Drug Reference

Crofelemer

Other antidiarrheals

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Therapeutic class
Other antidiarrheals
Action class
Antidiarrheal
Habit forming
No
Availability
Prescription (Rx)

Brand names

CanaleviaMytesi

Available as

125 MG · Oral Tablet

FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.

Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE MYTESI is indicated for symptomatic relief of non-infectious diarrhea in adult patients with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy. MYTESI is an anti-diarrheal indicated for the symptomatic relief of non-infectious diarrhea in adult patients with HIV/AIDS on anti-retroviral therapy. ( 1 )
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Crofelemer is an inhibitor of both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride ion (Cl¯) channel, and the calcium-activated Cl¯ channels (CaCC) at the luminal membrane of enterocytes. The CFTR Cl¯ channel and CaCC regulate Cl¯ and fluid secretion by intestinal epithelial cells. Crofelemer acts by blocking Cl¯ secretion and accompanying high volume water loss in diarrhea, normalizing the flow of Cl¯ and water in the gastrointestinal tract.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Before starting MYTESI, rule out infectious etiologies of diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . The recommended adult dosage of MYTESI is 125 mg taken orally two times a day, with or without food. Do not crush or chew MYTESI tablets. Swallow whole. Before starting MYTESI, rule out infectious etiologies of diarrhea. ( 2 , 5.1 ) The recommended adult dosage is 125 mg taken orally twice a day, with or without food. ( 2 ) Do not crush or chew the tablets. Swallow whole. ( 2 )
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions (≥ 3%) are upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cough, flatulence and increased bilirubin. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Napo Pharmaceuticals at 1-844-722-8256 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. A total of 696 HIV-positive patients in three placebo-controlled trials received MYTESI for a mean duration of 78 days. Of the total population across the three trials, 229 patients received a dosage of 125 mg twice a day for a mean duration of 141 days, and 171 patients received one of four higher than recommended dosages for a mean duration of 139 days (N=69) 14 days (N=102), 146 days (N=54), and 14 days (N=242), respectively. Adverse reactions in patients treated with MYTESI 125 mg twice daily that occurred in at least 2% of patients and at a higher incidence than placebo are provided in Table 1 . Table 1: Common Adverse Reactions occurring in at least 2% of patients and at a higher incidence than placebo in HIV-Positive Patients in Three Placebo-Controlled Trials Adverse Reaction MYTESI 125 mg Twice Daily N = 229 n (%) Placebo N = 274 n (%) Upper respiratory tract infection 13 (6) 4 (2) Bronchitis 9 (4) 0 Cough 8 (4) 3 (1) Flatulence 7 (3) 3 (1) Increased bilirubin 7 (3) 3 (1) Nausea 6 (3) 4 (2) Back pain 6 (3) 4 (2) Arthralgia 6 (3) 0 Urinary tract infection 5 (2) 2 (1) Nasopharyngitis 5 (2) 2 (1) Musculoskeletal pain 5 (2) 1 (<1) Hemorrhoids 5 (2) 0 Giardiasis 5 (2) 0 Anxiety 5 (2) 1 (<1) Increased alanine aminotransferase 5 (2) 3 (1) Abdominal distension 5 (2) 1 (<) Less common adverse reactions that occurred in between 1% and 2% of patients taking 125 mg twice daily of MYTESI were abdominal pain, acne, increased aspartate aminotransferase, increased conjugated bilirubin, increased unconjugated blood bilirubin, constipation, depression, dermatitis, dizziness, dry mouth, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, herpes zoster, nephrolithiasis, pain in extremity, pollakiuria, sinusitis and decreased white blood cell count.

Safety advice

Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.

PregnancyUnsafe
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Crofelemer is minimally absorbed systemically by the oral route of administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . In pregnant rats, no adverse fetal effects were observed with oral administration of crofelemer at doses up to 177 times the recommended clinical dose during the period of organogenesis. In pregnant rabbits, an increase in fetal resorptions and abortions compared to controls were observed with crofelemer at a dose of 96 times the recommended clinical dose. However, it is not clear whether these effects in rabbits are related to the maternal toxicity (decreased body weight and decreased food consumption) observed at this dose (see Data) . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Crofelemer was not teratogenic and did not produce embryofetal toxicity in pregnant rats following oral administration at doses up to 738 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. The 738 mg/kg/day dose is 177 times the recommended daily human dose of 4.2 mg/kg/day. Crofelemer was not teratogenic in pregnant rabbits following oral administration at doses up to 400 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. At a dose level of 400 mg/kg/day, which is 96 times the recommended daily human dose of 4.2 mg/kg/day, crofelemer produced an increase in fetal resorptions and abortions compared to controls. However, it is not clear whether these effects are related to the maternal toxicity (decreased body weight and decreased food consumption) observed.
BreastfeedingConsult your doctor
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation : Women infected with HIV-1 should be instructed not to breastfeed due to the potential for HIV transmission.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
LiverNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Risks of Treatment in Patients with Infectious Diarrhea : Consider infectious etiologies of diarrhea before starting treatment to reduce the risk of inappropriate therapy and worsening disease. ( 2 , 5.1 ) 5. 1 Risks of Treatment in Patients with Infectious Diarrhea Before starting MYTESI, rule out infectious etiologies of diarrhea. If infectious etiologies are not considered, and MYTESI is initiated based on a presumptive diagnosis of non-infectious diarrhea, then there is a risk that patients with infectious etiologies will not receive the appropriate treatments, and their disease may worsen. MYTESI is not indicated for the treatment of infectious diarrhea.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None ( 4 )

Pediatric use

8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of MYTESI have not been established in pediatric patients.

⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.

Interactions (label text — not an interaction checker)
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Nelfinavir, Zidovudine, and Lamivudine MYTESI administration did not have a clinically relevant interaction with nelfinavir, zidovudine, or lamivudine in a drug-drug interaction trial [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)

3 marketed products on record (RxNorm)

Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.