spironolactone 25 mg/5mL Suspension, 473 mL — NDC 31722-691-47 (Billing 31722-0691-47)

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

12.1Mechanism of Action Spironolactone and its active metabolites are specific pharmacologic antagonists of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted renal tubule. Spironolactone causes increased amounts of sodium and water to be excreted, while potassium is retained. Spironolactone acts both as a diuretic and as an antihypertensive drug by this mechanism.

It may be given alone or with other diuretic agents that act more proximally in the renal tubule.

12.2Pharmacodynamics Aldosterone antagonist activity: Increased levels of the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, are present in primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Edematous states in which secondary aldosteronism is usually involved include congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome. By competing with aldosterone for receptor sites, spironolactone provides effective therapy for the edema and ascites in those conditions.

Spironolactone counteracts secondary aldosteronism induced by the volume depletion and associated sodium loss caused by active diuretic therapy.

12.3Pharmacokinetics For an equivalent dose, spironolactone results in 15 to 37% higher serum concentration compared to Aldactone tablets. Information about the dose proportionality of spironolactone tablets is limited and, based on the results of studies comparing the suspension to tablets, doses of suspension higher than 100 mg might result in spironolactone concentrations that could be higher than expected. Absorption The peak plasma concentration (C max ) of spironolactone is reached 0.5 to 1.5 hours after dosing in healthy volunteers; for the active metabolite canrenone, the C max is reached around 2.5 to 5 hours after dosing.

Effect of food : A high fat and high calorie meal (57% of the ~1000 kcal of the meal were from fat) increased the bioavailability of spironolactone (as measured by AUC) by approximately 90%. Patients should establish a routine pattern for taking spironolactone with regard to meals [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 )]. Distribution Spironolactone and its metabolites are more than 90% bound to plasma proteins.

Elimination The half-life of spironolactone is approximately 1 to 2 hour, and the half-life of canrenone, 7-α- (thiomethyl) spirolactone (TMS), and 6-ß-hydroxy-7-α-(thiomethyl) spirolactone (HTMS) ranged from 10 to 35 hours. Metabolism Spironolactone is rapidly and extensively metabolized primarily by CYP 3A4/5, and to a lesser extent by CYP2C8. Metabolites can be divided into two main categories: those in which sulfur of the parent molecule is removed (e.g., canrenone) and those in which the sulfur is retained (e.g., TMS and HTMS).

In humans, the potencies of TMS and 7-α-thiospirolactone in reversing the effects of the synthetic mineralocorticoid, fludrocortisone, on urinary electrolyte composition were approximately a third relative to spironolactone. However, since the serum concentrations of these steroids were not determined, their incomplete absorption and/or first-pass metabolism could not be ruled out as a reason for their reduced in vivo activities. Excretion : The metabolites are excreted primarily in the urine and secondarily in bile.

Specific Populations The impact of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of spironolactone have not been specifically studied. Patients with Hepatic Impairment : The terminal half-life of spironolactone has been reported to be increased in patients with cirrhotic ascites [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.7 )]. Drug Interaction Studies : Drugs and Supplements Increasing Serum Potassium : Concomitant administration of spironolactone with potassium supplementation, salt substitutes containing potassium, a diet rich in potassium, or drugs that can increase potassium, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists, non-steroidal anti-inflamm… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

12.1Mechanism of Action Spironolactone and its active metabolites are specific pharmacologic antagonists of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted renal tubule. Spironolactone causes increased amounts of sodium and water to be excreted, while potassium is retained. Spironolactone acts both as a diuretic and as an antihypertensive drug by this mechanism.

It may be given alone or with other diuretic agents that act more proximally in the renal tubule.

12.3Pharmacokinetics For an equivalent dose, spironolactone results in 15 to 37% higher serum concentration compared to Aldactone tablets. Information about the dose proportionality of spironolactone tablets is limited and, based on the results of studies comparing the suspension to tablets, doses of suspension higher than 100 mg might result in spironolactone concentrations that could be higher than expected. Absorption The peak plasma concentration (C max ) of spironolactone is reached 0.5 to 1.5 hours after dosing in healthy volunteers; for the active metabolite canrenone, the C max is reached around 2.5 to 5 hours after dosing.

Effect of food : A high fat and high calorie meal (57% of the ~1000 kcal of the meal were from fat) increased the bioavailability of spironolactone (as measured by AUC) by approximately 90%. Patients should establish a routine pattern for taking spironolactone with regard to meals [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 )]. Distribution Spironolactone and its metabolites are more than 90% bound to plasma proteins.

Elimination The half-life of spironolactone is approximately 1 to 2 hour, and the half-life of canrenone, 7-α- (thiomethyl) spirolactone (TMS), and 6-ß-hydroxy-7-α-(thiomethyl) spirolactone (HTMS) ranged from 10 to 35 hours. Metabolism Spironolactone is rapidly and extensively metabolized primarily by CYP 3A4/5, and to a lesser extent by CYP2C8. Metabolites can be divided into two main categories: those in which sulfur of the parent molecule is removed (e.g., canrenone) and those in which the sulfur is retained (e.g., TMS and HTMS).

In humans, the potencies of TMS and 7-α-thiospirolactone in reversing the effects of the synthetic mineralocorticoid, fludrocortisone, on urinary electrolyte composition were approximately a third relative to spironolactone. However, since the serum concentrations of these steroids were not determined, their incomplete absorption and/or first-pass metabolism could not be ruled out as a reason for their reduced in vivo activities. Excretion : The metabolites are excreted primarily in the urine and secondarily in bile.

Specific Populations The impact of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of spironolactone have not been specifically studied. Patients with Hepatic Impairment : The terminal half-life of spironolactone has been reported to be increased in patients with cirrhotic ascites [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.7 )]. Drug Interaction Studies : Drugs and Supplements Increasing Serum Potassium : Concomitant administration of spironolactone with potassium supplementation, salt substitutes containing potassium, a diet rich in potassium, or drugs that can increase potassium, including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), heparin and low molecular weight heparin, may lead to severe hyperkalemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].

Lithium : Spironolactone reduces the renal clearance of lithium, inducing a high risk of lithium toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )]. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) : In some patients, the administration of an NSAID can reduce the diuretic, natriuretic, and antihypertensive effect of loop, potassium-sparing, and thiazide diuretics [see Drug Interactions ( 7.3 )]. Acetylsalicylic acid: A single dose of 600 mg of acetylsalicylic acid inhibited the natriuretic effect of spironolactone, which was hypothesized be due to inhibition of tubular secretion of canrenone, causing decreased effectiveness of spironolactone [see Drug Interactions ( 7.6 )].

In Vitro Studies: Spironolactone is an irreversible inhibitor for CYP2C8 and CYP3A4/5. Digoxin: Spironolactone increased the C max and AUC 0 to 96 of a single dose of digoxin by 55% and 18% as compared to digoxin administered alone. Renal clearance of digoxin decreased by approximately 11%, and the tmax and terminal t1/2 of digoxin were not changed wh… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

12.2Pharmacodynamics Aldosterone antagonist activity: Increased levels of the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, are present in primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Edematous states in which secondary aldosteronism is usually involved include congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome. By competing with aldosterone for receptor sites, spironolactone provides effective therapy for the edema and ascites in those conditions.

Spironolactone counteracts secondary aldosteronism induced by the volume depletion and associated sodium loss caused by active diuretic therapy.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

14.1Heart failure The Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES) was a placebo-controlled, double-blind study of the effect of spironolactone on mortality in patients with highly symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. To be eligible to participate, patients had to have an ejection fraction of ≤35%, NYHA Class III to IV symptoms, and a history of NYHA class IV symptoms within the last 6 months before enrollment. Patients with a baseline serum creatinine of >2.5 mg/dL or a recent increase of 25% or with a baseline serum potassium of >5.0 mEq/L were excluded.

Follow-up visits and laboratory measurements (including serum potassium and creatinine) were performed every four weeks for the first 12 weeks, then every 3 months for the first year, and then every 6 months thereafter. The RALES study was conducted with a formulation of spironolactone that is not therapeutically equivalent to spironolactone [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. The initial dose of spironolactone was 25 mg once daily.

Patients who were intolerant of the initial dosage regimen had their dose decreased to one 25 mg tablet every other day at one to four weeks. Patients who were tolerant of one tablet daily at 8 weeks could have had their dose increased 50 mg daily at the discretion of the investigator. The mean daily dose at study end for the patients randomized to spironolactone was 26 mg.

1663 patients were randomized 1:1 to spironolactone or placebo. 87% of patients were white, 7% black, and 2% Asian. 73% were male and median age was 67.

The median ejection fraction was 26%. 70% were NYHA class III and 29% class IV. The etiology of heart failure was ischemic in 55%, and non-ischemic in 45%.

There was a history of myocardial infarction in 28%, of hypertension in 24%, and of diabetes in 22%. The median baseline serum creatinine was 1.2 mg/dL and the median baseline creatinine clearance was 57 mL/min. At baseline, 100% of patients were taking loop diuretic and 95% were taking an ACE inhibitor.

Other medications used at any time during the study included digoxin (78%), anticoagulants (58%), aspirin (43%), and beta-blockers (15%). The primary endpoint for RALES was time to all-cause mortality. RALES was terminated early because of significant mortality benefit demonstrated during a planned interim analysis.

Compared to placebo, spironolactone reduced the risk of death by 30% (p<0.001; 95% confidence interval 18% to 40%). Spironolactone also reduced the risk of hospitalization for cardiac causes (defined as worsening heart failure, angina, ventricular arrhythmias, or myocardial infarction) by 30% (p <0.001 95% confidence interval 18% to 41%). The survival curves by treatment group are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Survival by Treatment Group in RALES Mortality hazard ratios for subgroups were studied. The favorable effect of spironolactone on mortality appeared similar for both genders and all age groups except patients younger than 55.

There were too few non-whites in RALES to evaluate if the effects differ by race. Spironolactone’s benefit appeared greater in patients with low baseline serum potassium levels and less in patients with ejection fractions <0.2. These subgroup analyses must be interpreted cautiously. spironolactone-figure-1

14.2Hypertension Studies of the treatment of hypertension were conducted with a formulation of spironolactone that is not therapeutically equivalent to spironolactone [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. In a study in 24 patients with essential hypertension, of which only eight completed study assessments, the average BP systolic lowering was 10 mmHg and 20 mmHg for the 25 mg and 100 mg doses of spironolactone, respectively. Doses >100 mg/day generally do not provide additional reductions in blood pressure.

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Carcinogenesis Orally administered spironolactone has been shown to be a tumorigen in dietary administration studies performed in rats, with its proliferative effects manifested on endocrine organs and the liver. In an 18-month study using doses of about 50, 150, and 500 mg/kg/day, there were statistically significant increases in benign adenomas of the thyroid and testes and, in male rats, a dose-related increase in proliferative changes in the liver (including hepatocytomegaly and hyperplastic nodules).

In a 24-month study in which the same strain of rat was administered doses of about 10, 30, 100, and 150 mg spironolactone/kg/day, the range of proliferative effects included significant increases in hepatocellular adenomas and testicular interstitial cell tumors in males, and significant increases in thyroid follicular cell adenomas and carcinomas in both sexes. There was also a statistically significant, but not dose-related, increase in benign uterine endometrial stromal polyps in females. No increased tumors were seen at doses of 100 mg/kg/day.

This dose represents about 5-times the human recommended daily dose of 200 mg/day, when based on body surface area. Mutagenesis Neither spironolactone nor potassium canrenoate produced mutagenic effects in tests using bacteria or yeast. In the absence of metabolic activation, neither spironolactone nor potassium canrenoate has been shown to be mutagenic in mammalian tests in vitro .

In the presence of metabolic activation, Spironolactone has been reported to be negative in some mammalian mutagenicity tests in vitro and inconclusive (but slightly positive) for mutagenicity in other mammalian tests in vitro . In the presence of metabolic activation, potassium canrenoate has been reported to test positive for mutagenicity in some mammalian tests in vitro , inconclusive in others, and negative in still others. Impairment of Fertility In a three-litter reproduction study in which female rats received dietary doses of 15 and 50 mg spironolactone/kg/day, there were no effects on mating and fertility, but there was a small increase in incidence of stillborn pups at 50 mg/kg/day.

When injected into female rats (100 mg/kg/day for 7 days, i.p.), spironolactone was found to increase the length of the estrous cycle by prolonging diestrus during treatment and inducing constant diestrus during a two-week post-treatment observation period. These effects were associated with retarded ovarian follicle development and a reduction in circulating estrogen levels, which would be expected to impair mating, fertility, and fecundity. Spironolactone (100 mg/kg/day), administered i.p. to female mice during a two-week cohabitation period with untreated males, decreased the number of mated mice that conceived (effect shown to be caused by an inhibition of ovulation) and decreased the number of implanted embryos in those that became pregnant (effect shown to be caused by an inhibition of implantation), and at 200 mg/kg, also increased the latency period to mating.