Prescription Drug Information: Tacrolimus
TACROLIMUS- tacrolimus capsule
A-S Medication Solutions
WARNING: MALIGNANCIES and SERIOUS INFECTIONS
Increased risk for developing serious infections and malignancies with tacrolimus or other immunosuppressants that may lead to hospitalization or death. (5.1, 5.2)
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
1.1 Prophylaxis of Organ Rejection in Kidney, Liver, or Heart Transplant
Tacrolimus capsules are indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection, in adult patients receiving allogeneic kidney transplant [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] , liver transplant [see Clinical Studies (14.2)], and heart transplant [see Clinical Studies (14.3)] , and pediatric patients receiving allogeneic liver transplants [see Clinical Studies (14.2)] in combination with other immunosuppressants.
Additional pediatric use information is approved for Astellas Pharma US, Inc.’s Prograf (tacrolimus) products. However, due to Astellas Pharma US, Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information.
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
2.1 Important Administration Instructions
Tacrolimus capsules should not be used without supervision by a physician with experience in immunosuppressive therapy.
Tacrolimus capsules are not interchangeable or substitutable for other tacrolimus extended-release products. This is because rate of absorption following the administration of an extended-release tacrolimus product is not equivalent to that of an immediate-release tacrolimus drug product. Under- or overexposure to tacrolimus may result in graft rejection or other serious adverse reactions. Changes between tacrolimus immediate-release and extended-release dosage forms must occur under physician supervision [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Intravenous Formulation – Administration Precautions due to Risk of Anaphylaxis
Intravenous use is recommended for patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations, and conversion from intravenous to oral tacrolimus is recommended as soon as oral therapy can be tolerated to minimize the risk of anaphylactic reactions that occurred with injectables containing castor oil derivatives [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)].
Oral Formulation (Capsules)
If patients are able to initiate oral therapy, the recommended starting doses should be initiated. Tacrolimus capsules may be taken with or without food. However, since the presence of food affects the bioavailability of tacrolimus, if taken with food, it should be taken consistently the same way each time [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
General Administration Instructions
Patients should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice in combination with tacrolimus capsules [see Drug Interactions (7.2)].
Tacrolimus should not be used simultaneously with cyclosporine. Tacrolimus or cyclosporine should be discontinued at least 24 hours before initiating the other. In the presence of elevated tacrolimus or cyclosporine concentrations, dosing with the other drug usually should be further delayed.
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended for all patients receiving tacrolimus capsules [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].
2.2 Dosage Recommendations for Adult Kidney, Liver, or Heart Transplant Patients – Capsules
Capsules
If patients are able to tolerate oral therapy, the recommended oral starting doses should be initiated. The initial dose of tacrolimus capsules should be administered no sooner than 6 hours after transplantation in the liver and heart transplant patients. In kidney transplant patients, the initial dose of tacrolimus capsules may be administered within 24 hours of transplantation, but should be delayed until renal function has recovered.
The initial oral tacrolimus capsule dosage recommendations for adult patients with kidney, liver, or heart transplants and whole blood trough concentration range are shown in Table 1. Perform therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to ensure that patients are within the ranges listed in Table 1.
- Table 1. Summary of Initial Oral Tacrolimus Capsules Dosage Recommendations and Whole Blood Trough Concentration Range in Adults
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Patient Population | Tacrolimus Capsules Initial Oral Dosage * | Whole Blood Trough Concentration Range |
Kidney Transplant | ||
With Azathioprine | 0.2 mg/kg/day, divided in two doses, administered every 12 hours | Month 1 to 3: 7 to 20 ng/mL Month 4 to 12: 5 to 15 ng/mL |
With MMF/IL-2 | 0.1 mg/kg/day, divided in two doses, administered every 12 hours | Month 1 to 12: 4 to 11 ng/mL |
Liver Transplant | ||
With corticosteroids only | 0.10 to 0.15 mg/kg/day, divided in two doses, administered every 12 hours | Month 1 to 12: 5 to 20 ng/mL |
Heart Transplant | ||
With azathioprine or MMF | 0.075 mg/kg/day, divided in two doses, administered every 12 hours | Month 1 to 3: 10 to 20 ng/mL Month ≥4: 5 to 15 ng/mL |
Dosage should be titrated based on clinical assessments of rejection and tolerability. Tacrolimus capsules dosages lower than the recommended initial dosage may be sufficient as maintenance therapy. Adjunct therapy with adrenal corticosteroids is recommended early post-transplant.
The data in kidney transplant patients indicate that the African-American patients required a higher dose to attain comparable trough concentrations compared to Caucasian patients (Table 2) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Time After Transplant | Caucasian N=114 | African-American N=56 | ||
Dose (mg/kg) | Trough Concentrations (ng/mL) | Dose (mg/kg) | Trough Concentrations (ng/mL) | |
Day 7 | 0.18 | 12.0 | 0.23 | 10.9 |
Month 1 | 0.17 | 12.8 | 0.26 | 12.9 |
Month 6 | 0.14 | 11.8 | 0.24 | 11.5 |
Month 12 | 0.13 | 10.1 | 0.19 | 11.0 |
Intravenous Injection
Anaphylactic reactions have occurred with injectables containing castor oil derivatives, such as tacrolimus injection. Therefore, monitoring for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis is recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)].
2.3 Dosage Recommendations for Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients
Oral formulation (capsules)
Pediatric patients, in general, need higher tacrolimus doses compared to adults: the higher dose requirements may decrease as the child grows older. Recommendations for the initial oral dosage for pediatric transplant patients and whole blood trough concentration range are shown in Table 3. Perform TDM to ensure that patients are within the ranges listed in Table 3.
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Patient Population | Initial Tacrolimus Capsule Dosing | Whole Blood Trough Concentration Range |
Pediatric liver transplant patients * | 0.15 to 0.2 mg/kg/day capsules, divided in two doses, administered every 12 hours | Month 1 to 12: 5 to 20 ng/mL |
For conversion of pediatric patients from tacrolimus granules to tacrolimus capsules or from tacrolimus capsules to tacrolimus granules, the total daily dose should remain the same. Following conversion from one formulation to another formulation of tacrolimus, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].
Additional pediatric use information is approved for Astellas Pharma US, Inc.’s Prograf (tacrolimus) products. However, due to Astellas Pharma US, Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information.
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