epoprostenol 1.5 MG Injection [Flolan]

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Epoprostenol for injection is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to improve exercise capacity. Studies establishing effectiveness included predominantly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases. Epoprostenol for injection is a prostacyclin vasodilator indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1) to improve exercise capacity. Studies establishing effectiveness included predominantly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases. ( 1 )

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Important Note: Reconstitute Epoprostenol for Injection only as directed with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Do not dilute reconstituted solutions of epoprostenol for injection or administer it with other parenteral solutions or medications [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ]. • Dosage - Infusion of epoprostenol for injection should be initiated at 2 ng/kg/min and increased in increments of 2 ng/kg/min every 15 minutes or longer until dose-limiting pharmacologic effects are elicited or until a tolerance limit to the drug is established. ( 2.1 ) - If symptoms of pulmonary hypertension persist or recur after improving - the infusion should be increased by 1 ng/kg/min to 2 ng/kg/min increments at intervals sufficient to allow assessment of clinical response; these intervals should be at least 15 minutes. ( 2.2 ) • Administration - Epoprostenol for injection is administered by continuous intravenous infusion via a central venous catheter using an ambulatory infusion pump. ( 2.3 ) - Do not mix with any other parenteral medications or solutions prior to or during administration. ( 2.4 ) • Reconstitution - Reconstituted in vial with only 5 mL of either Sterile Water for Injection or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection. - Epoprostenol for injection solution reconstituted and immediately diluted to the final concentration in the drug delivery reservoir can be administered per the conditions of use as outlined in Table 1. ( 2.4 ) - Solution for chronic delivery should be prepared in a drug delivery reservoir appropriate for the infusion pump. ( 2.4 ) 2.1 Dosage Prepare continuous chronic infusion of epoprostenol for injection as directed, and administer through a central venous catheter. Temporary peripheral intravenous infusion may be used until central access is established. Initiate chronic infusion of epoprostenol for injection at 2 ng/kg/min and increase in increments of 2 ng/kg/min every 15 minutes or longer until a tolerance limit to the drug is established or further increases in the infusion rate are not clinically warranted. If dose-limiting pharmacologic effects occur, then decrease the infusion rate until epoprostenol for injection is tolerated. In clinical trials, the most common dose-limiting adverse events were nausea, vomiting, hypotension, sepsis, headache, abdominal pain, or respiratory disorder (most treatment-limiting adverse events were not serious). If the initial infusion rate of 2 ng/kg/min is not tolerated, use a lower dose. In the controlled 12-week trial in PAH/SSD, for example, the dose increased from a mean starting dose of 2.2 ng/kg/min. During the first 7 days of treatment, the dose was increased daily to a mean dose of 4.1 ng/kg/min on day 7 of treatment. At the end of week 12, the mean dose was 11.2 ng/kg/min. The mean incremental increase was 2 ng/kg/min to 3 ng/kg/min every 3 weeks. 2.2 Dosage Adjustments Base changes in the chronic infusion rate on persistence, recurrence, or worsening of the patient’s symptoms of pulmonary hypertension and the occurrence of adverse events due to excessive doses of epoprostenol for injection. In general, expect increases in dose from the initial chronic dose. Consider increments in dose if symptoms of pulmonary hypertension persist or recur. Adjust the infusion by 1 ng/kg/min to 2 ng/kg/min increments at intervals sufficient to allow assessment of clinical response; these intervals should be at least 15 minutes. In clinical trials, incremental increases in dose occurred at intervals of 24 to 48 hours or longer. Following establishment of new chronic infusion rate, observe the patient, and monitor standing and supine blood pressure and heart rate for several hours to ensure that the new dose is tolerated. During chronic infusion, the occurrence of dose-limiting pharmacological events may necessitate a decrease in infusion rate, but the adverse event may occasionally resolve without dosage adjustment. Make dosage decreases gradually in 2 ng/kg/min decrements every 15 minutes or longer until the dose-limiting effects resolve [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2) ] . Avoid abrupt withdrawal of epoprostenol for injection or sudden large reductions in infusion rates. Except in life-threatening situations (e.g., unconsciousness, collapse, etc.), infusion rates of epoprostenol for injection should be adjusted only under the direction of a physician. In patients receiving lung transplants, doses of epoprostenol were tapered after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. 2.3 Administration Epoprostenol for injection, once prepared as directed [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] , is administered by continuous intravenous infusion via a central venous catheter using an ambulatory infusion pump. During initiation of treatment, epoprostenol for injection may be administered peripherally. Infusion sets with an in-line 0.22 micron filter should be used. The ambulatory infusion pump used to administer epoprostenol for injection should: (1) be small and lightweight, (2) be able to adjust infusion rates in 2 ng/kg/min increments, (3) have occlusion, end-of-infusion, and low-battery alarms, (4) be accurate to ±6% of the programmed rate, and (5) be positive pressure-driven (continuous or pulsatile) with intervals between pulses not exceeding 3 minutes at infusion rates used to deliver epoprostenol for injection. The reservoir should be made of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or glass. The infusion pump used in the most recent clinical trials was the CADD-1 HFX 5100 (SIMS Deltec). A 60-inch microbore non-DEHP extension set with proximal antisyphon valve, low priming volume (0.9 mL), and in-line 0.22 micron filter was used during clinical trials. To avoid potential interruptions in drug delivery, the patient should have access to a backup infusion pump and intravenous infusion sets. Consider a multi-lumen catheter if other intravenous therapies are routinely administered. 2.4 Reconstitution Epoprostenol for Injection is stable only when reconstituted as directed using Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Do not reconstitute or mix epoprostenol for injection with any other parenteral medications or solutions prior to or during administration. Each vial is for single-dose only; discard any unused solution. Use after reconstitution and immediate dilution to final concentration Use at room temperature (77°F/25°C) Epoprostenol for Injection solution reconstituted with 5 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, and immediately diluted to the final concentration in the drug delivery reservoir can be administered at room temperature per the conditions of use as outlined in Table 1. Table 1: Maximum Duration of Administration (hours) at Room Temperature (77°F/25°C) of Fully Diluted Solutions in the Drug Delivery Reservoir Short excursions at 104°F (40°C) are permitted for up to: 2 hours for concentrations below 15,000 ng/mL 4 hours for concentrations between 15,000 ng/mL and 60,000 ng/mL 8 hours for concentrations above 60,000 ng/mL Final concentration range Immediate administration If stored for up to 8 days at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C) 0.5 mg vial ≥3,000 ng/mL and <15,000 ng/mL 48 hours 24 hours 1.5 mg vial ≥15,000 ng/mL and <60,000 ng/mL 48 hours 48 hours ≥60,000 ng/mL 72 hours 48 hours Use at higher temperatures >77°F up to 104°F (>25° to 40°C) Temperatures greater than 77°F and up to 86°F (>25 ° C to 30°C): A single reservoir of fully diluted solution of 60,000 ng/mL or above of epoprostenol for injection prepared as directed can be administered (either immediately or after up to 8 days storage at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C)) for up to 48 hours. For diluted solutions of less than 60,000 ng/mL, pump reservoirs should be changed every 24 hours. Temperatures up to 104°F (40 ° C): Fully diluted solutions of 60,000 ng/mL or above of epoprostenol for injection, prepared as directed, can

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Do not abruptly lower the dose or withdraw dosing. All dosing initiation and changes should be closely monitored. ( 5.2 , 5.3 ) 5.1 Dose Initiation Epoprostenol for Injection is a potent pulmonary and systemic vasodilator. Initiate Epoprostenol for Injection in a setting with adequate personnel and equipment for physiologic monitoring and emergency care. Dose initiation has been performed during right heart catheterization and without cardiac catheterization. During dose initiation, asymptomatic increases in pulmonary artery pressure coincident with increases in cardiac output occurred rarely. In such cases, consider dose reduction, but such an increase does not imply that chronic treatment is contraindicated. 5.2 Chronic Use and Dose Adjustment During chronic use, deliver Epoprostenol for Injection continuously on an ambulatory basis through a permanent indwelling central venous catheter. Unless contraindicated, administer anticoagulant therapy to patients receiving Epoprostenol for Injection to reduce the risk of pulmonary thromboembolism or systemic embolism through a patent foramen ovale. To reduce the risk of infection, use aseptic technique in the reconstitution and administration of Epoprostenol for Injection and in routine catheter care. Because epoprostenol is metabolized rapidly, even brief interruptions in the delivery of Epoprostenol for Injection may result in symptoms associated with rebound pulmonary hypertension including dyspnea, dizziness, and asthenia. Intravenous therapy with Epoprostenol for Injection will likely be needed for prolonged periods, possibly years, so consider the patient's capacity to accept and care for a permanent intravenous catheter and infusion pump. Based on clinical trials, the acute hemodynamic response (reduction in pulmonary artery resistance) to epoprostenol did not correlate well with improvement in exercise tolerance or survival during chronic use of epoprostenol. Adjust dosage of Epoprostenol for Injection during chronic use at the first sign of recurrence or worsening of symptoms attributable to pulmonary hypertension or the occurrence of adverse events associated with epoprostenol [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ) ]. Following dosage adjustments, monitor standing and supine blood pressure and heart rate closely for several hours. 5.3 Withdrawal Effects Abrupt withdrawal (including interruptions in drug delivery) or sudden large reductions in dosage of Epoprostenol for Injection may result in symptoms associated with rebound pulmonary hypertension, including dyspnea, dizziness, and asthenia. In clinical trials, one Class III primary pulmonary hypertension patient's death was judged attributable to the interruption of epoprostenol. Avoid abrupt withdrawal.

CONTRAINDICATIONS A large study evaluating the effect of epoprostenol on survival in NYHA Class III and IV patients with congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction was terminated after an interim analysis of 471 patients revealed a higher mortality in patients receiving epoprostenol plus conventional therapy than in those receiving conventional therapy alone. The chronic use of Epoprostenol for Injection in patients with congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction is therefore contraindicated. Some patients with pulmonary hypertension have developed pulmonary edema during dose initiation, which may be associated with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Epoprostenol for Injection should not be used chronically in patients who develop pulmonary edema during dose initiation. Epoprostenol for Injection is also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or to structurally related compounds. • Congestive heart failure due to severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction ( 4 ) • Pulmonary edema ( 4 ) • Hypersensitivity to the drug or to structurally related compounds ( 4 )

Mechanism of Action Epoprostenol has 2 major pharmacological actions: (1) direct vasodilation of pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds, and (2) inhibition of platelet aggregation.