Allopurinol Sodium Drug Information

Generic name: ALLOPURINOL SODIUM

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Uses of Allopurinol Sodium

Allopurinol Sodium for Injection is indicated for the management of adult and pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving cancer therapy which causes elevations of serum and urinary uric acid levels and who cannot tolerate oral therapy. Allopurinol Sodium for Injection is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor indicated for the management of adult and pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving cancer therapy which causes elevations of serum and urinary uric acid levels and who cannot tolerate oral therapy.

Dosage & Administration of Allopurinol Sodium

Adult Patients200 mg/m2/day to 400 mg/m2/day Maximum 600 mg/day
Pediatric PatientsStarting Dose 200 mg/m2/dayMaximum 400 mg/day

Side Effects of Allopurinol Sodium

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 practice. The safety of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection was evaluated in an uncontrolled compassionate use study of 1,378 patients with advanced malignancies requiring treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy and in patients with other serious conditions. Adverse reactions were reported in 9% (125/1378) of the patients treated with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection.

The most common adverse reaction was skin rash. Two patients experience serious adverse reactions (decreased renal function and generalized seizure) and one patient experienced severe diarrhea. Approximately 1.1% of patients experienced allergic adverse reactions (including rash, eosinophilia, local injection site reaction). A listing of the adverse reactions reported from clinical trials follows: Incidence Greater Than 1%: Cutaneous/Dermatologic: rash (1.5%) Genitourinary: renal failure/insufficiency (1.2%) Gastrointestinal: nausea (1.3%), vomiting (1.2%) Incidence Less Than 1%: Body as a Whole: fever, pain, chills, alopecia, infection, sepsis, enlarged abdomen, mucositis/pharyngitis, blast crisis, cellulitis, hypervolemia Cardiovascular: heart failure, cardiorespiratory arrest, hypertension, pulmonary embolus, hypotension, decreased venous pressure, flushing, headache, stroke, septic shock, cardiovascular disorder, ECG abnormality, hemorrhage, bradycardia, thrombophlebitis, ventricular fibrillation Cutaneous/Dermatologic: urticaria, pruritus, local injection site reaction Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, hyperbilirubinemia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, intestinal obstruction, jaundice, flatulence, constipation, liver failure, proctitis Genitourinary: hematuria, increased creatinine, oliguria, kidney function abnormality, urinary tract infection Hematologic: leukopenia, marrow aplasia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, neutropenia, anemia, pancytopenia, ecchymosis, bone marrow suppression, disseminated intravascular coagulation Metabolic: hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypokalemia, hyperuricemia, electrolyte abnormality, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis, edema, glycosuria, hyperkalemia, lactic acidosis, water intoxication, hypomagnesemia Neurologic: seizure, status epilepticus, myoclonus, twitching, agitation, mental status changes, cerebral infarction, coma, dystonia, paralysis, tremor Pulmonary: respiratory failure/insufficiency, ARDS, increased respiration rate, apnea Musculoskeletal: arthralgia Other: hypotonia, diaphoresis, tumor lysis syndrome

Warnings & Cautions for Allopurinol Sodium

Skin Rash and Hypersensitivity Serious and sometimes fatal dermatologic reactions, including toxic

epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) have been reported in patients taking allopurinol . These reactions occur in approximately 5 in 10,000 (0.05%) patients taking allopurinol. Other serious hypersensitivity reactions that have been reported include exfoliative, urticarial and purpuric lesions; generalized vasculitis; and irreversible hepatotoxicity. Discontinue Allopurinol Sodium for Injection at the first appearance of skin rash or other signs which may indicate a hypersensitivity reaction.

The HLA-B*58:01 allele is a genetic marker for severe skin reactions indicative of hypersensitivity to allopurinol. Patients who carry the HLA-B*58:01 allele are at a higher risk of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS), but hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in patients who do not carry this allele. The frequency of this allele is higher in individuals of African, Asian (e.g., Han Chinese, Korean, Thai), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander ancestry . The use of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection is not recommended in HLA-B*58:01 positive patients unless the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

Prior to starting Allopurinol Sodium for Injection, consider testing for the HLA-B*58:01 allele in genetically at-risk populations. Screening is generally not recommended in patients from populations in which the prevalence of HLA-B*58:01 is low, or in current allopurinol users, as the risk of SJS/TEN/DRESS is largely confined to the first few months of therapy, regardless of HLA-B*58:01 status. Hypersensitivity reactions to Allopurinol Sodium for Injection may be increased in patients with decreased renal function receiving thiazide diuretics and Allopurinol Sodium for Injection concurrently.

In addition, concomitant use of the following drugs may increase the risk of skin rash, which may be severe: bendamustine, thiazide diuretics, ampicillin and amoxicillin . Patients should stop Allopurinol Sodium for Injection and seek medical attention if they develop a rash.

Renal Function Impairment Treatment with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection may result in

renal impairment due to formation of xanthine calculi or due to precipitation of urates in patients receiving concomitant uricosuric agents. Patients with pre-existing renal disease, including renal impairment or history of kidney stones, may be at increased risk for worsening renal impairment due to xanthine calculi or precipitation of urates while receiving treatment with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection. Monitor serum creatinine at least daily during the early stages of allopurinol administration.

Maintain fluid intake sufficient to yield a urinary output of at least 2 liters per day in adults. In patients with severely impaired renal function or increase in uric acid concentration associated with decreased urate clearance, reduce the dosage of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection .

Hepatotoxicity Cases of reversible clinical hepatotoxicity have been noted in patients taking

oral allopurinol. In some patients, asymptomatic rises in serum alkaline phosphatase or serum transaminase have been observed. If anorexia, weight loss, or pruritus develop in patients on allopurinol, evaluate liver enzymes.

In patients with pre-existing liver disease, monitor liver enzymes periodically during the early stages of therapy. Discontinue Allopurinol Sodium for Injection in patients with elevated liver enzymes.

Myelosuppression Myelosuppression, manifested by anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia, has been reported in

patients receiving allopurinol . The cytopenias have occurred from as early as 6 weeks to as late as 6 years after the initiation of allopurinol therapy. Discontinue use of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection in patients with unexplained cytopenias. Concomitant use with allopurinol with cytotoxic drugs associated with myelosuppression may increase the risk of myelosuppression.

Monitor blood counts more frequently . Concomitant use with allopurinol increases the exposure of either mercaptopurine or azathioprine which may increase the risk of myelosuppression. Reduce the dosage of mercaptopurine or azathioprine as recommended in the respective prescribing information when used concomitantly with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection. .

Drowsiness Drowsiness has been reported in patients taking Allopurinol Sodium for Injection

. Advise patients to avoid operation of automobiles or other dangerous machinery and activities made hazardous by decreased alertness when starting Allopurinol Sodium for Injection or increasing the dose until they know how the drug affects them. Advise patients that the central nervous system depressant effects of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection may be additive to those of alcohol and other CNS depressants.

Drug Interactions with Allopurinol Sodium

Drugs Known to Affect the Occurrence of Skin Rash and Hypersensitivity

Concomitant use of the following drugs may increase the risk of skin rash, which may be severe: bendamustine, thiazide diuretics, ampicillin and amoxicillin. Renal impairment may further increase risk with concomitant use of thiazide diuretics . Monitor renal function and reduce the dose of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection in patients with concomitant thiazide diuretic use and impaired renal function. Discontinue Allopurinol Sodium for Injection at the first appearance of skin rash or other signs which may indicate a hypersensitivity reaction when use concomitantly with these drugs.

Other Drugs Known to Have Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Allopurinol Sodium

for Injection Table 4: Interventions for Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection Capecitabine Clinical Impact Concomitant use with allopurinol may decrease concentration of capecitabine’s active metabolites, which may decrease capecitabine efficacy. Intervention Avoid the use of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection during treatment with capecitabine. Cyclosporine Clinical Impact Concomitant use of allopurinol increases cyclosporine concentrations which may increase the risk of adverse reactions.

Intervention Increase frequency of monitoring cyclosporine concentrations as reflected in the prescribing information when used concomitantly with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection. Cytotoxic Agents Clinical Impact Concomitant use of allopurinol with cytotoxic agents increases bone marrow suppression among patients with neoplastic disease, except leukemia . Intervention Blood count monitoring and regular physician follow-up recommended. Fluorouracil Clinical Impact Based on non-clinical data, allopurinol may decrease anti-tumor activity due to suppression of phosphorylation of 5-fluorouracil.

Intervention Concomitant administration with fluorouracil should be avoided. Mercaptopurine or Azathioprine Clinical Impact Allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase mediated metabolism of mercaptopurine and azathioprine. Concomitant use of allopurinol increases the exposure of either mercaptopurine or azathioprine which may increase the risk of their adverse reactions including myelosuppression . Intervention Reduce the dosage of mercaptopurine or azathioprine as recommended in the respective prescribing information.

Pegloticase Clinical Impact Concomitant use of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection and pegloticase may potentially blunt the rise of serum uric acid levels and increase the risk of pegloticase related anaphylaxis in patients whose uric acid level increase to above 6 mg/dL. Intervention Discontinue and do not institute Allopurinol Sodium for Injection therapy during treatment with pegloticase. Theophylline Clinical Impact Concomitant use of allopurinol doses greater than or equal to 600 mg/day may decrease the clearance of theophylline. Intervention Monitor and adjust theophylline doses as reflected in the prescribing information.

Uricosuric Agents Clinical Impact Uricosuric agents increase the excretion of the active allopurinol metabolite oxypurinol. Concomitant use with uricosuric agents decreases oxypurinol exposure which may reduce the inhibition of xanthine oxidase by oxypurinol and increases the urinary excretion of uric acid. Intervention Monitor uric acid levels due to the increased chance of hypouricemic effects.

Warfarin Clinical Impact Allopurinol may inhibit the metabolism of warfarin, possibly enhancing its anticoagulant effect. Intervention Patients on concomitant therapy should be monitored for excessive anticoagulation. The INR should be checked frequently and warfarin dosage adjusted accordingly when allopurinol is added to warfarin therapy.

Pregnancy Safety for Allopurinol Sodium

Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on findings in animals, Allopurinol Sodium for Injection may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Adverse developmental outcomes have been described in exposed animals (see Data ). Allopurinol and its metabolite oxypurinol have been shown to cross the placenta following administration of maternal allopurinol. Available limited published data on allopurinol use in pregnant women do not demonstrate a clear pattern or increase in frequency of adverse developmental outcomes.

Among approximately 50 pregnancies described in published literature, 2 infants with major congenital malformations have been reported with following maternal allopurinol exposure. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes.

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. Data Animal Data There was no evidence of fetotoxicity or teratogenicity in rats or rabbits treated during the period of organogenesis with oral allopurinol at doses up to 200 mg/kg/day and up to 100 mg/kg/day, respectively (about three times the human dose on a mg/m 2 basis). However, there is a published report in pregnant mice that single intraperitoneal doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg (about 1/3 or 3/4 the human dose on a mg/m 2 basis) of allopurinol on gestation days 10 or 13 produced significant increases in fetal deaths and teratogenic effects (cleft palate, harelip, and digital defects). It is uncertain whether these findings represented a fetal effect or an effect secondary to maternal toxicity.

In another published study with no reported maternal toxicity, allopurinol administered orally at 15 or 45 mg/kg to pregnant rats during organogenesis caused embryonic resorptions, growth retardation, decreased fetal weight, and skeletal, liver, kidney, and brain abnormalities. In rats, maternal treatment with allopurinol in normoxic pregnancy has been shown to increase the cardiac protein levels of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2 (SERCA2a) in the adult male offspring. The mechanism underlying this effect is not understood.

However, this effect was not matched by an increase in left ventricular end diastolic pressure or sympathetic dominance in hearts of adult male offspring of normoxic pregnancy treated with allopurinol.

Pediatric Use of Allopurinol Sodium

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection have been established in approximately 200 pediatric patients. The efficacy and safety profile observed in this patient population were similar to that observed in adults.

Contraindications for Allopurinol Sodium

Allopurinol Sodium for Injection is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe reaction to any formulation of allopurinol. Known hypersensitivity to allopurinol.

Overdosage Information for Allopurinol Sodium

In the management of overdosage, there is no specific antidote for Allopurinol Sodium for Injection. Both allopurinol and oxypurinol are dialyzable; however, the usefulness of hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in the management of an overdose of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection is unknown.

Clinical Studies of Allopurinol Sodium

A compassionate use trial of Allopurinol Sodium for Injection conducted in the United States from 1977 through 1989 included 718 evaluable patients with malignancies requiring treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy who were unable to ingest or retain oral medication. Of these patients, 411 had established hyperuricemia and 307 had normal serum urate levels at the time that treatment was initiated. Normal serum uric acid levels were achieved in 68% of the former (reduction of serum uric acid was documented in 93%), and were maintained throughout chemotherapy in 97% of the latter.

Because of the study design, it was not possible to assess the impact of the treatment with Allopurinol Sodium for Injection on the clinical outcome of the patient groups.

Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.

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