Pharmacy & Therapeutics - September 2008 - (Page CB8)

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION WARNING: SPINAL / EPIDURAL HEMATOMAS When neuraxial anesthesia (epidural/spinal anesthesia) or spinal puncture is employed, patients anticoagulated or scheduled to be anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparins or heparinoids for prevention of thromboembolic complications are at risk of developing an epidural or spinal hematoma which can result in long-term or permanent paralysis. The risk of these events is increased by the use of indwelling epidural catheters for administration of analgesia or by the concomitant use of drugs affecting hemostasis such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), platelet inhibitors, or other anticoagulants. The risk also appears to be increased by traumatic or repeated epidural or spinal puncture. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of neurological impairment. If neurologic compromise is noted, urgent treatment is necessary. Consider the potential benefit versus risk before neuraxial intervention in patients anticoagulated or to be anticoagulated for thromboprophylaxis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Drug Interactions (7)]. 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE 1.1 Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis Lovenox is indicated for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis, which may lead to pulmonary embolism: • in patients undergoing abdominal surgery who are at risk for thromboembolic complications [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. • in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, during and following hospitalization. • in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. • in medical patients who are at risk for thromboembolic complications due to severely restricted mobility during acute illness. 1.2 Treatment of Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis Lovenox is indicated for: • the inpatient treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism, when administered in conjunction with warfarin sodium; • the outpatient treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis without pulmonary embolism when administered in conjunction with warfarin sodium. 1.3 Prophylaxis of Ischemic Complications of Unstable Angina and Non-Q-Wave Myocardial Infarction Lovenox is indicated for the prophylaxis of ischemic complications of unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, when concurrently administered with aspirin. 1.4 Treatment of acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Lovenox has been shown to reduce the rate of the combined endpoint of recurrent myocardial infarction or death in patients with acute STEMI receiving thrombolysis and being managed medically or with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION All patients should be evaluated for a bleeding disorder before administration of Lovenox, unless the medication is needed urgently. Since coagulation parameters are unsuitable for monitoring Lovenox activity, routine monitoring of coagulation parameters is not required [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)]. For subcutaneous use, Lovenox should not be mixed with other injections or infusions. For intravenous use (i.e., for treatment of acute STEMI), Lovenox can be mixed with normal saline solution (0.9%) or 5% dextrose in water. Lovenox is not intended for intramuscular administration. 2.1 Adult Dosage Abdominal Surgery: In patients undergoing abdominal surgery who are at risk for thromboembolic complications, the recommended dose of Lovenox is 40 mg once a day administered by SC injection with the initial dose given 2 hours prior to surgery. The usual duration of administration is 7 to 10 days; up to 12 days administration has been administered in clinical trials. Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery: In patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, the recommended dose of Lovenox is 30 mg every 12 hours administered by SC injection. Provided that hemostasis has been established, the initial dose should be given 12 to 24 hours after surgery. For hip replacement surgery, a dose of 40 mg once a day SC, given initially 12 (±3) hours prior to surgery, may be considered. Following the initial phase of thromboprophylaxis in hip replacement surgery patients, it is recommended that continued prophylaxis with Lovenox 40 mg once a day is administered by SC injection for 3 weeks. The usual duration of administration is 7 to 10 days; up to 14 days administration has been administered in clinical trials. Medical Patients During Acute Illness: In medical patients at risk for thromboembolic complications due to severely restricted mobility during acute illness, the recommended dose of Lovenox is 40 mg once a day administered by SC injection. The usual duration of administration is 6 to 11 days; up to 14 days of Lovenox has been administered in the controlled clinical trial. Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis With or Without Pulmonary Embolism: In outpatient treatment, patients with acute deep vein thrombosis without pulmonary embolism who can be treated at home, the recommended dose of Lovenox is 1 mg/kg every 12 hours administered SC. In inpatient (hospital) treatment, patients with acute deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism or patients with acute deep vein thrombosis without pulmonary embolism (who are not candidates for outpatient treatment), the recommended dose of Lovenox is 1 mg/kg every 12 hours administered SC or 1.5 mg/kg once a day administered SC at the same time every day. In both outpatient and inpatient (hospital) treatments, warfarin sodium therapy should be initiated when appropriate (usually within 72 hours of Lovenox). Lovenox should be continued for a minimum of 5 days and until a therapeutic oral anticoagulant effect has been achieved (International Normalization Ratio 2.0 to 3.0). The average duration of administration is 7 days; up to 17 days of Lovenox administration has been administered in controlled clinical trials. Unstable Angina and Non-Q-Wave Myocardial Infarction: In patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, the recommended dose of Lovenox is 1 mg/kg administered SC every 12 hours in conjunction with oral aspirin therapy (100 to 325 mg once daily). Treatment with Lovenox should be prescribed for a minimum of 2 days and continued until clinical stabilization. The usual duration of treatment is 2 to 8 days; up to 12.5 days of Lovenox has been administered in clinical trials. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Clinical Studies (14.5)]. Treatment of acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: In patients with acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, the recommended dose of Lovenox is a single IV bolus of 30 mg plus a 1 mg/kg SC dose followed by 1 mg/kg administered SC every 12 hours (maximum 100 mg for the first two doses only, followed by 1 mg/kg dosing for the remaining doses). Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients ≥75 years of age [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)]. When administered in conjunction with a thrombolytic (fibrin-specific or non-fibrin specific), Lovenox should be given between 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after the start of fibrinolytic therapy. All patients should receive acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as soon as they are identified as having STEMI and maintained with 75 to 325 mg once daily unless contraindicated. In the pivotal clinical study, the Lovenox treatment duration was 8 days or until hospital discharge, whichever came first. An optimal duration of treatment is not known, but it is likely to be longer than 8 days. For patients managed with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): If the last Lovenox SC administration was given less than 8 hours before balloon inflation, no additional dosing is needed. If the last Lovenox SC administration was given more than 8 hours before balloon inflation, an IV bolus of 0.3 mg/kg of Lovenox should be administered [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. 2.2 Renal Impairment Although no dose adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate (creatinine clearance 30-50 mL/min) and mild (creatinine clearance 50-80 mL/min) renal impairment, all such patients should be observed carefully for signs and symptoms of bleeding. The recommended prophylaxis and treatment dosage regimens for patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) are described in Table 1 [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Table 1 Dosage Regimens for Patients with Severe Renal Impairment (creatinine clearance <30mL/minute) Indication Dosage Regimen Prophylaxis in abdominal surgery 30 mg administered SC once daily Prophylaxis in hip or knee replacement surgery 30 mg administered SC once daily Prophylaxis in medical patients during acute illness 30 mg administered SC once daily Inpatient treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis 1 mg/kg administered SC once daily with or without pulmonary embolism, when administered in conjunction with warfarin sodium Outpatient treatment of acute deep vein 1 mg/kg administered SC once daily thrombosis without pulmonary embolism, when administered in conjunction with warfarin sodium Prophylaxis of ischemic complications of 1 mg/kg administered SC once daily unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, when concurrently administered with aspirin Treatment of acute ST-segment Elevation 30-mg single IV bolus plus a 1 mg/kg Myocardial Infarction in patients <75 years SC dose followed by 1 mg/kg of age administered SC once daily. Treatment of acute ST-segment Elevation 1 mg/kg administered SC Myocardial Infarction in geriatric patients once daily (no initial bolus) ≥75 years of age 2.3 Geriatric patients with acute ST-segment Myocardial Infarction For treatment of acute ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in geriatric patients ≥75 years of age, do not use an initial IV bolus. Initiate dosing with 0.75 mg/kg SC every 12 hours (maximum 75 mg for the first two doses only, followed by 0.75 mg/kg dosing for the remaining doses)[see Use in Specific Populations (8.5) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Pharmacy & Therapeutics - September 2008

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - September 2008 Contents Editorial Medication Errors Prescription: Washington New Drugs/Drug News/New Medical Devices Drug Forecast Effect of Prescription Copays on Adherence and Treatment Failure with Oral Antidiabetic Medications Vaccine Declinations Present New Challenges for Public Health Universal Health Care in America Digestive Disease Week and American Diabetes Association Pharmaceutical Approval Update

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - September 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.