Alendronate Sodium Drug Information

• Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men: 10 mg daily or 70 mg (tablet) once weekly. ( 2.1 , 2.3 ) Prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: 5 mg daily or 35 mg once weekly. ( 2.2 ) Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: 5 mg daily; or 10 mg daily in postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen. ( 2.4 ) Paget's disease: 40 mg daily for six months. ( 2.5 ) Instruct patients to: ( 2.6 ) o Swallow tablets whole with 6-8 ounces plain water at least 30 minutes before the first food, drink, or medication of the day. o Not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking alendronate sodium tablets and until after food. 2.1 Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women The recommended dosage is: ●one 70 mg tablet once weekly or ●one 10 mg tablet once daily 2.2 Prevention of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women The recommended dosage is:
• one 35 mg tablet once weekly or
• one 5 mg tablet once daily 2.3 Treatment to Increase Bone Mass in Men with Osteoporosis The recommended dosage is:
• one 70 mg tablet once weekly or
• one 10 mg tablet once daily 2.4 Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis The recommended dosage is one 5 mg tablet once daily, except for postmenopausal women not receiving estrogen, for whom the recommended dosage is one 10 mg tablet once daily. 2.5 Treatment of Paget's Disease of Bone The recommended treatment regimen is 40 mg once a day for six months. Re-treatment of Paget's Disease Re-treatment with alendronate sodium tablets, may be considered, following a six-month post-treatment evaluation period in patients who have relapsed, based on increases in serum alkaline phosphatase, which should be measured periodically. Re-treatment may also be considered in those who failed to normalize their serum alkaline phosphatase. 2.6 Important Administration Instructions Instruct patients to do the following: Take alendronate sodium tablets at least one-half hour before the first food, beverage, or medication of the day with plain water only [see Patient Counseling Information ( 17.2 )]. Other beverages (including mineral water), food, and some medications are likely to reduce the absorption of alendronate sodium tablets [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )]. Waiting less than 30 minutes, or taking alendronate sodium tablets with food, beverages (other than plain water) or other medications will lessen the effect of alendronate sodium tablets, by decreasing its absorption into the body. Take alendronate sodium tablets upon arising for the day. To facilitate delivery to the stomach and thus reduce the potential for esophageal irritation, an alendronate sodium tablet should be swallowed with a full glass of water (6-8 ounces). Patients should not lie down for at least 30 minutes and until after their first food of the day. Alendronate sodium tablets should not be taken at bedtime or before arising for the day. Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of esophageal adverse experiences [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Patient Counseling Information ( 17.2 )] . 2.7 Recommendations for Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Instruct patients to take supplemental calcium if dietary intake is inadequate [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Patients at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency (e.g., over the age of 70 years, nursing home-bound, or chronically ill) may need vitamin D supplementation. Patients with gastrointestinal malabsorption syndromes may require higher doses of vitamin D supplementation and measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D should be considered. Patients treated with glucocorticoids should receive adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D. 2.8 Administration Instructions for Missed Doses If a once-weekly dose of alendronate sodium tablets is missed, instruct patients to take one dose on the morning after they remember. They should not take two doses on the same day but should return to taking one dose once a week, as originally scheduled on their chosen day .

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 clinical practice. Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women Daily Dosing The safety of alendronate sodium in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed in four clinical trials that enrolled 7453 women aged 44-84 years. Study 1 and Study 2 were identically designed, three-year, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies (United States and Multinational n=994); Study 3 was the three-year vertebral fracture cohort of the Fracture Intervention Trial (n=2027) and Study 4 was the four-year clinical fracture cohort of FIT (n=4432). Overall, 3620 patients were exposed to placebo and 3432 patients exposed to alendronate sodium.

Patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal disease and concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were included in these clinical trials. In Study 1 and Study 2 all women received 500 mg elemental calcium as carbonate. In Study 3 and Study 4 all women with dietary calcium intake less than 1000 mg per day received 500 mg calcium and 250 international units Vitamin D per day.

Among patients treated with alendronate 10 mg or placebo in Study 1 and Study 2, and all patients in Study 3 and Study 4, the incidence of all-cause mortality was 1.8% in the placebo group and 1.8% in the alendronate sodium group. The incidence of serious adverse event was 30.7% in the placebo group and 30.9% in the alendronate sodium group. The percentage of patients who discontinued the study due to any clinical adverse event was 9.5% in the placebo group and 8.9% in the alendronate sodium group.

Adverse reactions from these studies considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients treated with either alendronate sodium or placebo are presented in Table 1. Table 1: Osteoporosis Treatment Studies in Postmenopausal Women Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients United States/Multinational Studies Fracture Intervention Trial Alendronate sodium * % (n=196) Placebo % (n=397) Alendronate sodium † % (n=3236) Placebo % (n=3223) Gastrointestinal abdominal pain 6.6 4.8 1.5 1.5 nausea 3.6 4.0 1.1 1.5 dyspepsia 3.6 3.5 1.1 1.2 constipation 3.1 1.8 0.0 0.2 diarrhea 3.1 1.8 0.6 0.3 flatulence 2.6 0.5 0.2 0.3 acid regurgitation 2.0 4.3 1.1 0.9 esophageal ulcer 1.5 0.0 0.1 0.1 vomiting 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.3 dysphagia 1.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 abdominal distention 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 gastritis 0.5 1.3 0.6

Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain 4.1 2.5 0.4 0.3 muscle

cramp 0.0 1.0 0.2

Nervous System/Psychiatric headache 2.6 1.5 0.2 0.2 dizziness 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.1

Special Senses taste perversion 0.5 1.0 0.1 0.0 * 10 mg/day for three years † 5 mg/day for 2 years and 10 mg/day for either 1 or 2 additional years Rash and erythema have occurred. Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: One patient treated with alendronate sodium (10 mg/day), who had a history of peptic ulcer disease and gastrectomy and who was taking concomitant aspirin, developed an anastomotic ulcer with mild hemorrhage, which was considered drug related. Aspirin and alendronate sodium were discontinued and the patient recovered.

In the Study 1 and Study 2 populations, 49-54% had a history of gastrointestinal disorders at baseline and 54-89% used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin at some time during the studies. Laboratory Test Findings: In double-blind, multicenter, controlled studies, asymptomatic, mild, and transient decreases in serum calcium and phosphate were observed in approximately 18% and 10%, respectively, of patients taking alendronate sodium versus approximately 12% and 3% of those taking placebo. However, the incidences of decreases in serum calcium to less than 8.0 mg/dL (2.0 mM) and serum phosphate to less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL (0.65 mM) were similar in both treatment groups.

Weekly Dosing The safety of alendronate sodium 70 mg once weekly for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed in a one-year, double-blind, multicenter study comparing alendronate sodium 70 mg once weekly and alendronate sodium 10 mg daily. The overall safety and tolerability profiles of once weekly alendronate sodium 70 mg and alendronate sodium 10 mg daily were similar. The adverse reactions considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients in either treatment group are presented in Table 2. Table 2: Osteoporosis Treatment Studies in Postmenopausal Women Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients Once Weekly Alendronate Sodium 70 mg % (n=519) Alendronate Sodium 10 mg/day % (n=370) Gastrointestinal abdominal pain 3.7 3.0 dyspepsia 2.7 2.2 acid regurgitation 1.9 2.4 nausea 1.9 2.4 abdominal distention 1.0 1.4 constipation 0.8 1.6 flatulence 0.4 1.6 gastritis 0.2 1.1 gastric ulcer 0.0

Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal (bone, muscle, joint) pain 2.9 3.2 muscle cramp 0.2 1.1

Prevention of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women Daily Dosing The safety of alendronate sodium 5 mg/day in postmenopausal women 40-60 years of age has been evaluated in three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving over 1,400 patients randomized to receive alendronate sodium for either two or three years. In these studies the overall safety profiles of alendronate sodium5 mg/day and placebo were similar. Discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse event occurred in 7.5% of 642 patients treated with alendronate sodium 5 mg/day and 5.7% of 648 patients treated with placebo.

Weekly Dosing The safety of alendronate sodium 35 mg once weekly compared to alendronate sodium 5 mg daily was evaluated in a one-year, double-blind, multicenter study of 723 patients. The overall safety and tolerability profiles of once weekly alendronate sodium 35 mg and alendronate sodium 5 mg daily were similar. The adverse reactions from these studies considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients treated with either once weekly alendronate sodium 35 mg, alendronate sodium 5 mg/day or placebo are presented in Table 3. Table 3: Osteoporosis Prevention Studies in Postmenopausal Women Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients Two/Three-Year Studies One-Year Study Alendronate Sodium 5 mg/day % (n=642) Placebo % (n=648) Alendronate Sodium 5 mg/day % (n=361) Once Weekly Alendronate Sodium 35 mg % (n=362) Gastrointestinal dyspepsia 1.9 1.4 2.2 1.7 abdominal pain 1.7 3.4 4.2 2.2 acid regurgitation 1.4 2.5 4.2 4.7 nausea 1.4 1.4 2.5 1.4 diarrhea 1.1 1.7 1.1 0.6 constipation 0.9 0.5 1.7 0.3 abdominal distention 0.2 0.3 1.4

Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain 0.8 0.9 1.9 2.2

Concomitant Use with Estrogen/Hormone Replacement Therapy In two studies (of one and two years' duration) of postmenopausal osteoporotic women (total: n=853), the safety and tolerability profile of combined treatment with alendronate sodium 10 mg once daily and estrogen ± progestin (n=354) was consistent with those of the individual treatments. Osteoporosis in Men In two placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies in men (a two-year study of alendronate sodium 10 mg/day and a one-year study of once weekly alendronate sodium 70 mg) the rates of discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse event were 2.7% for alendronate sodium 10 mg/day vs. 10.5% for placebo, and 6.4% for once weekly alendronate sodium 70 mg vs. 8.6% for placebo. The adverse reactions considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 2% of patients treated with either alendronate sodium or placebo are presented in Table 4. Table 4: Osteoporosis Studies in Men Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 2% of Patients Two-year Study One-year Study Alendronate Sodium 10 mg/day % (n=146) Placebo % (n=95) Once Weekly Alendronate Sodium 70 mg % (n=109) Placebo % (n=58) Gastrointestinal acid regurgitation 4.1 3.2 0.0 0.0 flatulence 4.1 1.1 0.0 0.0 gastroesophageal reflux disease 0.7 3.2 2.8 0.0 dyspepsia 3.4 0.0 2.8 1.7 diarrhea 1.4 1.1 2.8 0.0 abdominal pain 2.1 1.1 0.9 3.4 nausea 2.1 0.0 0.0

Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

In two, one-year, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies in patients receiving glucocorticoid treatment, the overall safety and tolerability profiles of alendronate sodium 5 and 10 mg/day were generally similar to that of placebo. The adverse reactions considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients treated with either alendronate sodium 5 or 10 mg/day or placebo are presented in TABLE 5. Table 5. One-Year Studies in Glucocorticoid -Treated Patients Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients Alendronate 10 mg/day % (n=157) Alendronate 5 mg/day % (n=161) Placebo % (n=159) Gastrointestinal abdominal pain 3.2 1.9 0.0 acid regurgitation 2.5 1.9 1.3 constipation 1.3 0.6 0.0 melena 1.3 0.0 0.0 nausea 0.6 1.2 0.6 diarrhea 0.0 0.0

Nervous System/Psychiatric headache 0.6 0.0 1.3

The overall safety and tolerability profile in the glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis population that continued therapy for the second year of the studies (alendronate sodium: n=147) was consistent with that observed in the first year. Paget's Disease of Bone In clinical studies (osteoporosis and Paget's disease), adverse events reported in 175 patients taking alendronate sodium 40 mg/day for 3-12 months were similar to those in postmenopausal women treated with alendronate sodium 10 mg/day. However, there was an apparent increased incidence of upper gastrointestinal adverse reactions in patients taking alendronate sodium 40 mg/day (17.7% alendronate sodium vs. 10.2% placebo). One case of esophagitis and two cases of gastritis resulted in discontinuation of treatment.

Additionally, musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain, which has been described in patients with Paget's disease treated with other bisphosphonates, was considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in approximately 6% of patients treated with alendronate sodium 40 mg/day versus approximately 1% of patients treated with placebo, but rarely resulted in discontinuation of therapy. Discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse events occurred in 6.4% of patients with Paget's disease treated with alendronate sodium 40 mg/day and 2.4% of patients treated with placebo.

Post-Marketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of alendronate sodium. 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. Body as a Whole: hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria and angioedema.

Transient symptoms of myalgia, malaise, asthenia and fever have been reported with alendronate sodium, typically in association with initiation of treatment. Symptomatic hypocalcemia has occurred, generally in association with predisposing conditions. Peripheral edema.

Gastrointestinal: esophagitis, esophageal erosions, esophageal ulcers, esophageal stricture or perforation, and oropharyngeal ulceration. Gastric or duodenal ulcers, some severe and with complications, have also been reported . Localized osteonecrosis of the jaw, generally associated with tooth extraction and/or local infection with delayed healing, has been reported . Musculoskeletal: bone, joint, and/or muscle pain, occasionally severe, and incapacitating ; joint swelling; low-energy femoral shaft and subtrochanteric fractures . Nervous System: dizziness and vertigo. Pulmonary: acute asthma exacerbations.

Skin: rash (occasionally with photosensitivity), pruritus, alopecia, severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Special Senses: uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis. Cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal (focal osteonecrosis).

Calcium Supplements/Antacids Co-administration of alendronate sodium and calcium, antacids, or oral medications

containing multivalent cations will interfere with absorption of alendronate sodium. Therefore, instruct patients to wait at least one-half hour after taking alendronate sodium before taking any other oral medications.

Aspirin

In clinical studies, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal adverse events was increased in patients receiving concomitant therapy with daily doses of alendronate sodium greater than 10 mg and aspirin-containing products.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Alendronate sodium may be administered to patients taking nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In a 3-year, controlled, clinical study (n=2027) during which a majority of patients received concomitant NSAIDs, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal adverse events was similar in patients taking alendronate sodium 5 or 10 mg/day compared to those taking placebo. However, since NSAID use is associated with gastrointestinal irritation, caution should be used during concomitant use with alendronate sodium.

Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data on the use of alendronate sodium in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Discontinue alendronate sodium when pregnancy is recognized. In animal reproduction studies, daily oral administration of alendronate to rats from before mating through the end of gestation or lactation showed decreased postimplantation survival and decreased pup body weight gain starting at doses equivalent to less than half of the highest recommended 40 mg clinical daily dose (based on body surface area, mg/m 2 ). Oral administration of alendronate to rats during organogenesis resulted in reduced fetal ossification starting at doses 3 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose.

No similar fetal effects were observed in pregnant rabbits dosed orally during organogenesis at doses equivalent to approximately 10 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose. Delayed or failed delivery of offspring, protracted parturition, and late pregnancy maternal and fetal deaths due to maternal hypocalcemia occurred in rats at oral doses as low as one tenth the 40 mg clinical daily dose ( see Data). Bisphosphonates are incorporated into the bone matrix, from which they are gradually released over a period of years. The amount of bisphosphonate incorporated into adult bone and available for release into the systemic circulation is directly related to the dose and duration of bisphosphonate use.

Consequently, based on the mechanism of action of bisphosphonates, there is a potential risk of fetal harm, predominantly skeletal, if a woman becomes pregnant after completing a course of bisphosphonate therapy. The impact of variables such as time between cessation of bisphosphonate therapy to conception, the particular bisphosphonate used, and the route of administration (intravenous versus oral) on the risk has not been studied. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown.

All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defects, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Reproduction studies in rats dosed orally from before mating to the end of gestation or lactation showed decreased postimplantation survival starting at 2 mg/kg/day and decreased body weight gain starting at 1 mg/kg/day, doses equivalent to less than half the 40 mg clinical daily dose based on body surface area, mg/m 2. Incidence of incomplete fetal ossification in vertebral, skull, and sternebral bones were increased in rats dosed orally during organogenesis starting at 10 mg/kg/day (approximately 3 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose). No similar fetal effects were observed in pregnant rabbits dosed orally during organogenesis at up to 35 mg/kg/day (equivalent to approximately 10 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose). Both total and ionized calcium decreased in pregnant rats dosed orally with 15 mg/kg/day alendronate (approximately 4 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose) resulting in delays and failures of delivery.

Protracted parturition due to maternal hypocalcemia was observed when rats were treated from before mating through gestation starting at 0.5 mg/kg/day (approximately one tenth the 40 mg clinical daily dose). Maternotoxicity (late pregnancy deaths) also occurred in the female rats treated orally with 15 mg/kg/day (approximately 4 times the 40 mg clinical daily dose) for varying gestational time periods. These maternal deaths were lessened but not eliminated by cessation of treatment. Calcium supplementation in the drinking water or by subcutaneous minipump to rats dosed orally with 15 mg/kg/day alendronate could not ameliorate the hypocalcemia or prevent the dystocia-related maternal and neonatal deaths.

However, intravenous calcium supplementation prevented maternal, but not neonatal deaths.

Pediatric Use Alendronate sodium is not indicated for use in pediatric patients. The safety and efficacy of alendronate sodium were examined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-year study of 139 pediatric patients, aged 4-18 years, with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). One-hundred-and-nine patients were randomized to 5 mg alendronate sodium daily (weight less than 40 kg) or 10 mg alendronate sodium daily (weight greater than or equal to 40 kg) and 30 patients to placebo. The mean baseline lumbar spine BMD Z-score of the patients was -4.5. The mean change in lumbar spine BMD Z-score from baseline to Month 24 was 1.3 in the alendronate sodium-treated patients and 0.1 in the placebo-treated patients.

Treatment with alendronate sodium did not reduce the risk of fracture. Sixteen percent of the alendronate sodium patients who sustained a radiologically-confirmed fracture by Month 12 of the study had delayed fracture healing (callus remodeling) or fracture non-union when assessed radiographically at Month 24 compared with 9% of the placebo-treated patients. In alendronate sodium-treated patients, bone histomorphometry data obtained at Month 24 demonstrated decreased bone turnover and delayed mineralization time; however, there were no mineralization defects.

There were no statistically significant differences between the alendronate sodium and placebo groups in reduction of bone pain. The oral bioavailability in children was similar to that observed in adults. The overall safety profile of alendronate sodium in osteogenesis imperfecta patients treated for up to 24 months was generally similar to that of adults with osteoporosis treated with alendronate sodium.

However, there was an increased occurrence of vomiting in osteogenesis imperfecta patients treated with alendronate sodium compared to placebo. During the 24-month treatment period, vomiting was observed in 32 of 109 (29.4%) patients treated with alendronate sodium and 3 of 30 (10%) patients treated with placebo. In a pharmacokinetic study, 6 of 24 pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta patients who received a single oral dose of alendronate sodium 35 or 70 mg developed fever, flu-like symptoms, and/or mild lymphocytopenia within 24 to 48 hours after administration.

These events, lasting no more than 2 to 3 days and responding to acetaminophen, are consistent with an acute-phase response that has been reported in patients receiving bisphosphonates, including alendronate sodium.

Abnormalities of the esophagus which delay esophageal emptying such as stricture or achalasia Inability to stand/sit upright for at least 30 minutes Hypocalcemia Hypersensitivity to any component of this product Alendronate sodium tablets are contraindicated in patients with the following conditions: Inability to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes Hypocalcemia Hypersensitivity to any component of this product. Hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria and angioedema have been reported .

Significant lethality after single oral doses was seen in female rats and mice at 552 mg/kg (3256 mg/m 2 ) and 966 mg/kg (2898 mg/m 2 ), respectively. In males, these values were slightly higher, 626 and 1280 mg/kg, respectively. There was no lethality in dogs at oral doses up to 200 mg/kg (4000 mg/m 2 ). No specific information is available on the treatment of overdosage with alendronate sodium.

Hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and upper gastrointestinal adverse events, such as upset stomach, heartburn, esophagitis, gastritis, or ulcer, may result from oral overdosage. Milk or antacids should be given to bind alendronate. Due to the risk of esophageal irritation, vomiting should not be induced and the patient should remain fully upright.

Dialysis would not be beneficial.