favlyxa

Important safety information

Cardiotoxicity: FAVLYXA can cause cardiotoxicity, including angina, myocardial infarction/ischemia, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Withhold FAVLYXA for cardiac toxicity. ( 5.2 ) Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy: Altered mental status, confusion, disorientation, coma, or ataxia with elevated serum ammonia level can occur within 72 hours of initiation of FAVLYXA. Withhold FAVLYXA and initiate ammonia-lowering therapy. ( 5.3 ) Neurologic Toxicity: FAVLYXA can cause acute cerebellar syndrome, confusion, disorientation, ataxia, or visual disturbances. Withhold FAVLYXA for neurologic toxicity. ( 5.4 ) Diarrhea: FAVLYXA can cause severe diarrhea. Withhold FAVLYXA for severe diarrhea until resolved. ( 5.5 ) Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome: Based on severity, withhold FAVLYXA until resolved or decreased to Grade 1, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.6 ) Myelosuppression: FAVLYXA can cause severe and fatal myelosuppression. Withhold FAVLYXA until severe myelosuppression resolves, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.7 ) Mucositis: FAVLYXA can cause severe mucositis. Withhold FAVLYXA until resolved or decreased to Grade 1, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.8 ) Increased Risk of Bleeding with Concomitant Use of Warfarin: Concurrent administration with warfarin can result in clinically significant increases in coagulation parameters: Closely monitor INR and prothrombin time. ( 5.9 ) Embryofetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise females and males of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.10 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Serious Adverse Reactions or Death from Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) Deficiency Patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in the DPYD gene known to result in complete or near complete absence of DPD activity (complete DPD deficiency) are at increased risk for acute early-onset toxicity and serious, including fatal adverse reactions due to FAVLYXA (e.g., mucositis, diarrhea, neutropenia, and neurotoxicity). Patients with partial DPD activity (partial DPD deficiency) may also have increased risk of serious or fatal adverse reactions. Prior to initiating FAVLYXA, test patients for genetic variants of the DPYD gene unless immediate treatment is necessary [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.5) ] . Serious adverse reactions may still occur even if no DPYD variants are identified. Avoid use of FAVLYXA in patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency. Withhold or permanently discontinue FAVLYXA based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration, and severity of adverse events in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe reactions. No fluorouracil dose has been proven safe for patients with complete DPD deficiency. For patients with partial DPD deficiency, individualize the dosage and modify based on tolerability and intent of treatment. An FDA-authorized test for the detection of genetic variants of the DPYD gene to identify patients at risk of serious adverse reactions with FAVLYXA treatment is not currently available. Currently available tests used to identify DPYD variants may vary in accuracy and design (e.g., which DPYD variant(s) they identify). 5.2 Cardiotoxicity FAVLYXA can cause cardiotoxicity, including angina, myocardial infarction/ischemia, arrhythmia, and heart failure, based on postmarketing reports. Reported risk factors for cardiotoxicity are administration by continuous infusion rather than intravenous bolus and presence of coronary artery disease. Withhold FAVLYXA for cardiotoxicity. The risks of resumption of FAVLYXA in patients with cardiotoxicity that has resolved have not been established [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ]. 5.3 Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy FAVLYXA can cause hyperammonemic encephalopathy in the absence of liver disease or other identifiable cause, based on postmarketing reports. Signs or symptoms of hyperammonemic encephalopathy began within 72 hours after initiation of FAVLYXA infusion; these included altered mental status, confusion, disorientation, coma, or ataxia, in the presence of concomitant elevated serum ammonia level. Withhold FAVLYXA for hyperammonemic encephalopathy and initiate ammonia-lowering therapy. The risks of resumption of FAVLYXA in patients with hyperammonemic encephalopathy that has resolved have not been established [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.4 Neurologic Toxicity FAVLYXA can cause neurologic toxicity, including acute cerebellar syndrome and other neurologic events, based on postmarketing reports. Neurologic symptoms included confusion, disorientation, ataxia, or visual disturbances. Withhold FAVLYXA for neurologic toxicity. There are insufficient data on the risks of resumption of FAVLYXA in patients with neurologic toxicity that has resolved [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.5 Diarrhea FAVLYXA can cause severe diarrhea. Withhold FAVLYXA for Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea until resolved or decreased in intensity to Grade 1, then resume FAVLYXA at a reduced dose. Administer fluids, electrolyte replacement, or antidiarrheal treatments as necessary [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.6 Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (Hand-Foot Syndrome) FAVLYXA can cause palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, also known as hand-foot syndrome (HFS). Symptoms of HFS include a tingling sensation, pain, swelling, and erythema with tenderness, and desquamation. HFS occurs more commonly when fluorouracil is administered as a continuous infusion than when fluorouracil is administered as a bolus injection, and has been reported to occur more frequently in patients with previous exposure to chemotherapy. HFS is generally observed after 8 to 9 weeks of fluorouracil administration but may occur earlier. Institute supportive measures for symptomatic relief of HFS. Withhold FAVLYXA administration for Grade 2 or 3 HFS; resume FAVLYXA at a reduced dose when HFS is completely resolved or decreased in severity to Grade 1 [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.7 Myelosuppression FAVLYXA can cause severe and fatal myelosuppression which may include neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. The nadir in neutrophil counts commonly occurs between 9 and 14 days after fluorouracil administration. Obtain complete blood counts prior to each treatment cycle, weekly if administered on a weekly or similar schedule, and as needed. Withhold FAVLYXA until Grade 4 myelosuppression resolves; resume FAVLYXA at a reduced dose when myelosuppression has resolved or improved to Grade 1 in severity [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.8 Mucositis FAVLYXA can cause mucositis, stomatitis or esophagopharyngitis, which may lead to mucosal sloughing or ulceration. The incidence is reported to be higher with administration of fluorouracil by intravenous bolus compared with administration by continuous infusion. Withhold FAVLYXA administration for Grade 3 or 4 mucositis; resume FAVLYXA at a reduced dose once mucositis has resolved or decreased in severity to Grade 1 [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.9 Increased Risk of Bleeding with Concomitant Use of Warfarin Altered coagulation parameters and/or bleeding, including death, have been reported during concomitant use of warfarin and fluorouracil. Monitor INR more frequently and adjust the dose of warfarin in patients receiving concomitant warfarin [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . 5.10 Embryofetal Toxicity Based on its mechanism of action and animal reproduction studies, FAVLYXA can cause fetal harm when administered during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with FAVLYXA and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with FAVLYXA and for 3 months after the…