Approved Drug Label (PDF)
4
Contraindications
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
Paricalcitol Injection
is contraindicated in patients
with
·
Hypercalcemia
·
Vitamin D toxicity
· Known hypersensitivity to paricalcitol or any of the inactive ingredients in Paricalcitol Injection. Hypersensitivity adverse reactions have been reported [e.g., angioedema (including laryngeal edema) and urticaria]
5
Warnings and Precautions
Adynamic Bone Disease
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
Adynamic bone disease
with subsequent increased risk of fractures
may develop if intact PTH levels are suppressed by Paricalcitol Injection to abnormally low levels. Monitor intact PTH levels to avoid over suppression and adjust Paricalcitol Injection dose,
if needed.
Digitalis Toxicity
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
Paricalcitol Injection can
cause hypercalcemia which increases the risk of digitalis
toxicity. In patients
using Paricalcitol Injection concomitantly with digitalis
compounds, monitor serum calcium
and patients for signs and symptoms
of digitalis toxicity. Increase the frequency of monitoring when initiating or adjusting the dose of Paricalcitol Injection.
Hypercalcemia
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
Hypercalcemia may occur during Paricalcitol Injection treatment. Acute
hypercalcemia may increase
the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and seizures and may potentiate the
effect of digitalis on the heart. Chronic
hypercalcemia can lead to generalized vascular calcification and other soft-tissue calcification. Severe hypercalcemia may require emergency
attention.
Hypercalcemia may be exacerbated by concomitant administration of high doses
of calcium
containing preparations, thiazide
diuretics, or other
vitamin D compounds. In addition, high intake of calcium and phosphate concomitantly with vitamin D compounds may lead to hypercalciuria and hyperphosphatemia. Patients with a history of hypercalcemia prior to initiating therapy may be at increased
risk for development of hypercalcemia
with
Paricalcitol
Injection. In these circumstances, frequent serum calcium
monitoring and Paricalcitol Injection dose adjustments may be required.
When initiating Paricalcitol Injection or adjusting
Paricalcitol Injection dose, measure serum calcium frequently (e.g., twice weekly). Once a maintenance dose has been established, measure
serum calcium at least monthly. If hypercalcemia occurs, reduce the dose or discontinue Paricalcitol Injection until
serum calcium is normal.
Inform patients about the symptoms
of elevated calcium (feeling
tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
constipation, increased
thirst, increased urination and weight loss) and instruct
them to report new or worsening symptoms
when they occur.
6
Adverse Reactions
Newly added
information:
The following serious adverse
reactions are described
below and elsewhere in the labeling:
·
Hypercalcemia
·
Adynamic Bone Disease
Clinical Trials Experience
Extensive
changes; please refer to label for complete information.
7
Drug Interactions
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Addition of new
table
Table 4 includes clinically significant drug interactions with Paricalcitol Injection.
8
Use in Specific Populations
Hepatic Impairment
Newly added subsection
The pharmacokinetics of paricalcitol were studied in patients with mild and moderate hepatic
impairment and were similar to that of patients with normal hepatic function. No dose adjustment is required in patients
with mild or moderate
hepatic function.
Paricalcitol Injection has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic
impairment.
Lactation
Risk Summary
Newly
added information:
There is no information available on the presence of paricalcitol in human milk, the effects
of the drug on the breastfed
infant or the effects
of the drug on milk production.
Studies in rats have shown that paricalcitol and/or its metabolites are present in the milk of lactating rats. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk. Infants exposed
to Paricalcitol Injection
through breast milk should
be monitored for signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia. The developmental and health benefits
of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s
clinical need for Paricalcitol Injection and any potential adverse
effects on the breast-fed child
from Paricalcitol Injection or from the underlying maternal condition.
Clinical
Considerations
Infants exposed
to Paricalcitol Injection through breast milk should be monitored for signs and symptoms
of hypercalcemia, including seizures, vomiting, constipation and weight loss. Monitoring of serum calcium
in the infant should
be considered.
Data
Following a single
oral administration of 20 mcg/kg of radioactive [3H] paricalcitol to lactating rats, the concentrations of total radioactivity was determined. Lower levels
of total radioactivity were present
in the milk compared
to that in the plasma of the dams indicating that low levels of [3H] paricalcitol and/or its metabolites are secreted into milk. Exposure of the pups to [3H] paricalcitol through milk was confirmed
by the presence of radioactive material
in the pups’ stomachs.
Pediatric Use
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
The safety and efficacy of Paricalcitol Injection for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with CKD have been established in pediatric patients 5 years of age and older with CKD on dialysis.
Use of Paricalcitol Injection for this indication is supported
by evidence from an adequate and well-controlled study of another paricalcitol injection product in 29 patients,
5 to 19 years
of age, with CKD on hemodialysis .
The safety and efficacy of Paricalcitol Injection have not been established in pediatric patients less than 5 years old.
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Newly
added information:
Limited data with Paricalcitol Injection in pregnant
women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects
and miscarriage. There are risks
to the mother and fetus associated with chronic kidney disease
in pregnancy.
In animal reproduction studies, slightly increased embryofetal loss was observed in pregnant rats and rabbits
administered paricalcitol intravenously during the period of organogenesis at doses 2 and 0.5 times, respectively, a human dose of 14 mcg (equivalent to 0.24 mcg/kg), based on body surface
area (mg/m2). Adverse reproductive outcomes were observed
at doses that caused maternal
toxicity.
The estimated
background risk of major birth defects
and miscarriage for the indicated population 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.
Clinical
Considerations
Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk
Chronic kidney disease
in pregnancy increases the risk for maternal
hypertension and preeclampsia, miscarriage, preterm
delivery, polyhydramnios, still birth, and low birth weight infants.
Data
Animal Data
Pregnant rats and rabbits were treated
with paricalcitol by once-daily intravenous injection during
the period of organogenesis (in rats, from gestation day (GD) 6 to 17; in rabbits, from GD 6 to 18). Rats were dosed at 0, 0.3, 1 or 3 mcg/kg/day and rabbits
at 0,
0.03, 0.1 or 0.3 mcg/kg/day, representing up to 2 or 0.5 times, respectively, a human dose of 0.24 mcg/kg,
based on body surface area (mg/m2). Slightly
decreased fetal viability was observed
in both studies at the highest
doses representing 2 and 0.5 times, respectively, a human dose of 0.24 mcg/kg, in the presence of maternal toxicity (decreased body weight
and food consumption). Pregnant rats were administered paricalcitol by intravenous injection three times
per week at doses of 0, 0.3, 3 or 20 mcg/kg/day throughout gestation, parturition and lactation
(GD 6 to lactation day (LD) 20) representing exposures up to 13 times a human dose of 0.24 mcg/kg. A small increase in stillbirths and pup deaths from parturition to LD 4 were observed at the high dose
when compared
to the control group (9.2% versus 3.3% in controls) at 13 times a human dose of 0.24 mcg/kg,
which occurred at a maternally toxic dose known to cause hypercalcemia in rats. Surviving
pups were not adversely affected;
body weight gains, developmental landmarks, reflex ontogeny, learning
indices, and locomotor activity
were all within normal parameters. F1 reproductive capacity
was unaffected.
17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)
PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
Additions and/or revisions
underlined:
Hypercalcemia
Advise patients to contact a health care provider if they develop symptoms
of elevated calcium, (e.g. feeling
tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst,
increased urination and weight
loss.)
Monitoring
Inform patients that they will need routine monitoring of laboratory parameters such as calcium and intact PTH while receiving Paricalcitol Injection. Inform patients that more frequent monitoring is necessary during
the initiation of therapy, following
dose changes or when potentially interacting medications are started or discontinued.
Drug Interactions
Advise patients to inform their physician of all medications, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, and supplements, they are taking Advise patients to also inform their physician that they are receiving Paricalcitol Injection if a new medication is prescribed.