The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Complete Atrioventricular Block [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Thyroid Function Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Steatorrhea and Malabsorption of Dietary Fats [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Changes in Vitamin B12 Levels [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) in patients with acromegaly are gallbladder abnormalities, sinus bradycardia, diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, abdominal discomfort, hyperglycemia, and hypothyroidism.
In other patients, most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) are gallbladder abnormalities. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sagent Pharmaceuticals at 1-866-625-1618 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1Clinical Trials Experience
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 practice. Gallbladder Abnormalities Gallbladder abnormalities, especially stones and/or biliary sludge, frequently develop in patients on chronic octreotide acetate therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .
In clinical trials (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis), the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received octreotide acetate for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with octreotide acetate for 1 month or less developed gallstones. Cardiac In acromegalics, sinus bradycardia (< 50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias developed in 9% of patients during octreotide acetate therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .
Gastrointestinal Diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, and abdominal discomfort were each seen in 34% to 61% of acromegalic patients in U.S. studies. 2.6% of the patients discontinued therapy due to these symptoms. These symptoms were seen in 5% to 10% of patients with carcinoid tumors and VIPomas. The frequency of these symptoms was not dose related, but diarrhea and abdominal discomfort generally resolved more quickly in patients treated with 300 mcg/day than in those treated with 750 mcg/day.
Vomiting, flatulence, abnormal stools, abdominal distention, and constipation were each seen in less than 10% of patients. In rare instances, gastrointestinal side effects may resemble acute intestinal obstruction, with progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness, and guarding. Hypo/Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively, but only in about 1.5% of other patients.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia were noted in approximately 2% of patients. Hypothyroidism In acromegalics, biochemical hypothyroidism alone occurred in 12% while goiter occurred in 8% and 4% required initiation of thyroid replacement therapy during octreotide acetate therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] . In patients without acromegaly, hypothyroidism has only been reported in several isolated patients and goiter has not been reported.
Other Adverse Events Pain on injection was reported in 7.7%, headache in 6%, and dizziness in 5%. Pancreatitis was also observed [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Other Adverse Events 1% to 4% Other events, each observed in 1% to 4% of patients, included fatigue, weakness, pruritus, joint pain, backache, urinary tract infection, cold symptoms, flu symptoms, injection site hematoma, bruise, edema, flushing, blurred vision, pollakiuria, fat malabsorption, hair loss, visual disturbance, and depression.
Anaphylactoid reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported in several patients receiving octreotide acetate.
