Ketoconazole HRA 200 mg

/ CTS

Treatment should be initiated and supervised by physicians experienced in endocrinology or internal medicine and having the appropriate facilities for monitoring of biochemical responses since the dose must be adjusted to meet the patient’s therapeutic need, based on the normalisation of cortisol levels.
Initiation: The recommended dose at initiation in adults and adolescents is 400-600 mg/day taken orally in two or three divided doses and this dose can be increased rapidly to 800-1,200 mg/day in two or three divided doses.
At treatment initiation, 24-hour urinary free cortisol should be controlled every few days/weeks.
Adjustment of the posology: Ketoconazole daily dose should be periodically adjusted on an individual basis with the aim to normalise urinary free cortisol and/or plasma cortisol levels.
– A dose increase of 200 mg/day every 7 to 28 days may be considered if urinary free cortisol and/or plasma cortisol levels are above the normal range, as long as the dose is tolerated by the patient;
– A maintenance dose from 400 mg/day to a maximal dose of 1,200 mg/day taken orally in 2 to 3 divided doses may be required to restore normal cortisol levels. In most of the publications the maintenance dose varied between 600 mg/day and 800 mg/day;
– When the effective dose of ketoconazole is established, monitoring of urinary free cortisol and/or plasma cortisol levels may be performed every 3 to 6 months;
– In the case of adrenal insufficiency and depending on the severity of the event, the dose of Ketoconazole HRA should be decreased by at least 200 mg/day or the treatment should be temporarily discontinued and/or a corticosteroid therapy should be added until the resolution of the event.
ketoconazole can be reintroduced thereafter at a lower dose;
– Treatment with ketoconazole can be stopped abruptly without a need for progressive dose decrease where a change in the therapeutic strategy (e.g. surgery) is desired.
Monitoring of liver function: Before starting the treatment, it is mandatory:
– to measure liver enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, gammaGT and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin
– to inform the patients about the risk of hepatotoxicity, including to stop the treatment and to contact their doctor immediately if they feel unwell or in the event of symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain or dark urine. If these occur, treatment should be stopped immediately and liver function tests should be performed.
Due to the known hepatotoxicity of ketoconazole, the treatment must not be initiated in patients with liver enzymes levels above 2 times the upper limit of normal.
During the treatment:
– close clinical follow-up should be undertaken
– measurement of liver enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, gamma GT and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin, should be performed at frequent intervals:
– weekly for one month after initiation of the treatment
– then monthly for 6 months
– weekly during one month whenever the dose was increased.
In the case of an increase in liver enzymes of less than 3 times the upper limit of normal, more frequent monitoring of liver function tests should be performed and the daily dose should be decreased by at least 200 mg.
In the case of an increase in liver enzymes equal to or greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal, ketoconazole should be stopped immediately and should not be reintroduced due to the risk of serious hepatic toxicity. ketoconazole should be discontinued without any delay if clinical symptoms of hepatitis develop.
In case of long term treatment (more than 6 months): Although hepatotoxicity is usually observed at treatment initiation and within the first six months of treatment, monitoring of liver enzymes should be done under medical criteria. As a precautionary measure, in case of a dose increase after the first six months of treatment, monitoring of liver enzymes should be repeated on a weekly basis for one month.
Dosing regimens for maintenance therapy: Subsequent maintenance therapy can be administered in one of two ways:
– Block-only regimen: the maintenance dose of ketoconazole may be continued as described above;
– Block-and-replace regimen: the maintenance dose of ketoconazole should be further increased by 200 mg and concomitant corticosteroid replacement therapy should be added.
Elderly patients: Data on the use of ketoconazole in patients older than 65 years are limited, but there is no evidence to suggest that specific dose adjustment is required in these patients.
Renal impairment: Although data are limited, the pharmacokinetics of ketoconazole are not significantly different in patients with renal failure compared to healthy subjects, and no specific dose adjustment is recommended in this population.
Hepatic impairment: Ketoconazole is contraindicated in patients with acute or chronic hepatic impairment. The treatment must not be initiated in patients with liver enzymes levels above 2 times the upper limit of normal.
Paediatric population: The safety and efficacy of Ketoconazole HRA in children aged less than 12 years have not been established.
Currently available data are described in sections 4.8, 5.1 and 5.2 at the attached doctor’s leaflet but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Method of administration: Oral use.

Ketoconazole HRA is indicated for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome in adults and adolescents above the age of 12 years.

– Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
– Hypersensitivity to any imidazole antifungal medication product;
– Acute or chronic liver disease and/or if pre-treatment liver enzymes levels are above 2 times the upper limit of normal.
– Pregnancy
– Breastfeeding
– Congenital or documented acquired QTc prolongation
– Concomitant therapy with any of the following medicinal products which may interact and result in potentially life-threatening adverse reactions:
– CYP3A4 metabolised HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g. simvastatin, atorvastatin and lovastatin) due to an increased risk of skeletal muscle toxicity including rhabdomyolysis
– eplerenone due to an increased risk of hyperkalemia and hypotension
– substances that may have their plasma concentrations increased and have QT prolonging potential: methadone, disopyramide, quinidine, dronedarone, pimozide, sertindole, saquinavir (saquinavir/ritonavir 1000/100 mg bid), ranolazine, mizolastine, halofantrine o dabigatran due to an increased bleeding risk.
– triazolam, oral midazolam and alprazolam due to potential for prolonged or increased sedation and respiratory depression.
– ergot alkaloids (e.g. dihydroergotamine, ergometrine (ergonovine), ergotamine and methylergometrine (methylergonovine) due to an increased risk of ergotism and other serious vasospastic adverse reactions
– lurasidone
– quetiapine due to an increased risk of toxicity
– telithromycin and clarithromycin in patients with severe renal impairment due to an increased risk of hepatotoxicity and QT interval prolongation.
– felodipine, nisoldipine due to an increased risk of oedema and congestive heart failure
– colchicine in patients with renal impairment due to an increased risk of severe adverse reactions
– irinotecan due to an alteration of the metabolism of this medicinal product
– everolimus, sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) due to an increase of the plasma concentrations of these medicinal products.
– vardenafil in men older than 75-years due to increased risk of adverse reactions.
– paritaprevir/ombitasvir (ritonavir) due to increased risk of adverse reactions.
– fesoterodine and solifenacin in patients with renal impairment.
– tolvaptan used for a specific disease called “syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion”.
The list above is not an inclusive list of compounds that may interact with ketoconazole and result in potentially life-threatening reactions.

Monitoring of liver function: Liver enzymes should be monitored in all patients receiving ketoconazole. Due to the risk of serious hepatic toxicity, close follow-up of patients is required.
Monitoring of adrenal function: Adrenal function should be monitored at regular intervals since adrenal insuficiency can occur during the treatment under conditions of a relative cortisol deficiency due to an increased glucocorticoid demand (e.g. in case of stress, surgery, or infection); and/or in case of ketoconazole overtreatment (for the patients treated with a block-only regimen); or if there is insufficient glucocorticoid replacement therapy (for the patients treated with a block-and-replace regimen). Serum or plasma and/or salivary cortisol and/or urinary free cortisol levels should be monitored, within one week following ketoconazole initiation as a minimum, and then periodically thereafter. When urinary free/serum/ plasma cortisol levels are normalised or close to target and the effective dose of ketoconazole is established, monitoring can be undertaken every 3 to 6 months.
All patients should be monitored and informed about the signs and symptoms associated with hypocortisolism (e.g. weakness, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight-loss, hypotension, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia and/or hypoglycaemia).
If clinical symptoms are suggestive of adrenal insufficiency, cortisol levels should be measured and Ketoconazole HRA should be temporarily discontinued or the dose reduced and if necessary corticosteroid substitution should be initiated. ketoconazole can be resumed thereafter at a lower dose.
Block and replace regimen: Patients treated with a block-and-replace regimen should be taught to adjust their glucocorticoid replacement therapy dose under conditions of stress. In addition, they should receive an emergency card and be equipped with an emergency glucocorticoid set.
Monitoring of the QTc interval: Monitoring for an effect on the QTc interval is advisable. An ECG should be performed:
– Prior to the start of ketoconazole
– Within one week after the beginning of the treatment
– As clinically indicated thereafter.
In case of co-administration of a medicinal product known to increase QTc interval, ECG monitoring is recommended.
Contraception: Women must be provided with comprehensive information on pregnancy prevention. As a minimum requirement, women of childbearing potential must use an effective method of contraception.
Decreased gastric acidity: Absorption is impaired when gastric acidity is decreased. Acid-neutralising medicines (e.g. aluminium hydroxide) should not be administered for at least 2 hours after the intake of ketoconazole. In patients with achlorhydria, such as certain AIDS patients and patients on acid secretion suppressors (e.g. H2-antagonists, proton pump inhibitors), it is advised to administer ketoconazole with an acidic beverage e.g. cola beverage, orange juice.
If acid secretion suppressors are added to or removed from the concomitant medicinal products then ketoconazole dose should be adjusted according to cortisol levels.
Potential interaction with medicinal products: Ketoconazole has a high potential for clinically important medicinal products interactions.
Ketoconazole is mainly metabolised through CYP3A4. Coadministration of potent enzyme inducers of CYP3A4 may decrease the bioavailibity of ketoconazole. A review of concomitant medicinal products should be conducted when initiating ketoconazole treatment since ketoconazole is a known strong CYP3A4 inhibitor.
The SmPC for concomitantly used products must be consulted for the recommendations regarding coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Ketoconazole is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4: inhibition of CYP3A4 by ketoconazole can increase patients’
exposure to a number of medicinal products which are metabolised through this enzymatic system.
Ketoconazole is also a potent inhibitor of P-gp: inhibition of P-gp by ketoconazole can increase patients’ exposure to medicinal products which are P-gp substrates.
CYP3A4-metabolised and/or P-gp substrates known to prolong the QT interval may be contraindicated or not recommended depending on the observed or expected effect with ketoconazole (i.e. resulting in augmentation of the plasma concentration, AUC, Cmax of the drugs) and the known therapeutic margins of the drugs. Some combinations may lead to an increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, including occurrences of torsade de pointes, a potentially fatal arrhythmia.
Use with hepatotoxic medicinal products: Co-administration of ketoconazole and other medicinal products known to have potentially hepatotoxic effect (e.g. paracetamol) is not recommended since the combination may lead to increased risk of liver damage.
Use with pasireotide: Co-administration of ketoconazole and pasireotide is not recommended since the combination can lead to QT prolongation in patients with known cardiac rhythm disorders.
Coexisting inflammatory/autoimmune disorders: Exacerbation or development of inflammatory/autoimmune disorders has been described after Cushing’s syndrome remission, including after treatment with ketoconazole. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome and coexisting inflammatory/autoimmune disorders should be supervised after normalisation of cortisol levels on ketoconazole.
Alcohol: Patients should be advised against alcohol consumption while on treatment.
Warning regarding excipients: This medicinal product contains lactose.
Patients with congenital lactase deficiency, galactosaemia or glucose-galactose intolerance must not be given this medicine unless strictly necessary.

The most frequent adverse reactions are adrenal insufficiency, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, pruritus, rash and the hepatic enzymes increased.
The most serious adverse reaction is hepatotoxicity, primarily as acute hepatocellular toxicity, but may also result in cholestatic injury or a mixed pattern of toxicity. ASAT, ALAT, gammaGT, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase should be monitored at frequent intervals during treatment.
See prescribing information for full details.

Concomitant therapy with medicinal products that are contraindicated during treatment with ketoconazole and resulting in potentially life-threatening adverse reactions:
– CYP3A4 metabolised HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g. simvastatin, atorvastatin and lovastatin) due to an increased risk of skeletal muscle toxicity including rhabdomyolysis;
– eplerenone due to an increased risk of hyperkalemia and hypotension;
– substances that may have their plasma concentrations increased and have QT prolonging potential:
methadone, disopyramide, quinidine, dronedarone, pimozide, sertindole, saquinavir (saquinavir/ritonavir 1000/100 mg bid), ranolazine, mizolastine, halofantrine;
– dabigatran due to an increased bleeding risk;
– triazolam, oral midazolam and alprazolam due to potential for prolonged or increased sedation and respiratory depression;
– ergot alkaloids (e.g. dihydroergotamine, ergometrine (ergonovine), ergotamine and methylergometrine (methylergonovine) due to an increased risk of ergotism and other serious vasospastic adverse reactions
– lurasidone;
– quetiapine due to an increased risk of toxicity;
– telithromycin and clarithromycin in patients with severe renal impairment due to an increased risk of hepatotoxicity and QT interval prolongation;
– felodipine, nisoldipine due to an increased risk of oedema and congestive heart failure;
– colchicine in patients with renal impairment due to an increased risk of severe adverse reactions;
– irinotecan due to an alteration of the metabolism of this medicinal product;
– everolimus, sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) due to an increase of the plasma concentrations of these medicinal products;
– vardenafil in men older than 75-years due to increased risk of adverse reactions
– paritaprevir/ombitasvir (ritonavir) due to increased risk of adverse reactions;
– fesoterodine and solifenacin in patients with renal impairment;
– tolvaptan used for a specific disease called “syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion”.
The list above is not an inclusive list of compounds that may interact with ketoconazole and result in potentially life-threatening reactions.
Medicinal products affecting the absorption of ketoconazole: Medicinal products affecting gastric acidity impair the absorption of ketoconazole.
Effects of other medicinal products on the metabolism of ketoconazole:
Ketoconazole is mainly metabolised by cytochrome CYP3A4.
Enzyme-inducing medicinal products such as rifampicin, rifabutin, carbamazepine, isoniazid, nevirapine, mitotane and phenytoin may significantly reduce the bioavailability of ketoconazole. Use of ketoconazole with potent enzyme inducers is not recommended.
Potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g. antivirals such as ritonavir, ritonavir-boosted darunavir and ritonavirboosted fosamprenavir) may increase the bioavailability of ketoconazole, these medicinal products should be used with caution when co-administered with ketoconazole and patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. Ketoconazole dose should be adjusted accordingly.
Effects of ketoconazole on the metabolism of the other medicinal products:
– Ketoconazole is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 and can inhibit the metabolism of medicinal products metabolised by this enzyme. This can result in an increase and/or prolongation of their effects, including adverse reactions.
– In vitro data indicate that ketoconazole is an inhibitor of CYP1A2 and does not significantly inhibit CYP 2A6 and 2E1. At clinically relevant concentrations inhibition of CYP2B6, 2C9/C8, 2C19 and 2D6 by ketoconazole cannot be excluded.
– Ketoconazole can inhibit the transport of medicinal products by P-gp, which may result in an increased plasma concentration of these medicinal products.
– Ketoconazole inhibits BCRP (Breast Cancer Resistance Protein) in in vitro studies. Data of inhibition indicate that risk of interaction with BCRP substrates cannot be excluded at the systemic level with very high doses of ketoconazole. However, ketoconazole may be an inhibitor of BCRP at the intestinal level at clinically relevant concentrations. Considering the rapid absorption of ketoconazole, intake of BCRP substrates should be postponed for 2 hours after ketoconazole intake.
See prescribing information for full details.

Pregnancy: There are no or limited amount of data from the use of Ketoconazole HRA in pregnant women. Studies in animal have shown reproductive toxicity. Preclinical data show that ketoconazole crosses the
placenta and is teratogenic. Ketoconazole HRA is contraindicated during pregnancy and it should not be used in women of childbearing potential not using an effective method of contraception.
Lactation: Since ketoconazole is excreted in the milk, mothers who are under treatment must not breast-feed whilst being treated with Ketoconazole HRA.

There is no known antidote to ketoconazole. The maximal dose that was used for treatment of Cushing’s syndrome is 1,600 mg/day.
In the event of accidental overdose, treatment consists of supportive measures. Within the first hour after ingestion gastric lavage may be performed. Activated charcoal may be given if considered appropriate.
In the case of signs suggestive of an adrenal insufficiency, in addition to the general measures to eliminate the medicinal product and reduce its absorption, a 100 mg dose of hydrocortisone should be administered at once, together with saline and glucose infusions. Close surveillance will be necessary: blood pressure and fluid and electrolyte balance should be monitored for a few days.