Adverse reactions : תופעות לוואי

6          ADVERSE REACTIONS
6.1     Clinical 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 clinical practice.
FOSALAN
Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women
FOSALAN daily
The safety of FOSALAN in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed in four clinical trials that enrolled 7453 women aged 44-84 years. Study 1 and Study 2 were identically designed, three- year, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies (United States and Multinational; n=994); Study 3 was the three-year vertebral fracture cohort of the Fracture Intervention Trial [FIT] (n=2027); and Study 4 was the four-year clinical fracture cohort of FIT (n=4432). Overall, 3620 patients were exposed to placebo and 3432 patients exposed to FOSALAN. Patients with pre-existing gastrointestinal disease and concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were included in these clinical trials. In Study 1 and Study 2 all women received 500 mg elemental calcium as carbonate. In Study 3 and Study 4 all women with dietary calcium intake less than 1000 mg per day received 500 mg calcium and 250 international units Vitamin D per day.
Among patients treated with alendronate 10 mg or placebo in Study 1 and Study 2, and all patients in Study 3 and Study 4, the incidence of all-cause mortality was 1.8% in the placebo group and 1.8% in the FOSALAN group. The incidence of serious adverse event was 30.7% in the placebo group and 30.9% in the FOSALAN group. The percentage of patients who discontinued the study due to any clinical adverse event was 9.5% in the placebo group and 8.9% in the FOSALAN group. Adverse reactions from these studies considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients treated with either FOSALAN or placebo are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Osteoporosis Treatment Studies in Postmenopausal Women
Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients
United States/Multinational Studies        Fracture Intervention Trial FOSALAN*               Placebo         FOSALAN†               Placebo %                     %                %                     %
(n=196)               (n=397)          (n=3236)             (n=3223)
Gastrointestinal abdominal pain                      6.6                  4.8               1.5                   1.5 nausea                              3.6                  4.0               1.1                   1.5 dyspepsia                           3.6                  3.5               1.1                   1.2 constipation                        3.1                  1.8               0.0                   0.2 diarrhea                            3.1                  1.8               0.6                   0.3 flatulence                          2.6                  0.5               0.2                   0.3 acid regurgitation                  2.0                  4.3               1.1                   0.9 esophageal ulcer                    1.5                  0.0               0.1                   0.1 vomiting                            1.0                  1.5               0.2                   0.3 dysphagia                           1.0                  0.0               0.1                   0.1 abdominal distention                1.0                  0.8               0.0                   0.0 gastritis                           0.5                  1.3               0.6                   0.7 Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal (bone,
muscle or joint) pain            4.1                  2.5               0.4                   0.3 muscle cramp                        0.0                  1.0               0.2                   0.1 Nervous System/Psychiatric headache                            2.6                  1.5               0.2                   0.2 dizziness                           0.0                  1.0               0.0                   0.1 Special Senses taste perversion                    0.5                  1.0               0.1                   0.0 *
10 mg/day for three years
†
5 mg/day for 2 years and 10 mg/day for either 1 or 2 additional years 

Rash and erythema have occurred.
Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: One patient treated with FOSALAN (10 mg/day), who had a history of peptic ulcer disease and gastrectomy and who was taking concomitant aspirin, developed an anastomotic ulcer with mild hemorrhage, which was considered drug related. Aspirin and FOSALAN were discontinued and the patient recovered. In the Study 1 and Study 2 populations, 49-54% had a history of gastrointestinal disorders at baseline, and 54-89% used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin at some time during the studies. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.1).]
Laboratory Test Findings: In double-blind, multicenter, controlled studies, asymptomatic, mild, and transient decreases in serum calcium and phosphate were observed in approximately 18% and 10%, respectively, of patients taking FOSALAN versus approximately 12% and 3% of those taking placebo.
However, the incidences of decreases in serum calcium to less than 8.0 mg/dL (2.0 mM) and serum phosphate to less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL (0.65 mM) were similar in both treatment groups.
FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg
The safety of FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis was assessed in a one-year, double-blind, multicenter study comparing FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg and FOSALAN 10 mg daily. The overall safety and tolerability profiles of FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg and FOSALAN 10 mg daily were similar. The adverse reactions considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 1% of patients in either treatment group are presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Osteoporosis Treatment Studies in Postmenopausal Women
Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 1% of Patients FOSALAN Once-Weekly              FOSALAN
70 mg                   10 mg/day
%                          %
(n=519)                    (n=370)
Gastrointestinal abdominal pain                            3.7                        3.0 dyspepsia                                 2.7                        2.2 acid regurgitation                        1.9                        2.4 nausea                                    1.9                        2.4 abdominal distention                      1.0                        1.4 constipation                              0.8                        1.6 flatulence                                0.4                        1.6 gastritis                                 0.2                        1.1 gastric ulcer                             0.0                        1.1 Musculoskeletal musculoskeletal (bone,                    2.9                        3.2 muscle, joint) pain muscle cramp                              0.2                        1.1 
Concomitant Use With Estrogen/Hormone Replacement Therapy
In two studies (of one and two years’ duration) of postmenopausal osteoporotic women (total: n=853), the safety and tolerability profile of combined treatment with FOSALAN 10 mg once daily and estrogen ± progestin (n=354) was consistent with those of the individual treatments.
Osteoporosis in Men
In two placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter studies in men (a two-year study of FOSALAN 10 mg/day and a one-year study of FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg) the rates of discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse event were 2.7% for FOSALAN 10 mg/day vs. 10.5% for placebo, and 6.4% for once weekly FOSALAN Once-Weekly 70 mg vs. 8.6% for placebo. The adverse reactions considered by the investigators as possibly, probably, or definitely drug related in greater than or equal to 2% of patients treated with either FOSALAN or placebo are presented in Table 3.
                                     Table 3: Osteoporosis Studies in Men
Adverse Reactions Considered Possibly, Probably, or
Definitely Drug Related by the Investigators and
Reported in Greater Than or Equal to 2% of Patients
Two-year Study                        One-year Study

FOSALAN         Placebo               FOSALAN         Placebo
10 mg/day          %                 Once-Weekly         %
%            (n=95)                 70 mg          (n=58)
(n=146)                                  %
(n=109)
Gastrointestinal acid regurgitation       4.1            3.2                    0.0                0.0 flatulence               4.1            1.1                    0.0                0.0 gastroesophageal         0.7            3.2                    2.8                0.0 reflux disease dyspepsia                3.4            0.0                    2.8                1.7 diarrhea                 1.4            1.1                    2.8                0.0 abdominal pain           2.1            1.1                    0.9                3.4 nausea                   2.1            0.0                    0.0                0.0 
FOSAVANCE
In a fifteen-week double-blind, multinational study in osteoporotic postmenopausal women (n=682) and men (n=35), the safety profile of FOSAVANCE (70 mg/2800 IU) was similar to that of FOSALAN once weekly 70 mg. In the 24-week double-blind extension study in women (n=619) and men (n=33), the safety profile of FOSAVANCE (70 mg/2800 IU) administered with an additional 2800 IU vitamin D3 was similar to that of FOSAVANCE (70 mg/2800 IU).
6.2 Post-Marketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of FOSALAN and FOSAVANCE 70 mg/ 5600 IU TABLETS. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Body as a Whole: hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria and angioedema. Transient symptoms of myalgia, malaise, asthenia and rarely, fever have been reported with alendronate, typically in association with initiation of treatment. Symptomatic hypocalcemia has occurred, generally in association with predisposing conditions. Peripheral edema.
Gastrointestinal: esophagitis, esophageal erosions, esophageal ulcers, esophageal stricture or perforation, and oropharyngeal ulceration. Gastric or duodenal ulcers, some severe and with complications have also been reported [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Localized osteonecrosis of the jaw, generally associated with tooth extraction and/or local infection with delayed healing, has been reported [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
Musculoskeletal: bone, joint, and/or muscle pain, occasionally severe, and incapacitating [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]; joint swelling; low-energy femoral shaft and subtrochanteric fractures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
Nervous System: dizziness and vertigo.
Pulmonary: acute asthma exacerbations.
Skin: rash (occasionally with photosensitivity), pruritus, alopecia, severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Special Senses: uveitis, scleritis or episcleritis. Very rare: Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal (bisphosphonate class adverse reaction).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product.
Any suspected adverse events should be reported to the Ministry of Health according to the National Regulation by using an online form https://sideeffects.health.gov.il
          6.3    Driving and using machines
FOSAVANCE may have a moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines in patients that experience certain adverse reactions (for example blurred vision, dizziness and severe bone muscle or joint pain).