tezruly

Important safety information

Syncope and “First-dose” Effect: Advise patients about the possibility of symptoms related to postural hypotension and to avoid situations where injury could result should syncope occur, especially when starting TEZRULY. (5.1) Orthostatic Hypotension: Dizziness, lightheadedness, and palpitations can occur with use of TEZRULY. Advise patients to take their first dose of TEZRULY at bedtime and to avoid driving or hazardous tasks for 12 hours after the first dose, after a dosage increase, and after interruption of therapy when treatment is resumed. (5.2) Risk of Hypotension with Concomitant Use of Other Antihypertensive Agents and Phospodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors (PDE5-I): Concomitant administration of TEZRULY with antihypertensives or phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors can result in additive blood pressure lowering effects and symptomatic hypotension (5.3). Priapism: Advise patients about the possibility and seriousness of priapism. (5.4) Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome: Advise patients considering cataract surgery to tell their ophthalmologist that they have taken terazosin as Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome as been observed during cataract surgery in some patients. (5.5) Prostatic Cancer: Screen for the presence of prostatic cancer prior to treatment for BPH and at regular intervals afterwards. (5.6) 5.1 Syncope and ‘‘First-dose’’ Effect TEZRULY, like other alpha-1-adrenoceptors antagonists, can cause marked lowering of blood pressure, especially postural hypotension, and syncope in association with the first dose or first few days of therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] . A similar effect can be anticipated if therapy is interrupted for several days and then restarted. Syncope has also been reported with other alpha-1-adrenoceptors antagonists in association with rapid dosage increases or the introduction of another antihypertensive drug. Syncope is believed to be due to an excessive postural hypotensive effect, although occasionally the syncopal episode has been preceded by a bout of severe supraventricular tachycardia with heart rates of 120-160 beats per minute. Additionally, the possibility of the contribution of hemodilution to the symptoms of postural hypotension should be considered. To decrease the likelihood of syncope or excessive hypotension, initiate treatment with a 1 mg dose of terazosin, given at bedtime. Higher doses (e.g., 2 to 10 mg) are not indicated as initial therapy. Then slowly increase the dose [see Dosage and Administration (2.1 and 2.2)] , and add additional antihypertensive agents with caution. Advise patients to avoid situations, such as driving or hazardous tasks, where injury could result should syncope occur during initiation of therapy. In early investigational studies, where increasing single doses up to 7.5 mg were given at 3-day intervals, tolerance to the first dose phenomenon did not necessarily develop and the ‘‘first-dose” effect could be observed at all doses. Syncopal episodes occurred in 3 of the 14 subjects given terazosin at doses of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg, which are higher than the recommended initial dose; in addition, severe orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure falling to 50/0 mmHg) was seen in two others and dizziness, tachycardia, and lightheadedness occurred in most subjects. These adverse effects all occurred within 90 minutes of dosing. In three placebo-controlled BPH studies 1, 2, and 3 [see Clinical Pharmacology (1 2 )] , the incidence of postural hypotension in the terazosin treated patients was 5.1%, 5.2%, and 3.7% respectively. In multiple dose clinical trials involving nearly 2000 hypertensive patients treated with terazosin, syncope was reported in about 1% of patients. Syncope was not necessarily associated only with the first dose. If syncope occurs, place the patient in a recumbent position and treat supportively as necessary. There is evidence that the orthostatic effect of terazosin is greater, even in chronic use, shortly after dosing. The risk of the events is greatest during the initial seven days of treatment but continues at all time intervals. 5.2 Orthostatic Hypotension While syncope is the most severe orthostatic effect of terazosin, other symptoms of lowered blood pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] , such as dizziness, lightheadedness and palpitations were more common and occurred in some 28% of patients in clinical trials of hypertension. In BPH clinical trials, 21% of the patients experienced one or more of the following: dizziness, hypotension, postural hypotension, syncope, and vertigo. Patients with occupations in which such events represent potential problems should be treated with particular caution. Advise patients to take their first dose of TEZRULY at bedtime and to avoid driving or hazardous tasks for 12 hours after the first dose, after a dosage increase, and after interruption of therapy when treatment is resumed. 5.3 Risk of Hypotension with Concomitant Use of Other Antihypertensive Agents and Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors (PDE5-I) Concomitant use of TEZRULY with other anti-hypertensive agents, especially the calcium channel blocker verapamil, can increase the risk of hypotension. To reduce the risk of hypotension, dosage reduction and re-titration of either agent may be necessary [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 and 5.2)] . Hypotension has been reported when terazosin has been used with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors. Therefore, PDE-5 inhibitor therapy should be initiated at the lowest dose in patients taking TEZRULY. 5.4 Priapism Rarely (probably less than once in every several thousand patients) terazosin and other alpha-1-selective adrenoceptor antagonist have been associated with priapism (painful penile erection, sustained for hours and unrelieved by sexual intercourse or masturbation). Because this condition can lead to permanent impotence if not promptly treated, advise patients about the seriousness of the condition and the need to seek immediate medical attention at an emergency room. 5.5 Prostatic Cancer Carcinoma of the prostate and BPH present with many of the same symptoms and frequently co-exist. Therefore, examine patients thought to have BPH prior to starting TEZRULY therapy to rule out the presence of carcinoma of the prostate. 5.6 Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) has been observed during cataract surgery in some patients on/or previously treated with alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonists. This variant of small pupil syndrome is characterized by the combination of a flaccid iris that billows in response to intraoperative irrigation currents, progressive intraoperative miosis despite preoperative dilation with standard mydriatic drugs, and potential prolapse of the iris toward the phacoemulsification incisions. The patient’s ophthalmologist should be prepared for possible implementation of intraoperative preventive measures and modifications to surgical techniques during phacoemulsification surgery to reduce overall complication rates. There does not appear to be a benefit of stopping alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonists therapy prior to cataract surgery. 5.7 Laboratory Tests Small but statistically significant decreases in hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, total protein and albumin were observed in controlled clinical trials. These laboratory findings suggested the possibility of hemodilution. Treatment with terazosin for up to 24 months had no significant effect on prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.