Sandostatin Drug Information

Dosage and

Administration Overview Sandostatin Injection may be administered subcutaneously or intravenously. Pain with subcutaneous administration may be reduced by using the smallest volume that will deliver the desired dose. Sites should be rotated in a systematic manner.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Do not use if particulates and/or discoloration are observed. Sandostatin Injection is not compatible in Total Parenteral Nutrition solutions because of the formation of a glycosyl octreotide conjugate which may decrease the efficacy of the product.

Sandostatin Injection may be diluted in volumes of 50 mL to 200 mL and infused intravenously over 15 to 30 minutes or administered by intravenous (IV) push over 3 minutes. In emergency situations (e.g., carcinoid crisis), it may be given by rapid bolus. Assess total and/or free T4 levels at baseline and periodically during chronic Sandostatin therapy.

Recommended Dosage and Monitoring for Acromegaly

The recommended initial dosage of Sandostatin is 50 mcg three times daily to be administered subcutaneously. Increase Sandostatin dose based upon GH or IGF-1 levels. The goal is to achieve GH levels less than 5 ng/mL or IGF-1 levels within normal range.

Monitor GH or IGF-1 every two weeks after initiating Sandostatin therapy or with dosage change, and to guide titration. The most common dosage is 100 mcg three times daily, but some patients require up to 500 mcg three times daily for maximum effectiveness. Doses greater than 300 mcg/day seldom result in additional biochemical benefit, and if an increase in dose fails to provide additional benefit, the dose should be reduced.

Sandostatin Injection should be withdrawn yearly for approximately 4 weeks from patients who have received irradiation to assess disease activity. If GH or IGF-1 levels increase and signs and symptoms recur, Sandostatin Injection therapy may be resumed.

Recommended Dosage and Monitoring for Carcinoid Tumors

The recommended daily dosage of Sandostatin Injection during the first 2 weeks of therapy ranges from 100 to 600 mcg/day in two to four divided doses given subcutaneously (mean daily dosage is 300 mcg). In the clinical studies, the median daily maintenance dosage was approximately 450 mcg, but clinical and biochemical benefits were obtained in some patients with as little as 50 mcg, while others required doses up to 1500 mcg/day. However, experience with doses above 750 mcg/day is limited. Measurement of urinary 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, plasma serotonin, plasma Substance P may be useful in monitoring the progress of therapy.

Recommended Dosage and Monitoring for Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Tumors Daily dosages of

200 mcg to 300 mcg in two to four divided doses given subcutaneously are recommended during the initial 2 weeks of therapy (range, 150 mcg to 750 mcg) to control symptoms of the disease. On an individual basis, dosage may be adjusted to achieve a therapeutic response, but usually doses above 450 mcg/day are not required. Measurement of Plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may be useful in monitoring the progress of therapy.

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. Gallbladder Abnormalities Gallbladder abnormalities, especially stones and/or biliary sludge, frequently develop in patients on chronic Sandostatin Injection therapy . In clinical trials (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis), the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received Sandostatin Injection for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with Sandostatin Injection for 1 month or less developed gallstones. Cardiac In acromegalics, sinus bradycardia (< 50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias developed in 9% of patients during Sandostatin Injection therapy . Gastrointestinal Diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, and abdominal discomfort were each seen in 34% to 61% of acromegalic patients in U.S. studies. 2.6% of the patients discontinued therapy due to these symptoms.

These symptoms were seen in 5% to 10% of patients with carcinoid tumors and VIPomas. The frequency of these symptoms was not dose related, but diarrhea and abdominal discomfort generally resolved more quickly in patients treated with 300 mcg/day than in those treated with 750 mcg/day. Vomiting, flatulence, abnormal stools, abdominal distention, and constipation were each seen in less than 10% of patients.

In rare instances, gastrointestinal side effects may resemble acute intestinal obstruction, with progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness, and guarding. Hypo/Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively, but only in about 1.5% of other patients. Symptoms of hypoglycemia were noted in approximately 2% of patients.

Hypothyroidism In acromegalics, biochemical hypothyroidism alone occurred in 12% while goiter occurred in 8% and 4% required initiation of thyroid replacement therapy during Sandostatin Injection therapy . In patients without acromegaly, hypothyroidism has only been reported in several isolated patients and goiter has not been reported. Other Adverse Events Pain on injection was reported in 7.7%, headache in 6%, and dizziness in 5%. Pancreatitis was also observed . Other Adverse Events 1% to 4% Other events, each observed in 1% to 4% of patients, included fatigue, weakness, pruritus, joint pain, backache, urinary tract infection, cold symptoms, flu symptoms, injection site hematoma, bruise, edema, flushing, blurred vision, pollakiuria, fat malabsorption, hair loss, visual disturbance, and depression. Anaphylactoid reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported in several patients receiving Sandostatin Injection.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of Sandostatin Injection. 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. Hepatobiliary : cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cholangitis and pancreatitis, which have sometimes required cholecystectomy Gastrointestinal : intestinal obstruction, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency Hematologic : thrombocytopenia

Cyclosporine Octreotide has been associated with alterations in nutrient absorption, so it

may have an effect on absorption of orally administered drugs. Concomitant administration of Sandostatin Injection with cyclosporine may decrease blood levels of cyclosporine and result in transplant rejection.

Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs Octreotide inhibits the secretion of insulin and

glucagon. Therefore, blood glucose levels should be monitored when Sandostatin Injection treatment is initiated or when the dose is altered and anti-diabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly.

Bromocriptine

Concomitant administration of octreotide and bromocriptine increases the availability of bromocriptine.

Other

Concomitant Drug Therapy Concomitant administration of bradycardia-inducing drugs (e.g., beta-blockers) may have an additive effect on the reduction of heart rate associated with octreotide. Dose adjustments of concomitant medication may be necessary. Octreotide has been associated with alterations in nutrient absorption, so it may have an effect on absorption of orally administered drugs.

Drug Metabolism Interactions Limited published data indicate that somatostatin analogs might decrease

the metabolic clearance of compounds known to be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which may be due to the suppression of GH. Since it cannot be excluded that octreotide may have this effect, other drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index (e.g., quinidine, terfenadine) should therefore be used with caution.

Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate Injection Octreotide competitively binds to somatostatin receptors and

may interfere with the efficacy of lutetium Lu 177 dotatate. Discontinue Sandostatin Injection at least 24 hours prior to each lutetium Lu 177 dotatate dose.

Pregnancy Risk Summary The limited data with Sandostatin Injection in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental-effects were observed with IV administration of octreotide to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses 7- and 13-times, respectively the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 1.5 mg/day based on body surface area (BSA). Transient growth retardation, with no impact on postnatal development, was observed in rat offspring from a pre- and post-natal study of octreotide at IV doses below the MRHD based on BSA ( see Data ). 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 Human Data In postmarketing data, a limited number of exposed pregnancies have been reported in patients with acromegaly. Most women were exposed to octreotide during the first trimester of pregnancy at doses ranging from 100 to 300 mcg/day of Sandostatin Injection or 20 mg to 30 mg once a month of octreotide acetate for injectable suspension, however some women elected to continue octreotide therapy throughout pregnancy. In cases with a known outcome, no congenital malformations were reported.

Animal Data In embryo-fetal development studies in rats and rabbits, pregnant animals received IV doses of octreotide up to 1 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. A slight reduction in body weight gain was noted in pregnant rats at 0.1 and 1 mg/kg/day. There were no maternal effects in rabbits or embryo-fetal effects in either species up to the maximum dose tested.

At 1 mg/kg/day in rats and rabbits, the dose multiple was approximately 7- and 13-times, respectively, at the highest recommended human dose of 1.5 mg/day based on BSA. In a pre- and post-natal development rat study at IV doses of 0.02-1 mg/kg/day, a transient growth retardation of the offspring was observed at all doses which was possibly a consequence of GH inhibition by octreotide. The doses attributed to the delayed growth are below the human dose of 1.5 mg/day, based on BSA.

Pediatric Use Safety and efficacy of Sandostatin Injection in the pediatric population have not been demonstrated. No formal controlled clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Sandostatin Injection in pediatric patients under age 6 years. In postmarketing reports, serious adverse events, including hypoxia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and death, have been reported with Sandostatin Injection use in children, most notably in children under 2 years of age.

The relationship of these events to octreotide has not been established as the majority of these pediatric patients had serious underlying co-morbid conditions. The efficacy and safety of Sandostatin Injection using the octreotide acetate for injectable suspension formulation was examined in a single randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6 month pharmacokinetics study in 60 pediatric patients age 6 to 17 years with hypothalamic obesity resulting from cranial insult. The mean octreotide concentration after 6 doses of 40 mg octreotide acetate for injectable suspension administered by intramuscular (IM) injection every 4 weeks was approximately 3 ng/mL. Steady-state concentrations was achieved after 3 injections of a 40-mg dose.

Mean body mass index (BMI) increased 0.1 kg/m 2 in octreotide acetate for injectable suspension-treated subjects compared to 0.0 kg/m 2 in saline control-treated subjects. Efficacy was not demonstrated. Diarrhea occurred in 11 of 30 (37%) patients treated with octreotide acetate for injectable suspension.

No unexpected adverse events were observed. However, with octreotide acetate for injectable suspension at 40 mg once a month, the incidence of new cholelithiasis in this pediatric population (33%) was higher than that seen in other adult indications, such as acromegaly (22%) or malignant carcinoid syndrome (24%), where octreotide acetate for injectable suspension was 10 mg to 30 mg once a month.

Sensitivity to this drug or any of its components. Sensitivity to this drug or any of its components.

A limited number of accidental overdoses of Sandostatin Injection in adults have been reported. In adults, the doses ranged from 2,400 to 6,000 mcg/day administered by continuous infusion (100 to 250 mcg/hour) or subcutaneously (1,500 mcg 3 times a day). Adverse events in some patients included arrhythmia, complete atrioventricular block, hypotension, cardiac arrest, brain hypoxia, pancreatitis, hepatitis steatosis, hepatomegaly, lactic acidosis, flushing, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, and weight loss. If overdose occurs, symptomatic management is indicated.

Up-to-date information about the treatment of overdose can often be obtained from the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.