Hydroxycarbamide medac

Hydroxycarbamide medac 500 mg capsule, hard

One capsule contains 500 mg hydroxycarbamide.

Excipient with known effect

One capsule contains 25 mg lactose monohydrate.

Capsule, hard (capsule)

White capsules.

Treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in the chronic or accelerated phase of the disease.

Treatment of patients with essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera with a high risk for thromboembolic complications.

Posology

Therapy should only be conducted by a physician experienced in oncology or haematology. Doses are based on real or ideal bodyweight of the patient, whichever is the less.

In CML hydroxycarbamide is usually given at an initial dose of 40 mg/kg daily dependent on the white cell count. The dose is reduced by 50 % (20 mg/kg daily) when the white cell count has dropped below 20 x 10⁹/l. The dose is then adjusted individually to keep the white cell count at 5 - 10 x 10⁹/l. The hydroxycarbamide dose should be reduced if white cell counts fall below 5 x 10⁹/l and increased if white cell counts > 10 x 10⁹/l are observed.

If the white cell count falls below 2.5 x 10⁹/l, or the platelet count below 100 x 10⁹/l, therapy should be interrupted until the counts rise significantly towards normal.

An adequate trial period for determining the antineoplastic effect of Hydroxycarbamide medac is six weeks. Therapy should be interrupted indefinitely if there is significant progress of the disease. If there is significant clinical response therapy may be continued indefinitely.

In essential thrombocythemia hydroxycarbamide is usually given at starting doses of 15 mg/kg/day with dose adjustment to maintain a platelet count below 600 x 10⁹/l without lowering the white blood cell count below 4 x 10⁹/l.

In polycythemia vera hydroxycarbamide should be started at a dose of 15 - 20 mg/kg/day. The hydroxycarbamide dose should be adjusted individually to maintain the haematocrit below 45 % and platelet count below 400 x 10⁹/l. In most patients this can be achieved with hydroxycarbamide given continuously at average daily doses of 500 to 1,000 mg.

If haematocrit and platelet count can be sufficiently controlled therapy may be continued indefinitely.

Paediatric population

Because of the rarity of these conditions in children, dose regimens have not been established.

Elderly

Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of hydroxycarbamide, and may require a lower dose regimen.

Impaired renal and/or liver function

No data are available. Dose recommendation cannot be given to patients with impaired renal and/or liver function.

Method of administration

The capsules should be swallowed whole and not be allowed to disintegrate in the mouth.

- Therapy should be discontinued if hypersensitivity to Hydroxycarbamide medac occurs.

- Severe bone marrow depression, leukocytopenia (< 2.5 x 10⁹ leukocytes/l), thrombocytopenia (< 100 x 10⁹ platelets/l) or severe anaemia.

Hydroxycarbamide can cause bone marrow depression with leukopenia as the first and most commonly occurring sign. Thrombocytopenia and anaemia occur less frequently and are rare without preceding leukopenia. Complete blood counts including determination of haemoglobin level, total leukocyte differentiation counts, and platelet counts should be performed regularly also after the individual optimal dose has been established. The control interval should be individualised, but is normally once a week. If the white cell count falls below 2.5 x 10⁹/l, or the platelet count below 100 x 10⁹/l, therapy should be interrupted until the counts rise significantly towards normal..

In case of anaemia before or during ongoing treatment red blood cells may be replaced when needed. Megaloblastic erythropoiesis, which is self-limiting, is often seen early in the course of hydroxycarbamide therapy. The morphologic change resembles pernicious anaemia, but is not related to vitamin B₁₂ or folic acid deficiency.

During therapy with Hydroxycarbamide medac frequent monitoring of blood counts should be conducted as well as monitoring of hepatic and renal function. Experience is limited in patients with impaired renal and/or liver function. Therefore special care should be taken in the treatment of these patients, especially at the beginning of therapy.

Patients should be instructed to drink abundantly.

In patients receiving long-term treatment with hydroxycarbamide for myeloproliferative disorders, such as polycythemia vera and thrombocythaemia, secondary leukaemia may develop. To what extent this relates to the underlying disease or to treatment with hydroxycarbamide is presently unknown.

The monitoring of skin changes is advisable during hydroxycarbamide treatment as squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and basal cell carcinoma have been reported.

Hydroxycarbamide can induce painful leg ulcers which are usually difficult to treat and require cessation of therapy. Discontinuation of hydroxycarbamide usually leads to slow resolution of the ulcers over some weeks.

Cutaneous vasculitic toxicities including vasculitic ulcerations and gangrene have occurred in patients with myeloproliferative disorders during therapy with hydroxycarbamide. The risk of vasculitic toxicities is increased in patients who receive prior or concomitant interferon therapy. Due to potentially severe clinical outcomes for the cutaneous vasculitic ulcers reported in patients with myeloproliferative disease, hydroxycarbamide should be discontinued if cutaneous vasculitic ulcerations develop and treatment with alternative cytoreductive medicinal products should be initiated as indicated.

Interference with laboratory tests

A published study has shown increases of laboratory values of urea, uric acid (5 - 9 %) and lactic acid (6 - 11 %) measured by in vitro enzymatic assays, in the presence of hydroxycarbamide (0.1 - 1 mM), indicating an analytical interference.

Hydroxycarbamide may be genotoxic. Therefore, men under therapy are advised to use safe contraceptive measures during and for at least 3 months after therapy. They should be informed about the possibility of sperm conservation before the start of therapy.

Hydroxycarbamide medac should not be administered to patients who are pregnant or to mothers who are breast-feeding, unless the benefits outweigh the possible hazards.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.

Vaccinations

Concomitant use of Hydroxycarbamide medac with a live virus vaccine may potentiate the replication of the vaccine virus and/or may increase some of the adverse reactions of the vaccine virus because normal defence mechanisms may be suppressed by hydroxycarbamide. Vaccination with a live vaccine in a patient taking Hydroxycarbamide medac may result in severe infection. The patient's antibody response to vaccines may be decreased. The use of live vaccines should be avoided during treatment and for at least six months after treatment has finished and individual specialist advice has been sought.

Hydroxycarbamide should be given with caution to patients with previous or concomitant radiotherapy or cytotoxic therapy. In these cases the patients have an increased risk to develop bone marrow depression, gastric irritation and mucositis (more severe, higher frequency). Furthermore, an exacerbation of erythema caused by previous or simultaneous irradiation may occur.

In-vitro studies have demonstrated hydroxycarbamide's ability to enhance the cytotoxicity of both ara-C and fluoropyrimidines.

Hydroxycarbamide may enhance the antiretroviral activity of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors like didanosine and stavudine. Hydroxycarbamide inhibits HIV DNA synthesis and HIV replication by decreasing the amount of intracellular deoxynucleotides. Hydroxycarbamide may also enhance potential side effects of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy.

Vaccinations

There is an increased risk of severe or fatal infections with the concomitant use of live vaccines. Live vaccines are not recommended in immunosuppressed patients.

Pregnancy

Hydroxycarbamide may be a potent mutagenic agent. Animal studies with hydroxycarbamide indicated an increased incidence of congenital defects. Hydroxycarbamide medac should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with hydroxycarbamide. Women of childbearing potential have to use effective contraception before the start of and during treatment with hydroxycarbamide.

If pregnancy still occurs during treatment the possibility of genetic consultation should be offered. Hydroxycarbamide crosses the placenta.

Breast-feeding

Hydroxycarbamide medac is excreted in human milk. Breast-feeding should be discontinued before the start of treatment.

Fertility

Hydroxycarbamide may be genotoxic, therefore, genetic consultation is recommended if a patient intends to become pregnant after therapy with hydroxycarbamide.

Men under therapy are advised to use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after therapy. They should be informed about the possibility of sperm conservation before the start of therapy. Fertility in males might be affected by treatment. Reversible oligo- and azoospermia are very commonly observed.

The ability to react may be impaired during treatment with Hydroxycarbamide medac. This should be borne in mind when heightened attention is required, e.g. for driving and using machines.

Bone marrow depression is the dose limiting toxicity. Gastrointestinal side effects are common but rarely require dose reduction or cessation of treatment.

The frequencies of adverse events are categorised 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).

Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)

In patients receiving long-term treatment with hydroxycarbamide for myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythaemia vera and thrombocythaemia, secondary leukaemia may develop. To what extent this relates to the underlying disease or to treatment with hydroxycarbamide is presently unknown.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

During hydroxycarbamide therapy megaloblastosis may occur which does not respond to treatment with folic acid or B₁₂.

Bone-marrow suppression subsides, however, when therapy is discontinued.

Hydroxycarbamide can reduce plasma iron clearance and iron utilisation by erythrocytes. However, it does not appear to alter the red blood cell survival time.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Cases of hyponatraemia have been observed during post marketing surveillance.

Nervous system disorders

High doses may cause moderate drowsiness.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Severe gastric distress (nausea, emesis, anorexia) resulting from combined hydroxycarbamide and irradiation therapy may usually be controlled by temporarily discontinuing hydroxycarbamide administration.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Hydroxycarbamide may aggravate the inflammation of mucous membranes secondary to irradiation. It can cause a recall of erythema and hyperpigmentation in previously irradiated tissues.

Erythema, atrophy of skin and nails, desquamation, violet papules, alopecia, dermatomyositis-like skin changes, actinic keratosis, skin cancer (squamous cell cancer, basal cell carcinoma), cutaneous ulcers (especially leg ulcers), cutaneous vasculitis, gangrene, pruritus and hyperpigmentation of skin and nails have been observed partly after years of long-term daily maintenance therapy with hydroxycarbamide.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Acute mucocutaneous symptoms have been observed in patients receiving hydroxycarbamide doses several times the recommended dose. Soreness, violet erythema, oedema on palms and soles followed by scaling of hands and feet, severe generalised hyperpigmentation of the skin, and stomatitis have also been observed.

Immediate treatment consists of gastric lavage, followed by supportive care and monitoring of the haematopoietic system.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: other antineoplastic agents, ATC-code: L01XX05

Mechanism of action

The exact mechanism of action of hydroxycarbamide is unknown. The most important effect of hydroxycarbamide appears to be blocking of the ribonucleotide reductase system resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis. Cellular resistance is usually caused by increased ribonucleotide reductase levels as a result of gene amplification.

Absorption

The pharmacokinetic information is limited. Hydroxycarbamide is well absorbed and the oral bioavailability is complete. After oral administration maximum plasma concentrations are reached within 0.5 to 2 hours.

Distribution

Hydroxycarbamide crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Biotransformation

The metabolism of hydroxycarbamide has not been thoroughly studied in humans.

Elimination

Hydroxycarbamide is eliminated partly via renal excretion. The contribution of this route of elimination to the total elimination of hydroxycarbamide is unclear since the fractions of the given dose recovered in urine ranged from 9 to 95 %.

Repeated dose toxicity

Bone marrow damages, lymphoid atrophy in the spleen and degenerative changes in the epithelium of the small and large intestines are toxic effects which have been observed in animal studies. The potential risk for similar effects in humans must be considered.

Reproductive toxicity

Teratogenicity of hydroxycarbamide was demonstrated in many species, including rat, mouse and rabbit. The large variety of teratogenic effects was ranging from death of a large proportion of embryos to limb deformities, neural defects and even behavioural effects.

Additionally, hydroxycarbamide affected spermatogenesis and sperm motility of mice after repeated administration.

Genotoxicity

Hydroxycarbamide showed genotoxic properties in conventional testing systems.

Carcinogenicity

The preclinical information on the carcinogenic potential of hydroxycarbamide is meagre. A 12-month-study in mice in which the occurrence of lung tumours was studied did not show any carcinogenic potential of hydroxycarbamide.

Capsule content: calcium citrate, disodium citrate, magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate

Capsule shell: titanium dioxide (E 171), gelatine

Not applicable.

4 years

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

The capsules are packed in blisters made of Al/PVDC and PVC/PVDC opacified with titanium dioxide.

Available pack sizes: 50 and 100 capsules.

Procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer medicinal products should be considered.

medac

Gesellschaft für klinische Spezialpräparate mbH

Theaterstr. 6

22880 Wedel

Germany

PL 11587/0019

Date of first authorisation: 23 May 2001

Date of latest renewal: 09 October 2008

06/2016