COVERAM arg

COVERAM arg contains perindopril arginine, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, and amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure.

COVERAM arg may be used in patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on monotherapy.

COVERAM arg may be used as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple drugs to achieve blood pressure goals.

Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions.

These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes, including amlodipine and the ACE inhibitor class to which perindopril principally belongs. There are no controlled trials demonstrating risk reduction with COVERAM arg.

Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals. For specific advice on goals and management, see published guidelines, such as those of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program's Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC).

Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits. The largest and most consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit has been a reduction in the risk of stroke, but reductions in myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality also have been seen regularly.

Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure causes increased cardiovascular risk, and the absolute risk increase per mmHg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit. Relative risk reduction from blood pressure reduction is similar across populations with varying absolute risk, so the absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk independent of their hypertension (for example, patients with diabetes or hyperlipidemia), and such patients would be expected to benefit from more aggressive treatment to a lower blood pressure goal.

Some antihypertensive drugs have smaller blood pressure effects (as monotherapy) in black patients, and many antihypertensive drugs have additional approved indications and effects (e.g., on angina, heart failure, or diabetic kidney disease). These considerations may guide selection of therapy. In a clinical trial of COVERAM arg, treatment with COVERAM arg 14/10 mg did not provide additional antihypertensive effect beyond that achieved with use of amlodipine 10 mg in black and diabetic patients.

The choice of COVERAM arg as initial therapy for hypertension should be based on an assessment of potential benefits and risks including whether the patient is likely to tolerate the starting dose of COVERAM arg.

Patients with moderate-to-severe hypertension are at a relatively high risk of cardiovascular events (e.g., stroke, heart attack, and heart failure), kidney failure, and vision problems, so prompt treatment is clinically relevant. Consider the patient's baseline blood pressure, target goal and the incremental likelihood of achieving the goal with a combination product, such as COVERAM arg, versus a monotherapy product when deciding upon initial therapy. Individual blood pressure goals may vary based on the patient's risk.

Data from an 6-week, active-controlled trial provide estimates of the probability of reaching a target blood pressure with COVERAM arg compared with perindopril erbumine or amlodipine monotherapy.

Figures 1.a-1.d provide estimates of the likelihood of achieving target clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressure control with COVERAM arg 14/10 mg tablets after 6 weeks, based on baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The curve for each treatment group was estimated by logistic regression modeling and is less well defined in the tails.

Figure 1.a Probability of Achieving Systolic Blood Pressure <140 mmHg at Week 6

Figure 1.b Probability of Achieving Systolic Blood Pressure <130 mmHg at Week 6

Figure 1.c Probability of Achieving Diastolic Blood Pressure <90 mmHg at Week 6

Figure 1.d Probability of Achieving Diastolic Blood Pressure <80 mmHg at Week 6

For example, a patient with a baseline blood pressure of 170/105 mmHg has approximately a 26% likelihood of achieving a goal of <140 mmHg (systolic) and 31% likelihood of achieving <90 mmHg (diastolic) on perindopril erbumine 16 mg. The likelihood of achieving these same goals on amlodipine 10 mg is approximately 40% (systolic) and 46% (diastolic). These likelihoods rise to 50% (systolic) and 65% (diastolic) with COVERAM arg 14/10 mg.

General Considerations

The recommended starting dose of COVERAM arg is 3.5/2.5 mg once daily.

Adjust dosage according to blood pressure goals. In general, wait 7 to 14 days between titration steps. The maximum recommended dose is 14/10 mg once daily.

COVERAM arg may be used as initial therapy if a patient is likely to need multiple drugs to achieve blood pressure goals. Consider use in patients unable to achieve adequate antihypertensive effect with amlodipine monotherapy because of dose-limiting peripheral edema caused by amlodipine.

Administered as monotherapy, perindopril erbumine is an effective treatment for hypertension in once-daily doses ranging from 4 mg to 16 mg daily. Amlodipine is effective in once-daily doses of 5 mg and 10 mg. Adverse reactions related to perindopril are generally uncommon and independent of dose, while those related to amlodipine are a mixture of dose-dependent phenomena (primarily peripheral edema) and dose-independent phenomena, the former much more common than the latter.

Dosage Adjustment In Renal Impairment

COVERAM arg is not recommended in patients with creatinine clearances <30 mL/min. For patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 80 mL/min (mild or moderate renal impairment), do not exceed 7/5 mg.

Monitoring In Elderly Patients (Over 65 Years Of Age)

Monitor blood pressure for up to two weeks following titrations at dosages above 7/5 mg in patients over 65 years of age.

COVERAM arg tablets are contraindicated in patients with hereditary or idiopathic angioedema, with or without previous ACE inhibitor treatment, and in patients who are hypersensitive to perindopril, to any other ACE inhibitor, or to amlodipine.

Do not co-administer aliskiren with ACE inhibitors, including COVERAM arg, in patients with diabetes.

COVERAM arg is contraindicated in combination with neprilysin inhibitor (e.g., sacubitril). Do not administer COVERAM arg within 36 hours of switching to or from sacubitril/valsartan, a neprilysin inhibitor.

WARNINGS

Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section

PRECAUTIONS

Fetal Toxicity

Pregnancy Category D

Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reduces fetal renal function and increases fetal and neonatal morbidity and death. Resulting oligohydramnios can be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. Potential neonatal adverse effects include skull hypoplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, and death. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COVERAM arg as soon as possible.

Anaphylactoid And Possibly Related Reactions

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors affect the metabolism of eicosanoids and polypeptides, including endogenous bradykinin. Patients taking ACE inhibitors (including the one in COVERAM arg) may, therefore, be subject to a variety of bradykinin-or prostaglandin-mediated adverse reactions, some of them serious. Black patients receiving ACE inhibitors have a higher incidence of angioedema compared with non-blacks.

Head And Neck Angioedema

Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis, and larynx has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors (0.1% of patients treated with perindopril in U.S. clinical trials). Angioedema associated with involvement of the tongue, glottis or larynx may be fatal. In such cases, discontinue perindopril treatment immediately and observe until the swelling disappears. When involvement of the tongue, glottis, or larynx appears likely to cause airway obstruction, administer appropriate therapy, such as subcutaneous epinephrine solution 1:1000 (0.3 to 0.5 mL), promptly.

Patients taking concomitant mTOR inhibitor (e.g. temsirolimus) therapy or a neprilysin inhibitor may be at increased risk for angioedema.

Intestinal Angioedema

Intestinal angioedema has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. These patients presented with abdominal pain (with or without nausea or vomiting), and the angioedema was diagnosed by imaging studies such as abdominal CT or ultrasound, or at surgery. In some cases there was no prior history of facial angioedema, and C-1 esterase levels were normal. Symptoms resolved after stopping the ACE inhibitor. Intestinal angioedema should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients on ACE inhibitors presenting with abdominal pain.

Increased Angina And/Or Myocardial Infarction

Worsening angina and acute myocardial infarction can develop after starting or increasing the dose of COVERAM arg, particularly in patients with severe obstructive coronary artery disease.

Hypotension

COVERAM arg can cause symptomatic hypotension. Symptomatic hypotension is most likely to occur in patients who have been volume-or salt-depleted as a result of prolonged diuretic therapy, dietary salt restriction, dialysis, diarrhea, or vomiting.

In patients at risk of excessive hypotension, start COVERAM arg therapy under close medical supervision. Follow patients closely for the first 2 weeks of treatment and whenever the dose of COVERAM arg is increased or a diuretic is added or its dose increased.

If excessive hypotension occurs, immediately place patient in a supine position and, if necessary, treat patient with an intravenous infusion of physiological saline. COVERAM arg treatment can usually be continued following restoration of volume and blood pressure.

Patients with severe aortic stenosis may be more likely to experience symptomatic hypotension. Because of the gradual onset of action, acute hypotension is unlikely.

Surgery/Anesthesia

In patients undergoing major surgery or during anesthesia with agents that produce hypotension, COVERAM arg may block angiotensin II formation secondary to compensatory renin release. If hypotension occurs and is considered to be due to this mechanism, it can be corrected by volume expansion.

Hyperkalemia

Elevations of serum potassium have been observed in some patients treated with ACE inhibitors, including COVERAM arg. Risk factors for the development of hyperkalemia include renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and the concomitant use of agents such as potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, and/or potassium-containing salt substitutes.

Monitor serum potassium periodically in patients receiving COVERAM arg.

Cough

Presumably because of the inhibition of the degradation of endogenous bradykinin, persistent nonproductive cough has been reported with all ACE inhibitors, generally resolving after discontinuation of therapy. Consider ACE inhibitor-induced cough in the differential diagnosis of cough.

Impaired Renal Function

Monitor renal function periodically in patients receiving COVERAM arg. Drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system can cause reductions in renal function, including acute renal failure. Patients whose renal function may depend in part on the activity of the renin-angiotensin system—(e.g., patients with renal artery stenosis, severe heart failure, post-myocardial infarction or volume depletion) or who are on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) or angiotensin receptor blockers—may be at particular risk of developing acute renal failure on COVERAM arg. Consider withholding or discontinuing therapy in patients who develop a clinically significant decrease in renal function on COVERAM arg.

Hepatic Failure

Rarely, ACE inhibitors have been associated with a syndrome that starts with cholestatic jaundice and progresses to fulminant hepatic necrosis and sometimes death. The mechanism of this syndrome is not understood. Patients receiving ACE inhibitors who develop jaundice or marked elevations of hepatic enzymes should discontinue the ACE inhibitor and receive appropriate medical follow-up.

Patient Counseling Information

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).

Tell female patients of childbearing age that use of drugs like perindopril that act on the renin-angiotensin system can cause serious problems in the fetus and infant, including low blood pressure, poor development of skull bones, kidney failure, and death. Discuss other treatment options with female patients planning to become pregnant. Tell women using COVERAM arg who become pregnant to notify their physician as soon as possible.

In case of a missed dose, have patients resume the usual dose at the next scheduled time.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility

No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity or fertility studies have been conducted with the combination of perindopril and amlodipine. However, these studies have been conducted for perindopril and amlodipine alone.

Perindopril

Carcinogenicity

No evidence of carcinogenicity was observed in studies in rats and mice when perindopril was administered at dosages up to 5 times (mg/m²) the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 14 mg/day for 104 weeks.

Mutagenesis

No genotoxic potential was detected for perindopril, perindoprilat, and other metabolites in various in vitro and in vivo investigations, including the Ames test, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4 test, cultured human lymphocytes, thymidine kinase ± mouse lymphoma assay, mouse and rat micronucleus tests, the in vivo micronucleus and chromosomal aberration tests, and Chinese hamster bone marrow assay.

Impairment of Fertility

There was no meaningful effect on reproductive performance or fertility in rats given up to 7 times (mg/m²) the MRHD during the period of spermatogenesis in males or oogenesis and gestation in females.

Amlodipine

Carcinogenicity

Rats and mice treated with amlodipine maleate in the diet for up to 2 years, at concentrations calculated to provide daily amlodipine dosage levels of 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/kg/day, showed no evidence of a carcinogenic effect of the drug. For the mouse, the highest dose was, on a body surface area basis, similar to the amlodipine MRHD of 10 mg/day. For the rat, the highest dose was, on a body surface area basis, approximately 2.5 times the MRHD, assuming a patient weight of 60 kg.

Mutagenesis

Mutagenicity studies conducted with amlodipine maleate revealed no drug-related effects at either the gene or chromosome level.

Impairment of Fertility

There was no effect on the fertility of rats treated orally with amlodipine maleate (males for 64 days and females for 14 days prior to mating) at amlodipine doses of up to 10 mg/kg/day, about 10 times the MRHD of 10 mg/day on a body surface area basis.

Reproductive Toxicity

Reproductive toxicity studies have not been conducted with this combination. However, these studies have been conducted for amlodipine alone.

Amlodipine

No evidence of teratogenicity or other embryo/fetal toxicity was found when pregnant rats and rabbits were treated orally with amlodipine maleate at amlodipine doses of up to 10 mg/kg/day (respectively, about 8 and 23 times the maximum recommended human dose of 10 mg on a mg/m² basis, assuming a patient weight of 50 kg) during their periods of major organogenesis. However, litter size was significantly decreased (by about 50%) and the number of intrauterine deaths was significantly increased (about 5-fold) for rats receiving amlodipine maleate at an amlodipine dose equivalent to 10 mg/kg/day for 14 days before mating and throughout mating and gestation. Amlodipine maleate has been shown to prolong both the gestation period and the duration of labor in rats at this dose.

Use In Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category D

Use of drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy reduces fetal renal function and increases fetal and neonatal morbidity and death. Resulting oligohydramnios can be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. Potential neonatal adverse effects include skull hypoplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, and death. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COVERAM arg as soon as possible. These adverse outcomes are usually associated with use of these drugs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Most epidemiologic studies examining fetal abnormalities after exposure to antihypertensive use in the first trimester have not distinguished drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system from other antihypertensive agents. Appropriate management of maternal hypertension during pregnancy is important to optimize outcomes for both mother and fetus.

In the unusual case that there is no appropriate alternative therapy with drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system for a particular patient, apprise the mother of the potential risk to the fetus. Perform serial ultra-sound examinations to assess the intra-amniotic environment. If oligohydramnios is observed, discontinue COVERAM arg, unless it is considered lifesaving for the mother. Fetal testing may be appropriate, based on the week of pregnancy. Patients and physicians should be aware, however, that oligohydramnios may not appear until after the fetus has sustained irreversible injury. Closely observe infants with histories of in utero exposure to COVERAM arg for hypotension, oliguria, and hyperkalemia.

Radioactivity was detectable in fetuses after administration of ¹⁴C-perindopril to pregnant rats.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether perindopril or amlodipine is excreted in human milk, but radioactivity was detected in the milk of lactating rats following administration of ¹⁴C-perindopril. Because of the potential for adverse effects on the nursing infant, decide whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue COVERAM arg.

Pediatric Use

Neonates With A History Of In Utero Exposure To COVERAM arg:

If oliguria or hypotension occurs, direct attention toward support of blood pressure and renal perfusion. Exchange transfusions or dialysis may be required as a means of reversing hypotension and/or substituting for disordered renal function.

The safety and effectiveness of COVERAM arg in pediatric patients have not been established.

Geriatric Use

The mean blood pressure effect of perindopril was somewhat smaller in patients over 60 years of age than in younger patients, although the difference was not significant. Plasma concentrations of both perindopril and perindoprilat in elderly patients (>65 years) are approximately twice those observed in younger patients. No adverse effects were clearly increased in older patients with the exception of dizziness and rash.

Amlodipine is extensively metabolized in the liver. In the elderly, clearance of amlodipine is decreased with resulting increases in peak plasma levels, elimination half-life, and AUC.

Experience with COVERAM arg is limited in the elderly at doses exceeding 7/5 mg. If doses above 7/5 mg are required, monitor blood pressure up to two weeks following up titration.

Renal Impairment

Pharmacokinetic data indicate that perindoprilat elimination is decreased in renally impaired patients, with a marked increase in accumulation when creatinine clearance drops below 30 mL/min. COVERAM arg is not recommended in patients with creatinine clearances <30 mL/min. For patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 80 mL/min (mild or moderate renal impairment), do not exceed 7/5 mg.

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.

In an active-controlled 6-week trial, the safety of the maximum dose of COVERAM arg (14/10 mg) was evaluated in 279 patients with hypertension and compared with perindopril erbumine 16 mg and amlodipine 10 mg. Adverse reactions were generally mild and transient in nature.

Discontinuations because of adverse events occurred in 3.6% of patients treated with COVERAM arg 14/10 mg compared to 4.3% of patients treated with perindopril erbumine 16 mg and 4.6% of patients treated with amlodipine 10 mg. The most common reason for discontinuation of therapy with COVERAM arg was peripheral edema (1.8%).

Common adverse events that occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with COVERAM arg in the 6-week trial are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of ≥2% in COVERAM arg-Treated Patients

The overall frequency of adverse reactions was similar between men and women, and black and non-black patients. In black patients, the incidence of peripheral edema was similar in the COVERAM arg 14/10 mg and amlodipine 10 mg arms (3%).

Other adverse reactions in the controlled clinical trial with some plausible relationship to COVERAM arg are listed below.

Dermatologic: Rash

Digestive: Nausea, diarrhea

The safety of the lowest dose of COVERAM arg (3.5/2.5 mg) was evaluated in 249 patients with hypertension and compared with placebo and perindopril and amlodipine administered as monotherapies in an 8-week trial. The only emergent adverse event observed in at least 2% of patients treated with COVERAM arg was hyperkalemia (2.4%). Peripheral edema was reported in 1.6% of patients receiving COVERAM arg 3.5/2.5 mg.

Monotherapy with perindopril or amlodipine has been evaluated for safety in clinical trials in over 3,000 and 11,000 patients, respectively, as summarized below.

Perindopril

Perindopril erbumine has been evaluated for safety in approximately 3,400 patients with hypertension in U.S. and foreign clinical trials. The data presented here are based on results from the 1,417 perindopril-treated patients who participated in the U.S. clinical trials. Over 220 of these patients were treated with perindopril for at least one year.

In placebo-controlled U.S. clinical trials, the incidence of premature discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events was 6.5% in patients treated with perindopril erbumine and 6.7% in patients treated with placebo. The most common causes were cough, headache, asthenia, and dizziness.

Among 1,012 patients in placebo-controlled U.S. trials, the overall frequency of reported adverse events was similar in patients treated with perindopril erbumine and in those treated with placebo (approximately 75% in each group). The only adverse events whose incidence on perindopril erbumine was at least 2% greater than on placebo were cough (12% vs. 4.5%) and back pain (5.8% vs. 3.1%).

Dizziness was not reported more frequently in the perindopril group (8.2%) than in the placebo group (8.5%), but its likelihood increased with dose, suggesting a causal relationship with perindopril.

Amlodipine

Amlodipine has been evaluated for safety in more than 11,000 patients in U.S. and foreign clinical trials. In controlled clinical trials comparing amlodipine (N=1730) in doses up to 10 mg with placebo (N=1250), discontinuation of amlodipine due to adverse reactions was required in about 1.5% of amlodipine-treated patients and about 1% of placebo-treated patients. The most common side effects were edema, dizziness, flushing, and palpitations.

The following events occurred in <1% but >0.1% of patients in controlled clinical trials or under conditions of open trials or marketing experience where a causal relationship is uncertain; they are listed to alert the physician to a possible relationship:

Cardiovascular: arrhythmia (including ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation), bradycardia, chest pain, peripheral ischemia, syncope, tachycardia, vasculitis.

Central and Peripheral Nervous System: hypoesthesia, neuropathy peripheral, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo.

Gastrointestinal: anorexia, constipation, dysphagia, diarrhea, flatulence, pancreatitis, vomiting, gingival hyperplasia.

General: allergic reaction, asthenia,¹ back pain, hot flushes, malaise, pain, rigors, weight gain, weight decrease.

Musculoskeletal System: arthralgia, arthrosis, muscle cramps,¹ myalgia.

Psychiatric: sexual dysfunction (male¹ and female), insomnia, nervousness, depression, abnormal dreams, anxiety, depersonalization.

Respiratory System: dyspnea,¹ epistaxis.

Skin and Appendages: angioedema, erythema multiforme, pruritus,¹ rash,¹ rash erythematous, rash maculopapular.

Special Senses: abnormal vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye pain, tinnitus.

Urinary System: micturition frequency, micturition disorder, nocturia.

Autonomic Nervous System: dry mouth, sweating increased.

Metabolic and Nutritional: hyperglycemia, thirst.

Hematopoietic: leukopenia, purpura, thrombocytopenia.

¹ These events occurred in less than 1% in placebo-controlled trials, but the incidence of these side effects was between 1% and 2% in all multiple dose studies.

Clinical Laboratory Findings

Perindopril

Hematology: Small decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit occur frequently in hypertensive patients treated with perindopril, but are rarely of clinical importance. In controlled clinical trials, no patient was discontinued from therapy due to the development of anemia. Leukopenia (including neutropenia) was observed in 0.1% of patients in U.S. clinical trials.

Liver Function Tests: Elevations in alanine transaminase (ALT; 1.6% perindopril erbumine vs. 0.9% placebo) and aspartate transaminase (AST; 0.5% perindopril erbumine vs. 0.4% placebo) have been observed in placebo-controlled clinical trials. The elevations were generally mild and transient and resolved after discontinuation of therapy.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of the individual components of COVERAM arg. 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.

Perindopril: Voluntary reports of adverse events in patients taking perindopril that have been received since market introduction and are of unknown causal relationship to perindopril include: cardiac arrest, eosinophilic pneumonitis, neutropenia/agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, anemia (including hemolytic and aplastic), thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, nephritis, hepatic failure, jaundice (hepatocellular or cholestatic), symptomatic hyponatremia, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, acute pancreatitis, falls, psoriasis, exfoliative dermatitis, and a syndrome that may include: arthralgia/arthritis, vasculitis, serositis, myalgia, fever, rash or other dermatologic manifestations, a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), leukocytosis, eosinophilia, or an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Amlodipine: The following postmarketing event has been reported infrequently where a causal relationship is uncertain: palpitations, gynecomastia, jaundice and hepatic enzyme elevations (mostly consistent with cholestasis or hepatitis), some requiring hospitalization.

Perindopril

In animals, doses of perindopril up to 2,500 mg/kg in mice, 3,000 mg/kg in rats and 1,600 mg/kg in dogs were non-lethal. Past experiences were scant but suggested that overdosage with other ACE inhibitors was also fairly well tolerated by humans. The most likely manifestation is hypotension, and treatment should be symptomatic and supportive. Therapy with the ACE inhibitor should be discontinued, and the patient should be observed. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and hypotension should be treated by established procedures.

Among the reported cases of perindopril overdosage, patients who were known to have ingested a dose of 80 mg to 120 mg required assisted ventilation and circulatory support. One additional patient developed hypothermia, circulatory arrest and died following ingestion of up to 180 mg of perindopril. The intervention for perindopril overdose may require vigorous support.

Laboratory determinations of serum levels of perindopril and its metabolites are not widely available, and such determinations have, in any event, no established role in the management of perindopril overdose. No data are available to suggest physiological maneuvers (e.g., maneuvers to change the pH of the urine) that might accelerate elimination of perindopril and its metabolites.

Angiotensin II could presumably serve as a specific antagonist-antidote in the settling of perindopril overdose, but angiotensin II is essentially unavailable outside of scattered research facilities. Because the hypotensive effect of perindopril is achieved through vasodilation and effective hypovolemia, it is reasonable to treat perindopril overdose by infusion of normal saline solution.

Amlodipine

Overdosage might be expected to cause excessive peripheral vasodilation with marked hypotension and possibly a reflex tachycardia. In humans, experience with intentional overdosage of amlodipine is limited.

Single oral doses of amlodipine maleate equivalent to 40 mg amlodipine/kg and 100 mg amlodipine/kg in mice and rats, respectively, caused deaths. Single oral amlodipine maleate doses equivalent to 4 or more mg amlodipine/kg or higher in dogs (11 or more times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m² basis) caused a marked peripheral vasodilation and hypotension.

If massive overdose should occur, initiate active cardiac and respiratory monitoring. Frequent blood pressure measurements are essential. Should hypotension occur, provide cardiovascular support including elevation of the extremities and the judicious administration of fluids. If hypotension remains unresponsive to these conservative measures, consider administration of vasopressors (such as phenylephrine) with attention to circulating volume and urine output. As amlodipine is highly protein bound, hemodialysis is not likely to be of benefit.

Perindopril After administration of perindopril, ACE is inhibited in a dose and blood concentration-related fashion. The degree of ACE inhibition achieved by a given dose appears to diminish over time (the ID₅₀ increases). The pressor response to an angiotensin I infusion is reduced by perindopril, but this is not as persistent as the effect on ACE.

Amlodipine

Following administration of therapeutic doses to patients with hypertension, amlodipine produces vasodilation resulting in a reduction of supine and standing blood pressures. These decreases in blood pressure are not accompanied by a significant change in heart rate or plasma catecholamine levels with chronic dosing. Although the acute intravenous administration of amlodipine decreases arterial blood pressure and increases heart rate in hemodynamic studies of patients with chronic stable angina, chronic oral administration of amlodipine in clinical trials did not lead to clinically significant changes in heart rate or blood pressures in normotensive patients with angina.

With chronic once daily oral administration, antihypertensive effectiveness is maintained for at least 24 hours. Plasma concentrations correlate with effect in both young and elderly patients. The magnitude of reduction in blood pressure with amlodipine is also correlated with the height of pretreatment elevation; thus, individuals with moderate hypertension (diastolic pressure 105-114 mmHg) had about a 50% greater response than did patients with mild hypertension (diastolic pressure 90-104 mmHg). Normotensive subjects experienced no clinically significant change in blood pressures (+1/-2 mmHg).

In hypertensive patients with normal renal function, therapeutic doses of amlodipine resulted in a decrease in renal vascular resistance and an increase in glomerular filtration rate and effective renal plasma flow without change in filtration fraction or proteinuria.

As with other calcium channel blockers, hemodynamic measurements of cardiac function at rest and during exercise (or pacing) in patients with normal ventricular function treated with amlodipine have generally demonstrated a small increase in cardiac index without significant influence on dP/dt or on left ventricular end diastolic pressure or volume. In hemodynamic studies, amlodipine has not been associated with a negative inotropic effect when administered in the therapeutic dose range to intact animals and humans, even when co-administered with β-blockers to humans. Similar findings, however, have been observed in normal or well-compensated patients with heart failure with agents possessing significant negative inotropic effects.

Electrophysiologic Effects: Amlodipine does not change sinoatrial (SA) nodal function or atrioventricular (AV) conduction in intact animals or humans. In clinical studies in which amlodipine was administered in combination with β-blockers to patients with either hypertension or angina, no adverse effects on electrocardiographic parameters were observed.

COVERAM arg

Following administration of COVERAM arg, peak plasma concentration of perindopril, perindoprilat and amlodipine occur at approximately 1 hour, 4 hours and 6-12 hours, respectively. The mean half-life of perindopril is approximately 1.3 hours. The decline in the plasma concentration of perindoprilat is multiphasic and shows a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 100 hours, resulting from slow dissociation of perindoprilat from plasma/tissue ACE binding sites. Amlodipine elimination from plasma is biphasic with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 30 to 50 hours.

When COVERAM arg is administered with food, the exposure to perindopril, perindoprilat and amlodipine is not impacted.

Perindopril

Following administration of COVERAM arg, perindopril is rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations occurring at approximately 1 hour. The absolute oral bioavailability of perindopril is approximately 75%. Following absorption, approximately 30% to 50% of systemically available perindopril is hydrolyzed to its active metabolite, perindoprilat, which has a mean bioavailability of approximately 25%. Peak plasma concentrations of perindoprilat are attained approximately 4 hours after COVERAM arg administration. Food had no effect on the extent of absorption of perindopril or perindoprilat, but slightly reduced the rate of absorption of perindopril and perindoprilat by 18% and 14%, respectively.

The Cmax and AUC of perindopril and perindoprilat increase in a linear and dose proportional manner following both single oral dosing and at steady state during an once-a-day multiple dosing regimen. Perindopril exhibits multiexponential pharmacokinetics following oral administration. The mean half-life of perindopril associated with most of its elimination is approximately 0.8 to 1 hours.

Perindopril is extensively metabolized following oral administration, with only 4% to 12% of the dose recovered unchanged in the urine. Six metabolites resulting from hydrolysis, glucuronidation, and cyclization via dehydration have been identified. These include the active ACE inhibitor perindoprilat (hydrolyzed perindopril), perindopril, and perindoprilat glucuronides, dehydrated perindopril, and the diastereoisomers of dehydrated perindoprilat. In humans, hepatic esterase appears to be responsible for the hydrolysis of perindopril.

The active metabolite, perindoprilat, also exhibits multiexponential pharmacokinetics following the oral administration of perindopril. Formation of perindoprilat is gradual with peak plasma concentrations occurring between 3 and 7 hours. The subsequent decline in plasma concentration shows a prolonged terminal elimination half-life of 120 hours resulting from slow dissociation of perindoprilat from plasma/tissue ACE binding sites. During repeated oral once-daily dosing with perindopril, perindoprilat accumulates about 1.5-to 2-fold and attains steady state plasma levels in 3 to 6 days. The clearance of perindoprilat and its metabolites is almost exclusively renal.

Approximately 60% of circulating perindopril is bound to plasma proteins, and only 10% to 20% of perindoprilat is bound. Therefore, drug interactions mediated through effects on protein binding are not anticipated.

Amlodipine

Absolute bioavailability of amlodipine has been estimated between 64% and 90%. Ex vivo studies indicate that approximately 93% of circulating amlodipine is bound to plasma proteins in hypertensive patients.

Amlodipine is extensively (approximately 90%) metabolized in the liver to inactive metabolites. Steady-state plasma levels are reached after once-daily dosing for 7 to 8 days. 10% of unchanged drug and 60% of amlodipine metabolites are excreted in urine.