DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Instructions for Use in All Patients
VFEND I.V. for Injection requires reconstitution to 10 mg/mL and subsequent dilution to 5 mg/mL or less prior to administration as an infusion, at a maximum rate of 3 mg/kg per hour over 1 to 2 hours.
Do not administer as an IV bolus injection.
Use of VFEND I.V. With Other Parenteral Drug Products
Blood products and concentrated electrolytes
VFEND I.V. must not be infused concomitantly with any blood product or short-term infusion of concentrated electrolytes, even if the two infusions are running in separate intravenous lines (or cannulas). Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia should be corrected prior to initiation of VFEND therapy [see Warnings and Precautions
].
Intravenous solutions containing (non-concentrated) electrolytes
VFEND I.V. can be infused at the same time as other intravenous solutions containing (non-concentrated) electrolytes, but must be infused through a separate line.
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
VFEND I.V. can be infused at the same time as total parenteral nutrition, but must be infused in a separate line. If infused through a multiple-lumen catheter, TPN needs to be administered using a different port from the one used for VFEND I.V.
Recommended Dosing in Adults
Invasive aspergillosis and serious fungal infections due to Fusarium spp. and Scedosporium apiospermum
See Table 1. Therapy must be initiated with the specified loading dose regimen of intravenous VFEND on Day 1 followed by the recommended maintenance dose regimen. Intravenous treatment should be continued for at least 7 days. Once the patient has clinically improved and can tolerate medication given by mouth, the oral tablet form or oral suspension form of VFEND may be utilized. The recommended oral maintenance dose of 200 mg achieves a voriconazole exposure similar to 3 mg/kg IV; a 300 mg oral dose achieves an exposure similar to 4 mg/kg IV. Switching between the intravenous and oral formulations is appropriate because of the high bioavailability of the oral formulation in adults [see Clinical Pharmacology
].
Candidemia in non-neutropenic patients and other deep tissue Candida infections
See Table 1. Patients should be treated for at least 14 days following resolution of symptoms or following last positive culture, whichever is longer.
Esophageal Candidiasis
See Table 1. Patients should be treated for a minimum of 14 days and for at least 7 days following resolution of symptoms.
Table 1: Recommended Dosing Regimen
Infection |
Loading dose |
Maintenance Dose
,
|
|
IV |
IV |
Oral
|
|
|
|
|
Invasive Aspergillosis
|
6 mg/kg q12h for the first 24 hours |
4 mg/kg q12h |
200 mg q12h |
|
|
|
|
Candidemia in nonneutropenic patients and other deep tissue Candida infections
|
6 mg/kg q12h for the first 24 hours |
3–4 mg/kg q12h
|
200 mg q12h |
|
|
|
|
Esophageal Candidiasis
|
|
|
200 mg q12h |
|
|
|
|
Scedosporiosis and Fusariosis
|
6 mg/kg q12h for the first 24 hours |
4 mg/kg q12h |
200 mg q12h |
Dosage Adjustment
If patient response is inadequate, the oral maintenance dose may be increased from 200 mg every 12 hours (similar to 3 mg/kg IV q12h) to 300 mg every 12 hours (similar to 4 mg/kg IV q12h). For adult patients weighing less than 40 kg, the oral maintenance dose may be increased from 100 mg every 12 hours to 150 mg every 12 hours. If patient is unable to tolerate 300 mg orally every 12 hours, reduce the oral maintenance dose by 50 mg steps to a minimum of 200 mg every 12 hours (or to 100 mg every 12 hours for adult patients weighing less than 40 kg).
If patient is unable to tolerate 4 mg/kg IV q12h, reduce the intravenous maintenance dose to 3 mg/kg q12h.
The maintenance dose of voriconazole should be increased when co-administered with phenytoin or efavirenz [see Drug Interactions (7)
].
The maintenance dose of voriconazole should be reduced in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, Child-Pugh Class A and B [see Dosage and Administration
]. There are no PK data to allow for dosage adjustment recommendations in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C).
Duration of therapy should be based on the severity of the patient's underlying disease, recovery from immunosuppression, and clinical response.
Intravenous Administration
Reconstitution
The powder is reconstituted with 19 mL of Water For Injection to obtain an extractable volume of 20 mL of clear concentrate containing 10 mg/mL of voriconazole. It is recommended that a standard 20 mL (non-automated) syringe be used to ensure that the exact amount (19.0 mL) of Water for Injection is dispensed. Discard the vial if a vacuum does not pull the diluent into the vial. Shake the vial until all the powder is dissolved.
Dilution
VFEND must be infused over 1–2 hours, at a concentration of 5 mg/mL or less. Therefore, the required volume of the 10 mg/mL VFEND concentrate should be further diluted as follows (appropriate diluents listed below):
- Calculate the volume of 10 mg/mL VFEND concentrate required based on the patient's weight (see Table 2).
- In order to allow the required volume of VFEND concentrate to be added, withdraw and discard at least an equal volume of diluent from the infusion bag or bottle to be used. The volume of diluent remaining in the bag or bottle should be such that when the 10 mg/mL VFEND concentrate is added, the final concentration is not less than 0.5 mg/mL nor greater than 5 mg/mL.
- Using a suitable size syringe and aseptic technique, withdraw the required volume of VFEND concentrate from the appropriate number of vials and add to the infusion bag or bottle. Discard Partially Used Vials.
The final VFEND solution must be infused over 1–2 hours at a maximum rate of 3 mg/kg per hour.
Table 2: Required Volumes of 10 mg/mL VFEND Concentrate
|
Volume of VFEND Concentrate (10 mg/mL) required for: |
Body Weight (kg) |
3 mg/kg dose (number of vials) |
4 mg/kg dose (number of vials) |
6 mg/kg dose (number of vials) |
30 |
9.0 mL (1) |
12 mL (1) |
18 mL (1) |
35 |
10.5 mL (1) |
14 mL (1) |
21 mL (2) |
40 |
12.0 mL (1) |
16 mL (1) |
24 mL (2) |
45 |
13.5 mL (1) |
18 mL (1) |
27 mL (2) |
50 |
15.0 mL (1) |
20 mL (1) |
30 mL (2) |
55 |
16.5 mL (1) |
22 mL (2) |
33 mL (2) |
60 |
18.0 mL (1) |
24 mL (2) |
36 mL (2) |
65 |
19.5 mL (1) |
26 mL (2) |
39 mL (2) |
70 |
21.0 mL (2) |
28 mL (2) |
42 mL (3) |
75 |
22.5 mL (2) |
30 mL (2) |
45 mL (3) |
80 |
24.0 mL (2) |
32 mL (2) |
48 mL (3) |
85 |
25.5 mL (2) |
34 mL (2) |
51 mL (3) |
90 |
27.0 mL (2) |
36 mL (2) |
54 mL (3) |
95 |
28.5 mL (2) |
38 mL (2) |
57 mL (3) |
100 |
30.0 mL (2) |
40 mL (2) |
60 mL (3) |
VFEND I.V. for Injection is a single dose unpreserved sterile lyophile. Therefore, from a microbiological point of view, once reconstituted, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and should not be longer than 24 hours at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F). This medicinal product is for single use only and any unused solution should be discarded. Only clear solutions without particles should be used.
The reconstituted solution can be diluted with:
9 mg/mL (0.9%) Sodium Chloride USP Lactated Ringers USP 5% Dextrose and Lactated Ringers USP 5% Dextrose and 0.45% Sodium Chloride USP 5% Dextrose USP 5% Dextrose and 20 mEq Potassium Chloride USP 0.45% Sodium Chloride USP 5% Dextrose and 0.9% Sodium Chloride USP
The compatibility of VFEND I.V. with diluents other than those described above is unknown (see Incompatibilities below).
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Incompatibilities
VFEND I.V. must not be diluted with 4.2% Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion. The mildly alkaline nature of this diluent caused slight degradation of VFEND after 24 hours storage at room temperature. Although refrigerated storage is recommended following reconstitution, use of this diluent is not recommended as a precautionary measure. Compatibility with other concentrations is unknown.
Use in Patients With Hepatic Impairment
In the clinical program, patients were included who had baseline liver function tests (ALT, AST) up to 5 times the upper limit of normal. No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with this degree of abnormal liver function, but continued monitoring of liver function tests for further elevations is recommended [see Warnings and Precautions
].
It is recommended that the standard loading dose regimens be used but that the maintenance dose be halved in patients with mild to moderate hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class A and B) [see Clinical Pharmacology
].
VFEND has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class C) or in patients with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C disease. VFEND has been associated with elevations in liver function tests and clinical signs of liver damage, such as jaundice, and should only be used in patients with severe hepatic impairment if the benefit outweighs the potential risk. Patients with hepatic insufficiency must be carefully monitored for drug toxicity.
Use in Patients With Renal Impairment
The pharmacokinetics of orally administered VFEND are not significantly affected by renal impairment. Therefore, no adjustment is necessary for oral dosing in patients with mild to severe renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology
].
In patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <50 mL/min), accumulation of the intravenous vehicle, SBECD, occurs. Oral voriconazole should be administered to these patients, unless an assessment of the benefit/risk to the patient justifies the use of intravenous voriconazole. Serum creatinine levels should be closely monitored in these patients, and, if increases occur, consideration should be given to changing to oral voriconazole therapy [see Warnings and Precautions
].
Voriconazole is hemodialyzed with clearance of 121 mL/min. The intravenous vehicle, SBECD, is hemodialyzed with clearance of 55 mL/min. A 4-hour hemodialysis session does not remove a sufficient amount of voriconazole to warrant dose adjustment.
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Powder for Solution for Injection
VFEND I.V. for Injection is supplied in a single use vial as a sterile lyophilized powder equivalent to 200 mg VFEND and 3200 mg sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin sodium (SBECD).
|