Fluorouracil
RxNorm 239177· FLUOROURACIL· INTRAVENOUS
Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC] · Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Boxed Warning
WARNING: SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS OR DEATH IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLETE DPD DEFICIENCY Increased Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions or Death in Patients with Complete DPD Deficiency Test patients for genetic variants of DPYD prior to initiating fluorouracil unless immediate treatment is necessary. Avoid use of fluorouracil in patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] . WARNING: SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS OR DEATH IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLETE DPD DEFICIENCY, See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning Serious adverse reactions or death may occur in patients with complete DPD deficiency. Test patients for genetic variants of DPYD prior to initiating fluorouracil unless immediate treatment is necessary. Avoid use of fluorouracil in patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency. (2.1, 5.1)
Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Fluorouracil Injection is indicated for the treatment of patients with: Fluorouracil Injection is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Colon and Rectum ( 1.1 ) Adenocarcinoma of the Breast ( 1.2 ) Gastric Adenocarcinoma ( 1.3 ) Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma ( 1.4 ) 1.1 Adenocarcinoma of the Colon and Rectum 1.2 Adenocarcinoma of the Breast 1.3 Gastric Adenocarcinoma 1.4 Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Fluorouracil injection is recommended for administration either as an intravenous bolus or as an intravenous infusion. ( 2.2 ) See Full Prescribing Information for dose individualization ( 2.2 ) and dose modifications due to adverse reactions ( 2.7 ) See Full Prescribing Information for recommended doses of fluorouracil injection for adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum ( 2.3 ) and for recommended doses of fluorouracil injection as a component of a chemotherapy regimen for adenocarcinoma of the breast ( 2.4 ), gastric adenocarcinoma ( 2.5 ), pancreatic adenocarcinoma ( 2.6 ) Pharmacy Bulk Package: Prepare doses for more than one patient in a Pharmacy Admixture Service under appropriate conditions for cytotoxic drugs. Do not inject entire contents of vial directly into patients. Use within 4 hours of puncture ( 2.8 , 2.9 ) 2.1 Evaluation and Testing for DPD Deficiency Before Initiating Fluorouracil Prior to initiating fluorouracil, test patients for genetic variants of the DPYD gene unless immediate treatment is necessary. An FDA-authorized test for the detection of the DPYD gene to identify patients at risk of serious adverse reactions with fluorouracil 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). Avoid use of fluorouracil in patients known to have certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency. 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 [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . 2.2 General Dosage Information Fluorouracil injection is recommended for administration either as an intravenous bolus or as an intravenous infusion. Do not inject the entire contents of the vial directly into patients. Individualize the dose and dosing schedule of fluorouracil injection based on tumor type, the specific regimen administered, disease state, response to treatment, and patient risk factors. 2.3 Recommended Dosage for Adenocarcinoma of the Colon and Rectum The recommended dose of fluorouracil injection, administered in an infusional regimen in combination with leucovorin alone, or in combination with leucovorin and oxaliplatin or irinotecan, is 400 mg/m 2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1, followed by 2400 mg/m 2 to 3000 mg/m 2 intravenously as a continuous infusion over 46 hours every two weeks. The recommended dose of fluorouracil injection, if administered in a bolus dosing regimen in combination with leucovorin, is 500 mg/m 2 by intravenous bolus on Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 in 8-week cycles. 2.4 Recommended Dosage for Adenocarcinoma of the Breast The recommended dose of fluorouracil injection, administered as a component of a cyclophosphamide-based multidrug regimen, is 500 mg/m 2 or 600 mg/m 2 intravenously on Days 1 and 8 every 28 days for 6 cycles. 2.5 Recommended Dosage for Gastric Adenocarcinoma The recommended dose of fluorouracil injection, administered as a component of a platinum-containing multidrug chemotherapy regimen, is 200 mg/m 2 to 1000 mg/m 2 intravenously as a continuous infusion over 24 hours. The frequency of dosing in each cycle and the length of each cycle will depend on the dose of fluorouracil injection and the specific regimen administered. 2.6 Recommended Dosage for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma The recommended dose of fluorouracil injection, administered as an infusional regimen in combination with leucovorin or as a component of a multidrug chemotherapy regimen that includes leucovorin, is 400 mg/m 2 intravenous bolus on Day 1, followed by 2400 mg/m 2 intravenously as a continuous infusion over 46 hours every two weeks. 2.7 Dose Modifications Withhold fluorouracil injection for any of the following: Development of angina, myocardial infarction/ischemia, a…
Warnings
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Cardiotoxicity: Fluorouracil can cause cardiotoxicity, including angina, myocardial infarction/ischemia, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Withhold fluorouracil 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 fluorouracil. Withhold fluorouracil and initiate ammonia-lowering therapy. ( 5.3 ) Neurologic Toxicity: Fluorouracil can cause acute cerebellar syndrome, confusion, disorientation, ataxia, or visual disturbances. Withhold fluorouracil for neurologic toxicity. ( 5.4 ) Diarrhea: Fluorouracil can cause severe diarrhea. Withhold fluorouracil for severe diarrhea until resolved. ( 5.5 ) Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (Hand-Foot Syndrome): Fluorouracil can cause hand-foot syndrome. If severe, discontinue fluorouracil until resolved or decreased to Grade 1, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.6 ) Myelosuppression: Fluorouracil can cause severe and fatal myelosuppression. Withhold fluorouracil until severe myelosuppression resolves, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.7 ) Mucositis: Fluorouracil can cause severe mucositis. Discontinue fluorouracil until resolved or decreased to Grade 1, then resume at a reduced dose. ( 5.8 ) Increased Risk of Elevated INR with Warfarin: Concurrent administration with warfarin can result in clinically significant increases in coagulation parameters: Closely monitor INR and prothrombin time. ( 5.9 ) Embryofetal Toxicity: Fluorouracil can cause fetal harm. Advise females and males of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. ( 5.10 , 8.1 , 8.6 ) 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 fluorouracil (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 fluorouracil, 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 fluorouracil in patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency. Withhold or permanently discontinue fluorouracil based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration, and severity of adverse reactions 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 fluorouracil 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 Fluorouracil 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 fluorouracil for cardiotoxicity. The risks of resumption of fluorouracil in patients with cardiotoxicity that has resolved have not been established. 5.3 Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy Fluorouracil can cause hyperammonemic encephalopathy in the absenc…
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None ( 4 )
Drug interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Anticoagulants and CYP 2C9 Substrates Elevated coagulation times have been reported in patients taking fluorouracil concomitantly with warfarin. While pharmacokinetic data are not available to assess the effect of fluorouracil administration on warfarin pharmacokinetics, the elevation of coagulation times that occurs with the fluorouracil prodrug capecitabine is accompanied by an increase in warfarin concentrations. Thus, the interaction may be due to inhibition of cytochrome P450 2C9 by fluorouracil or its metabolites.
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category D Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with fluorouracil in pregnant women. Based on its mechanism of action, fluorouracil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Administration of fluorouracil to rats and mice during selected periods of organogenesis, at doses lower than a human dose of 12 mg/kg, caused embryolethality and teratogenicity. Malformations included cleft palate and skeletal defects. In monkeys, maternal doses of fluorouracil higher than an approximate human dose of 12 mg/kg resulted in abortion. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . Animal Data Malformations including cleft palate, skeletal defects and deformed appendages (paws and tails) were observed when fluorouracil was administered by intraperitoneal injection to mice at doses at or above 10 mg/kg (approximately 0.06 times a human dose of 12 mg/kg on a mg/m 2 basis) for 4 days during the period of organogenesis. Similar results were observed in hamsters administered fluorouracil intramuscularly at doses lower than those administered in commonly used clinical treatment regimens. In rats, administration of fluorouracil by intraperitoneal injection at doses greater than 15 mg/kg (approximately 0.2 times a human dose of 12 mg/kg on a mg/m 2 basis) for a single day during organogenesis resulted in delays in growth and malformations including micro-anophthalmos. In monkeys, administration of fluorouracil during organogenesis at doses approximately equal to a human dose of 12 mg/kg on a mg/m 2 basis resulted in abortion; at a 50% lower dose, resorptions and decreased fetal body weights were reported.
Nursing mothers
8.3 Nursing Mothers It is not known whether fluorouracil or its metabolites are present in human milk. Because many drugs are present in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from fluorouracil, 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.
Adverse events
Most frequently reported events (FDA FAERS). Report frequency does not imply causation.
- diarrhoea6,841
- neutropenia5,076
- nausea4,855
- vomiting3,905
- off label use3,478
- neuropathy peripheral3,239
- disease progression3,198
- fatigue3,090
- pyrexia3,006
- thrombocytopenia2,917
- febrile neutropenia2,837
- asthenia2,532
- anaemia2,480
- drug ineffective2,174
- malignant neoplasm progression2,089
- decreased appetite2,012
Adverse reactions (label)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Serious Adverse Reactions or Death from Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) Deficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Cardiotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hyperammonemic encephalopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Neurologic toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot syndrome) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Mucositis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Increased risk of elevated INR when administrated with warfarin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Meitheal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-844-824-8426 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of fluorouracil. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Hematologic: pancytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Gastrointestinal: gastrointestinal ulceration, nausea, vomiting Allergic Reactions: anaphylaxis and generalized allergic reactions Neurologic: nystagmus, headache Dermatologic: dry skin; fissuring; photosensitivity, as manifested by erythema or increased pigmentation of the skin; vein pigmentation Ophthalmic: lacrimal duct stenosis, visual changes, lacrimation, photophobia Psychiatric: euphoria Miscellaneous: thrombophlebitis, epistaxis, nail changes (including loss of nails)
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