Cardiovascular Effects
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events
Clinical trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective
NSAIDs of up to 3 years duration have shown an increased risk of serious
cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which
can be fatal. All NSAIDs, both COX-2 selective and nonselective, may have a
similar risk. Patients with known CV disease or risk factors for CV disease may
be at greater risk. To minimize the potential risk for an adverse CV event in
patients treated with an NSAID, the lowest effective dose should be used for the
shortest duration possible. Physicians and patients should remain alert for the
development of such events, even in the absence of previous CV symptoms.
Patients should be informed about the signs and/or symptoms of serious CV events
and the steps to take if they occur.
There is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates the
increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events associated with NSAID use. The
concurrent use of aspirin and an NSAID does increase the risk of serious GI
events (see WARNINGS: Gastrointestinal
(GI) Effects: Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding and Perforation).
Two large, controlled, clinical trials of a COX-2 selective NSAID for the
treatment of pain in the first 10 to 14 days following CABG surgery found an
increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Hypertension
NSAIDs, including tolmetin, can lead to onset of new hypertension
or worsening of preexisting hypertension, either of which may contribute to the
increased incidence of CV events. Patients taking thiazides or loop diuretics
may have impaired response to these therapies when taking NSAIDs. NSAIDs,
including tolmetin, should be used with caution in patients with hypertension.
Blood pressure (BP) should be monitored closely during the initiation of NSAID
treatment and throughout the course of therapy.
Congestive Heart Failure and Edema
Fluid retention and edema have been observed in some patients
taking NSAIDs. Tolmetin should be used with caution in patients with fluid
retention or heart failure.
Gastrointestinal (GI) EffectsRisk of Ulceration, Bleeding, and Perforation
NSAIDs, including tolmetin, can cause serious gastrointestinal
adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of
the stomach, small intestine or large intestine, which can be fatal. These
serious adverse events can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms
in patients treated with NSAIDs. Only one in five patients who develop a serious
upper GI adverse event on NSAID therapy is symptomatic. Upper GI ulcers, gross
bleeding, or perforation caused by NSAIDs occur in approximately 1% of patients
treated for 3 to 6 months, and in about 2% to 4% of patients treated for one
year. These trends continue with longer duration of use, increasing the
likelihood of developing a serious GI event at some time during the course of
therapy. However, even short-term therapy is not without risk.
NSAIDs should be prescribed with extreme caution in those with a prior
history of ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or gastrointestinal
bleeding who use NSAIDs have a greater than 10-fold increased risk for
developing a GI bleed compared to patients with neither of these risk factors.
Other factors that increase the risk for GI bleeding in patients treated with
NSAIDs include concomitant use of oral corticosteroids or anticoagulants, longer
duration of NSAID therapy, smoking, use of alcohol, older age, and poor general
health status. Most spontaneous reports of fatal GI events are in elderly or
debilitated patients and therefore, special care should be taken in treating
this population.
To minimize the potential risk for an adverse GI event in patients treated
with an NSAID, the lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest
possible duration. Patients and physicians should remain alert for signs and
symptoms of GI ulceration and bleeding during NSAID therapy and promptly
initiate additional evaluation and treatment if a serious GI adverse event is
suspected. This should include discontinuation of the NSAID until a serious GI
adverse event is ruled out. For high risk patients, alternate therapies that do
not involve NSAIDs should be considered.
Renal EffectsLong-term administration of NSAIDs has resulted in renal
papillary necrosis and other renal injury. Acute interstitial nephritis with
hematuria, proteinuria, and occasionally nephrotic syndrome have been reported
in patients treated with tolmetin.
Renal toxicity has also been seen in patients in whom renal prostaglandins
have a compensatory role in the maintenance of renal perfusion. In these
patients, administration of an NSAID may cause a dose dependent reduction in
prostaglandin formation and, secondarily, in renal blood flow, which may
precipitate overt renal decompensation. Patients at greatest risk of this
reaction are those with impaired renal function, heart failure, liver
dysfunction, those taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors and the elderly.
Discontinuation of NSAID therapy is usually followed by recovery to the
pretreatment state.
Advanced Renal Disease
No information is available from controlled clinical trials
regarding the use of tolmetin in patients with advanced renal disease.
Therefore, treatment with tolmetin is not recommended in these patients with
advanced renal disease. If tolmetin therapy must be initiated, close monitoring
of the patient's renal function is advisable.
Anaphylactoid ReactionsAs with other NSAIDs, anaphylactoid reactions may occur in
patients with known prior exposure to tolmetin. Tolmetin should not be given to
patients with the aspirin triad. This symptom complex typically occurs in
asthmatic patients who experience rhinitis with or without nasal polyps, or who
exhibit severe, potentially fatal bronchospasm after taking aspirin or other
NSAIDs (see CONTRAINDICATIONS
and PRECAUTIONS: General:
Preexisting Asthma). Emergency help should be sought in cases where an
anaphylactoid reaction occurs.
Skin ReactionsNSAIDs, including tolmetin, can cause serious skin adverse events
such as exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic
epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. These serious events may occur
without warning. Patients should be informed about the signs and symptoms of
serious skin manifestations and use of the drug should be discontinued at the
first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
PregnancyIn late pregnancy as with other NSAIDs, tolmetin should be
avoided because it may cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus (see PRECAUTIONS: Pregnancy: Teratogenic
Effects. Pregnancy Category C).