Azelastine
RxNorm 1797867· AZELASTINE· NASAL
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray is indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and pediatric patients 5 years and older, and for the treatment of the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older. Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray is an H 1 -receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and pediatric patients 5 years and older and for the treatment of the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For intranasal use only ( 2.3 ) Seasonal allergic rhinitis: o Pediatric patients 5 to 11 years of age: 1 spray per nostril twice daily ( 2.1 ) o Adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older: 1 or 2 sprays per nostril twice daily ( 2.1 ) Vasomotor rhinitis: 2 sprays per nostril twice daily in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older ( 2.2 ) Prime Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray before initial use and when it has not been used for 3 or more days ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis The recommended dosage of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older with seasonal allergic rhinitis is one or two sprays per nostril twice daily. The recommended dosage of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray in pediatric patients 5 years to 11 years of age is one spray per nostril twice daily. 2.2 Vasomotor Rhinitis The recommended dosage of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray in adults and adolescent patients 12 years and older with vasomotor rhinitis is two sprays per nostril twice daily. 2.3 Important Administration Instructions Administer Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray by the intranasal route only. Priming : Prime Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray before initial use by releasing 4 sprays or until a fine mist appears. When Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray has not been used for 3 or more days, reprime with 2 sprays or until a fine mist appears. Avoid spraying Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray into the eyes.
Warnings
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Somnolence: Avoid engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness such as driving or operating machinery when taking Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray. ( 5.1 ) Alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants: Avoid concurrent use with Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray because further decreased alertness and impairment of CNS performance may occur. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Somnolence in Activities Requiring Mental Alertness In clinical trials, the occurrence of somnolence has been reported in some patients taking Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray [ see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 ) ]. Patients should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle after administration of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray. Concurrent use of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants should be avoided because additional reductions in alertness and additional impairment of central nervous system performance may occur [ see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 ) ].
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None. ( 4 )
Drug interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Central Nervous System Depressants Concurrent use of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants should be avoided because reductions in alertness and impairment of central nervous system performance may occur [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ].
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited data from postmarketing experience over decades of use with Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray in pregnant women have not identified any drug associated risks of miscarriage, birth defects, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, there was no evidence of fetal harm at oral doses approximately 5 times the clinical daily dose. Oral administration of azelastine hydrochloride to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, during the period of organogenesis, produced developmental toxicity that included structural abnormalities, decreased embryo-fetal survival, and decreased fetal body weights at doses 270 times and higher than the maximum recommended human daily intranasal dose (MRHDID) of 1.096 mg. However, the relevance of these findings in animals to pregnant women was considered questionable based upon the high animal to human dose multiple. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In an embryo-fetal development study in mice dosed during the period of organogenesis, azelastine hydrochloride caused embryo-fetal death, structural abnormalities (cleft palate; short or absent tail; fused, absent or branched ribs), delayed ossification, and decreased fetal weight at approximately 300 times the maximum recommended human daily intranasal dose (MRHDID) in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 68.6 mg/kg/day), which also caused maternal toxicity as evidenced by decreased maternal body weight. Neither fetal nor maternal effects occurred in mice at approximately 15 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 3 mg/kg/day). In an embryo-fetal development study in pregnant rats dosed during the period of organogenesis from gestation days 7 to 17, azelastine hydrochloride caused structural abnormalities (oligo-and brachydactylia), delayed ossification, and skeletal variations, in the absence of maternal toxicity, at approximately 270 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 30 mg/kg/day). Azelastine hydrochloride caused embryo-fetal death and decreased fetal weight and severe maternal toxicity at approximately 610 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 68.6 mg/kg/day). Neither fetal nor maternal effects occurred at approximately 20 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 2 mg/kg/day). In an embryo-fetal development study in pregnant rabbits dosed during the period of organogenesis from gestation days 6 to 18, azelastine hydrochloride caused abortion, delayed ossification and decreased fetal weight and severe maternal toxicity at approximately 530 times the MRHDID in adults (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 30 mg/kg/day). Neither fetal nor maternal effects occurred at approximately 5 times the MRHDID (on a mg/m 2 basis at a maternal oral dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day). In a prenatal and postnatal development study in pregnant rats dosed from late in the gestation period and through the lactation period from gestation day 17 through lactation day 21, azelastine hydrochloride produced no adverse developmental effects on pups at maternal doses up to approximately 270 times the MRHDID (on mg/m 2 basis at a maternal dose of 30 mg/kg/day).
Nursing mothers
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of azelastine hydrochloride in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Breastfed infants should be monitored for signs of milk rejection during Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray use by lactating women (see Clinical Considerations). The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray or from the underlying maternal condition. Clinical Considerations Monitoring for Adverse Reactions Breastfed infants of lactating women treated with Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray should be monitored for possible signs of milk rejection related to the bitter taste of azelastine hydrochloride.
Adverse events
Most frequently reported events (FDA FAERS). Report frequency does not imply causation.
- treatment failure1,879
- drug ineffective1,546
- fatigue1,459
- headache1,193
- dyspnoea1,167
- nausea1,140
- product dose omission issue1,024
- cough993
- diarrhoea938
- pain914
- sinusitis882
- asthma817
- dizziness809
- pneumonia750
- off label use725
- arthralgia652
Adverse reactions (label)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Use of Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray has been associated with somnolence [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ]. The most common adverse reactions (≥2% incidence) are: bitter taste, headache, somnolence, dysesthesia, rhinitis, nasal burning, pharyngitis, epistaxis, sinusitis, paroxysmal sneezing, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and weight increase. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Ascend Laboratories, LLC at 1-877-272-7901 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect rates observed in practice. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray Two Sprays Per Nostril Twice Daily Adverse experience information for Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray is derived from six placebo-and active-controlled, 2-day to 8-week clinical trials which included 391 patients, 12 years of age and older, with seasonal allergic rhinitis who received Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray at a dose of 2 sprays per nostril twice daily. In placebo-controlled efficacy trials, the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions in patients receiving Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray and vehicle placebo was 2.2% and 2.8%, respectively. Table 1 contains adverse reactions that were reported with frequencies ≥2% in the Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray 2 sprays per nostril twice daily treatment group and more frequently than placebo. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% Incidence in Placebo-Controlled Trials in Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis [n (%)] Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray N = 391 Vehicle Placebo N = 353 Bitter Taste 77 (19.7%) 2 (0.6%) Headache 58 (14.8%) 45 (12.7%) Somnolence 45 (11.5%) 19 (5.4%) Nasal Burning 16 (4.1%) 6 (1.7%) Pharyngitis 15 (3.8%) 10 (2.8%) Paroxysmal Sneezing 12 (3.1%) 4 (1.1%) Dry Mouth 11 (2.8%) 6 (1.7%) Nausea 11 (2.8%) 4 (1.1%) Rhinitis 9 (2.3%) 5 (1.4%) Fatigue 9 (2.3%) 5 (1.4%) Dizziness 8 (2.0%) 5 (1.4%) Epistaxis 8 (2.0%) 5 (1.4%) Weight Increase 8 (2.0%) 0 (0.0%) Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray One Spray Per Nostril Twice Daily Adverse experience information for Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray at a dose of one spray per nostril twice daily is derived from two placebo-controlled 2-week clinical studies which included 276 patients 12 years of age and older with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions in patients receiving Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray and vehicle placebo was 0.0% and 0.8%, respectively. Bitter taste was reported in 8.3% of patients compared to none in the placebo group. Somnolence was reported in 0.4% of patients compared to none in the placebo group. A total of 176 patients 5 to 11 years of age were exposed to Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray at a dose of 1 spray each nostril twice daily in 3 placebo-controlled studies. In these studies, adverse reactions that occurred more frequently in patients treated with Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray than with placebo, and that were not represented in the adult adverse reactions table above include rhinitis/cold symptoms (17.0% vs. 9.5%), cough (11.4% vs. 8.3%), conjunctivitis (5.1% vs. 1.8%), and asthma (4.5% vs. 4.1%). Adverse Reactions <2% in Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray One or Two Sprays Per Nostril Twice Daily The following reactions were observed infrequently (<2% and exceeding placebo incidence) in patients who received Azelastine HCl Nasal Spray dosed at 1 or 2 sprays per nostril twice daily in U.S. clinical trials. Cardiovascular: flushing, hypertension, tachycardia. Dermatological: contact dermatitis, eczema, hair and follicle infection, furunculosis, skin laceration. Digestive: constipation, gastroenteritis, glossitis, ulcerative stomatitis, vomiting, increased SGPT, aphthous stomatitis, diarrhea, toothache. Metabolic and Nutritional: incr…
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