| Pregnancy Prevention Programme This medicinal product is TERATOGENIC.Toctino is contraindicated in women of childbearing potential unless all of the following conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme are met:• She understands the teratogenic risk• She understands the need for rigorous follow-up, on a monthly basis• She understands and accepts the need for effective contraception, without interruption, 1 month before starting treatment, throughout the duration of treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment. At least one and preferably two complementary forms of contraception including a barrier method should be used• Even if she has amenorrhoea she must follow all of the advice on effective contraception• She should be capable of complying with effective contraceptive measures• She is informed and understands the potential consequences of pregnancy and the need to rapidly consult if there is a risk of pregnancy• She understands the need and accepts to undergo pregnancy testing before, during and 5 weeks after the end of treatment• She has acknowledged that she has understood the hazards and necessary precautions associated with the use of ToctinoThese conditions also concern women who are not currently sexually active unless the prescriber considers that there are compelling reasons to indicate that there is no risk of pregnancy.The prescriber must ensure that:• The patient complies with the conditions for pregnancy prevention as listed above, including confirmation that she has an adequate level of understanding• The patient has acknowledged the aforementioned conditions• The patient has used at least one and preferably two methods of effective contraception including a barrier method for at least 1 month prior to starting treatment and is continuing to use effective contraception throughout the treatment period and for at least 1 month after cessation of treatment• Negative pregnancy test results have been obtained before, during and 5 weeks after the end of treatment. The dates and results of pregnancy tests should be documentedContraception Female patients must be provided with comprehensive information on pregnancy prevention and should be referred for contraceptive advice if they are not using effective contraception. As a minimum requirement, female patients at potential risk of pregnancy must use at least one effective method of contraception. Preferably the patient should use two complementary forms of contraception including a barrier method. Contraception should be continued for at least 1 month after stopping treatment with Toctino, even in patients with amenorrhea.Pregnancy testing According to local practice, medically supervised pregnancy tests with a minimum sensitivity of 25mIU/mL are recommended to be performed in the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle, as follows:One month prior to starting therapy In order to exclude the possibility of pregnancy prior to starting contraception, it is recommended that an initial medically supervised pregnancy test should be performed and its date and result recorded. In patients without regular menses, the timing of this pregnancy test should reflect the sexual activity of the patient and should be undertaken approximately 3 weeks after the patient last had unprotected sexual intercourse. The prescriber should educate the patient about contraception.At the start of therapy A medically supervised pregnancy test should also be performed during the consultation when Toctino is prescribed or in the 3 days prior to the visit to the prescriber, and should have been delayed until the patient had been using effective contraception for at least 1 month. This test should ensure the patient is not pregnant when she starts treatment with Toctino.Follow-up visits Follow-up visits should be arranged at 28 day intervals. The need for repeated medically supervised pregnancy tests every month should be determined in consideration amongst other of the patient's sexual activity and recent menstrual history (abnormal menses, missed periods or amenorrhea). Where indicated, follow-up pregnancy tests should be performed on the day of the prescribing visit or in the 3 days prior to the visit to the prescriber. End of treatment Five weeks after stopping treatment, women should undergo a final pregnancy test to exclude pregnancy.Prescribing and dispensing restrictions Prescriptions of Toctino for women of childbearing potential should be limited to 30 days of treatment and continuation of treatment requires a new prescription. Ideally, pregnancy testing, issuing a prescription and dispensing of Toctino should occur on the same day. Dispensing of Toctino should be completed within a maximum of 7 days of the prescription. Male patients Small amounts of alitretinoin have been detected in the semen of healthy volunteers receiving 40 mg of alitretinoin and there is no indication of drug accumulation in semen. Assuming complete vaginal absorption of these amounts would have a negligible effect on the endogenous plasma levels of the female partner and therefore does not appear to pose a risk to the foetus if the partner is pregnant. Based on non-clinical findings, male fertility may be compromised by treatment with Toctino (see section 5.3 Preclinical safety data).Male patients should be reminded that they must not share their medication with anyone, particularly not females. Additional precautions Patients should be instructed never to give this medicinal product to another person and to return any unused capsules to their pharmacist at the end of treatment. Patients should not donate blood during therapy and for 1 month following discontinuation of Toctino because of the potential risk to the foetus of a pregnant transfusion recipient.Educational material In order to assist prescribers, pharmacists and patients in avoiding foetal exposure to alitretinoin, the Marketing Authorisation Holder will provide educational material to reinforce the warnings about the teratogenicity of Toctino, to provide advice on contraception before therapy is started and to provide guidance on the need for pregnancy testing. Full patient information about the teratogenic risk and the strict pregnancy prevention measures as specified in the Pregnancy Prevention Programme should be given by the physician to all patients, both male and female.Psychiatric disorders Depression, aggravated depression, anxiety, aggressive tendencies, mood alterations, psychotic symptoms, and very rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide have been reported in patients treated with systemic retinoids, including alitretinoin. Particular care needs to be taken in patients with a history of depression and patients on alitretinoin treatment should therefore be observed for signs of depression and referred for appropriate treatment if necessary. However, discontinuation of alitretinoin may be insufficient to alleviate symptoms and therefore further psychiatric or psychological evaluation may be necessary.UV light The effects of UV light are enhanced by retinoid therapy, therefore patients should avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and the unsupervised use of sun lamps. Where necessary a sun-protection product with a high protection factor of at least SPF 15 should be used.Patients who experience dryness of the skin and lips should be advised to use a skin moisturising ointment or cream and a lip balm. Musculo-skeletal and connective tissue disorders Treatment with other systemic retinoids has been associated with bone changes including premature epiphyseal closure, hyperostosis, and calcification of tendons and ligaments. Myalgia, arthralgia and increased serum creatinine phosphokinase values have been observed in patients treated with alitretinoin.Eye disorders Treatment with alitretinoin has been associated with dry eyes. The symptoms usually resolve after discontinuation of therapy. Dry eyes can be helped by the application of a lubricating eye ointment or by the application of tear replacement therapy. Intolerance to contact lenses may occur which may necessitate the patient wearing glasses during treatment. Treatment with systemic retinoids has been associated with corneal opacities and keratitis. Decreased night vision has been observed in patients treated with alitretinoin. These effects usually resolve after discontinuation of therapy. Patients experiencing visual difficulties should be referred to an ophthalmologist. Withdrawal of alitretinoin may be necessary. Benign intracranial hypertension Treatment with systemic retinoids, including alitretinoin, has been associated with the occurrence of benign intracranial hypertension, some of which involved concomitant use of tetracyclines (see section 4.3 Contraindications and section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction). Signs and symptoms of benign intracranial hypertension include headache, nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances and papilloedema. Patients who develop signs of benign intracranial hypertension should discontinue alitretinoin immediately.Lipid Metabolism Alitretinoin has been associated with an increase in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides (fasting values) should be monitored. Alitretinoin should be discontinued if hypertriglyceridaemia cannot be controlled at an acceptable level or if symptoms of pancreatitis occur (see section 4.8 Undesirable effects). Triglyceride levels in excess of 800mg/dL (9mmol/L) are sometimes associated with acute pancreatitis, which may be fatal.Thyroid function Changes in thyroid function tests have been observed in patients receiving alitretinoin, most often noted as a reversible reduction in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and T4 (free thyroxine). Hepatobiliary disorders Treatment with other systemic retinoids has been associated with transient and reversible increases in liver transaminases. In the event of persistent clinically relevant elevation of transaminase levels, reduction of the dose or discontinuation of treatment should be considered.Gastrointestinal disorders Systemic retinoids have been associated with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, including regional ileitis) in patients without a history of intestinal disorders. If severe diarrhoea is observed, diagnosis of IBD should be considered and alitretinoin should be discontinued immediately.Allergic reactions Anaphylactic reactions have been rarely reported in systemic retinoids, in some cases after previous topical exposure to retinoids. Allergic cutaneous reactions are reported infrequently. Serious cases of allergic vasculitis, often with purpura (bruises and red patches) of the extremities and extracutaneous involvement have been reported. Severe allergic reactions necessitate interruption of therapy and careful monitoring. High risk patients In patients with diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular risk factors or a lipid metabolism disorder undergoing treatment with alitretinoin, more frequent checks of serum values for lipids may be necessary. It is recommended that these patients are started with 10mg once daily and titrated up to the maximum dose of 30mg if necessary.
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