ARAVA- leflunomide tablet, film coated
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY and HEPATOTOXICITY
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
ARAVA is contraindicated for use in pregnant women because of the potential for fetal harm. Teratogenicity and embryo-lethality occurred in animals administered leflunomide at doses lower than the human exposure level. Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment with ARAVA in females of reproductive potential. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during ARAVA treatment and during an accelerated drug elimination procedure after ARAVA treatment. Stop ARAVA and use an accelerated drug elimination procedure if the patient becomes pregnant. [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.3), Use in Special Populations (8.1, 8.3)], and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]
Hepatotoxicity
Severe liver injury, including fatal liver failure, has been reported in patients treated with ARAVA. ARAVA is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Concomitant use of ARAVA with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs may increase the risk of liver injury. Patients with pre-existing acute or chronic liver disease, or those with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2�ULN before initiating treatment, are at increased risk and should not be treated with ARAVA. Monitor ALT levels at least monthly for six months after starting ARAVA, and thereafter every 6�8 weeks. If leflunomide-induced liver injury is suspected, stop ARAVA treatment, start an accelerated drug elimination procedure, and monitor liver tests weekly until normalized. [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.3), Use in Special Populations (8.6)]
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
ARAVA is indicated for the treatment of adults with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
2.1 Recommended Dosage
The recommended dosage of ARAVA is 20 mg once daily. Treatment may be initiated with or without a loading dose, depending upon the patient�s risk of ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity and ARAVA-associated myelosuppression. The loading dosage provides steady-state concentrations more rapidly.
For patients who are at low risk for ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity and ARAVA-associated myelosuppression the recommended ARAVA loading dosage is 100 mg once daily for 3 days. Subsequently administer 20 mg once daily.
For patients at high risk for ARAVA-associated hepatotoxicity (e.g., those taking concomitant methotrexate) or ARAVA-associated myelosuppression (e.g., patients taking concomitant immunosuppressants), the recommended ARAVA dosage is 20 mg once daily without a loading dose [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.4)].
The maximum recommended daily dosage is 20 mg once per day. Consider dosage reduction to 10 mg once daily for patients who are not able to tolerate 20 mg daily (i.e., for patients who experience any adverse events listed in Table 1).
Monitor patients carefully after dosage reduction and after stopping therapy with ARAVA, since the active metabolite of leflunomide, teriflunomide, is slowly eliminated from the plasma [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. After stopping ARAVA treatment, an accelerated drug elimination procedure is recommended to reduce the plasma concentrations of the active metabolite, teriflunomide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. Without use of an accelerated drug elimination procedure, it may take up to 2 years to reach undetectable plasma teriflunomide concentrations after stopping ARAVA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].