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Alosetron (Monograph)

Brand name: Lotronex
Drug class: Anti-inflammatory Agents
VA class: GA900
Chemical name: 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-5-methyl-2-[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl]- 1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-1-one monohydrochloride
Molecular formula: C17H18N4O•HCl
CAS number: 122852-69-1

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Oct 26, 2023. Written by ASHP.

Warning

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS):

FDA approved a REMS for alosetron to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks. The REMS may apply to one or more preparations of alosetron and consists of the following: elements to assure safe use. See https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/rems/.

Warning

    Serious GI Effects
  • Infrequent but serious adverse GI effects reported, including ischemic colitis and serious complications of constipation; in some cases, resulted in hospitalization, blood transfusion, surgery (e.g., colectomy) and/or death. (See Warnings under Cautions.)

  • Discontinue immediately and contact clinician if manifestations of constipation or ischemic colitis develop.

  • Do not resume alosetron in patients who develop ischemic colitis.

  • Contact clinician if constipation does not resolve after discontinuance of alosetron; if constipation resolves after discontinuance, resume therapy only on advice of clinician.

    Restricted Use
  • Voluntarily withdrawn from US market by manufacturer in November 2000 because of numerous reports of severe adverse effects, including ischemic colitis, severely obstructed or ruptured bowel, and death; FDA approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for alosetron in June 2002, permitting remarketing under restricted conditions of use.

  • Approved only for severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women with chronic symptoms who have not responded adequately to conventional therapy. (See Uses.)

Introduction

Selective serotonergic type 3 (5-HT3) receptor inhibitor; may modulate serotonin-sensitive GI processes.

Uses for Alosetron

Severe Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Women

Only for management of severe diarrhea-predominant IBS in women with chronic symptoms (generally lasting ≥6 months) who have had anatomic or biochemical GI abnormalities excluded and have not responded to conventional therapy. Diarrhea-predominant IBS is considered severe if accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: frequent and severe abdominal pain and/or discomfort; frequent bowel urgency or fecal incontinence; or disability or restriction of daily activities.

Use restricted to patients for whom benefit-to-risk balance is considered to be most favorable. (See Boxed Warning.)

Efficacy in men not adequately demonstrated in clinical studies.

Alosetron Dosage and Administration

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally without regard to meals.

If a dose is missed, skip dose and take next dose at regularly scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for missed dose.

Dosage

Available as alosetron hydrochloride; dosage expressed in terms of alosetron.

Adults

Severe Diarrhea-predominant IBS in Women
Oral

Initially, 0.5 mg twice daily is recommended to minimize risk of constipation (although efficacy of this dosage has not been established in clinical studies).

If constipation occurs at a dosage of 0.5 mg twice daily, interrupt therapy until constipation resolves; may then reinitiate at a reduced dosage of 0.5 mg once daily. If constipation recurs, immediately discontinue therapy.

May continue on a dosage of 0.5 mg once or twice daily as maintenance therapy if dosage is well tolerated and IBS symptoms are adequately controlled. If patient tolerates, but does not respond adequately to the dosage after 4 weeks, may increase up to 1 mg twice daily. If adequate control of symptoms not achieved after 4 weeks on a dosage of 1 mg twice daily, discontinue therapy.

Discontinue immediately and permanently in patients who develop ischemic colitis. (See Ischemic Colitis under Cautions.)

Special Populations

Hepatic Impairment

No specific dosage recommendations at this time. (See Hepatic Impairment under Cautions.)

Renal Impairment

No specific dosage recommendations at this time. (See Renal Impairment under Cautions.)

Geriatric Patients

No specific dosage recommendations at this time. (See Geriatric Use under Cautions.)

Cautions for Alosetron

Contraindications

Warnings/Precautions

Warnings

Serious Complications of Constipation

Serious complications of constipation (e.g., obstruction, perforation, ileus, impaction, toxic megacolon, secondary bowel ischemia, death) reported infrequently. (See Boxed Warning.)

No dose-response relationship has been established; reported with dosages of 1 mg twice daily or less.

Geriatric or debilitated patients or those taking drugs that decrease GI motility may be at increased risk.

Discontinue immediately if constipation occurs. If constipation resolves, resume therapy only on the advice of clinician. (See Dosage under Dosage and Administration.)

Ischemic Colitis

Ischemic colitis reported infrequently; may be life-threatening. (See Boxed Warning.)

No dose-response relationship has been established; reported with dosages of 1 mg twice daily or less.

Discontinue immediately if symptoms of ischemic colitis (e.g., rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, new/worsening abdominal pain) occur. Promptly evaluate and perform appropriate diagnostic tests.

Do not resume therapy in patients who develop ischemic colitis. (See Contraindications under Cautions.)

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category B.

No adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; no evidence of fetal harm demonstrated in animal studies. Use during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Lactation

Distributed into milk in rats; not known whether distributed into milk in humans. Caution advised.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in children <18 years of age.

Not recommended in pediatric population because of risk of serious GI complications.

Geriatric Use

Geriatric patients may be at greater risk for complications of constipation. Exercise appropriate caution and follow-up.

Hepatic Impairment

Extensively metabolized in liver; increased exposure to alosetron and/or its metabolites likely in patients with hepatic impairment, which can increase risk of serious adverse effects.

Use with caution in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment; contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. (See Contraindications under Cautions and see Absorption: Special Populations, under Pharmacokinetics.)

Renal Impairment

Renal impairment not expected to affect clearance of alosetron. (See Elimination: Special Populations, under Pharmacokinetics.)

Not evaluated in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Common Adverse Effects

Constipation, abdominal discomfort or pain, nausea, GI discomfort or pain, abdominal distention, regurgitation and reflux, hemorrhoids.

In women with severe diarrhea-predominant IBS, diarrhea and flatulence also reported.

Drug Interactions

Metabolized by CYP isoenzymes, principally by CYP1A2, and to a lesser extent by CYP3A4 and 2C9.

Inhibits CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 in vitro at very high concentrations (27-fold higher than peak plasma concentrations observed with 1-mg dose); in vivo, inhibits CYP1A2, but no effect on CYP2E1. Inhibits N-acetyltransferase in vivo. Does not inhibit CYP2C9, C19, 2E1, or 3A4.

Does not appear to induce CYP3A, 2E1, or 2C19.

Drugs Affecting or Metabolized by Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (altered alosetron clearance) when used concomitantly with drugs that inhibit or induce CYP1A2, 3A4, or 2C9.

CYP1A2 inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use.

CYP3A4 inhibitors: Caution advised when used concomitantly.

Potential to inhibit clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2. Unlikely to inhibit clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9, 2C19, 2E1, or 3A4.

Drugs Metabolized by N-Acetyltransferase

Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (decreased metabolism of drugs metabolized via N-acetyltransferase).

Specific Drugs

Drug

Interaction

Comments

Antifungals, azoles (itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)

Possible increased plasma alosetron concentrations

Ketoconazole: Increased systemic exposure of alosetron by 29%

Use concomitantly with caution

Cimetidine

Possible increased plasma alosetron concentrations

Concomitant use not recommended unless clinically required

Cisapride

No substantial effect on cisapride metabolism or QT interval

Fluvoxamine

Increased plasma concentrations and half-life of alosetron by approximately sixfold and threefold, respectively

Concomitant use contraindicated

Hormonal contraceptives, oral (ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel)

No clinically important effect on plasma contraceptive concentration

Hydralazine

Possible increased concentrations of hydralazine via N-acetyltransferase inhibition

Isoniazid

Possible increased concentrations of isoniazid via N-acetyltransferase inhibition

Macrolides (clarithromycin, telithromycin)

Possible increased plasma alosetron concentrations

Use concomitantly with caution

Procainamide

Possible increased concentrations of procainamide via N-acetyltransferase inhibition

Protease inhibitors

Possible increased plasma alosetron concentrations

Use concomitantly with caution

Quinolone anti-infectives

Possible increased plasma alosetron concentrations

Concomitant use not recommended unless clinically required

Theophylline

Potential inhibition of theophylline metabolism; however, no clinically important effect observed in one study

Alosetron Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

About 50–60%.

Food

25% decrease in absorption; 15 minute delay in reaching peak plasma concentration.

Special Populations

In some studies in geriatric adults, about 40% increase in plasma concentrations observed.

In one female with severe hepatic impairment, exposure to alosetron following administration of a single 1-mg dose was approximately 14-fold higher than that reported in healthy individuals. In another female with moderate hepatic impairment, exposure to alosetron was increased by 1.6-fold.

Distribution

Plasma Protein Binding

82%.

Elimination

Metabolism

Extensively metabolized in liver to several metabolites. Circulating metabolites are present in low concentrations (≤15% of unchanged alosetron), and therefore not likely to contribute to pharmacologic activity of the drug.

Elimination Route

Excreted principally in urine (74%), mainly as metabolites, and in feces (11%). Also excreted as unchanged drug in urine (13%) and feces (1%).

Half-life

About 1.5 hours.

Special Populations

Renal impairment (Clcr 4–56 mL/minute) has no effect on renal elimination of alosetron. Effects on metabolite pharmacokinetics not studied in patients with renal impairment.

Stability

Storage

Oral

Tablets

20–25°C; protect from light and moisture.

Actions

Advice to Patients

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

* available from one or more manufacturer, distributor, and/or repackager by generic (nonproprietary) name

Alosetron Hydrochloride

Routes

Dosage Forms

Strengths

Brand Names

Manufacturer

Oral

Tablets, film-coated

0.5 mg (of alosetron)*

Alosetron Hydrochloride Tablets

Lotronex

Prometheus

1 mg (of alosetron)*

Alosetron Hydrochloride Tablets

Lotronex

Prometheus

AHFS DI Essentials™. © Copyright 2024, Selected Revisions November 5, 2018. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

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