, fat malabsorption, hair loss, visual disturbance, and depression. Anaphylactoid reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported in several patients receiving octreotide acetate injection. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of octreotide acetate injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Hepatobiliary : cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cholangitis and pancreatitis, which have sometimes required cholecystectomy Gastrointestinal : intestinal obstruction, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency Hematologic : thrombocytopenia