Silodosin 8 Mg Oral Capsule

Patients who have difficulty swallowing pills and capsules may carefully open the silodosin capsule and sprinkle the powder inside on a tablespoonful of applesauce. The applesauce should be swallowed immediately (within 5 minutes) without chewing and followed with an 8 oz glass of cool water to ensure complete swallowing of the powder. The applesauce used should not be hot, and it should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. Any powder/applesauce mixture should be used immediately (within 5 minutes) and not stored for future use. Subdividing the contents of a silodosin capsule is not recommended [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)] .

Hepatic impairment: Silodosin capsule has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score ≥ 10) and is therefore contraindicated in these patients. No dosage adjustment is needed in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3), USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.7) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)].

The 4 mg, size '3' capsules with white opaque cap and white opaque body imprinted with "LU" on the cap and "Q71" on the body in gold ink.

Silodosin is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4)].

A specific pharmacodynamic interaction study between silodosin and antihypertensive agents has not been performed. However, patients in the Phase 3 clinical studies taking concomitant antihypertensive medications with silodosin did not experience a significant increase in the incidence of syncope, dizziness, or orthostasis. Nevertheless, exercise caution during concomitant use with antihypertensives and monitor patients for possible adverse events [see ADVERSE REACTIONS (6.1) and DRUG INTERACTIONS (7.6)].

Caution is also advised when alpha-adrenergic blocking agents including silodosin are co-administered with PDE5 inhibitors. Alpha-adrenergic blockers and PDE5 inhibitors are both vasodilators that can lower blood pressure. Concomitant use of these two drug classes can potentially cause symptomatic hypotension [see DRUG INTERACTIONS (7.5)].

In U.S. clinical trials, 897 patients with BPH were exposed to 8 mg silodosin daily. This includes 486 patients exposed for 6 months and 168 patients exposed for 1 year. The population was 44 years to 87 years of age, and predominantly Caucasian. Of these patients, 42.8% were 65 years of age or older and 10.7% were 75 years of age or older.

In double-blind, placebo controlled, 12-week clinical trials, 466 patients were administered silodosin and 457 patients were administered placebo. At least one treatment-emergent adverse reaction was reported by 55.2% of silodosin treated patients (36.8% for placebo treated). The majority (72.1%) of adverse reactions for the silodosin treated patients (59.8% for placebo treated) were qualified by the investigator as mild. A total of 6.4% of silodosin treated patients (2.2% for placebo treated) discontinued therapy due to an adverse reaction (treatment-emergent), the most common reaction being retrograde ejaculation (2.8%) for silodosin treated patients. Retrograde ejaculation is reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.

Adverse Reactions Observed in at Least 2% of Patients:

The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse reactions listed in the following table were derived from two 12-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies of silodosin 8 mg daily in BPH patients. Adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with silodosin and more frequently than with placebo are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in > 2% of Patients in 12-week, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

Toxic skin eruption, purpura, skin rash, pruritus, and urticaria

Hepatobiliary Disorders

Jaundice, impaired hepatic function associated with increased transaminase values

Immune System Disorders

Allergic-type reactions, not limited to skin reactions including swollen tongue and pharyngeal edema resulting in serious outcomes

The effect of moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of silodosin has not been evaluated. Concomitant administration with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., diltiazem, erythromycin, verapamil) may increase concentration of silodosin. Exercise caution and monitor patients for adverse events when co-administering silodosin with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors.

The pharmacodynamic interactions between silodosin and antihypertensives have not been rigorously investigated in a clinical study. However, approximately one-third of the patients in clinical studies used concomitant antihypertensive medications with silodosin. The incidence of dizziness and orthostatic hypotension in these patients was higher than in the general silodosin population (4.6% versus 3.8% and 3.4% versus 3.2%, respectively). Exercise caution during concomitant use with antihypertensives and monitor patients for possible adverse events [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.5)]. 

Metabolic Interactions

In vitro data indicate that silodosin does not have the potential to inhibit or induce cytochrome P450 enzyme systems.

Silodosin is not indicated for use in females.

Males

Possible effects on male fertility could be observed based on findings in rats at exposures that were at least two times higher than at the MRHD (based on AUC). These findings may be reversible, and the clinical relevance is unknown [see NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY (13.1)].

Silodosin should be reduced to 4 mg per day in patients with moderate renal impairment. Exercise caution and monitor patients for adverse events.

Silodosin has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment. Silodosin is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.2) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)].

Silodosin has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Silodosin is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3) and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)].

An in vitro study examining binding affinity of silodosin to the three subtypes of the alpha-1 adrenoreceptors (alpha-1A, alpha-1B, and alpha-1D) was conducted. The results of the study demonstrated that silodosin binds with high affinity to the alpha-1A subtype.

A test for postural hypotension was conducted 2 hours to 6 hours after the first dose in the two 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies. After the patient had been at rest in a supine position for 5 minutes, the patient was asked to stand. Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed at 1 minute and 3 minutes after standing. A positive result was defined as a > 30 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure, or a > 20 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure, or a > 20 bpm increase in heart rate [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1) ].

Table 2: Summary of Orthostatic Test Results in 12-week, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

Absorption

The pharmacokinetic characteristics of silodosin 8 mg once daily were determined in a multi-dose, open-label, 7-day pharmacokinetic study completed in 19 healthy, target-aged (≥ 45 years of age) male subjects. Table 3 presents the steady state pharmacokinetics of this study.

Table 3: Mean (±SD) Steady State Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Healthy Males Following Silodosin 8 mg Once Daily with Food

Silodosin has not been evaluated in patients less than 18 years of age.

Renal Impairment:

In a study with six subjects with moderate renal impairment, the total silodosin (bound and unbound) AUC, C_max, and elimination half-life were 3.2-, 3.1-, and 2-fold higher, respectively, compared to seven subjects with normal renal function. The unbound silodosin AUC and C_max were 2.0- and 1.5-fold higher, respectively, in subjects with moderate renal impairment compared to the normal controls.

In controlled and uncontrolled clinical studies, the incidence of orthostatic hypotension and dizziness was greater in subjects with moderate renal impairment treated with 8 mg silodosin daily than in subjects with normal or mildly impaired renal function [ see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.2) and USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.6) ].

Hepatic Impairment:

In a study comparing nine male patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh scores 7 to 9), to nine healthy male subjects, the single dose pharmacokinetic disposition of silodosin was not significantly altered in the patients with moderate hepatic impairment. No dosing adjustment is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. The pharmacokinetics of silodosin in patients with severe hepatic impairment have not been studied [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3) and USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.7)].

Drug Interactions

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 Inhibitors:

Two clinical drug interaction studies were conducted in which a single oral dose of silodosin was co-administered with the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, ketoconazole, at doses of 400 mg and 200 mg, respectively, once daily for 4 days. Co-administration of 8 mg silodosin with 400 mg ketoconazole led to 3.8-fold increase in silodosin C_max and 3.2-fold increase in AUC. Co-administration of 4 mg silodosin with 200 mg ketoconazole led to similar increases: 3.7- and 2.9-fold in silodosin Cmax and AUC, respectively. Silodosin is contraindicated with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

The effect of moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of silodosin has not been evaluated. Due to the potential for increased exposure to silodosin, caution should be exercised when co-administering silodosin with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, particularly those that also inhibit P-glycoprotein (e.g., verapamil, erythromycin).

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) Inhibitors:

In vitro studies indicated that silodosin is a P-gp substrate. A drug interaction study with a strong P-gp inhibitor has not been conducted. However, in drug interaction studies with ketoconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor that also inhibits P-gp, significant increase in exposure to silodosin was observed [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)]. Inhibition of P-gp may lead to increased silodosin concentration. Silodosin is not recommended in patients taking strong P-gp inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine).

Digoxin:

The effect of silodosin on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin was evaluated in a multiple dose, single-sequence, crossover study of 16 healthy males, aged 18 years to 45 years. A loading dose of digoxin was administered as 0.5 mg twice daily for one day. Following the loading doses, digoxin (0.25 mg once daily) was administered alone for seven days and then concomitantly with silodosin 4 mg twice a day for the next seven days. No significant differences in digoxin AUC and Cmax were observed when digoxin was administered alone or concomitantly with silodosin.

Other Metabolic Enzymes and Transporters:

In vitro studies indicated that silodosin administration is not likely to inhibit the activity of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 or induce the activity of CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, and P-gp.

In a 2-year oral carcinogenicity study in mice administered doses up to 100 mg/kg/day in males (about 9 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC of silodosin) and 400 mg/kg/day in females (about 72 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC), there were no significant tumor findings in male mice. Female mice treated for 2 years with doses of 150 mg/kg/day (about 29 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC) or greater had statistically significant increases in the incidence of mammary gland adenoacanthomas and adenocarcinomas. The increased incidence of mammary gland neoplasms in female mice was considered secondary to silodosin-induced hyperprolactinemia measured in the treated mice. Elevated prolactin levels were not observed in clinical trials. The relevance to human risk of prolactin-mediated endocrine tumors in mice is not known. Rats and mice do not produce glucuronidated silodosin, which is present in human serum at approximately four times the level of circulating silodosin and which has similar pharmacological activity to silodosin.

Silodosin produced no evidence of mutagenic or genotoxic potential in the in vitro Ames assay, mouse lymphoma assay, unscheduled DNA synthesis assay and the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. A weakly positive response was obtained in two in vitro Chinese Hamster Lung (CHL) tests for chromosomal aberration assays at high, cytotoxic concentrations.

Treatment of male rats with silodosin for 15 days resulted in decreased fertility at the high dose of 20 mg/kg/day (about 2 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC) which was reversible following a two week recovery period. No effect was observed at 6 mg/kg/day. The clinical relevance of this finding is not known.

In a fertility study in female rats, the high dose of 20 mg/kg/day (about 1 to 4 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC) resulted in estrus cycle changes, but no effect on fertility. No effect on the estrus cycle was observed at 6 mg/kg/day.

In a male rat fertility study, sperm viability and count were significantly lower after administration of 600 mg/kg/day (about 65 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC) for one month. Histopathological examination of infertile males revealed changes in the testes and epididymides at 200 mg/kg/day (about 30 times the exposure at the MRHD based on AUC).

Mean changes from baseline to last assessment (Week 12) in total IPSS score were statistically significantly greater for groups treated with silodosin than those treated with placebo in both studies (Table 4 and Figures 2 and 3).

Table 4: Mean Change (SD) from Baseline to Week 12 in International Prostate Symptom Score in Two Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Studies