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Cardiovascular disorders: Treatment of chronic hyperuricaemia: Treatment with febuxostat in patients with ischaemic heart disease or congestive heart failure is not recommended. Caution should be exercised for exacerbation and/or onset of cardiovascular disease when administering this drug.
In Phase 3 randomized controlled clinical studies conducted in the North America, a small number of cardiovascular events occurred in patients treated with febuxostat. No causal relationship with febuxostat has been established.
In the post registrational CARES study in gout patients with established CV disease (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions for detailed characteristics of the study) the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of CV death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, or unstable angina with urgent coronary revascularization was similar in febuxostat versus allopurinol treated patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03; 95% CI 0.89-1.21), but a higher rate of cardiovascular deaths was observed (4.3% vs. 3.2% of patients; HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.03-1.73).
In a subsequent post registrational FAST study (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions for the detailed characteristics of the study), febuxostat was non-inferior to allopurinol in the incidence of the CV primary endpoint, with an adjusted HR 0.85 (95% CI: 0.70, 1.03). Overall, there were fewer CV deaths in the febuxostat group (62 CV deaths and 108 all-cause deaths) than in the allopurinol group (82 CV deaths and 174 all-cause deaths).
Prevention and treatment of hyperuricaemia in patients at risk of TLS: Patients undergoing chemotherapy for haematologic malignancies at intermediate to high risk of Tumor Lysis Syndrome treated with febuxostat should be under cardiac monitoring as clinically appropriate.
Medicinal product allergy/hypersensitivity: Rare reports of serious allergic/hypersensitivity reactions, including life-threatening Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis and acute anaphylactic reaction/shock, have been collected in the post-marketing experience. In most cases, these reactions occurred during the first month of therapy with febuxostat. Some, but not all of these patients reported renal impairment and/or previous hypersensitivity to allopurinol. Severe hypersensitivity reactions, including Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) were associated with fever, haematological, renal or hepatic involvement in some cases.
Patients should be advised of the signs and symptoms and monitored closely for symptoms of allergic/hypersensitivity reactions (see Adverse Reactions). Febuxostat treatment should be immediately stopped if serious allergic/hypersensitivity reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, occur since early withdrawal is associated with a better prognosis. If patient has developed allergic/hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and acute anaphylactic reaction/shock, Feburic must not be re-started in this patient at any time.
Acute gouty attacks (gout flare): Febuxostat treatment should not be started until an acute attack of gout has completely subsided. Gout flares may occur during initiation of treatment due to changing serum uric acid levels resulting in mobilization of urate from tissue deposits (see Adverse Reactions and Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). At treatment initiation with febuxostat flare prophylaxis for at least 6 months with an NSAID or colchicine is recommended (see Dosage & Administration).
If a gout flare occurs during febuxostat treatment, it should not be discontinued. The gout flare should be managed concurrently as appropriate for the individual patient. Continuous treatment with febuxostat decreases frequency and intensity of gout flares.
Xanthine deposition: In patients in whom the rate of urate formation is greatly increased (e.g. malignant disease and its treatment, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome) the absolute concentration of xanthine in urine could, in rare cases, rise sufficiently to allow deposition in the urinary tract. This has not been observed in the pivotal clinical study with Feburic in the Tumor Lysis Syndrome. As there has been no experience with febuxostat, its use in patients with Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome is not recommended.
Mercaptopurine/azathioprine: Feburic use is not recommended in patients concomitantly treated with mercaptopurine/azathioprine. Where the combination cannot be avoided patients should be closely monitored. A reduction of dosage of mercaptopurine or azathioprine is recommended in order to avoid possible haematological effects (see Interactions).
Organ transplant recipients: As there has been no experience in organ transplant recipients, the use of Feburic in such patients is not recommended (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Theophylline: Co-administration of febuxostat 80 mg and theophylline 400 mg single dose in healthy subjects showed absence of any pharmacokinetic interaction (see Interactions). Febuxostat 80 mg can be used in patients concomitantly treated with theophylline without risk of increasing theophylline plasma levels. No data is available for febuxostat 120 mg.
Liver disorders: During the combined phase 3 clinical studies, mild liver function test abnormalities were observed in patients treated with febuxostat (5.0%). Liver function test is recommended prior to the initiation of therapy with febuxostat and periodically thereafter based on clinical judgment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Thyroid disorders: Increased TSH values (>5.5 μIU/mL) were observed in patients on long-term treatment with febuxostat (5.5%) in the long-term open label extension studies. Caution is required when febuxostat is used in patients with alteration of thyroid function (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Lactose: Feburic tablets contain lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Somnolence, dizziness, paraesthesia and blurred vision have been reported with the use of febuxostat. Patients should exercise caution before driving, using machinery or participating in dangerous activities until they are reasonably certain that Feburic does not adversely affect performance.
