Sporanox-Pulse.

Itraconazole 100 mg.

For excipients, see 6.1.

Capsule (Size 0): opaque blue cap and pink transparent body containing coated beads.

Onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes and/or yeasts.

Tinea pedis and/or tinea manuum.

Sporanox-Pulse is for oral administration and must be taken immediately after a meal for maximal absorption.

Treatment schedules in adults are as follows:

Impaired absorption in AIDS and neutropenic patients may lead to low itraconazole blood levels and lack of efficacy. In such cases, blood level monitoring is indicated.

Use in children

Not recommended. See 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use.

In Elderly

Not recommended. See 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use.

Use in patients with renal impairment

The oral bioavailability of itraconazole may be lower in patients with renal insufficiency, a dose adjustment may be considered. See 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use.

Use in patients with hepatic impairment

Itraconazole is predominantly metabolised by the liver. The terminal half-life of itraconazole in cirrhotic patients is somewhat prolonged. The oral bioavailability in cirrhotic patients is somewhat decreased. A dose adjustment may be considered. See 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use.

Sporanox-Pulse is contra-indicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to the drug or its excipients.

Co-administration of the following drugs is contraindicated with Sporanox-Pulse capsules (see also section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction):

- CYP3A4 metabolised substrates that can prolong the QT-interval e.g., astemizole, bepridil, cisapride, dofetilide, levacetylmethadol (levomethadyl), mizolastine, pimozide, quinidine, sertindole and terfenadine are contraindicated with Sporanox-Pulse capsules. Co-administration may result in increased plasma concentrations of these substrates, which can lead to QTc prolongation and rare occurrences of torsades de pointes.

- CYP3A4 metabolised HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin and simvastatin

- Triazolam and oral midazolam

- Ergot alkaloids such as dihydroergotamine, ergometrine (ergonovine), ergotamine and methylergometrine (methylergonovine)

- Eletriptan

- Nisoldipine

- Sporanox-Pulse capsules should not be administered to patients receiving disopyramide or halofantrine

Sporanox-Pulse capsules should not be administered to patients with evidence of ventricular dysfunction such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or a history of CHF except for the treatment of life-threatening or other serious infections. See 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use.

Sporanox-Pulse must not be used during pregnancy. See section 4.6 Pregnancy and lactation.

Cardiac effects

In a healthy volunteer study with Sporanox IV, a transient asymptomatic decrease of the left ventricular ejection fraction was observed.

Itraconazole has been shown to have a negative inotropic effect and Sporanox has been associated with reports of congestive heart failure. Heart failure was more frequently reported among spontaneous reports of 400 mg total daily dose than among those of lower total daily doses, suggesting that the risk of heart failure might increase with the total daily dose of itraconazole.

Sporanox-Pulse should not be used in patients with congestive heart failure or with a history of congestive heart failure unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk. This individual benefit/risk assessment should take into consideration factors such as the severity of the indication, the dose and duration of treatment (e.g. total daily dose), and individual risk factors for congestive heart failure. Such patients should be informed of the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure, should be treated with caution, and should be monitored for signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure during treatment; if such signs or symptoms do occur during treatment, Sporanox-Pulse should be discontinued.

Calcium channel blockers can have negative inotropic effects which may be additive to those of itraconazole. In addition, itraconazole can inhibit the metabolism of calcium channel blockers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when co-administering itraconazole and calcium channel blockers (see section 4.5, Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction) due to an increased risk of congestive heart failure.

Interaction potential

Sporanox-Pulse has a potential for clinically important drug interactions. (See section 4.5: Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction.)

Reduced gastric acidity

Absorption of itraconazole from Sporanox-Pulse is impaired when the gastric acidity is reduced. In patients also receiving acid neutralising medicines (eg aluminium hydroxide), these should be administered at least 2 hours after the intake of Sporanox-Pulse. In patients with achlorhydria such as certain AIDS patients and patients on secretion suppressors (eg H2-antagonists, proton-pump inhibitors), it is advisable to administer Sporanox-Pulse with a cola beverage.

Use in children

Use in elderly

Hepatic effects

Very rare cases of serious hepatotoxicity, including some cases of fatal acute liver failure, have occurred with the use of Sporanox. Some of these cases involved patients with no pre-existing liver disease. Some of these cases were observed within the first month of treatment, including some within the first week. Liver function monitoring should be considered in patients receiving Sporanox treatment. Patients should be instructed to promptly report to their physician signs and symptoms suggestive of hepatitis such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain or dark urine. In these patients treatment should be stopped immediately and liver function testing conducted. Most cases of serious hepatotoxicity involved patients who had pre-existing liver disease, were treated for systemic indications, had significant other medical conditions and/or were taking other hepatotoxic drugs. In patients with raised liver enzymes or active liver disease, or who have experienced liver toxicity with other drugs, treatment should not be started unless the expected benefit exceeds the risk of hepatic injury. In such cases liver enzyme monitoring is necessary.

Hepatic impairment

Itraconazole is predominantly metabolised in the liver. A slight decrease in oral bioavailability in cirrhotic patients has been observed, although this was not of statistical significance. The terminal half-life was however significantly increased. The dose should be adapted if necessary.

Renal impairment

The oral bioavailability of itraconazole may be lower in patients with renal insufficiency. Dose adaptation may be considered.

Immunocompromised patients

In some immunocompromised patients (e.g., neutropenic, AIDS or organ transplant patients), the oral bioavailability of Sporanox-Pulse capsules may be decreased.

Patients with immediately life-threatening systemic fungal infections

Due to the pharmacokinetic properties (See section 5.2), Sporanox-Pulse capsules are not recommended for initiation of treatment in patients with immediately life-threatening systemic fungal infections.

Patients with AIDS

In patients with AIDS having received treatment for a systemic fungal infection such as sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis or cryptococcosis (meningeal or non-meningeal) and who are considered at risk for relapse, the treating physician should evaluate the need for a maintenance treatment.

Neuropathy

If neuropathy occurs which may be attributable to Sporanox-Pulse, treatment should be discontinued.

Hearing Loss

Transient or permanent hearing loss has been reported in patients receiving treatment with itraconazole. Several of these reports included concurrent administration of quinidine which is contraindicated (see 4.3 Contraindications and 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction, 3.Effect of itraconazole on the metabolism of other drugs). The hearing loss usually resolves when treatment is stopped, but can persist in some patients.

Cross-hypersensitivity

There is no information regarding cross hypersensitivity between itraconazole and other azole antifungal agents. Caution should be used in prescribing Sporanox to patients with hypersensitivity to other azoles.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

1. Drugs affecting the absorption of itraconazole

Drugs that reduce the gastric acidity impair the absorption of itraconazole from Sporanox-Pulse capsules (See 4.4 Special warnings and special precautions for use).

2. Drugs affecting the metabolism of itraconazole:

Itraconazole is mainly metabolised through the cytochrome CYP3A4. Interaction studies have been performed with rifampicin, rifabutin and phenytoin, which are potent inducers of CYP3A4. Since the bioavailability of itraconazole and hydroxy-itraconazole was decreased in these studies to such an extent that efficacy may be largely reduced, the combination of itraconazole with these potent enzyme inducers is not recommended. No formal study data are available for other enzyme inducers, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital and isoniazid, but similar effects should be anticipated.

Potent inhibitors of this enzyme such as ritonavir, indinavir, clarithromycin and erythromycin may increase the bioavailability of itraconazole.

3. Effects of itraconazole on the metabolism of other drugs:

3.1 Itraconazole can inhibit the metabolism of drugs metabolised by the cytochrome 3A family. This can result in an increase and/or a prolongation of their effects, including side effects. When using concomitant medication, the corresponding label should be consulted for information on the route of administration. After stopping treatment, itraconazole plasma concentrations decline gradually, depending on the dose and duration of treatment (see 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties). This should be taken into account when the inhibitory effect of itraconazole on co-administered drugs is considered.

Examples are:

The following drugs are contraindicated with itraconazole:

- Astemizole, bepridil, cisapride, dofetilide, levacetylmethadol (levomethadyl), mizolastine, pimozide, quinidine, sertindole or terfenadine are contraindicated with Sporanox-Pulse since co-administration may result in increased plasma concentrations of these substrates, which can lead to QT prolongation and rare occurrences of Torsades de pointes.

- CYP3A4 metabolised HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin and simvastatin.

- Triazolam and oral midazolam.

- Ergot alkaloids such as dihydroergotamine, ergometrine (ergonovine), ergotamine and methylergometrine (methylergonovine).

- Nisoldipine

- Eletriptan

Caution should be exercised when co-administering itraconazole with calcium channel blockers due to an increased risk of congestive heart failure. In addition to possible pharmacokinetic interactions involving the drug metabolising enzyme CYP3A4, calcium channel blockers can have negative inotropic effects which may be additive to those of itraconazole.

The following drugs should be used with caution, and their plasma concentrations, effects or side effects should be monitored. Their dosage, when co-administered with itraconazole, should be reduced if necessary:

• Oral anticoagulants

• HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir

• Certain antineoplastic agents such as vinca alkaloids, busulfan, docetaxel and trimetrexate

• CYP3A4 metabolised calcium channel blockers such as dihydropyridines and verapamil

• Certain immunosuppressive agents: ciclosporin, tacrolimus, rapamycin (also known as sirolimus)

• Certain CYP3A4 metabolised HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as atorvastatin

• Certain glucocorticoids such as budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone and methylprednisolone

• Digoxin

• Others: carbamazepine, cilostazol, buspirone, disopyramide, alfentanil, alprazolam, brotizolam, midazolam IV, rifabutin, ebastine, fentanyl, halofantrine, repaglinide and reboxetine. The importance of the concentration increase and the clinical relevance of these changes during co-administration remain to be established.

3.2. No interaction of itraconazole with zidovudine (AZT) and fluvastatin has been observed.

No inducing effects of itraconazole on the metabolism of ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone were observed.

4. Effect on protein binding:

In vitro studies have shown that there are no interactions on the plasma protein binding between itraconazole and imipramine, propranolol, diazepam, cimetidine, indometacin, tolbutamide or sulphadimidine.

Pregnancy

Sporanox-Pulse is contra-indicated in pregnancy.

In animal studies itraconazole has shown reproduction toxicity (see 5.3 Preclinical safety data).

Epidemiological data on exposure to Sporanox-Pulse during the first trimester of pregnancy-mostly in patients receiving short-term treatment for vulvovaginal candidosis did not show an increased risk for malformations as compared to control subjects not exposed to any known teratogens.

Women of child bearing potential

Women of childbearing potential taking Sporanox capsules should use contraceptive precautions. Effective contraception should be continued until the next menstrual period following the end of Sporanox therapy.

Lactation

A very small amount of itraconazole is excreted in human milk. Sporanox capsules must not be used during lactation.

None known.

Undesirable effects listed below have been reported in a clinical trial and/or from spontaneous reports from post-marketing experience.

In clinical trials involving 2104 itraconazoletreated patients in the treatment of dermatomycoses or onychomycosis, the most frequently reported adverse experiences in clinical trials were of gastrointestinal, dermatological , and hepatic origin.

The table below presents adverse drug reactions by System Organ Class. Within each System Organ Class, the adverse drug reactions are presented by incidence, using the following convention:

Very common ( 1/10); Common ( 1/100 to < 1/10); Uncommon ( 1/1,000 to < 1/100); Rare ( 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000); Very rare (< 1/10,000), Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Adverse drug reactions from spontaneous reports during worldwide postmarketing experience that met threshold criteria are also included in the table. Unlike for clinical trials, precise frequencies cannot be provided for spontaneous reports. The frequency for these reports is therefore classified as 'Not Known'.

In the event of overdosage, patients should be treated symptomatically with supportive measures. Within the first hour after ingestion, gastric lavage may be performed. Activated charcoal may be given if considered appropriate. No specific antidote is available. Itraconazole cannot be removed by haemodialysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic classification: (Antimycotics for systemic use, triazole derivatives).

ATC code: J02A C02

Itraconazole, a triazole derivative, has a broad spectrum of activity.

In vitro studies have demonstrated that itraconazole impairs the synthesis of ergosterol in fungal cells. Ergosterol is a vital cell membrane component in fungi. Impairment of its synthesis ultimately results in an antifungal effect.

For itraconazole, breakpoints have only been established for Candida spp. From superficial mycotic infections (CLSI M27-A2, breakpoints have not been established for EUCAST methodology). The CLSI breakpoints are as follows: susceptible 0.125; susceptible, dose-dependent 0.25-0.5 and resistant 1μg/mL. Interpretive breakpoints have not been established for the filamentous fungi.

In vitro studies demonstrate that itraconazole inhibits the growth of a broad range of fungi pathogenic for humans at concentrations usually 1 µg/ml.

These include:

dermatophytes (Trichophyton spp., Epidermophyton floccosum); yeasts (Candida spp., including C. albicans and C. glabrata) , Malassezia (formerly Pityrosporum) spp., Trichosporon spp., Geotrichum spp.); Aspergillus spp.; Blastomyces dermatitidis; and various other yeasts and fungi.

Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis are generally the least susceptible Candida species, with some isolates showing unequivocal resistance to itraconazole in vitro.

The principal fungus types that are not inhibited by itraconazole are Zygomycetes (e.g. Rhizopus spp., Rhizomucor spp., Mucor spp. and Absidia spp.), Fusarium spp., Scedosporium proliferans and Scopulariopsis spp.

Azole resistance appears to develop slowly and is often the result of several genetic mutations. Mechanisms that have been described are overexpression of ERG11, which encodes the target enzyme 14α-demethylase, point mutations in ERG11 that lead to decreased target affinity and/or transporter overexpression resulting in increased efflux. Cross resistance between members of the azole class has been observed within Candida spp., although resistance to one member of the class does not necessarily confer resistance to other azoles. Itraconazole-resistant strains of Aspergillus fumigatus have been reported.

General pharmacokinetic characteristics

The pharmacokinetics of itraconazole has been investigated in healthy subjects, special populations and patients after single and multiple dosing.

Absorption

Itraconazole is rapidly absorbed after oral administration. Peak plasma concentrations of the unchanged drug are reached within 2 to 5 hours following an oral dose. The observed absolute bioavailability of itraconazole is about 55%. Oral bioavailability is maximal when the capsules are taken immediately after a full meal.

Distribution

Most of the itraconazole in plasma is bound to protein (99.8%) with albumin being the main binding component (99.6% for the hydroxy- metabolite). It has also a marked affinity for lipids. Only 0.2% of the itraconazole in plasma is present as free drug. Itraconazole is distributed in a large apparent volume in the body (> 700 L), suggesting its extensive distribution into tissues: Concentrations in lung, kidney, liver, bone, stomach, spleen and muscle were found to be two to three times higher than corresponding concentrations in plasma. Brain to plasma ratios were about 1 as measured in beagle dogs. The uptake into keratinous tissues, skin in particular, is up to four times higher than in plasma.

Biotransformation

Itraconazole is extensively metabolised by the liver into a large number of metabolites. One of the main metabolites is hydroxy-itraconazole, which has in vitro antifungal activity comparable to itraconazole. Plasma concentrations of the hydroxy-itraconazole are about twice those of itraconazole.

As shown in in vitro studies, CYP 3A4 is the major enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of itraconazole.

Elimination

Itraconazole is excreted as inactive metabolites to about 35% in urine within one week and to about 54% with feces. Renal excretion of the parent drug accounts for less than 0.03% of the dose, whereas fecal excretion of unchanged drug varies between 3 – 18% of the dose. Itraconazole clearance decreases at higher doses due to saturable hepatic metabolism.

Linearity/non-linearity

As a consequence of non-linear pharmacokinetics, itraconazole accumulates in plasma during multiple dosing. Steady-state concentrations are generally reached within about 15 days, with Cmax and AUC values 4 to 7-fold higher than those seen after a single dose. The mean elimination half-life of itraconazole is about 40 hours after repeated dosing.

Special Populations

Hepatic Insufficiency: A pharmacokinetic study using a single 100 mg dose of itraconazole (one 100 mg capsule) was conducted in 6 healthy and 12 cirrhotic subjects. No statistically significant differences in AUC were seen between these two groups. A statistically significant reduction in average C_max (47%) and a two fold increase in the elimination half-life (37 ± 17 versus 16 ±5 hours) of itraconazole were noted in cirrhotic subjects compared with healthy subjects.

Data are not available in cirrhotic patients during long-term use of itraconazole.

Renal Insufficiency: Limited data are available on the use of oral itraconazole in patients with renal impairment. Caution should be exercised when the drug is administered in this patient population.

Nonclinical data on itraconazole revealed no indications for gene toxicity, primary carcinogenicity or impairment of fertility. At high doses, effects were observed in the adrenal cortex, liver and the mononuclear phagocyte system but appear to have a low relevance for the proposed clinical use. Itraconazole was found to cause a dose-related increase in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats and mice at high doses. A global lower bone mineral density was observed in juvenile dogs after chronic itraconazole administration, and in rats, a decreased bone plate activity, thinning of the zona compacta of the large bones, and an increased bone fragility was observed.

Sugar spheres Ph.Eur

Hypromellose 2910 5mPa.s PhEur.

Macrogol 20000 NF

Capsule shell:

Titanium dioxide E171

Indigotin carmine E132

Gelatin PhEur.

Erythrosine E127

None known.

36 months.

Do not store above 30°C.

Store in the original container.

Tristar blister - plastic foil consisting of 3 layers

• polyvinylchloride on the outside

• low density polyethylene in the middle

• polyvinylidene chloride on the inside

Aluminium foil (thickness 20 µm) coated on the inner side with colourless heatseal lacquer: PVC mixed polymers with acrylates 6 g/m²

or:

PVC blister consisting of:-

Polyvinylchloride "genotherm" glass clear, thickness 250 µm

Aluminium foil (thickness 20 µm) coated on the inner side with a colourless heatseal lacquer: PVC mixed polymers with acrylates 6 g/m²

Pack size: 28 capsules.

Not applicable.

Janssen-Cilag Ltd

50-100 Holmers Farm Way

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire

HP12 4EG

UK

00242/0334

26 March 1997

23 October 2009

Legal category POM.