Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Itraconazole has been associated with rare cases of serious hepatotoxicity, including liver failure and death. Some of these cases had neither pre-existing liver disease nor a serious underlying medical condition.
If clinical signs or symptoms develop that are consistent with liver disease, treatment should be discontinued and liver function testing performed. The risks and benefits of itraconazole use should be reassessed. (See WARNINGS: Hepatic Effects and PRECAUTIONS: Hepatotoxicity and Information for Patients .) Adverse Events Reported in Oropharyngeal or Esophageal Candidiasis Trials U.S. adverse experience data are derived from 350 immunocompromised patients (332 HIV seropositive/AIDS) treated for oropharyngeal or esophageal candidiasis.
Table 3 below lists adverse events reported by at least 2% of patients treated with itraconazole oral solution in U.S. clinical trials. Data on patients receiving comparator agents in these trials are included for comparison. Table 3: Summary of Adverse Events Reported by ³2% of Itraconazole Treated Patients in U.S. Clinical Trials (Total) * Of the 350 patients, 209 were treated for oropharyngeal candidiasis in controlled studies, 63 were treated for esophageal candidiasis in controlled studies and 78 were treated for oropharyngeal candidiasis in an open study. † Of the 125 patients, 62 were treated for oropharyngeal candidiasis and 63 were treated for esophageal candidiasis. ‡ All 81 patients were treated for oropharyngeal candidiasis.
Body System/Adverse Event Itraconazole Total (n = 350*) % All controlled studies (n = 272) % Fluconazole (n = 125 † ) % Clotrimazole (n = 81 ‡ ) % Gastrointestinal disorders Nausea Diarrhea Vomiting Abdominal pain Constipation 11 11 7 6 2 10 10 6 4 2 11 10 8 7 1 5 4 1 7 0 Body as a whole Fever Chest pain Pain Fatigue 7 3 2 2 6 3 2 1 8 2 4 2 5 0 0 0 Respiratory disorders Coughing Dyspnea Pneumonia Sinusitis Sputum increased 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 2 3 10 5 0 4 3 0 1 0 0 1 Skin and appendages disorders Rash Increased sweating Skin disorder unspecified 4 3 2 5 4 2 4 6 2 6 1 1 Central/peripheral nervous system Headache Dizziness 4 2 4 2 6 4 6 1 Resistance mechanism disorders Pneumocystis carinii infection 2 2 2 0 Psychiatric disorders Depression 2 1 0 1 Adverse events reported by less than 2% of patients in U.S. clinical trials with itraconazole included: adrenal insufficiency, asthenia, back pain, dehydration, dyspepsia, dysphagia, flatulence, gynecomastia, hematuria, hemorrhoids, hot flushes, implantation complication, infection unspecified, injury, insomnia, male breast pain, myalgia, pharyngitis, pruritus, rhinitis, rigors, stomatitis ulcerative, taste perversion, tinnitus, upper respiratory tract infection, vision abnormal, and weight decrease.
Edema, hypokalemia and menstrual disorders have been reported in clinical trials with itraconazole capsules. Adverse Events Reported from Other Clinical Trials A comparative clinical trial in patients who received intravenous itraconazole followed by itraconazole oral solution or received Amphotericin B reported the following adverse events in the itraconazole intravenous/itraconazole oral solution treatment arm which are not listed above in the subsection “Adverse Events Reported in Oropharnyngeal or Esophageal Candidiasis Trials” or listed below as postmarketing reports of adverse drug reactions: serum creatinine increased, blood urea nitrogen increased, renal function abnormal, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, hypotension, tachycardia and pulmonary infiltration.
In addition, the following adverse drug reactions were reported in patients who participated in itraconazole oral solution clinical trials: Cardiac Disorders: cardiac failure; General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: edema; Hepatobiliary Disorders: hepatic failure, hyperbilirubinemia; Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: hypokalemia; Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: menstrual disorder The following is a list of additional adverse drug reactions associated with itraconazole that have been reported in clinical trials of itraconazole capsules and itraconazole IV excluding the adverse reaction term “Injection site inflammation” which is specific to the injection route of administration: Cardiac Disorders: left ventricular failure; Gastrointestinal Disorders: gastrointestinal disorder; General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: face edema; Hepatobiliary Disorders: jaundice, hepatic function abnormal; Investigations: alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased, urine analysis abnormal; Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia; Nervous System Disorders: somnolence; Psychiatric Disorders: confusional state; Renal and Urinary Disorders: renal impairment; Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: dysphonia; Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: rash erythematous; Vascular Disorders: hypertension In addition, the following adverse drug reaction was reported in children only who participated in itraconazole oral solution clinical trials: mucosal inflammation.
Post-marketing Experience Adverse drug reactions that have been first identified during post-marketing experience with itraconazole (all formulations) are listed in Table 4 below. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, reliably estimating their frequency or establishing a causal relationship to drug exposure is not always possible. Table 4: Postmarketing Reports of Adverse Drug Reactions Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia Immune System Disorders: Anaphylaxis; anaphylactic, anaphylactoid and allergic reactions; serum sickness; angioneurotic edema Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Hypertriglyceridemia Nervous System Disorders: Peripheral neuropathy, paresthesia, hypoesthesia, tremor Eye Disorders: Visual disturbances, including vision blurred and diplopia Ear and Labyrinth Disorders: Transient or permanent hearing loss Cardiac Disorders: Congestive heart failure Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Pulmonary edema Gastrointestinal Disorders: Pancreatitis Hepatobiliary Disorders: Serious hepatotoxicity (including some cases of fatal acute liver failure), hepatitis, reversible increases in hepatic enzymes Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, alopecia, photosensitivity, urticaria Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Renal and Urinary Disorders: Arthralgia Renal and Urinary Disorders: Urinary incontinence, pollakiuria Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Erectile dysfunction General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Peripheral edema Investigations: Blood creatine phosphokinase increased There is limited information on the use of itraconazole during pregnancy.
Cases of congenital abnormalities including skeletal, genitourinary tract, cardiovascular and ophthalmic malformations as well as chromosomal and multiple malformations have been reported during post-marketing experience. A causal relationship with itraconazole has not been established. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations , CONTRAINDICATIONS , WARNINGS , and PRECAUTIONS: Drug Interactions for more information.)
