Albuterol and budesonide

No formal drug interaction studies have been performed with AIRSUPRA. • Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir): Use with caution. May cause systemic corticosteroid effects. ( 7.1 ) • Other short-acting bronchodilators: Use judiciously with other short-acting beta agonists. ( 7.2 ) • Beta blockers: May decrease effectiveness of AIRSUPRA and produce severe bronchospasm. When there are no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic-blocking agents, consider cardioselective beta-blockers and use with caution. ( 7.3 ) • Diuretics, or non-potassium-sparing diuretics: May potentiate hypokalemia or ECG changes. Consider monitoring potassium levels with concomitant use.

( 7.4 ) • Digoxin: May decrease serum digoxin levels. Carefully evaluate digoxin levels with concomitant use. ( 7.5 ) • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and tricyclic antidepressants: Use AIRSUPRA with extreme caution with concomitant use. ( 7.6 )

7.1 Inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 The main route of metabolism of corticosteroids, including budesonide, a component of AIRSUPRA, is via cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4). After oral administration of ketoconazole, a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4, the mean plasma concentration of orally administered budesonide increased. Concomitant administration of a CYP3A4 inhibitor may inhibit the metabolism of, and increase the systemic exposure to, budesonide.

Caution should be exercised when considering the co-administration of AIRSUPRA with long-term ketoconazole and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] .

7.2 Use with Other Short-Acting Bronchodilators AIRSUPRA contains the short-acting beta-agonist, albuterol. Therefore, concomitant use of additional beta-agonists with AIRSUPRA should be used judiciously to prevent beta-agonist overdose.

7.3 Beta-Blockers Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as albuterol, a component of AIRSUPRA, but may also produce severe bronchospasm in patients with asthma. Therefore, patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. However, under certain circumstances, e.g., as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic-blocking agents in these patients. In this setting, consider cardioselective beta-blockers, although they should be administered with caution.

7.4 Diuretics The ECG changes and/or hypokalemia which may result from the administration of non-potassium-sparing diuretics (such as loop or thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by beta-agonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Although the clinical significance of these effects is not known, caution is advised in the coadministration of AIRSUPRA with non-potassium-sparing diuretics. Consider monitoring potassium levels.

7.5 Digoxin Mean decreases of 16% and 22% in serum digoxin levels were demonstrated after single-dose intravenous and oral administration of albuterol, respectively, to normal volunteers who had received digoxin for 10 days. The clinical significance of these findings for patients with obstructive airway disease who are receiving albuterol and digoxin on a chronic basis is unclear. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to carefully evaluate the serum digoxin levels in patients who are currently receiving digoxin and AIRSUPRA.

7.6 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants AIRSUPRA should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of albuterol on the cardiovascular system may be potentiated.

8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to asthma medications during pregnancy. For more information, contact the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies conducted by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists at 1-877-311-8972 or visit http://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/ . Risk Summary Available data from published case series, epidemiological studies and reviews with budesonide use in pregnant women have not identified a drug-related risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

Available data from epidemiological studies and postmarketing case reports of pregnancy outcomes following inhaled albuterol use do not consistently demonstrate a risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. The available epidemiological studies have methodologic limitations, including inconsistent comparator groups, definitions of outcomes, and assessment of disease impact. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with asthma in pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations) . Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with AIRSUPRA, however, animal studies are available with its individual components, albuterol and budesonide.

Administration of albuterol to mice and rabbits during the period of organogenesis revealed evidence of adverse developmental outcomes (cleft palate in mice, delayed ossification in rabbits) at less than maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID) (see Data) . In animal reproduction studies, budesonide, administered by the subcutaneous route, caused structural abnormalities, was embryocidal, and reduced fetal weights in rats and rabbits at less than the MRHDID in adults, but these effects were not seen in rats that received inhaled doses approximately 2.5 times the MRHDID in adults (see Data) .

Experience with oral corticosteroids suggests that rodents are more prone to structural abnormalities from corticosteroid exposure than humans. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage of the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal risk In women with poorly or moderately controlled asthma, there is an increased risk of several perinatal adverse outcomes…