FLUCYTOSINE: 682 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

DESCRIPTION Flucytosine Capsules USP, an antifungal agent, is available as 250 mg and 500 mg capsules for oral administration. In addition to the active ingredient of flucytosine, each capsule contains lactose monohydrate, colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate and hard gelatin capsule shell which contains gelatin, purified water, black iron oxide, FD&C Blue No.1, titanium dioxide and sodium lauryl sulfate for 250 mg strength; gelatin, purified water, black iron oxide and titanium dioxide for 500 mg strength. The imprinting ink contains black iron oxide, shellac, potassium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, povidone, sodium hydroxide and FD &C Red No. 40 aluminum lake for 250 mg and 500 mg strengths. Chemically, flucytosine is 5-fluorocytosine, a fluorinated pyrimidine which is related to fluorouracil and floxuridine. It is a white or almost white, crystalline powder with a molecular weight of 129.09 and the following structural formula: structural formula

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Flucytosine Capsules, USP are indicated only in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible strains of Candida and/or Cryptococcus . Candida: Septicemia, endocarditis and urinary system infections have been effectively treated with flucytosine. Limited trials in pulmonary infections justify the use of flucytosine. Cryptococcus: Meningitis and pulmonary infections have been treated effectively. Studies in septicemias and urinary tract infections are limited, but good responses have been reported.

Flucytosine

Capsules, USP should be used in combination with amphotericin B for the treatment of systemic candidiasis and cryptococcosis because of the emergence of resistance to Flucytosine Capsules, USP (see MICROBIOLOGY ).

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The usual dosage of Flucytosine Capsules, USP is 50 to 150 mg/kg/day administered in divided doses at 6-hour intervals. Nausea or vomiting may be reduced or avoided if the capsules are given a few at a time over a 15-minute period. If the BUN or the serum creatinine is elevated, or if there are other signs of renal impairment, the initial dose should be at the lower level (see WARNINGS ).

Flucytosine

Capsules, USP should be used in combination with amphotericin B for the treatment of systemic candidiasis and cryptococcosis because of the emergence of resistance to Flucytosine Capsules, USP (see MICROBIOLOGY ).

CONTRAINDICATIONS Flucytosine Capsules, USP is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to the drug.

Flucytosine

Capsules, USP is contraindicated in patients with known complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency (see WARNINGS ).

ADVERSE REACTIONS The adverse reactions which have occurred during treatment with Flucytosine capsules are grouped according to organ system affected. Cardiovascular: Cardiac arrest, myocardial toxicity, ventricular dysfunction. Respiratory: Respiratory arrest, chest pain, dyspnea. Dermatologic: Rash, pruritus, urticaria, photosensitivity. Gastrointestinal: Nausea, emesis, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anorexia, dry mouth, duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, acute hepatic injury including hepatic necrosis with possible fatal outcome in debilitated patients, hepatic dysfunction, jaundice, ulcerative colitis, enterocolitis, bilirubin elevation, increased hepatic enzymes. Genitourinary: Azotemia, creatinine and BUN elevation, crystalluria, renal failure. Hematologic: Anemia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, eosinophilia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and fatal cases of bone marrow aplasia. Neurologic: Ataxia, hearing loss, headache, paresthesia, parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathy, pyrexia, vertigo, sedation, convulsions. Psychiatric: Confusion, hallucinations, psychosis. Miscellaneous: Fatigue, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, weakness, allergic reactions, Lyell's syndrome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-866-901-DRUG (3784) or go to www.avetpharma.com.

WARNINGS Flucytosine Capsules USP must be given with extreme caution to patients with impaired renal function.

Since Flucytosine

Capsules USP is excreted primarily by the kidneys, renal impairment may lead to accumulation of the drug.

Flucytosine

Capsules USP serum concentrations should be monitored to determine the adequacy of renal excretion in such patients. Dosage adjustments should be made in patients with renal insufficiency to prevent progressive accumulation of active drug.

Flucytosine

Capsules USP must be given with extreme caution to patients with bone marrow depression. Patients may be more prone to depression of bone marrow function if they: 1) have a hematologic disease, 2) are being treated with radiation or drugs which depress bone marrow, or 3) have a history of treatment with such drugs or radiation. Bone marrow toxicity can be irreversible and may lead to death in immunosuppressed patients. Frequent monitoring of hepatic function and of the hematopoietic system is indicated during therapy. 5-Fluorouracil is a metabolite of flucytosine. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase is a key enzyme involved in the metabolism and elimination of 5-fluorouracil. Therefore, the risk of severe drug toxicity is increased when Flucytosine Capsules, USP is used in individuals with deficiency in DPD. Possible drug toxicities include mucositis, diarrhea, neutropenia, and neurotoxicity. Determination of DPD activity may be considered where drug toxicity is confirmed or suspected. In the event of suspected drug toxicity, consider stopping Flucytosine Capsules USP, treatment.

PRECAUTIONS General Before therapy with Flucytosine Capsules USP is instituted, electrolytes (because of hypokalemia) and the hematologic and renal status of the patient should be determined (see WARNINGS ). Close monitoring of the patient during therapy is essential.

Laboratory Tests

Since renal impairment can cause progressive accumulation of the drug, blood concentrations and kidney function should be monitored during therapy. Hematologic status (leukocyte and thrombocyte count) and liver function (alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT) should be determined at frequent intervals during treatment as indicated.

Drug Interactions

Cytosine arabinoside, a cytostatic agent, has been reported to inactivate the antifungal activity of Flucytosine Capsules USP by competitive inhibition. Drugs which impair glomerular filtration may prolong the biological half-life of flucytosine.

Drug/Laboratory

Test Interactions Measurement of serum creatinine levels should be determined by the Jaff'e reaction, since Flucytosine Capsules USP does not interfere with the determination of creatinine values by this method. Most automated equipment for measurement of creatinine makes use of the Jaff'e reaction. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Flucytosine has not undergone adequate animal testing to evaluate carcinogenic potential. The mutagenic potential of flucytosine was evaluated in Ames-type studies with five different mutants of S . typhimurium and no mutagenicity was detected in the presence or absence of activating enzymes. Flucytosine was nonmutagenic in three different repair assay systems (i.e., rec, uvr and pol). There have been no adequate trials in animals on the effects of flucytosine on fertility or reproductive performance. The fertility and reproductive performance of the offspring (F 1 generation) of mice treated with 100 mg/kg/day (345 mg/M 2 /day or 0.059 times the human dose), 200 mg/kg/day (690 mg/M 2 /day or 0.118 times the human dose) or 400 mg/kg/day (1380 mg/M 2 /day or 0.236 times the human dose) of flucytosine on days 7 to 13 of gestation was studied; the in uterotreatment had no adverse effect on the fertility or reproductive performance of the offspring.

Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects

Flucytosine was shown to be teratogenic (vertebral fusions) in the rat at doses of 40 mg/kg/day (298 mg/M 2 /day or 0.051 times the human dose) administered on days 7 to 13 of gestation. At higher doses (700 mg/kg/day; 5208 mg/M 2 /day or 0.89 times the human dose administered on days 9 to 12 of gestation), cleft lip and palate and micrognathia were reported. Flucytosine was not teratogenic in rabbits up to a dose of 100 mg/kg/day (1423 mg/M 2 /day or 0.243 times the human dose) administered on days 6 to 18 of gestation. In mice, 400 mg/kg/day of flucytosine (1380 mg/M 2 /day or 0.236 times the human dose) administered on days 7 to 13 of gestation was associated with a low incidence of cleft palate that was not statistically significant. Studies in pregnant rats have shown that flucytosine injected intraperitoneally crosses the placental barrier. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Flucytosine

Capsules USP should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing

Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Flucytosine Capsules USP, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Use

The efficacy and safety of Flucytosine Capsules USP have not been systematically studied in pediatric patients. A small number of neonates have been treated with 25 to 200 mg/kg/day of flucytosine, with and without the addition of amphotericin B, for systemic candidiasis. No unexpected adverse reactions were reported in these patients. It should be noted, however, that hypokalemia and acidemia were reported in one patient who received flucytosine in combination with amphotericin B, and anemia was observed in a second patient who received flucytosine alone. Transient thrombocytopenia was noted in two additional patients, one of whom also received amphotericin B.

Drug Interactions Cytosine arabinoside, a cytostatic agent, has been reported to inactivate the antifungal activity of Flucytosine Capsules USP by competitive inhibition. Drugs which impair glomerular filtration may prolong the biological half-life of flucytosine.