Cytotec® Misoprostol Tablets
Cytotec® Misoprostol Tablets
Cytotec® Misoprostol Tablets
misoprostol tablets
WARNINGS
CYTOTEC (MISOPROSTOL) ADMINISTRATION TO WOMEN WHO ARE
PREGNANT CAN CAUSE ABORTION, PREMATURE BIRTH, OR BIRTH
DEFECTS. UTERINE RUPTURE HAS BEEN REPORTED WHEN CYTOTEC WAS
ADMINISTERED IN PREGNANT WOMEN TO INDUCE LABOR OR TO INDUCE
ABORTION BEYOND THE EIGHTH WEEK OF PREGNANCY (see also
PRECAUTIONS and LABOR AND DELIVERY). CYTOTEC SHOULD NOT BE
TAKEN BY PREGNANT WOMEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ULCERS INDUCED
BY NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDs) (see
CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, and PRECAUTIONS).
Cytotec should not be used for reducing the risk of NSAID-induced ulcers in women of
childbearing potential unless the patient is at high risk of complications from gastric
ulcers associated with use of the NSAID, or is at high risk of developing gastric
ulceration. In such patients, Cytotec may be prescribed if the patient
has had a negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to beginning therapy.
is capable of complying with effective contraceptive measures.
has received both oral and written warnings of the hazards of misoprostol, the risk of
possible contraception failure, and the danger to other women of childbearing
potential should the drug be taken by mistake.
will begin Cytotec only on the second or third day of the next normal menstrual
period.
DESCRIPTION
Cytotec oral tablets contain either 100 mcg or 200 mcg of misoprostol, a synthetic
prostaglandin E1 analog.
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Misoprostol is a water-soluble, viscous liquid.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacokinetics: Misoprostol is extensively absorbed, and undergoes rapid de-
esterification to its free acid, which is responsible for its clinical activity and, unlike the
parent compound, is detectable in plasma. The alpha side chain undergoes beta oxidation
and the beta side chain undergoes omega oxidation followed by reduction of the ketone to
give prostaglandin F analogs.
There is high variability of plasma levels of misoprostol acid between and within studies
but mean values after single doses show a linear relationship with dose over the range of
200–400 mcg. No accumulation of misoprostol acid was noted in multiple dose studies;
plasma steady state was achieved within two days.
Maximum plasma concentrations of misoprostol acid are diminished when the dose is
taken with food and total availability of misoprostol acid is reduced by use of
concomitant antacid. Clinical trials were conducted with concomitant antacid, however,
so this effect does not appear to be clinically important.
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AUC(0–4)
Mean ± SD Cmax(pg/ml) (pg·hr/ml) Tmax(min)
Fasting 811 ± 317 417 ± 135 14 ± 8
With Antacid 689 ± 315 349 ± 108* 20 ± 14
With High Fat 303 ± 176* 373 ± 111 64 ± 79*
...Breakfast
* Comparisons with fasting results statistically significant, p<0.05.
Pharmacokinetic studies also showed a lack of drug interaction with antipyrine and
propranolol when these drugs were given with misoprostol. Misoprostol given for 1 week
had no effect on the steady state pharmacokinetics of diazepam when the two drugs were
administered 2 hours apart.
The serum protein binding of misoprostol acid is less than 90% and is concentration-
independent in the therapeutic range.
After a single oral dose of misoprostol to nursing mothers, misoprostol acid was excreted
in breast milk. The maximum concentration of misoprostol acid in expressed breast milk
was achieved within 1 hour after dosing and was 7.6 pg/ml (CV 37%) and 20.9 pg/ml
(CV 62%) after single 200 g and 600 g misoprostol administration, respectively. The
misoprostol acid concentrations in breast milk declined to < 1 pg/ml at 5 hours post-dose.
In vitro studies on canine parietal cells using tritiated misoprostol acid as the ligand have
led to the identification and characterization of specific prostaglandin receptors. Receptor
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binding is saturable, reversible, and stereospecific. The sites have a high affinity for
misoprostol, for its acid metabolite, and for other E type prostaglandins, but not for F or I
prostaglandins and other unrelated compounds, such as histamine or cimetidine.
Receptor-site affinity for misoprostol correlates well with an indirect index of
antisecretory activity. It is likely that these specific receptors allow misoprostol taken
with food to be effective topically, despite the lower serum concentrations attained.
Effects on gastric acid secretion: Misoprostol, over the range of 50–200 mcg,
inhibits basal and nocturnal gastric acid secretion, and acid secretion in response to a
variety of stimuli, including meals, histamine, pentagastrin, and coffee. Activity is
apparent 30 minutes after oral administration and persists for at least 3 hours. In general,
the effects of 50 mcg were modest and shorter lived, and only the 200-mcg dose had
substantial effects on nocturnal secretion or on histamine and meal-stimulated secretion.
Uterine effects: Cytotec has been shown to produce uterine contractions that may
endanger pregnancy. (See boxed WARNINGS.)
Other pharmacologic effects: Cytotec does not produce clinically significant effects
on serum levels of prolactin, gonadotropins, thyroid-stimulating hormone, growth
hormone, thyroxine, cortisol, gastrointestinal hormones (somatostatin, gastrin, vasoactive
intestinal polypeptide, and motilin), creatinine, or uric acid. Gastric emptying,
immunologic competence, platelet aggregation, pulmonary function, or the
cardiovascular system are not modified by recommended doses of Cytotec.
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Reduction of Risk of Gastric Ulcers Induced by
Ibuprofen, Piroxicam, or Naproxen
[No. of patients with ulcer(s) (%)]
Therapy Duration
Therapy 4 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks
Study No. 1
Cytotec 200 mcg 1 (1.4) 0........ 0........ 1 (1.4)*
q.i.d. (n=74)
Cytotec 100 mcg 3 (3.9) 1 (1.3) 1 (1.3) 5 (6.5)*
q.i.d. (n=77)
Placebo (n=76) 11 (14.5) 4 (5.3) 4 (5.3) 19 (25.0)
Study No. 2
Cytotec 200 mcg 1 (1.5) 1 (1.5) 0........ 2 (3.1)*
q.i.d. (n=65)
Cytotec 100 mcg 2 (3.0) 2 (3.0) 1 (1.5) 5 (7.6)
q.i.d. (n=66)
Placebo (n=62) 6 (9.7) 2 (3.2) 3 (4.8) 11 (17.7)
Studies No. 1 & No. 2**
Cytotec 200 mcg 2 (1.4) 1 (0.7) 0........ 3 (2.2)*
q.i.d. (n=139)
Cytotec 100 mcg 5 (3.5) 3 (2.1) 2 (1.4) 10 (7.0)*
q.i.d. (n=143)
Placebo (n=138) 17 (12.3) 6 (4.3) 7 (5.1) 30 (21.7)
* Statistically significantly different from placebo at the 5% level.
** Combined data from Study No. 1 and Study No. 2.
In these trials there were no significant differences between Cytotec and placebo in relief
of day or night abdominal pain. No effect of Cytotec in reducing the risk of duodenal
ulcers was demonstrated, but relatively few duodenal lesions were seen.
In another clinical trial, 239 patients receiving aspirin 650–1300 mg q.i.d. for rheumatoid
arthritis who had endoscopic evidence of duodenal and/or gastric inflammation were
randomized to misoprostol 200 mcg q.i.d. or placebo for 8 weeks while continuing to
receive aspirin. The study evaluated the possible interference of Cytotec on the efficacy
of aspirin in these patients with rheumatoid arthritis by analyzing joint tenderness, joint
swelling, physician’s clinical assessment, patient’s assessment, change in ARA
classification, change in handgrip strength, change in duration of morning stiffness,
patient’s assessment of pain at rest, movement, interference with daily activity, and ESR.
Cytotec did not interfere with the efficacy of aspirin in these patients with rheumatoid
arthritis.
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as patients with a history of ulcer. Cytotec has not been shown to reduce the risk of
duodenal ulcers in patients taking NSAIDs. Cytotec should be taken for the duration of
NSAID therapy. Cytotec has been shown to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers in controlled
studies of 3 months’ duration. It had no effect, compared to placebo, on gastrointestinal
pain or discomfort associated with NSAID use.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
See boxed WARNINGS.
Cytotec should not be taken by pregnant women to reduce the risk of ulcers induced
by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
WARNINGS
See boxed WARNINGS.
PRECAUTIONS
Caution should be employed when administering Cytotec (misoprostol) to patients with
pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
If the patient has questions about or problems with Cytotec, the physician should be
contacted promptly.
THE PATIENT SHOULD NOT GIVE CYTOTEC TO ANYONE ELSE. Cytotec has
been prescribed for the patient’s specific condition, may not be the correct treatment for
another person, and may be dangerous to the other person if she were to become
pregnant.
The Cytotec package the patient receives from the pharmacist will include a leaflet
containing patient information. The patient should read the leaflet before taking Cytotec
and each time the prescription is renewed because the leaflet may have been revised.
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Keep Cytotec out of the reach of children.
Drug interactions: See Clinical Pharmacology. Cytotec has not been shown to
interfere with the beneficial effects of aspirin on signs and symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis. Cytotec does not exert clinically significant effects on the absorption, blood
levels, and antiplatelet effects of therapeutic doses of aspirin. Cytotec has no clinically
significant effect on the kinetics of diclofenac or ibuprofen.
An apparent response of the female mouse to Cytotec in long-term studies at 100 to 1000
times the human dose was hyperostosis, mainly of the medulla of sternebrae.
Hyperostosis did not occur in long-term studies in the dog and rat and has not been seen
in humans treated with Cytotec.
Misoprostol, when administered to breeding male and female rats at doses 6.25 times to
625 times the maximum recommended human therapeutic dose, produced dose-related
pre- and post-implantation losses and a significant decrease in the number of live pups
born at the highest dose. These findings suggest the possibility of a general adverse effect
on fertility in males and females.
Cytotec is not fetotoxic or teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses 625 and 63 times the
human dose, respectively.
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Nonteratogenic effects: See boxed WARNINGS. Cytotec may endanger pregnancy
(may cause abortion) and thereby cause harm to the fetus when administered to a
pregnant woman. Cytotec may produce uterine contractions, uterine bleeding, and
expulsion of the products of conception. Abortions caused by Cytotec may be
incomplete. If a woman is or becomes pregnant while taking this drug to reduce the risk
of NSAID-induced ulcers, the drug should be discontinued and the patient apprised of the
potential hazard to the fetus.
Labor and delivery: Cytotec can induce or augment uterine contractions. Vaginal
administration of Cytotec, outside of its approved indication, has been used as a cervical
ripening agent, for the induction of labor and for treatment of serious postpartum
hemorrhage in the presence of uterine atony. A major adverse effect of the obstetrical use
of Cytotec is the hyperstimulation of the uterus which may progress to uterine tetany with
marked impairment of uteroplacental blood flow, uterine rupture (requiring surgical
repair, hysterectomy, and/or salpingo-oophorectomy), or amniotic fluid embolism. Pelvic
pain, retained placenta, severe genital bleeding, shock, fetal bradycardia, and fetal and
maternal death have been reported.
The effect of Cytotec on later growth, development, and functional maturation of the
child when Cytotec is used for cervical ripening or induction of labor has not been
established. Information on Cytotec's effect on the need for forceps delivery or other
intervention is unknown.
Pediatric use: Safety and effectiveness of Cytotec in pediatric patients have not been
established.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following have been reported as adverse events in subjects receiving Cytotec:
Gastrointestinal: In subjects receiving Cytotec 400 or 800 mcg daily in clinical trials,
the most frequent gastrointestinal adverse events were diarrhea and abdominal pain. The
incidence of diarrhea at 800 mcg in controlled trials in patients on NSAIDs ranged from
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14–40% and in all studies (over 5,000 patients) averaged 13%. Abdominal pain occurred
in 13–20% of patients in NSAID trials and about 7% in all studies, but there was no
consistent difference from placebo.
Diarrhea was dose related and usually developed early in the course of therapy (after 13
days), usually was self-limiting (often resolving after 8 days), but sometimes required
discontinuation of Cytotec (2% of the patients). Rare instances of profound diarrhea
leading to severe dehydration have been reported. Patients with an underlying condition
such as inflammatory bowel disease, or those in whom dehydration, were it to occur,
would be dangerous, should be monitored carefully if Cytotec is prescribed. The
incidence of diarrhea can be minimized by administering after meals and at bedtime, and
by avoiding coadministration of Cytotec with magnesium-containing antacids.
Gynecological: Women who received Cytotec during clinical trials reported the
following gynecological disorders: spotting (0.7%), cramps (0.6%), hypermenorrhea
(0.5%), menstrual disorder (0.3%) and dysmenorrhea (0.1%). Postmenopausal vaginal
bleeding may be related to Cytotec administration. If it occurs, diagnostic workup should
be undertaken to rule out gynecological pathology. (See boxed WARNINGS.)
Incidence greater than 1%: In clinical trials, the following adverse reactions were
reported by more than 1% of the subjects receiving Cytotec and may be causally related
to the drug: nausea (3.2%), flatulence (2.9%), headache (2.4%), dyspepsia (2.0%),
vomiting (1.3%), and constipation (1.1%). However, there were no significant differences
between the incidences of these events for Cytotec and placebo.
Body as a whole: aches/pains, asthenia, fatigue, fever, chills, rigors, weight changes.
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Cardiovascular: chest pain, edema, diaphoresis, hypotension, hypertension, arrhythmia,
phlebitis, increased cardiac enzymes, syncope, myocardial infarction (some fatal),
thromboembolic events (e.g., pulmonary embolism, arterial thrombosis, and CVA).
OVERDOSAGE
The toxic dose of Cytotec in humans has not been determined. Cumulative total daily
doses of 1600 mcg have been tolerated, with only symptoms of gastrointestinal
discomfort being reported. In animals, the acute toxic effects are diarrhea, gastrointestinal
lesions, focal cardiac necrosis, hepatic necrosis, renal tubular necrosis, testicular atrophy,
respiratory difficulties, and depression of the central nervous system. Clinical signs that
may indicate an overdose are sedation, tremor, convulsions, dyspnea, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, fever, palpitations, hypotension, or bradycardia. Symptoms should be treated
with supportive therapy.
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HOW SUPPLIED
Cytotec 100-mcg tablets are white, round, with SEARLE debossed on one side and 1451
on the other side; supplied as:
Cytotec 200-mcg tablets are white, hexagonal, with SEARLE debossed above and 1461
debossed below the line on one side and a double stomach debossed on the other side;
supplied as:
PATIENT INFORMATION
Read this leaflet before taking Cytotec® (misoprostol) and each time your prescription is
renewed, because the leaflet may be changed.
Do not take Cytotec to reduce the risk of NSAID-induced ulcers if you are pregnant. (See
boxed WARNINGS.) Cytotec can cause abortion (sometimes incomplete which could
lead to dangerous bleeding and require hospitalization and surgery), premature birth, or
birth defects. It is also important to avoid pregnancy while taking this medication and for
at least one month or through one menstrual cycle after you stop taking it. Cytotec has
been reported to cause the uterus to rupture (tear) when given after the eighth week of
pregnancy. Rupture (tearing) of the uterus can result in severe bleeding, hysterectomy,
and/or maternal or fetal death.
If you become pregnant during Cytotec therapy, stop taking Cytotec and contact your
physician immediately. Remember that even if you are on a means of birth control it is
still possible to become pregnant. Should this occur, stop taking Cytotec and contact your
physician immediately.
Cytotec may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and/or nausea in some people. In most
cases these problems develop during the first few weeks of therapy and stop after about a
week. You can minimize possible diarrhea by making sure you take Cytotec with food.
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Because these side effects are usually mild to moderate and usually go away in a matter
of days, most patients can continue to take Cytotec. If you have prolonged difficulty
(more than 8 days), or if you have severe diarrhea, cramping and/or nausea, call your
doctor.
Do not give Cytotec to anyone else. It has been prescribed for your specific condition,
may not be the correct treatment for another person, and would be dangerous if the other
person were pregnant.
This information sheet does not cover all possible side effects of Cytotec. This patient
information leaflet does not address the side effects of your arthritis/pain medication. See
your doctor if you have questions.
Rx only
LAB-0170-3.0
Revised September 2009
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