Patients receiving Remodulin as a subcutaneous infusion reported a wide range of adverse events, many potentially related to the underlying disease (dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, right ventricular heart failure, and pallor). During clinical trials with subcutaneous infusion of Remodulin, infusion site pain and reaction were the most common adverse events among those treated with Remodulin. Infusion site reaction was defined as any local adverse event other than pain or bleeding/bruising at the infusion site and included symptoms such as erythema, induration or rash. Infusion site reactions were sometimes severe and could lead to discontinuation of treatment.

Table 2: Percentages of subjects reporting subcutaneous infusion site adverse events

Other adverse events included diarrhea, jaw pain, edema, vasodilatation and nausea, and these are generally considered to be related to the pharmacologic effects of Remodulin, whether administered subcutaneously or intravenously.

Adverse Events During Chronic Dosing

Table 3 lists adverse events that occurred at a rate of at least 3% and were more frequent in patients treated with subcutaneous Remodulin than with placebo in controlled trials in PAH.

Table 3: Adverse Events in Controlled 12-Week Studies of Patients with PAH, Occurring with at Least 3% Incidence and More Common on Subcutaneous Remodulin than on Placebo.

Reported adverse events (at least 3%) are included except those too general to be informative, and those not plausibly attributable to the use of the drug, because they were associated with the condition being treated or are very common in the treated population.

Adverse Events Attributable to the Drug Delivery System

In controlled studies of Remodulin administered subcutaneously, there were no reports of infection related to the drug delivery system. There were 187 infusion system complications reported in 28% of patients (23% Remodulin, 33% placebo); 173 (93%) were pump related and 14 (7%) related to the infusion set. Eight of these patients (4 Remodulin, 4 Placebo) reported non-serious adverse events resulting from infusion system complications. Adverse events resulting from problems with the delivery systems were typically related to either symptoms of excess Remodulin (e.g., nausea) or return of PAH symptoms (e.g., dyspnea). These events were generally resolved by correcting the delivery system pump or infusion set problem such as replacing the syringe or battery, reprogramming the pump, or straightening a crimped infusion line. Adverse events resulting from problems with the delivery system did not lead to clinical instability or rapid deterioration. In addition to these adverse events due to the drug delivery system during subcutaneous administration, the following adverse events may be attributable to the IV mode of infusion including arm swelling, paresthesias, hematoma and pain (see WARNINGS).

Adverse Events Observed During Clinical Practice

In addition to adverse reactions reported from clinical trials, the following events have been identified during post-approval use of Remodulin. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The following events have been chosen for inclusion due to a combination of their seriousness, frequency of reporting, and potential connection to Remodulin. These events are thrombophlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous infusion, thrombocytopenia and bone pain. In addition, generalized rashes, sometimes macular or papular in nature, and cellulitis have been infrequently reported.

Reduction in blood pressure caused by Remodulin may be exacerbated by drugs that by themselves alter blood pressure, such as diuretics, antihypertensive agents, or vasodilators. Since Remodulin inhibits platelet aggregation, there is also a potential for increased risk of bleeding, particularly among patients maintained on anticoagulants. During clinical trials, Remodulin was used concurrently with anticoagulants, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, calcium channel blockers, analgesics, antipyretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, opioids, corticosteroids, and other medications.

Remodulin has not been studied in conjunction with Flolan or Tracleer® (bosentan).

Effect of Other Drugs on Remodulin

In vivo studies: Acetaminophen - Analgesic doses of acetaminophen, 1000 mg every 6 hours for seven doses, did not affect the pharmacokinetics of Remodulin, at a subcutaneous infusion rate of 15 ng/kg/min.

Effect of Remodulin on Other Drugs

In vitro studies: Remodulin did not significantly affect the plasma protein binding of normally observed concentrations of digoxin or warfarin.

In vivo studies: Warfarin - Remodulin does not affect the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of warfarin. The pharmacokinetics of R- and S- warfarin and the INR in healthy subjects given a single 25 mg dose of warfarin were unaffected by continuous subcutaneous Remodulin at an infusion rate of 10 ng/kg/min.

Hepatic and Renal Impairment

Caution should be used in patients with hepatic or renal impairment (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations).

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