Paricalcitol

1 Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 and 4 in Adults Administer Paricalcitol Capsules orally once daily or three times a week. 1)] . When dosing three times weekly, do not administer more frequently than every other day. Initial Dose Table 1.

Recommended Paricalcitol Capsules Starting Dose Based upon Baseline iPTH Level Baseline iPTH Level Daily Dose Three Times a Week Dose* Less than or equal to 500 pg/mL 1 mcg 2 mcg More than 500 pg/mL 2 mcg 4 mcg * To be administered not more often than every other day Dose Titration Table 2.

Recommended Paricalcitol Capsules Dose Titration Base upon iPTH Level Dose Adjustment at 2 to 4 Week Intervals iPTH Level Relative to Baseline Paricalcitol Capsule Dose Daily Dosage Three Times a Week Dosage* The same, increased or decreased by less than 30% Increase dose by 1 mcg 2 mcg Decreased by more than or equal to 30% and less than or equal to 60% Maintain dose - - Decreased by more than 60% or iPTH less than 60 pg/mL Decrease dose by 1 mcg 2 mcg * To be administered not more often than every other day If a patient is taking the lowest dose, 1 mcg, on the daily regimen and a dose reduction is needed, the dose can be decreased to 1 mcg three times a week.

If a further dose reduction is required, the drug should be withheld as needed and restarted at a lower dosing frequency. 2 Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 in Adults Initial Dose Administer the dose of Paricalcitol Capsules orally three times a week, no more frequently than every other day upon the following formula: Dose (micrograms) = baseline iPTH (pg/mL) divided by 80.

2)]. Dose Titration Individualize the dose of Paricalcitol Capsules based on iPTH, serum calcium and phosphorus level.

Titrate Paricalcitol Capsules dose based on following formula:

Dose (micrograms) = most recent iPTH level (pg/ml) divided by 80 If serum calcium is elevated, the dose should be decreased by 2 to 4 micrograms. As iPTH approaches the target range, small, individualized dose adjustments may be necessary in order to achieve a stable iPTH.

, iPTH divided by 100) may be warranted. ’s Zemplar (Paricalcitol) capsules. ’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information. 3)]. If hypercalcemia is observed, the dose of Paricalcitol Capsules should be reduced or withheld until these parameters are normalized.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

1 Clinical Trials Experience CKD Stages 3 and 4 Adults The safety of Paricalcitol Capsules has been evaluated in three 24-week (approximately six-month), double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical studies involving 220 CKD Stages 3 and 4 patients.

Six percent (6%) of Paricalcitol Capsules treated patients and 4% of placebo treated patients discontinued from clinical studies due to an adverse event. Adverse events occurring in the Paricalcitol Capsules group at a frequency of 2% or greater and more frequently than in the placebo group are presented in: Table 3.

Table 3. Adverse Reactions by Body System Occurring in ≥ 2% of Subjects in the Paricalcitol Capsules-Treated Group of Three, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled CKD Stages 3 and 4 Studies Number (%) of Subjects Adverse Events a Paricalcitol Capsules (n = 107) Placebo (n =113) Overall 88 (82%) 86 (76%) Ear and Labyrinth Disorders Vertigo 5 (5%) 0 (0%) Gastrointestinal Disorders Abdominal Discomfort 4 (4%) 1 (1%) Constipation 4 (4%) 4 (4%) Diarrhea 7 (7%) 5 (4%) Nausea 6 (6%) 4 (4%) Vomiting 5 (5%) 5 (4%) General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Chest Pain 3 (3%) 1 (1%) Edema 6 (6%) 5 (4%) Pain 4 (4%) 4 (4%) Immune System Disorders Hypersensitivity 6 (6%) 2 (2%) Infections and Infestations Fungal Infection 3 (3%) 0 (0%) Gastroenteritis 3 (3%) 3 (3%) Infection 3 (3%) 3 (3%) Sinusitis 3 (3%) 1 (1%) Urinary Tract Infection 3 3%) 1 (1%) Viral Infection 8 (7%) 8 (7%) Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Dehydration Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders 3 (3%) 1 (1%) Arthritis 5 (5%) 0 (0%) Back Pain 3 (3%) 1 (1%) Muscle Spasms 3 (3%) 0 (0%) Nervous System Disorders Dizziness 5 (5%) 5 (4%) Headache 5 (5%) 5 (4%) Syncope 3 (3%) 1 (1%) Psychiatric Disorders Depression 3 (3%) 0 (0%) Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders Cough 3 (3%) 2 (2%) Oropharyngeal Pain 4 (4%) 0 (0%) Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Pruritus 3 (3%) 3 (3%) Rash 4 (4%) 1 (1%) Skin Ulcer 3 (3%) 0 (0%) Vascular Disorders Hypertension 7 (7%) 4 (4%) Hypotension 5 (5%) 3 (3%) a.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Excessive administration of vitamin D compounds. including Paricalcitol Capsules, can cause over suppression of PTH, hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, hyperphosphatemia, and adynamic bone disease. 1 Hypercalcemia Progressive hypercalcemia due to overdosage of vitamin D and its metabolites may be so severe as to require emergency attention [ see Overdosage (10) ] .

Acute hypercalcemia may exacerbate tendencies for cardiac arrhythmias and seizures and may potentiate the action of digitalis. Chronic hypercalcemia can lead to generalized vascular calcification and other soft-tissue calcification.

Concomitant administration of high doses of calcium-containing preparations or thiazide diueretics with Paricalcitol may increase the risk of hypercalcemia. High intake of calcium and phosphate concomitant with vitamin D compounds may lead to serum abnormalities requiring more frequent patient monitoring and individualized dose titration.

Patients also should be informed about the symptoms of elevated calcium, which include feeling tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination and weight loss.

Prescription-based doses of vitamin D and its derivatives should be withheld during Paricalcitol treatment to avoid hypercalcemia. 2 Digitalis Toxicity Digitalis toxicity is potentiated by hypercalcemia of any cause. Use caution when Paricalcitol Capsules are prescribed concomitantly with digitalis compounds.

3 Laboratory Tests During the initial dosing or following any dose adjustment of medication, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and serum or plasma iPTH should be monitored at least every two weeks for 3 months, then monthly for 3 months, and every 3 months thereafter.

In pre-dialysis patients, Paricalcitol Capsules may increase serum creatinine and therefore decrease the estimated GFR (eGFR). Similar effects have also been seen with calcitriol. , antacids, phosphate binders) should not be administered chronically with Paricalcitol, as increased blood levels of aluminum and aluminum bone toxicity may occur.

1)]. Evidence of hypercalcemia (4). Evidence of vitamin D toxicity (4).