alimta

Important safety information

Myelosuppression: Can cause severe bone marrow suppression resulting in cytopenia and an increased risk of infection. Do not administer ALIMTA when the absolute neutrophil count is less than 1500 cells/mm 3 and platelets are less than 100,000 cells/mm 3 . Initiate supplementation with oral folic acid and intramuscular vitamin B 12 to reduce the severity of hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity of ALIMTA. ( 2.4 , 5.1 ) Renal Failure: Can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, renal failure. Do not administer when creatinine clearance is less than 45 mL/min. ( 2.3 , 5.2 ) Bullous and Exfoliative Skin Toxicity: Permanently discontinue for severe and life-threatening bullous, blistering or exfoliating skin toxicity. ( 5.3 ) Interstitial Pneumonitis: Withhold for acute onset of new or progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms. Permanently discontinue if pneumonitis is confirmed. ( 5.4 ) Radiation Recall: Can occur in patients who received radiation weeks to years previously; permanently discontinue for signs of radiation recall. ( 5.5 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.7 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Myelosuppression and Increased Risk of Myelosuppression without Vitamin Supplementation ALIMTA can cause severe myelosuppression resulting in a requirement for transfusions and which may lead to neutropenic infection. The risk of myelosuppression is increased in patients who do not receive vitamin supplementation. In Study JMCH, incidences of Grade 3-4 neutropenia (38% versus 23%), thrombocytopenia (9% versus 5%), febrile neutropenia (9% versus 0.6%), and neutropenic infection (6% versus 0) were higher in patients who received ALIMTA plus cisplatin without vitamin supplementation as compared to patients who were fully supplemented with folic acid and vitamin B 12 prior to and throughout ALIMTA plus cisplatin treatment. Initiate supplementation with oral folic acid and intramuscular vitamin B 12 prior to the first dose of ALIMTA; continue vitamin supplementation during treatment and for 21 days after the last dose of ALIMTA to reduce the severity of hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity of ALIMTA [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . Obtain a complete blood count at the beginning of each cycle. Do not administer ALIMTA until the ANC is at least 1500 cells/mm 3 and platelet count is at least 100,000 cells/mm 3 . Permanently reduce ALIMTA in patients with an ANC of less than 500 cells/mm 3 or platelet count of less than 50,000 cells/mm 3 in previous cycles [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6 )] . In Studies JMDB and JMCH, among patients who received vitamin supplementation, incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was 15% and 23%, the incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia was 6% and 4%, and incidence of Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was 4% and 5%, respectively. In Study JMCH, 18% of patients in the ALIMTA arm required red blood cell transfusions compared to 7% of patients in the cisplatin arm [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]. In Studies JMEN, PARAMOUNT, and JMEI, where all patients received vitamin supplementation, incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia ranged from 3% to 5%, and incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia ranged from 3% to 5%. 5.2 Renal Failure ALIMTA can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, renal toxicity. The incidences of renal failure in clinical studies in which patients received ALIMTA with cisplatin were: 2.1% in Study JMDB and 2.2% in Study JMCH. The incidence of renal failure in clinical studies in which patients received ALIMTA as a single agent ranged from 0.4% to 0.6% (Studies JMEN, PARAMOUNT, and JMEI [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Determine creatinine clearance before each dose and periodically monitor renal function during treatment with ALIMTA. Withhold ALIMTA in patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 45 mL/minute [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] . 5.3 Bullous and Exfoliative Skin Toxicity Serious and sometimes fatal, bullous, blistering and exfoliative skin toxicity, including cases suggestive of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic epidermal necrolysis can occur with ALIMTA. Permanently discontinue ALIMTA for severe and life-threatening bullous, blistering or exfoliating skin toxicity. 5.4 Interstitial Pneumonitis Serious interstitial pneumonitis, including fatal cases, can occur with ALIMTA treatment. Withhold ALIMTA for acute onset of new or progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, or fever pending diagnostic evaluation. If pneumonitis is confirmed, permanently discontinue ALIMTA. 5.5 Radiation Recall Radiation recall can occur with ALIMTA in patients who have received radiation weeks to years previously. Monitor patients for inflammation or blistering in areas of previous radiation treatment. Permanently discontinue ALIMTA for signs of radiation recall. 5.6 Increased Risk of Toxicity with Ibuprofen in Patients with Renal Impairment Exposure to ALIMTA is increased in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment who take concomitant ibuprofen, increasing the risks of adverse reactions of ALIMTA. In patients with creatinine clearances between 45 mL/min and 79 mL/min, avoid administration of ibuprofen for 2 days before, the day of, and 2 days following administration of ALIMTA. If concomitant ibuprofen use cannot be avoided, monitor patients more frequently for ALIMTA adverse reactions, including myelosuppression, renal, and gastrointestinal toxicity [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 ), Drug Interactions ( 7 ), and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . 5.7 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, ALIMTA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In animal reproduction studies, intravenous administration of pemetrexed to pregnant mice during the period of organogenesis was teratogenic, resulting in developmental delays and increased malformations at doses lower than the recommended human dose of 500 mg/m 2 . Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALIMTA and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALIMTA and for 3 months after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1 , 8.3 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] .