Drug Detail:Afinitor (Everolimus)
Generic Name: EVEROLIMUS 5mg
Dosage Form: tablet, tablet for oral suspension
Drug Class: MTOR inhibitors Selective immunosuppressants
2.1 Important Dosage Information
- AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ are two different dosage forms. Select the recommended dosage form based on the indication [see Indications and Usage (1)]. Do not combine AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ to achieve the total dose.
- Modify the dosage for patients with hepatic impairment or for patients taking drugs that inhibit or induce P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 [see Dosage and Administration (2.10, 2.11, 2.12)].
2.2 Recommended Dosage for Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
The recommended dosage of AFINITOR is 10 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
2.3 Recommended Dosage for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET)
The recommended dosage of AFINITOR is 10 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
2.4 Recommended Dosage for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
The recommended dosage of AFINITOR is 10 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
2.5 Recommended Dosage for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Renal Angiomyolipoma
The recommended dosage of AFINITOR is 10 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
2.6 Recommended Dosage for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma (SEGA)
The recommended starting dosage of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ is 4.5 mg/m2 orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity [see Dosage and Administration (2.8)].
2.7 Recommended Dosage for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Partial-Onset Seizures
The recommended starting dosage of AFINITOR DISPERZ is 5 mg/m2 orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity [see Dosage and Administration (2.8)].
2.8 Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) and Dose Titration for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma (SEGA) and TSC-Associated Partial-Onset Seizures
- Monitor everolimus whole blood trough concentrations at time points recommended in Table 1.
- Titrate the dose to attain trough concentrations of 5 ng/mL to 15 ng/mL.
- Adjust the dose using the following equation:
New dose* = current dose x (target concentration divided by current concentration)
*The maximum dose increment at any titration must not exceed 5 mg. Multiple dose titrations may be required to attain the target trough concentration.
- When possible, use the same assay and laboratory for TDM throughout treatment.
Abbreviation: P-gp, P-glycoprotein. | |
Event | When to Assess Trough Concentrations After Event |
Initiation of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ | 1 to 2 weeks |
Modification of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ dose | 1 to 2 weeks |
Switch between AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ | 1 to 2 weeks |
Initiation or discontinuation of P-gp and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor | 2 weeks |
Initiation or discontinuation of P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inducer | 2 weeks |
Change in hepatic function | 2 weeks |
Stable dose with changing body surface area (BSA) | Every 3 to 6 months |
Stable dose with stable BSA | Every 6 to 12 months |
2.9 Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions
Table 2 summarizes recommendations for dosage modifications of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ for the management of adverse reactions.
Adverse Reaction | Severity | Dosage Modification |
Non-infectious pneumonitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] |
Grade 2 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. Permanently discontinue if toxicity does not resolve or improve to Grade 1 within 4 weeks. |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. If toxicity recurs at Grade 3, permanently discontinue. |
|
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. | |
Stomatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] |
Grade 2 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at same dose. If recurs at Grade 2, withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. |
|
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. | |
Metabolic events (e.g., hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)] |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0, 1, or 2. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. |
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. | |
Other non-hematologic toxicities |
Grade 2 | If toxicity becomes intolerable, withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at same dose. If toxicity recurs at Grade 2, withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Consider resuming at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. If recurs at Grade 3, permanently discontinue. |
|
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. | |
Thrombocytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)] |
Grade 2 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at same dose. |
Grade 3 OR Grade 4 |
Withhold until improvement to Grade 0 or 1. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. | |
Neutropenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)] |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0, 1, or 2. Resume at same dose. |
Grade 4 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0, 1, or 2. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. | |
Febrile neutropenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)] |
Grade 3 | Withhold until improvement to Grade 0, 1, or 2, and no fever. Resume at 50% of previous dose; change to every other day dosing if the reduced dose is lower than the lowest available strength. |
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. |
2.10 Dosage Modifications for Hepatic Impairment
The recommended dosages of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ for patients with hepatic impairment are described in Table 3 [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)]:
Abbreviations: NET, Neuroendocrine Tumors; RCC, Renal Cell Carcinoma; SEGA, Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma; TSC, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. | ||
Indication | Dose Modification for AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ | |
Breast Cancer, NET, RCC, and TSC-Associated Renal Angiomyolipoma |
|
|
TSC-Associated SEGA and TSC- Associated Partial-Onset Seizures |
|
2.11 Dosage Modifications for P-gp and CYP3A4 Inhibitors
- Avoid the concomitant use of P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
- Avoid ingesting grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
- Reduce the dose for patients taking AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ with a P-gp and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor as recommended in Table 4 [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Indication | Dose Modification for AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ |
Breast Cancer, NET, RCC, and TSC-Associated Renal Angiomyolipoma |
|
TSC-Associated SEGA and TSC- Associated Partial-Onset Seizures |
|
2.12 Dosage Modifications for P-gp and CYP3A4 Inducers
- Avoid concomitant use of St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).
- Increase the dose for patients taking AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ with a P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inducer as recommended in Table 5 [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Indication | Dose Modification for AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ |
Breast Cancer, NET, RCC, and TSC-Associated Renal Angiomyolipoma |
|
TSC-Associated SEGA and TSC- Associated Partial-Onset Seizures |
|
2.13 Administration and Preparation
- Administer AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ at the same time each day.
- Administer AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ consistently either with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
- If a dose of AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ is missed, it can be administered up to 6 hours after the time it is normally administered. After more than 6 hours, the dose should be skipped for that day. The next day, AFINITOR/AFINITOR DISPERZ should be administered at its usual time. Double doses should not be administered to make up for the dose that was missed.
AFINITOR
- AFINITOR should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not break or crush tablets.
AFINITOR DISPERZ
- Wear gloves to avoid possible contact with everolimus when preparing suspensions of AFINITOR DISPERZ for another person.
- Administer as a suspension only.
- Administer suspension immediately after preparation. Discard suspension if not administered within 60 minutes after preparation.
- Prepare suspension in water only.
Using an Oral Syringe to Prepare Oral Suspension:
- Place the prescribed dose into a 10-mL syringe. Do not exceed a total of 10 mg per syringe. If higher doses are required, prepare an additional syringe. Do not break or crush tablets.
- Draw approximately 5 mL of water and 4 mL of air into the syringe.
- Place the filled syringe into a container (tip up) for 3 minutes, until the tablets are in suspension.
- Gently invert the syringe 5 times immediately prior to administration.
- After administration of the prepared suspension, draw approximately 5 mL of water and 4 mL of air into the same syringe, and swirl the contents to suspend remaining particles. Administer the entire contents of the syringe.
Using a Small Drinking Glass to Prepare Oral Suspension:
- Place the prescribed dose into a small drinking glass (maximum size 100 mL) containing approximately 25 mL of water. Do not exceed a total of 10 mg per glass. If higher doses are required, prepare an additional glass. Do not break or crush tablets.
- Allow 3 minutes for suspension to occur.
- Stir the contents gently with a spoon, immediately prior to drinking.
- After administration of the prepared suspension, add 25 mL of water and stir with the same spoon to re-suspend remaining particles. Administer the entire contents of the glass.