PYLERA

Clinical summary

Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PYLERA is a combination of metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antimicrobial, tetracycline,- a tetracycline class antimicrobial and bismuth subcitrate potassium, indicated for use, in combination with omeprazole, for the treatment of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease (active or history of within the past 5 years) to eradicate H. pylori. ( 1.1 ) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of PYLERA and other antibacterial drugs, PYLERA should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in Patients with Active Duodenal Ulcer or History of Duodenal Ulcer Disease PYLERA in combination with omeprazole are indicated for the treatment of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease (active or history of within the past 5 years) to eradicate H. pylori . The eradication of Helicobacter pylori has been shown to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence. 1.2 Usage To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of PYLERA and other antibacterial drugs, PYLERA should be used to treat only indicated infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administer three PYLERA capsules 4 times a day (after meals and at bedtime) for 10 days. One omeprazole 20 mg capsule should be taken twice a day with PYLERA after the morning and evening meal for 10 days (Table 1). Table 1: Daily Dosing Schedule for PYLERA Time of dose Number of capsules of PYLERA Number of capsules of omeprazole 20 mg After morning meal 3 1 After lunch 3 0 After evening meal 3 1 At bedtime 3 0 Instruct patients to swallow the PYLERA capsules whole with a full glass of water (8 ounces). Ingestion of adequate amounts of fluid, particularly with the bedtime dose, is recommended to reduce the risk of esophageal irritation and ulceration by tetracycline hydrochloride. If a dose is missed, patients should continue the normal dosing schedule until medication is gone. Patients should not take double doses. If more than 4 doses are missed, the prescriber should be contacted. Administer three PYLERA capsules 4 times a day (after meals and at bedtime) for 10 days. ( 2 ) Administer PYLERA with omeprazole 20 mg twice daily (after the morning and evening meals). ( 2 ) Warnings and cautions 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Fetal Toxicity: Advise pregnant women of the risk throughout pregnancy for retardation of skeletal development seen in animal studies and permanent discoloration of teeth with tetracycline if used during the second or third trimester. ( 5.2 , 8.1 ) Maternal Toxicity: Risk of hepatotoxicity in pregnant women with high doses of intravenous tetracycline also resulting in stillborn or premature birth. ( 5.3 , 8.1 ) Tooth Enamel discoloration and hypoplasia: permanent discoloration may develop with use during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to the age of 8 years). ( 5.4 ) Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) including toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported with metronidazole. If symptoms or signs of SCARs develop, discontinue PYLERA immediately and institute appropriate therapy. ( 5.5 ) Central and Peripheral Nervous System Effects: encephalopathy, convulsive seizures, aseptic meningitis and peripheral neuropathy with metronidazole, intracranial hypertension with tetracycline and neurotoxicity with bismuth-containing products. Monitor patients with CNS conditions closely and discontinue promptly if abnormal neurologic signs develop. ( 5.6 ) Photosensitivity: avoid exposure to sun and sun lamps. ( 5.8 ) Blood Dyscrasias: Use with caution in patients with a history of blood dyscrasias. ( 5.10 ) Hepatic Impairment: Not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment. ( 5.11 ) 5.1 Potential for Carcinogenicity Metronidazole, a component of PYLERA, has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and rats. Tumors affecting the liver, lungs, mammary and lymphatic tissues have been detected in several studies of metronidazole in rats and mice, but not hamsters [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13 )] . It is unknown whether metronidazole is associated with carcinogenicity in humans. 5.2 Fetal Toxicity Tetracycline can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Based on animal data, use of dru