Soriatane

Patient Information

SORIATANE
(sor-RYE-uh-tane)
(acitretin) Capsules

Read this Medication Guide carefully before you start taking SORIATANE and read it each time you get more SORIATANE. There may be new information.

The first information in this Medication Guide is about birth defects and how to avoid pregnancy. After this section there is important safety information about possible effects for any patient taking SORIATANE. All patients should read this entire Medication Guide carefully. This information does not take the place of talking with your prescriber about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about SORIATANE?

SORIATANE can cause serious side effects, including:

• Severe birth defects. If you are a female who can get pregnant, you should use SORIATANE only if you are not pregnant now, can avoid becoming pregnant for at least 3 years, and other medicines do not work for your severe psoriasis or you cannot use other psoriasis medicines. Information about effects on unborn babies and about how to avoid pregnancy is found in the next section: “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”

 

 

• Liver problems, including abnormal liver function tests and inflammation of your liver (hepatitis). Your prescriber should do blood tests to check how your liver is working before you start taking and during treatment with SORIATANE. Stop taking SORIATANE and call your prescriber right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem:
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
  • nausea and vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • dark urine

What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?

• Before you receive your first prescription for SORIATANE, you should have discussed and signed a Patient Agreement/Informed Consent for Female Patients form with your prescriber. This is to help make sure you understand the risk of birth defects and how to avoid getting pregnant. If you did not talk to your prescriber about this and sign the form, contact your prescriber.

Important: If you are a female who can become pregnant:

• You must not take SORIATANE if you are pregnant or might become pregnant during treatment or at any time for at least 3 years after you stop treatment because SORIATANE can cause severe birth defects.
• During treatment with SORIATANE and for 2 months after you stop treatment with SORIATANE, you must avoid drinks, foods, and all medicines that contain alcohol. This includes over-thecounter products that contain alcohol. Avoiding alcohol is very important, because alcohol changes SORIATANE into a drug that may take longer than 3 years to leave your body. The chance of birth defects may last longer than 3 years if you swallow any form of alcohol during treatment with SORIATANE and for 2 months after you stop taking SORIATANE.
• You and your prescriber must be sure you are not pregnant before you start therapy with SORIATANE. You must have negative results from 2 pregnancy tests before you start treatment with SORIATANE. A negative result shows you are not pregnant. Because it takes a few days after pregnancy begins for a test to show that you are pregnant, the first negative test may not ensure you are not pregnant. Do not start SORIATANE until you have negative results from 2 pregnancy tests.
  • The first pregnancy test (urine or blood) will be done at the time you and your prescriber decide if SORIATANE might be right for you.
  • The second pregnancy test will usually be done during the first 5 days of your menstrual period. You must start taking SORIATANE within 7 days of when the urine or blood for the second pregnancy test is collected.
• After you start taking SORIATANE, you must have a pregnancy test repeated each month that you are taking SORIATANE. This is to be sure that you are not pregnant during treatment because SORIATANE can cause birth defects. In addition, your prescription of SORIATANE will be limited to a monthly supply.
• For at least 3 years after stopping treatment with SORIATANE, you must have a pregnancy test repeated every 3 months to make sure that you are not pregnant.
• Discuss effective birth control (contraception) with your prescriber. You must use 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) at the same time during all of the following:
  • for at least 1 month before beginning treatment with SORIATANE
  • during treatment with SORIATANE
  • for at least 3 years after stopping treatment with SORIATANE
• If you are sexually active, you must use 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) at the same time even if you think you cannot become pregnant, unless 1 of the following is true for you:
  • You had your womb (uterus) removed during an operation (a hysterectomy).
  • Your prescriber said you have gone completely through menopause (the “change of life”).
• You can get a free birth control counseling session and pregnancy testing from aprescriberor family planning expert. Your prescriber can give you a Contraception Counseling Referral Form for this free session.

The following are considered effective forms of birth control:

Primary Forms:

• having your tubes tied (tubal ligation)
• partner’s vasectomy
• IUD (Intrauterine device)
• birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin (combination oral contraceptives); not progestin-only “minipills”
• hormonal birth control products that are injected, implanted, or inserted in your body
• birth control patch

Secondary Forms (use with a Primary Form):

• diaphragms with spermicide
• condoms (with or without spermicide)
• cervical caps with spermicide
• vaginal sponge (contains spermicide)

At least 1 of your 2 methods of birth control must be a primary form.

• If you have sex at any time without using 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) at the same time, or if you get pregnant or miss your period, stop using SORIATANE and call your prescriber right away.
• Consider “Emergency Contraception” (EC) if you have sex with a male without correctly using 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) at the same time. EC is also called “emergency birth control” which includes the “morning after” pill. Contact your prescriber as soon as possible if you have sex without using 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) at the same time, because EC works best if it is used within 1 or 2 days after sex. EC is not a replacement for your usual 2 effective forms of birth control (contraception) because it is not as effective as regular birth control methods. Contact your prescriber, women’s health centers, pharmacies, or hospital emergency rooms for information on how to get emergency contraception. A 24-hour, toll-free number (1-800-739-6700) is also available for patients to receive automated birth control and emergency contraception information.
• Stop taking SORIATANE right away and contact your prescriber if you get pregnant while taking SORIATANE or at any time for at least 3 years after treatment has stopped. You need to discuss the possible effects on the unborn baby with your prescriber.
• If you do become pregnant while taking SORIATANE or at any time for at least 3 years after stopping SORIATANE, you should report your pregnancy to Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. at 1-888- 784-3335 (1-888-STIEFEL) or directly to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088. Your name will be kept in private (confidential). The information you share will help the FDA and the manufacturer evaluate the Pregnancy Prevention Program for SORIATANE.
• Do not take SORIATANE if you are breastfeeding. SORIATANE can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. You will need to choose either to breast feed or take SORIATANE, but not both.Â

What should males know before taking SORIATANE?

Small amounts of SORIATANE are found in the semen of males taking SORIATANE. Based upon available information, it appears that these small amounts of SORIATANE in semen pose little, if any, risk to an unborn child while a male patient is taking the drug or after it is discontinued. Discuss any concerns you have about this with your prescriber.

All patients should read the rest of this Medication Guide.

What is SORIATANE?

SORIATANE is a medicine used to treat severe forms of psoriasis in adults. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes cells in the outer layer of the skin to grow faster than normal and pile up on the skin’s surface. In the most common type of psoriasis, the skin becomes inflamed and produces red, thickened areas, often with silvery scales.

Because SORIATANE can have serious side effects, you should talk with your prescriber about whether possible benefits of SORIATANE outweigh its possible risks.

SORIATANE may not work right away. You may have to wait 2 to 3 months before you get the full benefit of SORIATANE. Psoriasis gets worse for some patients when they first start treatment with SORIATANE. SORIATANE has not been studied in children.

Who should not take SORIATANE?

• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you can get pregnant. Do not take SORIATANE if you are pregnant or might get pregnant during treatment with SORIATANE or at any time for at least 3 years after you stop treatment with SORIATANE (see “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”).
• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you are breastfeeding. SORIATANE can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. You will need to choose either to breast feed or take SORIATANE, but not both.
• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you have severe liver or kidney disease.
• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you have repeated high blood lipids (fat in the blood).
• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you take these medicines:
  • methotrexate
  • tetracyclines

The use of these medicines with SORIATANE may cause serious side effects.

• Do NOT take SORIATANE if you are allergic to acitretin, the active ingredient in SORIATANE, to any of the other ingredients in SORIATANE (see the end of this Medication Guide for a list of all the ingredients in SORIATANE), or to any medicines that are like SORIATANE. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if any medicines you are allergic to are like SORIATANE.

Before taking SORIATANE, tell your prescriber about all your medical conditions, including if you have or have had:

• diabetes or high blood sugar
• liver problems
• kidney problems
• high cholesterol or high triglycerides (fat in the blood)
• heart disease
• depression
• alcoholism
• an allergic reaction to a medication

Your prescriber needs this information to decide if SORIATANE is right for you and to know what dose is best for you.

Tell your prescriber about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines can cause serious side effects if taken while you also take SORIATANE. Some medicines may affect how SORIATANE works, or SORIATANE may affect how other medicines work. Be especially sure to tell your prescriber if you are taking the following medicines:

• methotrexate
• tetracyclines
• glyburide
• phenytoin
• vitamin A supplements
• progestin-only oral contraceptives (“minipills”)
• TEGISON or TIGASON (etretinate). Tell your prescriber if you have ever taken this medicine in the past.
• St. John’s wort herbal supplement

Tell your prescriber if you are getting phototherapy treatment. Your doses of phototherapy may need to be changed to prevent a burn.

How should I take SORIATANE?

• Take SORIATANE with food.
• Be sure to take your medicine as prescribed by your prescriber. The dose of SORIATANE varies from patient to patient. The number of capsules you must take is chosen specially for you by your prescriber. This dose may change during treatment.
• If you miss a dose, do not double the next dose. Skip the missed dose and resume your normal schedule.
• If you take too much SORIATANE (overdose), call your local poison control center or emergency room.

You should have blood tests for liver function, cholesterol, and triglycerides before starting treatment and during treatment to check your body’s response to SORIATANE. Your prescriber may also do other tests. Once you stop taking SORIATANE, your psoriasis may return. Do not treat this new psoriasis with leftover SORIATANE. It is important to see your prescriber again for treatment recommendations because your situation may have changed.

What should I avoid while taking SORIATANE?

• Avoid pregnancy. See “What is the most important information I should know about SORIATANE?”, and “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”
• Avoid breastfeeding. See “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”
• Avoid alcohol. Females who are able to become pregnant must avoid drinks, foods, medicines, and overthe- counter products that contain alcohol. The risk of birth defects may continue for longer than 3 years if you swallow any form of alcohol during treatment with SORIATANE and for 2 months after stopping SORIATANE (see “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”).
• Avoid giving blood. Do not donate blood while you are taking SORIATANE and for at least 3 years after stopping treatment with SORIATANE. SORIATANE in your blood can harm an unborn baby if your blood is given to a pregnant woman. SORIATANE does not affect your ability to receive a blood transfusion.
• Avoid progestin-only birth control pills (“minipills”). This type of birth control pill may not work while you take SORIATANE. Ask your prescriber if you are not sure what type of pills you are using.
• Avoid night driving if you develop any sudden vision problems. Stop taking SORIATANE and call your prescriber if this occurs (see “What are the possible side effects of SORIATANE?”).
• Avoid non-medical ultraviolet (UV) light. SORIATANE can make your skin more sensitive to UV light. Do not use sunlamps, and avoid sunlight as much as possible. If you are taking light treatment (phototherapy), your prescriber may need to change your light dosages to avoid burns.
• Avoid dietary supplements containing vitamin A. SORIATANE is related to vitamin A. Therefore, do not take supplements containing vitamin A, because they may add to the unwanted effects of SORIATANE. Check with your prescriber or pharmacist if you have any questions about vitamin supplements.
• Do not share SORIATANE with anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms. Your medicine may harm them or their unborn child.

What are the possible side effects of SORIATANE?

SORIATANE can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about SORIATANE?” and “What are the important warnings and instructions for females taking SORIATANE?”

Stop taking SORIATANE and call your prescriber right away if you get the following signs or symptoms of possible serious side effects:

• Bad headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision. These symptoms can be signs of increased brain pressure that can lead to blindness or even death.
• Vision problems. Decreased vision in the dark (night blindness). Since this can start suddenly, you should be very careful when driving at night. This problem usually goes away when treatment with SORIATANE stops. Stop taking SORIATANE and call your prescriber if you develop any vision problems or eye pain.
• Depression. There have been some reports of patients developing mental problems including a depressed mood, aggressive feelings, or thoughts of ending their own life (suicide). These events, including suicidal behavior, have been reported in patients taking other drugs similar to SORIATANE as well as patients taking SORIATANE. Since other things may have contributed to these problems, it is not known if they are related to SORIATANE.
• Aches or pains in your bones, joints, muscles, or back, trouble moving, or loss of feeling in your hands or feet. These can be signs of abnormal changes to your bones or muscles.
• Frequent urination, great thirst or hunger. SORIATANE can affect blood sugar control, even if you do not already have diabetes. These are some of the signs of high blood sugar.
• Shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, weakness, trouble speaking, or swelling of a leg. These may be signs of a heart attack, blood clots, or stroke. SORIATANE can cause serious changes in blood fats (lipids). It is possible for these changes to cause blood vessel blockages that lead to heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots.
• Blood vessel problems. SORIATANE can cause fluid to leak out of your blood vessels into your body tissues. Call your prescriber right away if you have any of the following symptoms: sudden swelling in one part of your body or all over your body, weight gain, fever, lightheadedness or feeling faint, or muscle aches. If this happens, your prescriber will tell you to stop taking SORIATANE.
• Serious allergic reactions. See “Who should not take SORIATANE?” Serious allergic reactions can happen during treatment with SORIATANE. Call your prescriber right away if you get any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, itching, swelling of your face, mouth, or tongue, or problems breathing. If this happens, stop taking SORIATANE and do not take it again.
• Serious skin problems. SORIATANE can cause skin problems that can begin in a small area and then spread over large areas of your body. Call your prescriber right away if your skin becomes red and swollen (inflamed), you have peeling of your skin, or your skin becomes itchy and painful. You should stop SORIATANE if this happens.

Common side effects

If you develop any of these side effects or any unusual reaction, check with your prescriber to find out if you need to change the amount of SORIATANE you take. These side effects usually get better if the dose of SORIATANE is reduced or SORIATANE is stopped.

• Chapped lips, peeling fingertips, palms, and soles, itching, scaly skin all over, weak nails, sticky or fragile (weak) skin, runny or dry nose, or nosebleeds. Your prescriber or pharmacist can recommend a lotion or cream to help treat drying or chapping.
• Dry mouth
• Joint pain
• Tight muscles
• Hair loss. Most patients have some hair loss, but this condition varies among patients. No one can tell if you will lose hair, how much hair you may lose or if and when it may grow back. You may also lose your eyelashes.
• Dry eyes. SORIATANE may dry your eyes. Wearing contact lenses may be uncomfortable during and after treatment with SORIATANE because of the dry feeling in your eyes. If this happens, remove your contact lenses and call your prescriber. Also read the section about vision problems under “Serious side effects”.
• Rise in blood fats (lipids). SORIATANE can cause your blood fats (lipids) to rise. Most of the time this is not serious. But sometimes the increase can become a serious problem (see information under “Serious side effects”). You should have blood tests as directed by your prescriber.

Psoriasis gets worse for some patients when they first start treatment with SORIATANE. Some patients have more redness or itching. If this happens, tell your prescriber. These symptoms usually get better as treatment continues, but your prescriber may need to change the amount of your medicine.

These are not all the possible side effects of SORIATANE. For more information, ask your prescriber or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store SORIATANE?

• Store SORIATANE between 59°F to 77°F (15°C to 25°C).
• Keep SORIATANE away from sunlight, high temperature, and humidity.

Keep SORIATANE and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of SORIATANE

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use SORIATANE for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give SORIATANE to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about SORIATANE that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in SORIATANE?

Active ingredient: acitretin

Inactive ingredients: black monogramming ink, gelatin, maltodextrin (a mixture of polysaccharides), microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium ascorbate. Gelatin capsule shells contain gelatin, iron oxide (yellow, black, and red), and titanium dioxide. They may also contain benzyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, edetate calcium disodium.

Description

SORIATANE (acitretin), a retinoid, is available in 10-mg, 17.5-mg, and 25-mg gelatin capsules for oral administration. Chemically, acitretin is all-trans-9-(4-methoxy-2,3,6trimethylphenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6,8-nonatetraenoic acid. It is a metabolite of etretinate and is related to both retinoic acid and retinol (vitamin A). It is a yellow to greenish-yellow powder with a molecular weight of 326.44. The structural formula is:

 

 

Each capsule contains acitretin, black monogramming ink, gelatin, maltodextrin (a mixture of polysaccharides), microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium ascorbate.

Gelatin capsule shells contain gelatin, iron oxide (yellow, black, and red), and titanium dioxide. They may also contain benzyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, edetate calcium disodium.

REFERENCES

1. Berbis Ph, et al.: Arch Dermatol Res (1988) 280:388-389.

2. Maier H, Honigsmann H: Concentration of etretinate in plasma and subcutaneous fat after long-term acitretin. Lancet 348:1107, 1996.

3. Geiger JM, Walker M: Is there a reproductive safety risk in male patients treated with acitretin (Neotigason/ Soriatane)? Dermatology 205:105-107, 2002.

Indications

SORIATANE is indicated for the treatment of severe psoriasis in adults. Because of significant adverse effects associated with its use, SORIATANE should be prescribed only by those knowledgeable in the systemic use of retinoids. In females of reproductive potential, SORIATANE should be reserved for non-pregnant patients who are unresponsive to other therapies or whose clinical condition contraindicates the use of other treatments (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS – SORIATANE can cause severe birth defects).

Most patients experience relapse of psoriasis after discontinuing therapy. Subsequent courses, when clinically indicated, have produced efficacy results similar to the initial course of therapy.

Dosage And Admintisration

There is intersubject variation in the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and incidence of side effects with SORIATANE. A number of the more common side effects are dose-related. Individualization of dosage is required to achieve sufficient therapeutic response while minimizing side effects. Therapy with SORIATANE should be initiated at 25 to 50 mg per day, given as a single dose with the main meal. Maintenance doses of 25 to 50 mg per day may be given dependent upon an individual patient’s response to initial treatment. Relapses may be treated as outlined for initial therapy.

When SORIATANE is used with phototherapy, the prescriber should decrease the phototherapy dose, dependent on the patient’s individual response (see PRECAUTIONS: General).

Females who have taken TEGISON (etretinate) must continue to follow the contraceptive recommendations for TEGISON. TEGISON is no longer marketed in the US; for information, call Stiefel at 1-888-784-3335 (1-888-STIEFEL).

Information For Pharmacists

SORIATANE must only be dispensed in no more than a monthly supply. A SORIATANE Medication Guide must be given to the patient each time SORIATANE is dispensed, as required by law.

How Supplied

Brown and white capsules, 10 mg, imprinted “A-10 mg”; bottles of 30 (NDC 0145-0090-25).

Rich yellow capsules, 17.5 mg, imprinted “A-17.5 mg”; bottles of 30 (NDC 0145-3817-03).

Brown and yellow capsules, 25 mg, imprinted “A-25 mg”; bottles of 30 (NDC 0145-009125).

Store between 15° and 25°C (59° and 77°F). Protect from light. Avoid exposure to high temperatures and humidity after the bottle is opened.

Manufactured for: Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Revised: Sep 2017

Hypervitaminosis A produces a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms primarily of the mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, hepatic, neuropsychiatric, and central nervous systems. Many of the clinical adverse reactions reported to date with administration of SORIATANE resemble those of the hypervitaminosis A syndrome.

Adverse Events/Postmarketing Reports

In addition to the events listed in the tables for the clinical trials, the following adverse events have been identified during postapproval use of SORIATANE. Because these events 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.

Cardiovascular

Acute myocardial infarction, thromboembolism (see WARNINGS), stroke.

Immune System Disorders

Hypersensitivity, including angioedema and urticaria (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).

Nervous System

Myopathy with peripheral neuropathy has been reported during therapy with SORIATANE. Both conditions improved with discontinuation of the drug.

Psychiatric

Aggressive feelings and/or suicidal thoughts have been reported. These events, including self-injurious behavior, have been reported in patients taking other systemically administered retinoids, as well as in patients taking SORIATANE. Since other factors may have contributed to these events, it is not known if they are related to SORIATANE (see PRECAUTIONS).

Reproductive

Vulvo-vaginitis due to Candida albicans.

Skin And Appendages

Thinning of the skin, skin fragility, and scaling may occur all over the body, particularly on the palms and soles; nail fragility is frequently observed. Madarosis and exfoliative dermatitis/erythroderma have been reported (see WARNINGS).

Vascular Disorders

Capillary leak syndrome (see WARNINGS).

Clinical Trials

During clinical trials with SORIATANE, 513 of 525 (98%) subjects reported a total of 3,545 adverse events. One-hundred sixteen subjects (22%) left trials prematurely, primarily because of adverse experiences involving the mucous membranes and skin. Three subjects died. Two of the deaths were not drug-related (pancreatic adenocarcinoma and lung cancer); the other subject died of an acute myocardial infarction, considered remotely related to drug therapy. In clinical trials, SORIATANE was associated with elevations in liver function test results or triglyceride levels and hepatitis.

The tables below list by body system and frequency the adverse events reported during clinical trials of 525 subjects with psoriasis.

Table 3: Adverse Events Frequently Reported during Clinical Trials Percent of Subjects Reporting (N = 525)

Body System	>75%	50% to 75%	25% to 50%	10% to 25%
CNS				Rigors
Eye Disorders				Xerophthalmia
Mucous Membranes	Cheilitis		Rhinitis	Dry mouth Epistaxis
Musculoskeletal				Arthralgia Spinal hyperostosis (progression of existing lesions)
Skin and Appendages		Alopecia Skin peeling	Dry skin Nail disorder Pruritus	Erythematous rash Hyperesthesia Paresthesia Paronychia Skin atrophy Sticky skin

 

Table 4: Adverse Events Less Frequently Reported during Clinical Trials (Some of Which May Bear No Relationship to Therapy) Percent of Subjects Reporting (N = 525)

Body System	1% to 10%		<1%
Body as a Whole	Anorexia		Alcohol	Malaise
	Edema		intolerance	Moniliasis
	Fatigue		Dizziness	Muscle weakness
	Hot flashes		Fever	Weight increase
	Increased appetite		Influenza-like symptoms
Cardiovascular	Flushing		Chest pain Cyanosis Increased bleeding time	Intermittent claudication Peripheral ischemia
CNS (also see Psychiatric)	Headache Pain		Abnormal gait Migraine Neuritis	Pseudotumor cerebri (intracranial hypertension)
Eye Disorders	Abnormal/ blurred vision Blepharitis Conjunctivitis/ irritation Corneal epithelial abnormality	Decreased night vision/night blindness Eye abnormality Eye pain Photophobia	Abnormal lacrimation Chalazion Conjunctival hemorrhage Corneal ulceration Diplopia Ectropion	Itchy eyes and lids Papilledema Recurrent sties Subepithelial corneal lesions
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain Diarrhea Nausea Tongue disorder		Constipation Dyspepsia Esophagitis Gastritis Gastroenteritis	Glossitis Hemorrhoids Melena Tenesmus Tongue ulceration
Liver and Biliary			Hepatic function abnormal Hepatitis Jaundice
Mucous Membranes	Gingival bleeding Gingivitis Increased saliva	Stomatitis Thirst Ulcerative stomatitis	Altered saliva Anal disorder Gum hyperplasia	Hemorrhage Pharyngitis
Musculoskeletal	Arthritis Arthrosis Back pain Hypertonia Myalgia	Osteodynia Peripheral joint hyperostosis (progression of existing lesions)	Bone disorder Olecranon bursitis Spinal hyperostosis (new lesions) Tendonitis
Psychiatric	Depression Insomnia Somnolence		Anxiety Dysphonia Libido decreased Nervousness
Reproductive			Atrophic vaginitis Leukorrhea
Respiratory	Sinusitis		Coughing Increased sputum Laryngitis
Skin and Appendages	Abnormal skin odor Abnormal hair texture Bullous eruption Cold/clammy skin Dermatitis Increased sweating Infection	Psoriasiform rash Purpura Pyogenic granuloma Rash Seborrhea Skin fissures Skin ulceration Sunburn	Acne Breast pain Cyst Eczema Fungal infection Furunculosis Hair discoloration Herpes simplex Hyperkeratosis Hypertrichosis Hypoesthesia Impaired healing Otitis media	Otitis externa Photosensitivity reaction Psoriasis aggravated Scleroderma Skin nodule Skin hypertrophy Skin disorder Skin irritation Sweat gland disorder Urticaria Verrucae
Special Senses/ Other	Earache Taste perversion Tinnitus		Ceruminosis Deafness Taste loss
Urinary			Abnormal urine Dysuria Penis disorder

 

Laboratory

Therapy with SORIATANE induces changes in liver function tests in a significant number of patients. Elevations of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT) or LDH were experienced by approximately 1 in 3 subjects treated with SORIATANE. In most subjects, elevations were slight to moderate and returned to normal either during continuation of therapy or after cessation of treatment. In subjects receiving SORIATANE during clinical trials, 66% and 33% experienced elevation in triglycerides and cholesterol, respectively. Decreased high density lipoproteins (HDL) occurred in 40% (see WARNINGS). Transient, usually reversible elevations of alkaline phosphatase have been observed.

Table 5 lists the laboratory abnormalities reported during clinical trials.

Table 5. Abnormal Laboratory Test Results Reported during Clinical Trials Percent of Subjects Reporting

Body System	50% to 75%	25% to 50%	10% to 25%	1% to 10%
Electrolytes			Increased: -Phosphorus -Potassium -Sodium Increased and decreased: -Magnesium	Decreased: -Phosphorus -Potassium -Sodium Increased and decreased: -Calcium -Chloride
Hematologic		Increased: -Reticulocytes	Decreased: -Hematocrit -Hemoglobin -WBC Increased: -Haptoglobin -Neutrophils -WBC	Increased: -Bands -Basophils -Eosinophils -Hematocrit -Hemoglobin -Lymphocytes -Monocytes Decreased: -Haptoglobin -Lymphocytes -Neutrophils -Reticulocytes Increased or decreased: -Platelets -RBC
Hepatic		Increased: -Cholesterol -LDH -SGOT -SGPT Decreased: -HDL cholesterol	Increased: -Alkaline phosphatase -Direct bilirubin -GGTP	Increased: -Globulin -Total bilirubin -Total protein Increased and decreased: -Serum albumin
Miscellaneous	Increased: -Triglycerides	Increased: -CPK -Fasting blood sugar	Decreased: -Fasting blood sugar -High occult blood	Increased and decreased: -Iron
Renal			Increased: -Uric acid	Increased: -BUN -Creatinine
Urinary		WBC in urine	Acetonuria Hematuria RBC in urine	Glycosuria Proteinuria

 

Ethanol

Clinical evidence has shown that etretinate can be formed with concurrent ingestion of acitretin and ethanol (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics).

Glyburide

In a trial of 7 healthy male volunteers, acitretin treatment potentiated the blood glucose-lowering effect of glyburide (a sulfonylurea similar to chlorpropamide) in 3 of the 7 subjects. Repeating the trial with 6 healthy male volunteers in the absence of glyburide did not detect an effect of acitretin on glucose tolerance. Careful supervision of diabetic patients under treatment with SORIATANE is recommended (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Hormonal Contraceptives

It has not been established if there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between acitretin and combined oral contraceptives. However, it has been established that acitretin interferes with the contraceptive effect of microdosed progestin “minipill” preparations. Microdosed “minipill” progestin preparations are not recommended for use with SORIATANE (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions). It is not known whether other progestin-only contraceptives, such as implants and injectables, are adequate methods of contraception during acitretin therapy.

Methotrexate

An increased risk of hepatitis has been reported to result from combined use of methotrexate and etretinate. Consequently, the combination of methotrexate with acitretin is also contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).

Phenytoin

If acitretin is given concurrently with phenytoin, the protein binding of phenytoin may be reduced.

Tetracyclines

Since both acitretin and tetracyclines can cause increased intracranial pressure, their combined use is contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS: Pseudotumor Cerebri).

Vitamin A And Oral Retinoids

Concomitant administration of vitamin A and/or other oral retinoids with acitretin must be avoided because of the risk of hypervitaminosis A.

Other

There appears to be no pharmacokinetic interaction between acitretin and cimetidine, digoxin, or glyburide. Investigations into the effect of acitretin on the protein binding of anticoagulants of the coumarin type (warfarin) revealed no interaction.

Laboratory Tests

If significant abnormal laboratory results are obtained, either dosage reduction with careful monitoring or treatment discontinuation is recommended, depending on clinical judgment.

Blood Sugar

Some patients receiving retinoids have experienced problems with blood sugar control. In addition, new cases of diabetes have been diagnosed during retinoid therapy, including diabetic ketoacidosis. In diabetics, bloodsugar levels should be monitored very carefully.

Lipids

In clinical trials, the incidence of hypertriglyceridemia was 66%, hypercholesterolemia was 33%, and that of decreased HDL was 40%. Pretreatment and follow-up measurements should be obtained under fasting conditions. It is recommended that these tests be performed weekly or every other week until the lipid response to SORIATANE has stabilized (see WARNINGS).

Liver Function Tests

Elevations of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), or LDH were experienced by approximately 1 in 3 patients treated with SORIATANE. It is recommended that these tests be performed prior to initiation of therapy with SORIATANE, at 1- to 2-week intervals until stable, and thereafter at intervals as clinically indicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and boxed WARNINGS).

(See also boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS.)

Hepatotoxicity: Of the 525 subjects treated in US clinical trials, 2 had clinical jaundice with elevated serum bilirubin and transaminases considered related to treatment with SORIATANE. Liver function test results in these subjects returned to normal after SORIATANE was discontinued. Two of the 1,289 subjects treated in European clinical trials developed biopsyconfirmed toxic hepatitis. A second biopsy in one of these subjects revealed nodule formation suggestive of cirrhosis. One subject in a Canadian clinical trial of 63 subjects developed a 3-fold increase of transaminases. A liver biopsy of this subject showed mild lobular disarray, multifocal hepatocyte loss, and mild triaditis of the portal tracts compatible with acute reversible hepatic injury. The subject’s transaminase levels returned to normal 2 months after SORIATANE was discontinued.

The potential of therapy with SORIATANE to induce hepatotoxicity was prospectively evaluated using liver biopsies in an open-label trial of 128 subjects. Pretreatment and posttreatment biopsies were available for 87 subjects. A comparison of liver biopsy findings before and after therapy revealed 49 (58%) subjects showed no change, 21 (25%) improved, and 14 (17%) subjects had a worsening of their liver biopsy status. For 6 subjects, the classification changed from class 0 (no pathology) to class I (normal fatty infiltration; nuclear variability and portal inflammation; both mild); for 7 subjects, the change was from class I to class II (fatty infiltration, nuclear variability, portal inflammation, and focal necrosis; all moderate to severe); and for 1 subject, the change was from class II to class IIIb (fibrosis, moderate to severe). No correlation could be found between liver function test result abnormalities and the change in liver biopsy status, and no cumulative dose relationship was found.

Elevations of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), GGT (GGTP), or LDH have occurred in approximately 1 in 3 subjects treated with SORIATANE. Of the 525 subjects treated in clinical trials in the US, treatment was discontinued in 20 (3.8%) due to elevated liver function test results. If hepatotoxicity is suspected during treatment with SORIATANE, the drug should be discontinued and the etiology further investigated.

Ten of 652 subjects treated in US clinical trials of etretinate, of which acitretin is the active metabolite, had clinical or histologic hepatitis considered to be possibly or probably related to etretinate treatment.

There have been reports of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide; a few of these subjects had received etretinate for a month or less before presenting with hepatic symptoms or signs.

Skeletal Abnormalities

In adults receiving long-term treatment with SORIATANE, appropriate examinations should be periodically performed in view of possible ossification abnormalities (see ADVERSE REACTIONS). Because the frequency and severity of iatrogenic bony abnormality in adults is low, periodic radiography is only warranted in the presence of symptoms or long-term use of SORIATANE. If such disorders arise, the continuation of therapy should be discussed with the patient on the basis of a careful risk/benefit analysis. In clinical trials with SORIATANE, subjects were prospectively evaluated for evidence of development or change in bony abnormalities of the vertebral column, knees, and ankles.

Of 380 subjects treated with SORIATANE, 15% had preexisting abnormalities of the spine which showed new changes or progression of preexisting findings. Changes included degenerative spurs, anterior bridging of spinal vertebrae, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, ligament calcification, and narrowing and destruction of a cervical disc space. De novo changes (formation of small spurs) were seen in 3 subjects after 1½ to 2½ years.

Six of 128 subjects treated with SORIATANE showed abnormalities in the knees and ankles before treatment that progressed during treatment. In 5, these changes involved the formation of additional spurs or enlargement of existing spurs. The sixth subject had degenerative joint disease which worsened. No subjects developed spurs de novo. Clinical complaints did not predict radiographic changes.

Lipids And Possible Cardiovascular Effects

Blood lipid determinations should be performed before SORIATANE is administered and again at intervals of 1 to 2 weeks until the lipid response to the drug is established, usually within 4 to 8 weeks. In subjects receiving SORIATANE during clinical trials, 66% and 33% experienced elevation in triglycerides and cholesterol, respectively. Decreased high density lipoproteins (HDL) occurred in 40% of subjects. These effects of SORIATANE were generally reversible upon cessation of therapy.

Subjects with an increased tendency to develop hypertriglyceridemia included those with disturbances of lipid metabolism, diabetes mellitus, obesity, increased alcohol intake, or a familial history of these conditions. Because of the risk of hypertriglyceridemia, serum lipids must be more closely monitored in high-risk patients and during long-term treatment.

Hypertriglyceridemia and lowered HDL may increase a patient’s cardiovascular risk status. Although no causal relationship has been established, there have been postmarketing reports of acute myocardial infarction or thromboembolic events in patients on therapy with SORIATANE. In addition, elevation of serum triglycerides to greater than 800 mg per dL has been associated with fatal fulminant pancreatitis. Therefore, dietary modifications, reduction in dose of SORIATANE, or drug therapy should be employed to control significant elevations of triglycerides. If, despite these measures, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL levels persist, the discontinuation of SORIATANE should be considered.

Ophthalmologic Effects

The eyes and vision of 329 subjects treated with SORIATANE were examined by ophthalmologists. The findings included dry eyes (23%), irritation of eyes (9%), and brow and lash loss (5%). The following were reported in less than 5% of subjects: Bell’s palsy, blepharitis and/or crusting of lids, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, corneal epithelial abnormality, cortical cataract, decreased night vision, diplopia, itchy eyes or eyelids, nuclear cataract, pannus, papilledema, photophobia, posterior subcapsular cataract, recurrent sties, and subepithelial corneal lesions.

Any patient treated with SORIATANE who is experiencing visual difficulties should discontinue the drug and undergo ophthalmologic evaluation.

Pancreatitis

Lipid elevations occur in 25% to 50% of subjects treated with SORIATANE. Triglyceride increases sufficient to be associated with pancreatitis are much less common, although fatal fulminant pancreatitis has been reported. There have been rare reports of pancreatitis during therapy with SORIATANE in the absence of hypertriglyceridemia.

Pseudotumor Cerebri

SORIATANE and other retinoids administered orally have been associated with cases of pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension). Some of these events involved concomitant use of isotretinoin and tetracyclines. However, the event seen in a single patient receiving SORIATANE was not associated with tetracycline use. Early signs and symptoms include papilledema, headache, nausea and vomiting, and visual disturbances. Patients with these signs and symptoms should be examined for papilledema and, if present, should discontinue SORIATANE immediately and be referred for neurological evaluation and care. Since both SORIATANE and tetracyclines can cause increased intracranial pressure, their combined use is contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).

Capillary Leak Syndrome

Capillary leak syndrome, a potential manifestation of retinoic acid syndrome, has been reported in patients receiving SORIATANE. Features of this syndrome may include localized or generalized edema with secondary weight gain, fever, and hypotension. Rhabdomyolysis and myalgias have been reported in association with capillary leak syndrome, and laboratory tests may reveal neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and an elevated hematocrit. Discontinue SORIATANE if capillary leak syndrome develops during therapy.

Exfoliative Dermatitis/Erythroderma

Exfoliative dermatitis/erythroderma has been reported in patients receiving SORIATANE. Discontinue SORIATANE if exfoliative dermatitis/erythroderma occurs during therapy.

A description of the Do Your P.A.R.T. materials is provided below. The main goals of the materials are to explain the program requirements, to reinforce the educational messages, and to assess program effectiveness.

The Do Your P.A.R.T. booklet includes:

• The Do Your P.A.R.T. Patient Brochure: information on the program requirements, risks of acitretin, and the types of contraceptive methods
• The Contraception Counseling Referral Form for female patients who want to receive free contraception counseling reimbursed by the manufacturer
• The Patient Agreement/Informed Consent for Female Patients form
• Medication Guide

The Do Your P.A.R.T. program also includes a voluntary patient survey for women of childbearing potential to assess the effectiveness of the SORIATANE Pregnancy Prevention Program Do Your P.A.R.T. Do Your P.A.R.T. Program materials are available at www.soriatane.com or may be requested by calling 1-888-784-3335 (1-888- STIEFEL).

Information For Patients

(See Medication Guide for all patients and Patient Agreement/Informed Consent for Female Patients at end of professional labeling).

Patients should be instructed to read the Medication Guide supplied as required by law when SORIATANE is dispensed.

Females Of Reproductive Potential

SORIATANE can cause severe birth defects. Female patients must not be pregnant when therapy with SORIATANE is initiated, they must not become pregnant while taking SORIATANE and for at least 3 years after stopping SORIATANE, so that the drug can be eliminated to below a blood concentration that would be associated with an increased incidence of birth defects. Because this threshold has not been established for acitretin in humans and because elimination rates vary among patients, the duration of posttherapy contraception to achieve adequate elimination cannot be calculated precisely (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS).

Females of reproductive potential should also be advised that they must not ingest beverages or products containing ethanol while taking SORIATANE and for 2 months after SORIATANE has been discontinued. This allows for elimination of the acitretin which can be converted to etretinate in the presence of alcohol.

Female patients should be advised that any method of birth control can fail, including tubal ligation, and that microdosed progestin “minipill” preparations are not recommended for use with SORIATANE (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions). Data from one patient who received a very lowdosed progestin contraceptive (levonorgestrel 0.03 mg) had a significant increase of the progesterone level after 3 menstrual cycles during acitretin treatment.²

Female patients should be advised to contact their physician, women’s health centers, pharmacies, or hospital emergency rooms for information about how to obtain Emergency Contraception if sexual intercourse occurs without using 2 effective forms of contraception simultaneously. A 24-hour, toll-free number (1-800-739-6700) is also available for patients to receive automated birth control and emergency contraception information. Female patients should sign a consent form prior to beginning therapy with SORIATANE (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS).

Nursing Mothers

Studies on lactating rats have shown that etretinate is excreted in the milk. There is one prospective case report where acitretin is reported to be excreted in human milk. Therefore, nursing mothers should not receive SORIATANE prior to or during nursing because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants.

All Patients

Depression and/or other psychiatric symptoms such as aggressive feelings or thoughts of self-harm have been reported. These events, including self-injurious behavior, have been reported in patients taking other systemically administered retinoids, as well as in patients taking SORIATANE. Since other factors may have contributed to these events, it is not known if they are related to SORIATANE. Patients should be counseled to stop taking SORIATANE and notify their prescriber immediately if they experience psychiatric symptoms.

Patients should be advised that a transient worsening of psoriasis is sometimes seen during the initial treatment period. Patients should be advised that they may have to wait 2 to 3 months before they get the full benefit of SORIATANE, although some patients may achieve significant improvements within the first 8 weeks of treatment as demonstrated in clinical trials.

Decreased night vision has been reported during therapy with SORIATANE. Patients should be advised of this potential problem and warned to be cautious when driving or operating any vehicle at night. Visual problems should be carefully monitored (see WARNINGS and ADVERSE REACTIONS). Patients should be advised that they may experience decreased tolerance to contact lenses during the treatment period and sometimes after treatment has stopped.

Patients should not donate blood during and for at least 3 years following therapy because SORIATANE can cause birth defects and women of childbearing potential must not receive blood from patients being treated with SORIATANE.

Because of the relationship of SORIATANE to vitamin A, patients should be advised against taking vitamin A supplements in excess of minimum recommended daily allowances to avoid possible additive toxic effects.

Patients should avoid the use of sun lamps and excessive exposure to sunlight (non-medical UV exposure) because the effects of UV light are enhanced by retinoids.

Patients should be advised that they must not give their SORIATANE to any other person.

For Prescribers

SORIATANE has not been studied in and is not indicated for treatment of acne.

Phototherapy

Significantly lower doses of phototherapy are required when SORIATANE is used because effects on the stratum corneum induced by SORIATANE can increase the risk of erythema (burning) (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility

Carcinogenesis

A carcinogenesis study of acitretin in Wistar rats, at doses up to 2 mg per kg per day administered 7 days per week for 104 weeks, has been completed. There were no neoplastic lesions observed that were considered to have been related to treatment with acitretin. An 80-week carcinogenesis study in mice has been completed with etretinate, the ethyl ester of acitretin. Blood level data obtained during this study demonstrated that etretinate was metabolized to acitretin and that blood levels of acitretin exceeded those of etretinate at all times studied. In the etretinate study, an increased incidence of blood vessel tumors (hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas at several different sites) was noted in male, but not female, mice at doses approximately one-half the maximum recommended human therapeutic dose based on a mg-per-m² comparison.

Mutagenesis

Acitretin was evaluated for mutagenic potential in the Ames test, in the Chinese hamster (V79/HGPRT) assay, in unscheduled DNA synthesis assays using rat hepatocytes and human fibroblasts, and in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. No evidence of mutagenicity of acitretin was demonstrated in any of these assays.

Impairment Of Fertility

In a fertility study in rats, the fertility of treated animals was not impaired at the highest dosage of acitretin tested, 3 mg per kg per day (approximately one-half the maximum recommended therapeutic dose based on a mg-per-m² comparison). Chronic toxicity studies in dogs revealed testicular changes (reversible mild to moderate spermatogenic arrest and appearance of multinucleated giant cells) in the highest dosage group (50 then 30 mg per kg per day).

No decreases in sperm count or concentration and no changes in sperm motility or morphology were noted in 31 men (17 psoriatic subjects, 8 subjects with disorders of keratinization, and 6 healthy volunteers) given 30 to 50 mg per day of acitretin for at least 12 weeks. In these trials, no deleterious effects were seen on either testosterone production, LH, or FSH in any of the 31 men.^4-6 No deleterious effects were seen on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in any of the 18 men where it was measured.^4,5

Pregnancy

Teratogenic Effects

(see BOXED CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS).

In a study in which acitretin was administered to male rats only at a dosage of 5 mg per kg per day for 10 weeks (approximate duration of one spermatogenic cycle) prior to and during mating with untreated female rats, no teratogenic effects were observed in the progeny (see BOXED CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS for information about male use of SORIATANE).

Nonteratogenic Effects

In rats dosed at 3 mg per kg per day (approximately one-half the maximum recommended therapeutic dose based on a mg-per-m² comparison), slightly decreased pup survival and delayed incisor eruption were noted. At the next lowest dose tested, 1 mg per kg per day, no treatment-related adverse effects were observed.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. No clinical trials have been conducted in pediatric subjects. Ossification of interosseous ligaments and tendons of the extremities, skeletal hyperostoses, decreases in bone mineral density, and premature epiphyseal closure have been reported in children taking other systemic retinoids, including etretinate, a metabolite of SORIATANE. A causal relationship between these effects and SORIATANE has not been established. While it is not known that these occurrences are more severe or more frequent in children, there is special concern in pediatric patients because of the implications for growth potential (see WARNINGS: Hyperostosis).

Geriatric Use

Clinical trials of SORIATANE did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently than younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger subjects. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. A 2-fold increase in acitretin plasma concentrations was seen in healthy elderly subjects compared with young subjects, although the elimination half-life did not change (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations).

REFERENCES

4. Sigg C, et al.: Andrological investigations in patients treated with etretin. Dermatologica 175:48-49, 1987.

5. Parsch EM, et al.: Andrological investigation in men treated with acitretin (Ro 10-1670). Andrologia 22:479- 482, 1990.

6. Kadar L, et al.: Spermatological investigations in psoriatic patients treated with acitretin. In: Pharmacology of Retinoids in the Skin; Reichert U. et al., ed, KARGER, Basel, vol. 3, pp 253-254, 1988.

Overdose

In the event of acute overdosage, SORIATANE must be withdrawn at once. Symptoms of overdose are identical to acute hypervitaminosis A (e.g., headache and vertigo). The acute oral toxicity (LD50) of acitretin in both mice and rats was greater than 4,000 mg per kg.

In one reported case of overdose, a 32-year-old male with Darier’s disease took 21 x 25-mg capsules (525-mg single dose). He vomited several hours later but experienced no other ill effects.

All female patients of childbearing potential who have taken an overdose of SORIATANE must:

1) Have a pregnancy test at the time of overdose; 2) Be counseled as per the boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS sections regarding birth defects and contraceptive use for at least 3 years’ duration after the overdose.

Contraindications

Pregnancy

See boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS.

SORIATANE is contraindicated in patients with severely impaired liver or kidney function and in patients with chronic abnormally elevated blood lipid values (see boxed WARNINGS:Hepatotoxicity, WARNINGS:Lipids and Possible Cardiovascular Effects, and PRECAUTIONS).

An increased risk of hepatitis has been reported to result from combined use of methotrexate and etretinate. Consequently, the combination of methotrexate with SORIATANE is also contraindicated (see PRECAUTIONS: DRUG INTERACTIONS).

Since both SORIATANE and tetracyclines can cause increased intracranial pressure, their combined use is contraindicated (see WARNINGS: Pseudotumor Cerebri).

SORIATANE is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity (e.g., angioedema, urticaria) to the preparation (acitretin or excipients) or to other retinoids.

The mechanism of action of SORIATANE is unknown.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Oral absorption of acitretin is optimal when given with food. For this reason, acitretin was given with food in all of the following trials. After administration of a single 50-mg oral dose of acitretin to 18 healthy subjects, maximum plasma concentrations ranged from 196 to 728 ng per mL (mean: 416 ng per mL) and were achieved in 2 to 5 hours (mean: 2.7 hours). The oral absorption of acitretin is linear and proportional with increasing doses from 25 to 100 mg. Approximately 72% (range: 47% to 109%) of the administered dose was absorbed after a single 50-mg dose of acitretin was given to 12 healthy subjects.

Distribution

Acitretin is more than 99.9% bound to plasma proteins, primarily albumin.

Metabolism

(See Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions: Ethanol.)

Following oral absorption, acitretin undergoes extensive metabolism and interconversion by simple isomerization to its 13-cis form (cis-acitretin). The formation of cis-acitretin relative to parent compound is not altered by dose or fed/fast conditions of oral administration of acitretin. Both parent compound and isomer are further metabolized into chain-shortened breakdown products and conjugates, which are excreted. Following multiple-dose administration of acitretin, steady-state concentrations of acitretin and cis-acitretin in plasma are achieved within approximately 3 weeks.

Elimination

The chain-shortened metabolites and conjugates of acitretin and cis-acitretin are ultimately excreted in the feces (34% to 54%) and urine (16% to 53%). The terminal elimination half-life of acitretin following multiple-dose administration is 49 hours (range: 33 to 96 hours), and that of cis-acitretin under the same conditions is 63 hours (range: 28 to 157 hours). The accumulation ratio of the parent compound is 1.2; that of cis-acitretin is 6.6.

Special Populations

Psoriasis

In an 8-week trial of acitretin pharmacokinetics in subjects with psoriasis, mean steady-state trough concentrations of acitretin increased in a dose-proportional manner with dosages ranging from 10 to 50 mg daily. Acitretin plasma concentrations were nonmeasurable (<4 ng per mL) in all subjects 3 weeks after cessation of therapy.

Elderly

In a multiple-dose trial in healthy young (n = 6) and elderly (n = 8) subjects, a 2-fold increase in acitretin plasma concentrations were seen in elderly subjects, although the elimination half-life did not change.

Renal Failure

Plasma concentrations of acitretin were significantly (59.3%) lower in subjects with end-stage renal failure (n = 6) when compared with age-matched controls, following single 50-mg oral doses. Acitretin was not removed by hemodialysis in these subjects.

Pharmacokinetic Drug Interactions

(see also boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: DRUG INTERACTIONS): In studies of in vivo pharmacokinetic drug interactions, no interaction was seen between acitretin and cimetidine, digoxin, phenprocoumon, or glyburide.

Ethanol

Clinical evidence has shown that etretinate (a retinoid with a much longer half-life, see below) can be formed with concurrent ingestion of acitretin and ethanol. In a 2-way crossover trial, all 10 subjects formed etretinate with concurrent ingestion of a single 100-mg oral dose of acitretin during a 3-hour period of ethanol ingestion (total ethanol, approximately 1.4 g per kg body weight). A mean peak etretinate concentration of 59 ng per mL (range: 22 to 105 ng per mL) was observed, and extrapolation of AUC values indicated that the formation of etretinate in this trial was comparable to a single 5-mg oral dose of etretinate. There was no detectable formation of etretinate when a single 100-mg oral dose of acitretin was administered without concurrent ethanol ingestion, although the formation of etretinate without concurrent ethanol ingestion cannot be excluded (see boxed CONTRAINDICATIONS AND WARNINGS). Of 93 evaluable psoriatic subjects on acitretin therapy in several foreign trials (10 to 80 mg per day), 16% had measurable etretinate levels (>5 ng per mL).

Etretinate has a much longer elimination half-life compared with that of acitretin. In one trial the apparent mean terminal half-life after 6 months of therapy was approximately 120 days (range: 84 to 168 days). In another trial of 47 subjects treated chronically with etretinate, 5 had detectable serum drug levels (in the range of 0.5 to 12 ng per mL) 2.1 to 2.9 years after therapy was discontinued. The long half-life appears to be due to storage of etretinate in adipose tissue.

Progestin-Only Contraceptives

It has not been established if there is a pharmacokinetic interaction between acitretin and combined oral contraceptives. However, it has been established that acitretin interferes with the contraceptive effect of microdosed progestin preparations.¹ Microdosed “minipill” progestin preparations are not recommended for use with SORIATANE. It is not known whether other progestin-only contraceptives, such as implants and injectables, are adequate methods of contraception during acitretin therapy.

Clinical Studies

In 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, SORIATANE was administered once daily to subjects with severe psoriasis (e.g., covering at least 10% to 20% of the body surface area). At 8 weeks (see Table 1) subjects treated in Trial A with 50 mg of SORIATANE per day showed significant improvements (P ≤0.05) relative to baseline and to placebo in the physician’s global evaluation and in the mean ratings of severity of psoriasis (scaling, thickness, and erythema). In Trial B, differences from baseline and from placebo were statistically significant (P ≤0.05) for all variables at both the 25-mg and 50-mg doses; it should be noted for Trial B that no statistical adjustment for multiplicity was carried out.

Table 1: Summary of the Efficacy Results of the 8-Week Double-Blind Phase of Trials A and B of SORIATANE

Efficacy Variables	Trial A		Trial B
	Total Daily Dose		Total Daily Dose
	Placebo (N = 29)	50 mg (N = 29)	Placebo (N = 72)	25 mg (N = 74)	50 mg (N = 71)
Physician’s Global Evaluation
Baseline	4.62	4.55	4.43	4.37	4.49
Mean Change After 8 Weeks	-0.29	-2.00a	-0.06	-1.06a	-1.57a
Scaling Baseline	4.10	3.76	3.97	4.11	4.10
Mean Change After 8 Weeks	-0.22	-1.62a	-0.21	-1.50a	-1.78a
Thickness
Baseline	4.10	4.10	4.03	4.11	4.20
Mean Change After 8 Weeks	-0.39	-2.10a	-0.18	-1.43 a	-2.11a
Erythema Baseline	4.21	4.59	4.42	4.24	4.45
Mean Change After 8 Weeks	-0.33	-2.10a	-0.37	-1.12a	-1.65a
aValues were statistically significantly different from placebo and from baseline (P ≤0.05). No adjustment for multiplicity was done for Trial B.

 

The efficacy variables consisted of: the mean severity rating of scale, lesion thickness, erythema, and the physician’s global evaluation of the current status of the disease. Ratings of scaling, erythema, and lesion thickness, and the ratings of the global assessments were made using a 7-point scale (0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = mild-moderate, 4 = moderate, 5 = moderate-severe, 6 = severe).

A subset of 141 subjects from both pivotal Trials A and B continued to receive SORIATANE in an open fashion for up to 24 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, all efficacy variables, as indicated in Table 2, were significantly improved (P ≤0.01) from baseline, including extent of psoriasis, mean ratings of psoriasis severity, and physician’s global evaluation.

Table 2: Summary of the First Course of Therapy with SORIATANE (24 Weeks)

Variables	Trial A	Trial B
Mean Total Daily Dose of SORIATANE (mg)	42.8	43.1
Mean Duration of Therapy (Weeks)	21.1	22.6
Physician’s Global Evaluation	N = 39	N = 98
Baseline	4.51	4.43
Mean Change from Baseline	-2.26a	-2.60a
Scaling	N = 59	N = 132
Baseline	3.97	4.07
Mean Change from Baseline	-2.15a	-2.42a
Thickness	N = 59	N = 132
Baseline	4.00	4.12
Mean Change from Baseline	-2.44a	-2.66a
Erythema	N = 59	N = 132
Baseline	4.35	4.33
Mean Change from Baseline	-2.31a	-2.29a
aIndicates that the difference from baseline was statistically significant (P ≤0.01).

 

The efficacy variables consisted of: the mean severity rating of scale, lesion thickness, erythema, and the physician’s global evaluation of the current status of the disease. Ratings of scaling, erythema, and lesion thickness, and the ratings of the global assessments were made using a 7-point scale (0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = mild-moderate, 4 = moderate, 5 = moderate-severe, 6 = severe).

All efficacy variables improved significantly in a subset of 55 subjects from Trial A treated for a second, 6- month maintenance course of therapy (for a total of 12 months of treatment); a small subset of subjects (n = 4) from Trial A continued to improve after a third 6-month course of therapy (for a total of 18 months of treatment).