Approved Drug Label (PDF)
8
Use in Specific Populations
8.1 Pregnancy
(PLLR
conversion, please refer to label foe more information)
8.2 Lactation
(PLLR
conversion)
Risk Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend
that HIV-infected mothers not breastfeed their infants to avoid risking
postnatal transmission of HIV.
Based on limited data, stavudine has been detected in
human milk. No data are available regarding the effects of stavudine on the
breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production.
Because of the potential for (1) HIV transmission (in
HIV-negative infants), (2) developing viral resistance (in HIV-positive
infants) and (3) adverse reactions in breastfed infants similar to those seen
in adults, instruct mothers not to breastfeed if they are receiving ZERIT.
17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)
Medication Guide
(Updated
with didanosine information to be consistent with the Prescribing Information,
please refer to label)
PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient
labeling (Medication Guide).
Lactic Acidosis
Inform patients of the importance of early recognition of
symptoms of symptomatic hyperlactatemia or lactic acidosis syndrome, which
include unexplained weight loss, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting,
fatigue, dyspnea, and motor weakness. Patients in whom these symptoms develop
should seek medical attention immediately. Discontinuation of ZERIT therapy may be required. Advise pregnant
individuals of the potential risks of lactic acidosis syndrome/hepatic steatosis
syndrome.
…
Other
Approved Drug Label (PDF)
Boxed Warning
WARNING: LACTIC ACIDOSIS and HEPATOMEGALY with STEATOSIS; PANCREATITIS
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…Fatal lactic acidosis has been reported in pregnant women who received
the combination of ZERIT and didanosine with other antiretroviral
agents. Coadministration of ZERIT and didanosine is contraindicated because
of increased risk of serious and/or life-threatening events. Suspend treatment
if clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced
hepatotoxicity occur.
4
Contraindications
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…
Co-administration of ZERIT with didanosine is contraindicated due to
the potential for serious and/or life-threatening events notably lactic
acidosis, hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy, and pancreatitis.
5
Warnings and Precautions
5.1 Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…Coadministration of ZERIT and didanosine is contraindicated.
5.2 Hepatic Toxicity
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…Coadministration of ZERIT
and didanosine is contraindicated;
and the combination
of ZERIT and
hydroxyurea should be
avoided.
5.4 Pancreatitis
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…Coadministration of ZERIT and didanosine is contraindicated…
8
Use in Specific Populations
8.1 Pregnancy
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
…The combination of stavudine and didanosine is contraindicated…
17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
…
Hepatic Toxicity
Inform patients that hepatotoxicity, which may be fatal, may
occur in patients treated with ZERIT in combination with didanosine and
hydroxyurea. ZERIT is contraindicated in combination with didanosine. Avoid
coadministration of ZERIT with hydroxyurea.
…
Pancreatitis
…ZERIT is contraindicated in combination with didanosine. Closely monitor patients for symptoms
of pancreatitis such as severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and
fever.
Lipoatrophy
Inform patients that loss of body fat (e.g., loss of fat from
arms, legs, or face) may occur in individuals receiving ZERIT…
Pregnancy Registry
Inform patients that there is an antiretroviral pregnancy registry
to monitor fetal outcomes of pregnancy women exposed to ZERIT.
Lactation
Inform patients that it is not known if ZERIT can be passed to the
baby by breast milk and whether it could harm the baby. Advise mothers with
HIV-1 not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
Sucrose in ZERIT for Oral Solution
Inform patients with diabetes that ZERIT for oral solution
contains 50 mg of sucrose per mL.
Dosing Information
Instruct patients not to miss a dose but if they do, patients should
take ZERIT as soon as possible. Inform patients that it is important to
take ZERIT on a regular dosing schedule and to avoid missing doses as it can
result in development of resistance.
…
Medication Guide
(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)
What is the most important
information I should know about ZERIT?
ZERIT can cause serious side
effects, including:
Build-up
of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen
in some people who take ZERIT or similar medicines (nucleoside analogues).
Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.
Call your healthcare provider
right away if you get any of the following symptoms which could be signs of
lactic acidosis:
feel
very weak or tired
weight
loss
Severe
liver problems. Severe liver problems, including liver failure can
happen in people who take ZERIT. In some cases, these liver problems can
lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you
may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Taking ZERIT with medicines
that contain didanosine or hydroxyurea may increase your risk for
liver problems.
Call your healthcare provider
right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems:
dark
or “tea-colored” urine
pain,
aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area
light
colored stools (bowel movements)
You may be more likely to get
lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, are very overweight
(obese), or have been taking nucleoside analogue medicines for a long time.
Neurologic
problems including weakness of your legs, feet, arms, or hands (motor weakness)
and numbness, tingling or pain in your hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy).
Peripheral neuropathy can be common and severe, and happens more often in
people who have advanced HIV-1 disease, have a history of peripheral
neuropathy, or in people who take other medicines that can cause peripheral
neuropathy. In some cases, symptoms of neurologic problems may continue, worsen
or temporarily worsen after you stop treatment with ZERIT.
Neurologic problems can be difficult to notice in children who take
ZERIT. Ask your child’s healthcare provider for the signs and symptoms of
neurologic problems in children.
Inflammation
of your pancreas (pancreatitis) can happen in people who take
ZERIT in combination with didanosine and can lead to death.
Call your healthcare provider
right away if you have any of the following symptoms of pancreatitis:
- severe stomach (abdomen) pain
For more information about
side effects, see “What are the possible side effects of ZERIT?”
What is ZERIT?
ZERIT is a prescription medicine that is used with other antiretroviral
medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 infection.
HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS).
Do not take ZERIT if you:
- take a medicine that contains
didanosine.
Before taking ZERIT, tell your
healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if
you:
- have or had liver problems, including
hepatitis C virus infection
- are receiving dialysis
- have or had numbness, tingling, or pain in
the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
- have diabetes. ZERIT for oral solution
contains 50 mg of sucrose (sugar) per mL
- have diabetes mellitus. ZERIT for Oral
Solution contains 50 mg of sucrose (sugar) per mL.
Pregnancy Registry: There is
a pregnancy registry for women who take antiretroviral medicines, including
ZERIT during pregnancy…
- You should not breastfeed if you have
HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.
- It is not known if ZERIT can pass into
your breast milk and if it could harm your baby. Talk with your
healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.
Tell your healthcare provider about
all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take a medicine
called hydroxyurea.
Some medicines interact with ZERIT. Keep a list of your
medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a
new medicine.
You can ask your healthcare provider or
pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with ZERIT.
Do not
start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take ZERIT with other
medicines.
How should I take ZERIT?
ZERIT should be taken every 12 hours.
Shake the bottle of ZERIT oral solution well
before measuring each dose. Use the measuring cup provided by your
pharmacist to give a dose of ZERIT oral solution.
Do not miss a dose of ZERIT. If
you miss a dose of ZERIT, take it as soon as possible.
It is important to take ZERIT
on a regular schedule. The virus in your blood may increase
and the virus may become harder to treat if you miss doses.
If you take too much ZERIT, contact a poison
control center or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
What should I avoid while taking ZERIT?
Avoid
drinking alcohol while taking ZERIT. Alcohol may increase your risk of side
effects during treatment with ZERIT.
What are the possible side
effects of ZERIT?
ZERIT can cause serious side
effects including:
Loss of body
fat (lipoatrophy) from the arms, legs, or face. Loss of body fat (lipoatrophy)
happens more often in people who take ZERIT than in people who take other
similar HIV-1 medicines.
Changes
in your immune system (immune reconstitution syndrome) can happen when
you start taking HIV- 1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger
and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for
a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start
having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.
General information about the safe and effective use of ZERIT.
…You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for
information about ZERIT that is written for health professionals.