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Fact box
- Therapeutic class
- Vasopressin antagonists
- Action class
- Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonist
- Mechanism
- Vasopressin V2 Receptor Antagonists
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Brand names
JynarqueSamsca
Available as
45 MG · Oral Tablet60 MG · Oral Tablet90 MG · Oral Tablet15 MG · Oral Tablet30 MG · Oral Tablet
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
⚠ Boxed warningWARNING: (A) INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) WARNING: (A) INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. (A) Initiate and re-initiate in a hospital and monitor serum sodium SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in patients only in a hospital where serum sodium can be monitored closely. Too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours) can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable. (B) Not for use for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity, tolvaptan should not be used for ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved REMS (4) (A) Initiate and re-initiate in a hospital and monitor serum sodium SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in patients only in a hospital where serum sodium can be monitored closely. Too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours) can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable. (B) Not for use for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) Because of the risk of hepatotoxicity, tolvaptan should not be used for ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved REMS [see Contraindications (4) ].
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE SAMSCA ® is indicated for the treatment of clinically significant hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia (serum sodium <125 mEq/L or less marked hyponatremia that is symptomatic and has resisted correction with fluid restriction), including patients with heart failure and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH). SAMSCA is a selective vasopressin V 2 -receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of clinically significant hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia [serum sodium <125 mEq/L or less marked hyponatremia that is symptomatic and has resisted correction with fluid restriction], including patients with heart failure and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: Patients requiring intervention to raise serum sodium urgently to prevent or to treat serious neurological symptoms should not be treated with SAMSCA ( 1 ) It has not been established that SAMSCA provides a symptomatic benefit to patients ( 1 ) Limitations of Use Patients requiring intervention to raise serum sodium urgently to prevent or to treat serious neurological symptoms should not be treated with SAMSCA. It has not been established that raising serum sodium with SAMSCA provides a symptomatic benefit to patients.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V 2 -receptor antagonist with an affinity for the V 2 -receptor that is 1.8 times that of native arginine vasopressin (AVP). Tolvaptan affinity for the V 2 -receptor is 29 times greater than for the V 1a -receptor. When taken orally, 15 to 60 mg doses of tolvaptan antagonize the effect of vasopressin and cause an increase in urine water excretion that results in an increase in free water clearance (aquaresis), a decrease in urine osmolality, and a resulting increase in serum sodium concentrations. Urinary excretion of sodium and potassium and plasma potassium concentrations are not significantly changed. Tolvaptan metabolites have no or weak antagonist activity for human V 2 -receptors compared with tolvaptan.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION SAMSCA should be initiated and re-initiated in a hospital ( 2.1 ) The recommended starting dose is 15 mg once daily. Dosage may be increased at intervals ≥24 hr to 30 mg once daily, and to a maximum of 60 mg once daily as needed to raise serum sodium. ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage Patients should be in a hospital for initiation and re-initiation of therapy to evaluate the therapeutic response and because too rapid correction of hyponatremia can cause osmotic demyelination resulting in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma and death. The usual starting dose for SAMSCA is 15 mg administered once daily without regard to meals. Increase the dose to 30 mg once daily, after at least 24 hours, to a maximum of 60 mg once daily, as needed to achieve the desired level of serum sodium. Do not administer SAMSCA for more than 30 days to minimize the risk of liver injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. During initiation and titration, frequently monitor for changes in serum electrolytes and volume. Avoid fluid restriction during the first 24 hours of therapy. Patients receiving SAMSCA should be advised that they can continue ingestion of fluid in response to thirst [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. 2.2 Drug Withdrawal Following discontinuation from SAMSCA, patients should be advised to resume fluid restriction and should be monitored for changes in serum sodium and volume status.
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions (≥5% placebo) are thirst, dry mouth, asthenia, constipation, pollakiuria or polyuria, and hyperglycemia ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Otsuka at 1-877-726-7220 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 ( www.fda.gov/medwatch ). 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions 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. The adverse event information from clinical trials does, however, provide a basis for identifying the adverse events that appear to be related to drug use and for approximating rates. In multiple-dose, placebo-controlled trials, 607 hyponatremic patients (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) were treated with SAMSCA. The mean age of these patients was 62 years; 70% of patients were male and 82% were Caucasian. One hundred eighty-nine (189) tolvaptan-treated patients had a serum sodium <130 mEq/L, and 52 patients had a serum sodium <125 mEq/L. Hyponatremia was attributed to cirrhosis in 17% of patients, heart failure in 68% and SIADH/other in 16%. Of these patients, 223 were treated with the recommended dose titration (15 mg titrated to 60 mg as needed to raise serum sodium). Overall, over 4,000 patients have been treated with oral doses of tolvaptan in open-label or placebo-controlled clinical trials. Approximately 650 of these patients had hyponatremia; approximately 219 of these hyponatremic patients were treated with tolvaptan for 6 months or more. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% more than placebo) seen in two 30‑day, double-blind, placebo-controlled hyponatremia trials in which tolvaptan was administered in titrated doses (15 mg to 60 mg once daily) were thirst, dry mouth, asthenia, constipation, pollakiuria or polyuria and hyperglycemia. In these trials, 10% (23/223) of tolvaptan-treated patients discontinued treatment because of an adverse event, compared to 12% (26/220) of placebo-treated patients; no adverse reaction resulting in discontinuation of trial medication occurred at an incidence of >1% in tolvaptan-treated patients. Table 1 lists the adverse reactions reported in tolvaptan-treated patients with hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) and at a rate at least 2% greater than placebo-treated patients in two 30‑day, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. In these studies, 223 patients were exposed to tolvaptan (starting dose 15 mg, titrated to 30 and 60 mg as needed to raise serum sodium). Adverse events resulting in death in these trials were 6% in tolvaptan-treated patients and 6% in placebo-treated patients. Table 1. Adverse Reactions (>2% more than placebo) in Tolvaptan-Treated Patients in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Hyponatremia Trials System Organ Class MedDRA Preferred Term Tolvaptan 15 mg/day to 60 mg/day (N =223) n (%) Placebo (N =220) n (%) The following terms are subsumed under the referenced ADR in Table 1: Gastrointestinal Disorders Dry mouth 28 (13) 9 (4) Constipation 16 (7) 4 (2) General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions Thirst polydipsia, 35 (16) 11 (5) Asthenia 19 (9) 9 (4) Pyrexia 9 (4) 2 (1) Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Hyperglycemia diabetes mellitus, 14 (6) 2 (1) Anorexia decreased appetite, 8 (4) 2 (1) Renal and Urinary Disorders Pollakiuria or polyuria urine output increased, micturition urgency, nocturia 25 (11) 7 (3) In a subgroup of patients with hyponatremia (N =475, serum sodium <135 mEq/L) enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (mean duration of treatment was 9 months) of patients with worsening heart failure, the following adverse reactions occurred in tolvaptan-treated patients at a rate at least 2% greater than placebo: mortality (42% tolvaptan, 38% placebo), nausea (21% tolvaptan, 16% placebo), thirst (12% tolvaptan, 2% placebo), dry mouth (7% tolvaptan, 2% placebo) and
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 Available data with SAMSCA use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine if there is a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Tolvaptan did not cause any developmental toxicity in rats or in rabbits at exposures approximately 2.8 and 0.8 times, respectively, the exposure in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 60 mg once daily. However, effects on embryo-fetal development occurred in both species at doses causing significant maternally toxic doses. In rats, reduced fetal weights and delayed fetal ossification occurred at 11 times the exposure in CHF patients, based on AUC. In rabbits, increased abortions, embryo-fetal death, fetal microphthalmia, open eyelids, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations occurred at approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients (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. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, respectively. Data Animal Data Oral administration of tolvaptan during the period of organogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats produced no evidence of teratogenesis at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day. Delayed ossification was seen at 1000 mg/kg, which is approximately 11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg (AUC 24h 10271 ng*h/mL). The fetal effects are likely secondary to maternal toxicity (decreased food intake and low body weights). In a prenatal and postnatal study in rats, tolvaptan had no effect on physical development, reflex function, learning ability or reproductive performance at doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day (11 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg). In rabbits, teratogenicity (microphthalmia, embryo-fetal mortality, cleft palate, brachymelia and skeletal malformations) was observed in rabbits at 1000 mg/kg (approximately 1.6 times the exposure in CHF patients at the MRHD of 60 mg dose). This dose also caused maternal toxicity (lower body weight gains and food consumption).
BreastfeedingUnsafe
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm ( 8.1 ) Lactation: Breastfeeding not recommended ( 8.2 ) Pediatric Use: There are no studies ( 8.4 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data with SAMSCA use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine…
AlcoholCaution
…In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable.…
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyCaution
…SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) WARNING: (A) INITIATE AND RE-INITIATE IN A HOSPITAL AND MONITOR SERUM SODIUM (B) NOT FOR USE FOR AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE (ADPKD) See full prescribing…
LiverCaution
…not administer SAMSCA for more than 30 days to minimize the risk of liver injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].…
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Liver injury: Limit treatment duration to 30 days. If hepatic injury is suspected, discontinue SAMSCA. Avoid use in patients with underlying liver disease ( 5.2 ) Dehydration and hypovolemia may require intervention ( 5.3 ) Avoid use with hypertonic saline ( 5.4 ) Avoid use with moderate to strong CYP3A inhibitors ( 5.5 ) Monitor serum potassium in patients with potassium >5 mEq/L or on drugs known to increase potassium ( 5.6 ) Urinary outflow obstruction: Urinary output must be secured ( 5.7 ) 5.1 Too Rapid Correction of Serum Sodium Can Cause Serious Neurologic Sequelae Osmotic demyelination syndrome is a risk associated with too rapid correction of hyponatremia (e.g., >12 mEq/L/24 hours). Osmotic demyelination results in dysarthria, mutism, dysphagia, lethargy, affective changes, spastic quadriparesis, seizures, coma or death. In susceptible patients, including those with severe malnutrition, alcoholism or advanced liver disease, slower rates of correction may be advisable. In controlled clinical trials in which tolvaptan was administered in titrated doses starting at 15 mg once daily, 7% of tolvaptan-treated subjects with a serum sodium <130 mEq/L had an increase in serum sodium greater than 8 mEq/L at approximately 8 hours and 2% had an increase greater than 12 mEq/L at 24 hours. Approximately 1% of placebo-treated subjects with a serum sodium <130 mEq/L had a rise greater than 8 mEq/L at 8 hours and no patient had a rise greater than 12 mEq/L/24 hours. Osmotic demyelination syndrome has been reported in association with SAMSCA therapy [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ]. Patients treated with SAMSCA should be monitored to assess serum sodium concentrations and neurologic status, especially during initiation and after titration. Subjects with SIADH or very low baseline serum sodium concentrations may be at greater risk for too-rapid correction of serum sodium. In patients receiving SAMSCA who develop too rapid a rise in serum sodium, discontinue or interrupt treatment with SAMSCA and consider administration of hypotonic fluid. Fluid restriction during the first 24 hours of therapy with SAMSCA may increase the likelihood of overly rapid correction of serum sodium and should generally be avoided. Co-administration of diuretics also increases the risk of too rapid correction of serum sodium and such patients should undergo close monitoring of serum sodium. 5.2 Liver Injury Tolvaptan can cause serious and potentially fatal liver injury. In placebo-controlled studies and an open-label extension study of chronically administered tolvaptan in patients with ADPKD, cases of serious liver injury attributed to tolvaptan, generally occurring during the first 18 months of therapy, were observed. In postmarketing experience with tolvaptan in ADPKD, acute injury resulting in liver failure requiring liver transplantation has been reported. Tolvaptan should not be used to treat ADPKD outside of the FDA-approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for ADPKD patients [see Contraindications (4) ] . Patients with symptoms that may indicate liver injury, including fatigue, anorexia, right upper abdominal discomfort, dark urine or jaundice should discontinue treatment with SAMSCA. Limit duration of therapy with SAMSCA to 30 days. Avoid use in patients with underlying liver disease, including cirrhosis, because the ability to recover from liver injury may be impaired [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . 5.3 Dehydration and Hypovolemia SAMSCA therapy induces copious aquaresis, which is normally partially offset by fluid intake. Dehydration and hypovolemia can occur, especially in potentially volume-depleted patients receiving diuretics or those who are fluid restricted. In multiple-dose, placebo-controlled trials in which 607 hyponatremic patients were treated with tolvaptan, the incidence of dehydration was 3.3% for tolvaptan and 1.5% for placebo-treated patients. In patients receiving SAMSCA who develop medically si
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS SAMSCA is contraindicated in the following conditions: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) outside of FDA-approved REMS [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Unable to sense or respond to thirst Hypovolemic hyponatremia Taking strong CYP3A inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Anuria Hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylactic shock, rash generalized) to tolvaptan or any components of the product [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] Use in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) outside of FDA-approved REMS ( 4 ) Patients who are unable to respond appropriately to thirst ( 4 ) Hypovolemic hyponatremia ( 4 ) Concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors ( 4 ) Anuria ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity ( 4 )
Pediatric use
8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of SAMSCA in pediatric patients have not been established.
⚑ 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 Avoid concomitant use with: Moderate CYP3A inhibitors ( 7.1 ) Strong CYP3A inducers ( 7.1 ) V 2 -receptor antagonists ( 7.3 ) Monitor serum potassium during concomitant therapy with ( 7.2 ): Angiotensin receptor blockers Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors Potassium sparing diuretics 7.1 CYP3A Inhibitors and Inducers Strong CYP3A Inhibitors Tolvaptan's AUC was 5.4 times as large and C max was 3.5 times as large after co-administration of tolvaptan and 200 mg ketoconazole [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Larger doses of the strong CYP3A inhibitor would be expected to produce larger increases in tolvaptan exposure. Concomitant use of tolvaptan with strong CYP3A inhibitors is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors A substantial increase in the exposure to tolvaptan would be expected when SAMSCA is co-administered with moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Avoid co-administration of SAMSCA with moderate CYP3A inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ]. Patients should avoid grapefruit juice beverages while taking SAMSCA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Strong CYP3A Inducers Co-administration of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers reduces exposure to SAMSCA [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with strong CYP3A inducers. 7.2 Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Potassium Sparing Diuretics Although specific interaction studies were not performed, in clinical studies, tolvaptan was used concomitantly with beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics. Adverse reactions of hyperkalemia were approximately 1 to 2% higher when tolvaptan was administered with angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics compared to administration of these medications with placebo. Serum potassium levels should be monitored during concomitant drug therapy. 7.3 V 2 -Receptor Agonist As a V 2 -receptor antagonist, tolvaptan may interfere with the V 2 -agonist activity of desmopressin (dDAVP). Avoid concomitant use of SAMSCA with a V 2 -agonist.
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE Single oral doses up to 480 mg (8 times the maximum recommended daily dose) and multiple doses up to 300 mg once daily for 5 days have been well tolerated in studies in healthy subjects. There is no specific antidote for tolvaptan intoxication. The signs and symptoms of an acute overdose can be anticipated to be those of excessive pharmacologic effect: a rise in serum sodium concentration, polyuria, thirst, and dehydration/hypovolemia. No mortality was observed in rats or dogs following single oral doses of 2000 mg/kg (maximum feasible dose). A single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg was lethal in mice, and symptoms of toxicity in affected mice included decreased locomotor activity, staggering gait, tremor and hypothermia. In patients with suspected SAMSCA overdosage, assessment of vital signs, electrolyte concentrations, ECG and fluid status are recommended. Continue replacement of water and electrolytes until aquaresis abates. Dialysis may not be effective in removing tolvaptan because of its high binding affinity for human plasma protein (>98%).
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)
14 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.