ADVERSE REACTIONS
Controlled Trials
In the randomized study of patients with ovarian cancer given ETHYOL at a dose of 910 mg/m2 prior to chemotherapy, transient hypotension was observed in 62% of patients treated. The mean time of onset was 14 minutes into the 15-minute period of ETHYOL infusion, and the mean duration was 6 minutes. In some cases, the infusion had to be prematurely terminated due to a more pronounced drop in systolic blood pressure. In general, the blood pressure returned to normal within 5-15 minutes. Fewer than 3% of patients discontinued ETHYOL due to blood pressure reductions. In the randomized study of patients with head and neck cancer given ETHYOL at a dose of 200 mg/m2 prior to radiotherapy, hypotension was observed in 15% of patients treated (see TABLE 6).
TABLE 6 Incidence of Common Adverse Events in Patients Receiving ETHYOL | | Phase III Ovarian Cancer
Trial (WR-1)
910 mg/m2 _____________________________
Per Patient Per Infusion | Phase III Head and
Neck Cancer Trial (WR-38)
200 mg/m2 _____________________________
Per Patient Per Infusion |
Nausea/Vomiting
≥Grade 3
All Grades | 36/122 (30%)
117/122 (96%) | 53/592 (9%)
520/592 (88%) | 12/150 (8%)
80/150 (53%) | 13/4314 (<1%)
233/4314 (5%) |
Hypotension
≥Grade 3
All Grades | 10/122 (8%)
75/122 (61%) | 159/592 (27%) | 4/150 (3%)
22/150 (15%) | 46/4314 (1%) |
In the randomized study of patients with head and neck cancer, 17% (26/150) discontinued ETHYOL due to adverse events. All but one of these patients continued to receive radiation treatment until completion.
Hypotension that requires interruption of the ETHYOL infusion should be treated with fluid infusion and postural management of the patient (supine or Trendelenburg position). If the blood pressure returns to normal within 5 minutes and the patient is asymptomatic, the infusion may be restarted, so that the full dose of ETHYOL can be administered. Short term, reversible loss of consciousness has been reported rarely.
Nausea and/or vomiting occur frequently after ETHYOL infusion and may be severe. In the ovarian cancer randomized study, the incidence of severe nausea/vomiting on day 1 of cyclophosphamide-cisplatin chemotherapy was 10% in patients who did not receive ETHYOL, and 19% in patients who did receive ETHYOL. In the randomized study of patients with head and neck cancer, the incidence of severe nausea/vomiting was 8% in patients who received ETHYOL and 1% in patients who did not receive ETHYOL.
Decrease in serum calcium concentrations is a known pharmacological effect of ETHYOL. At the recommended doses, clinically significant hypocalcemia was reported in 1% of patients in the randomized head and neck cancer study (see WARNINGS).
Other effects, which have been described during, or following ETHYOL infusion are flushing/feeling of warmth, chills/feeling of coldness, malaise, fever, rash, dizziness, somnolence, hiccups and sneezing. These effects have not generally precluded the completion of therapy.
Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance Reports
Allergic reactions characterized by one or more of the following manifestations have been observed during or after ETHYOL administration: hypotension, fever, chills/rigors, dyspnea, hypoxia, chest tightness, cutaneous eruptions, pruritus, urticaria and laryngeal edema. Cutaneous eruptions have been commonly reported during clinical trials and were generally non-serious. Serious, sometimes fatal skin reactions including erythema multiforme, and in rare cases, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have also occurred. The reported incidence of serious skin reactions associated with ETHYOL is higher in patients receiving ETHYOL as a radioprotectant than in patients receiving ETHYOL as a chemoprotectant. Rare anaphylactoid reactions and cardiac arrest have also been reported.
Hypotension, usually brief systolic and diastolic, has been associated with one or more of the following adverse events: apnea, dyspnea, hypoxia, tachycardia, bradycardia, extrasystoles, chest pain, myocardial ischemia and convulsion. Rare cases of renal failure, myocardial infarction, respiratory and cardiac arrest have been observed during or after hypotension (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS).
Rare cases of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation/flutter and supraventricular tachycardia have been reported. These are sometimes associated with hypotension or allergic reactions.
Transient hypertension and exacerbations of preexisting hypertension have been observed rarely after ETHYOL administration.
Seizures and syncope have been reported rarely (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS).
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REPORTS OF SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS RELATED TO ETHYOL
Below is a sample of reports where side effects / adverse reactions may be related to Ethyol. The information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as verified clinical evidence.
Possible Ethyol side effects / adverse reactions in 53 year old male
Reported by a physician from United States on 2007-01-12
Patient: 53 year old male
Reactions: Vomiting, Fatigue, Pneumonia, Nausea, Dizziness
Adverse event resulted in: death
Suspect drug(s):
Ethyol
Other drugs received by patient: Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy; Cisplatin
Possible Ethyol side effects / adverse reactions in 71 year old male
Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from United States on 2007-01-12
Patient: 71 year old male weighing 89.4 kg (196.6 pounds)
Reactions: Weight Decreased, Back Pain, Chills, Rash, Pyrexia, Tremor, Dysuria, Dizziness, Neutropenia, Heart Rate Irregular, Blood Pressure Decreased, Decreased Appetite
Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization
Suspect drug(s):
Ethyol
Other drugs received by patient: Radiation Therapy
Possible Ethyol side effects / adverse reactions in 63 year old male
Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from United States on 2007-01-12
Patient: 63 year old male
Reactions: Malaise, Pruritus, Rash Generalised, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Pyrexia
Suspect drug(s):
Ethyol
Dosage: see image
Indication: Adenocarcinoma
Start date: 2006-11-28
End date: 2006-01-01
Ethyol
Dosage: see image
Indication: Adenocarcinoma
Start date: 2006-01-01
End date: 2006-12-29
Other drugs received by patient: Triamterene and Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrochlorothiazide, Triamterene); Lorazepam; Acetaminophen and Oxycodone HCL; Allegra; Kytrin (Granisetron)
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