Terconazole

Description

DESCRIPTION Terconazole Vaginal Cream 0.4% is a white to off-white, water washable cream for intravaginal administration containing 0.4% of the antifungal agent terconazole, cis -1-[ p -[[2-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-2-(1 H -1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methoxy]phenyl]-4-isopropylpiperazine, compounded in a cream base consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, purified water, and stearyl alcohol. The structural formula of terconazole is as follows: TERCONAZOLE C 26 H 31 CI 2 N 5 O 3 Terconazole, a triazole derivative, is a white to almost white powder with a molecular weight of 532.47. It is insoluble in water; sparingly soluble in ethanol; and soluble in butanol. Chemical Structure

What Is Terconazole Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Terconazole vaginal cream is indicated for the local treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (moniliasis). As terconazole vaginal cream is effective only for vulvovaginitis caused by the genus Candida , the diagnosis should be confirmed by KOH smears and/or cultures.

Dosage and Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION One full applicator (5 grams) of terconazole vaginal cream (20 mg terconazole) should be administered intravaginally once daily at bedtime for seven consecutive days. Before prescribing another course of therapy, the diagnosis should be reconfirmed by smears and/or cultures and other pathogens commonly associated with vulvovaginitis ruled out. The therapeutic effect of terconazole vaginal cream is not affected by menstruation.

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse Reactions from Clinical Trials Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. During controlled clinical studies conducted in the United States, 521 patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis were treated with terconazole 0.4% vaginal cream. Based on comparative analyses with placebo, the adverse experiences considered most likely related to terconazole 0.4% vaginal cream were headache (26% vs. 17% with placebo) and body pain (2.1% vs. 0% with placebo). Fever (1.7% vs. 0.5% with placebo) and chills (0.4% vs, 0% with placebo), vulvovaginal burning, itching and irritation have also been reported. The adverse drug experience on terconazole most frequently causing discontinuation was vulvovaginal itching. Post-marketing Experience The following adverse drug reactions have been first identified during post-marketing experience with terconazole:. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. General: Asthenia, Influenza-Like Illness consisting of multiple listed reactions including fever and chills, nausea, vomiting, myalgia, arthralgia, malaise Immune: Hypersensitivity, Anaphylaxis, Face Edema Nervous: Dizziness Respiratory: Bronchospasm Skin: Rash, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Urticaria

Drug Interactions

Drug Interactions The therapeutic effect of terconazole is not affected by oral contraceptive usage.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS Patients known to be hypersensitive to terconazole or to any of the components of the cream.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Pregnancy Category C There was no evidence of teratogenicity when terconazole was administered orally up to 40 mg/kg/day (100× the recommended intravaginal human dose of the 0.4% vaginal cream formulation) in rats, or 20 mg/kg/day in rabbits, or subcutaneously up to 20 mg/kg/day in rats. Dosages at or below 10 mg/kg/day produced no embryotoxicity; however, there was a delay in fetal ossification at 10 mg/kg/day in rats. There was some evidence of embryotoxicity in rabbits and rats at 20 to 40 mg/kg. In rats, this was reflected as a decrease in litter size and number of viable young and reduced fetal weight. There was also delay in ossification and an increased incidence of skeletal variants. The no-effect dose of 10 mg/kg/day resulted in a mean peak plasma level of terconazole in pregnant rats of 0.176 mcg/mL which exceeds by 44 times the mean peak plasma level (0.004 mcg/mL) seen in normal subjects after intravaginal administration of terconazole 0.4% vaginal cream. This safety assessment does not account for possible exposure of the fetus through direct transfer to terconazole from the irritated vagina by diffusion across amniotic membranes. Since terconazole is absorbed from the human vagina, it should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy unless the physician considers it essential to the welfare of the patient. Terconazole may be used during the second and third trimester if the potential benefit outweighs the possible risks to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Animal studies have shown that rat offspring exposed via the milk of treated (40 mg/kg/orally) dams showed decreased survival during the first few post-partum days, but overall pup weight and weight gain were comparable to or greater than controls throughout lactation. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, and because of the potential for adverse reaction in nursing infants from terconazole, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Overdosage

OVERDOSAGE In the rat, the oral LD 50 values were found to be 1741 and 849 mg/kg for the male and female, respectively. The oral LD 50 values for the male and female dog were ≅1280 and ≥640 mg/kg, respectively. In the event of oral ingestion of suppository or cream, supportive and symptomatic measures should be carried out. If the cream is accidentally applied to the eyes, wash with clean water or saline and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.

How Supplied

HOW SUPPLIED Terconazole Vaginal Cream 0.4% is available in 45 gram (NDC 51672-1304-6) tubes with a measured-dose applicator. Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].