Prescription Drug Information: Tacrolimus

TACROLIMUS- tacrolimus capsule, gelatin coated
Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals Inc.

0.5 mg 100s Bottle Label0.5 mg 100s Carton Label1 mg 100s Bottle Label1 mg 100s Carton Label5 mg 100s Bottle Label5 mg 100s Carton LabelStructural Formula

BOXED WARNING — MALIGNANCIES AND SERIOUS INFECTIONS

  • Increased risk of development of lymphoma and other malignancies, particularly of the skin, due to immunosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] .
  • Increased susceptibility to bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections, including opportunistic infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3, 5.4, 5.5)] .
  • Only physicians experienced in immunosuppressive therapy and management of organ transplant patients should prescribe Tacrolimus Capsules USP. Patients receiving the drug should be managed in facilities equipped and staffed with adequate laboratory and supportive medical resources. The physician responsible for maintenance therapy should have complete information requisite for the follow-up of the patient [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] .

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

1.1 Prophylaxis of Organ Rejection in Kidney Transplant

Tacrolimus Capsules USP are indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic kidney transplants. It is recommended that Tacrolimus be used concomitantly with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and adrenal corticosteroids [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for all patients receiving Tacrolimus Capsules USP [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].

1.2 Prophylaxis of Organ Rejection in Liver Transplant

Tacrolimus Capsules USP are indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic liver transplants. It is recommended that Tacrolimus be used concomitantly with adrenal corticosteroids [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for all patients receiving Tacrolimus Capsules USP [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].

1.3 Prophylaxis of Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant

Tacrolimus Capsules USP are indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic heart transplants. It is recommended that Tacrolimus Capsules USP be used concomitantly with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and adrenal corticosteroids [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for all patients receiving Tacrolimus Capsules USP [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].

1.4 Limitations of Use

Tacrolimus Capsules USP should not be used simultaneously with cyclosporine [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].

Tacrolimus Injection should be reserved for patients unable to take Tacrolimus Capsules USP orally [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)].

Use with sirolimus is not recommended in liver and heart transplant. The safety and efficacy of Tacrolimus with sirolimus has not been established in kidney transplant [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12)].

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Dosage in Adult Kidney, Liver or Heart Transplant Patients

The initial oral dosage recommendations for adult patients with kidney, liver or heart transplants along with recommendations for whole blood trough concentrations are shown in Table 1. The initial dose of Tacrolimus Capsules USP 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 USP may be administered within 24 hours of transplantation, but should be delayed until renal function has recovered. For blood concentration monitoring details see Dosage and Administration (2.6).

Table 1. Summary of Initial Oral Dosage Recommendations and Observed Whole Blood Trough Concentrations in Adults
Patient Population Recommended Tacrolimus Capsules USP Initial Oral Dosage Note: daily doses should be administered as two divided doses, every 12 hours Observed Tacrolimus Whole Blood Trough Concentrations
Adult kidney transplant patients In combination with azathioprine In combination with MMF/IL-2 receptor antagonist a 0.2 mg/kg/day 0.1 mg/kg/day month 1-3: 7-20 ng/mL month 4-12: 5-15 ng/mL month 1-12: 4-11 ng/mL
Adult liver transplant patients 0.10-0.15 mg/kg/day month 1-12: 5-20 ng/mL
Adult heart transplant patients 0.075 mg/kg/day month 1-3: 10-20 ng/mL month ≥4: 5-15 ng/mL

a) In a second smaller trial, the initial dose of tacrolimus was 0.15-0.2 mg/kg/day and observed tacrolimus concentrations were 6-16 ng/mL during month 1-3 and 5-12 ng/mL during month 4-12 [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Dosing should be titrated based on clinical assessments of rejection and tolerability. Lower tacrolimus dosages 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 Black patients required a higher dose to attain comparable trough concentrations compared to Caucasian patients (Table 2).

Table 2. Comparative Dose and Trough Concentrations Based on Race
Time After Transplant Caucasian n=114 Black 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

Initial Dose — Injection

Tacrolimus injection should be used only as a continuous IV infusion and when the patient cannot tolerate oral administration of Tacrolimus Capsules USP. Tacrolimus injection should be discontinued as soon as the patient can tolerate oral administration of Tacrolimus Capsules USP, usually within 2-3 days. In a patient receiving an IV infusion, the first dose of oral therapy should be given 8-12 hours after discontinuing the IV infusion.

The observed trough concentrations described above pertain to oral administration of Tacrolimus Capsules USP only; while monitoring tacrolimus concentrations in patients receiving Tacrolimus injection as a continuous IV infusion may have some utility, the observed concentrations will not represent comparable exposures to those estimated by the trough concentrations observed in patients on oral therapy.

The recommended starting dose of Tacrolimus injection is 0.03-0.05 mg/kg/day in kidney and liver transplant and 0.01 mg/kg/day in heart transplant given as a continuous IV infusion. Adult patients should receive doses at the lower end of the dosing range. Concomitant adrenal corticosteroid therapy is recommended early post-transplantation.

Anaphylactic reactions have occurred with injectables containing castor oil derivatives, such as Tacrolimus injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)].

2.2 Dosage in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients

The initial oral dosage recommendations for pediatric patients with liver transplants along with recommendations for whole blood trough concentrations are shown in Table 3. For blood concentration monitoring details see Dosage and Administration (2.6). If necessary, pediatric patients may start on an IV dose of 0.03-0.05 mg/kg/day.

Table 3. Summary of Initial Oral Dosage Recommendations and Observed Whole Blood Trough Concentrations in Children
Patient Population Recommended Tacrolimus Capsules USP Initial Oral Dosage Note: daily doses should be administered as two divided doses, every 12 hours Observed Tacrolimus Whole Blood Trough Concentrations
Pediatric liver transplant patients 0.15- 0.20 mg/kg/day Month 1-12: 5-20 ng/ mL

Pediatric liver transplantation patients without pre-existing renal or hepatic dysfunction have required and tolerated higher doses than adults to achieve similar blood concentrations.

Experience in pediatric kidney and heart transplantation patients is limited.

2.3 Dosage Adjustment in Patients with Renal Impairment

Due to its potential for nephrotoxicity, consideration should be given to dosing Tacrolimus Capsules USP at the lower end of the therapeutic dosing range in patients who have received a liver or heart transplant and have pre-existing renal impairment. Further reductions in dose below the targeted range may be required.

In kidney transplant patients with post-operative oliguria, the initial dose of Tacrolimus Capsules USP should be administered no sooner than 6 hours and within 24 hours of transplantation, but may be delayed until renal function shows evidence of recovery.

2.4 Dosage Adjustments in Patients with Hepatic Impairment

Due to the reduced clearance and prolonged half-life, patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh ≥ 10) may require lower doses of Tacrolimus. Close monitoring of blood concentrations is warranted.

The use of Tacrolimus Capsules USP in liver transplant recipients experiencing post-transplant hepatic impairment may be associated with increased risk of developing renal insufficiency related to high whole-blood concentrations of tacrolimus. These patients should be monitored closely and dosage adjustments should be considered. Some evidence suggests that lower doses should be used in these patients [see Dosage and Administration (2.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

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