Risk Summary
The limited available data with CLARINEX-D 12 HOUR in pregnant women are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine in combination in pregnant women. Neither are there animal reproduction studies conducted with the combination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine or pseudoephedrine alone. Desloratadine given during organogenesis to pregnant rats was not teratogenic at the summed area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)-based exposures of desloratadine and its metabolite approximately 320 times that at the recommended human daily oral dose (RHD) of 5 mg/day. Desloratadine given during organogenesis to pregnant rabbits was not teratogenic at the AUC-based exposures of desloratadine approximately 230 times that at the RHD. Desloratadine given to pregnant rats during organogenesis through lactation resulted in reduced body weight and slow righting reflex of F1 pups at the summed AUC-based exposures of desloratadine and its metabolite approximately 70 times or greater than that at the RHD [see Data].
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.
Data
Human Data
Pseudoephedrine
The majority of studies examining the use of pseudoephedrine in pregnancy did not find an association with an increased risk of congenital anomalies. A few case-control studies conducted reported potential associations with isolated congenital disorders. However, several similar studies did not find statistically significant associations. Methodological limitations of these studies included small sample size, selection bias, recall bias, inadequate adjustment for risk factors, residual confounding, exposure misclassification, and lack of information regarding dose and timing of exposure.
Animal Data
No animal reproduction studies were conducted with the combination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine or pseudoephedrine alone.
Desloratadine
Desloratadine was given orally during organogenesis to pregnant rats at doses of 6, 24 and 48 mg/kg/day (approximately 50, 200 and 320 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). No fetal malformations were present. Reduced fetal weights and skeletal variations noted at doses of 24 and 48 mg/kg/day were likely secondary to the maternal toxicities of reduced body weight gain and food consumption observed at the same doses. Desloratadine was also given orally during organogenesis to pregnant rabbits at doses of 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day (approximately 30, 70 and 230 times the AUC-based exposure of desloratadine at the RHD). No adverse effects to the fetus were noted. Reduced maternal body weight gain was noted in rabbits at 60 mg/kg/day. In a peri- and post-natal development study, desloratadine was given to rats orally during the peri-natal (Gestation Day 6) through lactation periods (Postpartum Day 21) at doses of 3, 9 and 18 mg/kg/day. Reduced body weight and slow righting reflex were reported in F1 pups at doses of 9 mg/kg/day or greater (approximately 70 times or greater than the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). Desloratadine had no effect on F1 pup development at 3 mg/kg/day (approximately 10 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). Maternal toxicities including reduced body weight gain and food consumption were noted at 18 mg/kg/day for F0 dams. F1 offspring were subsequently mated and there was no developmental toxicity for F2 pups observed.
Risk Summary
Desloratadine and pseudoephedrine both pass into breast milk. There are not sufficient data on the effects of desloratadine on the breastfed infant or the effects of desloratadine on milk production. Pseudoephedrine has been reported to decrease milk production [see Data]. Pseudoephedrine has been reported to cause irritability in breastfed infants. The decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue CLARINEX-D 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets, taking into account the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding, the nursing mother's clinical need, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from desloratadine and pseudoephedrine or from the underlying maternal condition.
Data
Human Data
Pseudoephedrine
In a study of eight lactating women, who were 8 to 76 weeks postpartum and received a single dose of 60 mg of pseudoephedrine, the mean 24-hour milk production was reduced by 24%. In the same study, the estimated mean relative infant dose from breast milk (assuming mean milk consumption of 150 mL/kg/day and a maternal dosing regimen of 60 mg pseudoephedrine four times per day) was calculated to be 4.3% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose.
Infertility
There are no data available on human infertility associated with desloratadine, pseudoephedrine, or the combination. There are no animal fertility studies with the combination or pseudoephedrine alone.
There were no clinically relevant effects of desloratadine on female fertility in rats. A male specific decrease in fertility occurred at an oral desloratadine dose of 12 mg/kg or greater in rats (approximately 65 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). Male fertility was unaffected at a desloratadine dose of 3 mg/kg (approximately 10 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). [See Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1).]
Drug Interaction: In 2 controlled crossover clinical pharmacology studies in healthy male (n=12 in each study) and female (n=12 in each study) subjects, desloratadine 7.5 mg (1.5 times the daily dose) once daily was co-administered with erythromycin 500 mg every 8 hours or ketoconazole 200 mg every 12 hours for 10 days. In 3 separate controlled, parallel group clinical pharmacology studies, desloratadine at the clinical dose of 5 mg has been co-administered with azithromycin 500 mg followed by 250 mg once daily for 4 days (n=18) or with fluoxetine 20 mg once daily for 7 days after a 23-day pretreatment period with fluoxetine (n=18) or with cimetidine 600 mg every 12 hours for 14 days (n=18) under steady state conditions to healthy male and female subjects. Although increased plasma concentrations (Cmax and AUC 0-24 hrs) of desloratadine and 3-hydroxydesloratadine were observed (see Table 2), there were no clinically relevant changes in the safety profile of desloratadine, as assessed by electrocardiographic parameters (including the corrected QT interval), clinical laboratory tests, vital signs and adverse events.
Table 2: Changes in Desloratadine and 3-hydroxydesloratadine Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Male and Female Subjects | Desloratadine | 3-hydroxydesloratadine |
|---|
| Cmax | AUC 0-24hrs | Cmax | AUC 0-24hrs |
|---|
Erythromycin (500 mg Q8h) | +24% | +14% | +43% | +40% |
Ketoconazole (200 mg Q12h) | +45% | +39% | +43% | +72% |
Azithromycin (500 mg Day 1, 250 mg QD × 4 days) | +15% | +5% | +15% | +4% |
Fluoxetine (20 mg QD) | +15% | +0% | +17% | +13% |
Cimetidine (600 mg Q12h) | +12% | +19% | -11% | -3% |
Carcinogenicity Studies:
Desloratadine
The carcinogenic potential of desloratadine was assessed using a loratadine study in rats and a desloratadine study in mice. In a 2-year study in rats, loratadine was administered in the diet at doses up to 25 mg/kg/day (approximately 45 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). A significantly higher incidence of hepatocellular tumors (combined adenomas and carcinomas) was observed in males given 10 mg/kg/day of loratadine (approximately 10 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD) and in males and females given 25 mg/kg/day of loratadine. The clinical significance of these findings during long-term use of desloratadine is not known. In a 2-year dietary study in mice, males and females given up to 16 mg/kg/day and 32 mg/kg/day desloratadine, respectively (approximately 30 and 70 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD, respectively), did not show significant increases in the incidence of any tumors.
Pseudoephedrine
The carcinogenic potential of pseudoephedrine was assessed using ephedrine sulfate studies in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice conducted under the National Toxicology Program (NTP). In a 2-year dietary study in rats, male and female rats given up to 9 and 11 mg/kg/day ephedrine sulfate (approximately 0.4 and 0.5 times the RHD of 240 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis, respectively) did not show any evidence of tumorigenicity. In a 2-year dietary study in mice, male and female mice given up to 29 and 25 mg/kg/day ephedrine sulfate (approximately 0.7 and 0.6 times the RHD of pseudoephedrine on a mg/m2 basis, respectively) did not show any evidence of tumorigenicity.
Genotoxicity Studies:
Desloratadine
In genotoxicity studies with desloratadine, there was no evidence of genotoxic potential in a reverse mutation assay (Salmonella/E. coli mammalian microsome bacterial mutagenicity assay) or in 2 assays for chromosomal aberrations (human peripheral blood lymphocyte clastogenicity assay and mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay).
Pseudoephedrine
Mutagenicity studies with pseudoephedrine have not been conducted.
Impairment of Fertility:
Desloratadine
In a female fertility study, desloratadine was given to female rats orally 14 days prior to and throughout mating until Gestation Day 7 at doses of 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg/day. An increase in preimplantation loss and a decrease in number of implantations and fetuses noted at 24 mg/kg (approximately 200 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD) was likely due to maternal toxicities including reduced body weight gain and food consumption. In a male fertility study in rats, desloratadine was given orally to male rats for 70 days prior to mating and throughout the mating period (total dosing period 106-108 days) at doses of 3, 12 and 40 mg/kg/day. Reduced body weight gain, food consumption, and absolute organ weights of testes, epididymis, and cauda epididymis were noted at 40 mg/kg/day. A male-specific decrease in fertility, demonstrated by reduced female conception rates, decreased sperm numbers and motility, and histopathologic changes in testes and epididymis, occurred at a dose of 12 mg/kg or greater (approximately 65 times or greater than the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD). Desloratadine had no effect on male fertility in rats at 3 mg/kg/day (approximately 10 times the summed AUC-based exposure of desloratadine and its metabolite at the RHD).
Pseudoephedrine
Fertility studies with pseudoephedrine have not been conducted.
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