Aksilez-v

Uses

Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor. It works by relaxing blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and helps the heart to pump blood more easily.

Valsartan is used for:

• For hypertension
• To reduce hospitalizations in patients with congestive heart failure
• To reduce death in patients who developed congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction

Aksilez-v is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)Cardiovascular Mortality, Diabetic Nephropathy, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Left Ventricular Dysfunction, Moderate Essential Hypertension, Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (NYHA Class II), Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (NYHA Class III), Chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (NYHA Class IV), Hospitalization due to cardiac failure

How Aksilez-v works

Aliskiren is a renin inhibitor. Renin is secreted by the kidneys when blood volume and renal perfusion decrease. It normally cleaves the protein angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is then converted to angiotensin II, an active protein. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor that causes the release of catecholamines into the circulation. It also promotes the secretion of aldosterone in addition to sodium reabsorption, increasing blood pressure. Additionally, angiotensin II acts on the adrenal cortex where it stimulates aldosterone release. Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the nephron.

Aliskiren prevents the above process via binding to renin at its active site, stopping the cleavage of angiotensin, in turn inhibiting the formation of angiotensin I. This ends the cascade of angiotensin II mediated mechanisms that normally increase blood pressure.

Valsartan belongs to the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) family of drugs, which selectively bind to angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1) and prevent angiotensin II from binding and exerting its hypertensive effects. These include vasoconstriction, stimulation and synthesis of aldosterone and ADH, cardiac stimulation, and renal reabsorption of sodium among others. Overall, valsartan's physiologic effects lead to reduced blood pressure, lower aldosterone levels, reduced cardiac activity, and increased excretion of sodium.

Valsartan also affects the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), which plays an important role in hemostasis and regulation of kidney, vascular, and cardiac functions. Pharmacological blockade of RAAS via AT1 receptor blockade inhibits negative regulatory feedback within RAAS which is a contributing factor to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and renal disease. In particular, heart failure is associated with chronic activation of RAAS, leading to inappropriate fluid retention, vasoconstriction, and ultimately a further decline in left ventricular function. ARBs have been shown to have a protective effect on the heart by improving cardiac function, reducing afterload, increasing cardiac output and prevent ventricular hypertrophy.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) class of medications (which includes drugs such as ramipril, lisinopril, and perindopril) inhibits the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II by inhibiting the ACE enzyme but does not prevent the formation of all angiotensin II. ARB activity is unique in that it blocks all angiotensin II activity, regardless of where or how it was synthesized.

Valsartan is commonly used for the management of hypertension, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes-associated nephropathy, particularly in patients who are unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors. ARBs such as valsartan have been shown in a number of large-scale clinical outcomes trials to improve cardiovascular outcomes including reducing risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, the progression of heart failure, and hospitalization. Valsartan also slows the progression of diabetic nephropathy due to its renoprotective effects. Improvements in chronic kidney disease with valsartan include both clinically and statistically significant decreases in urinary albumin and protein excretion in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and in nondiabetic patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

Valsartan also binds to the AT2 receptor, however AT2 is not known to be associated with cardiovascular homeostasis like AT1. Valsartan has about 20,000-fold higher affinity for the AT1 receptor than for the AT2 receptor. The increased plasma levels of angiotensin II following AT1 receptor blockade with valsartan may stimulate the unblocked AT2 receptor.

Dosage

Aksilez-v dosage

Initial adult dose: 150 mg orally once a day.

Maintenance adult dose: The dosage may be increased to 300 mg daily if blood pressure is not adequately controlled. No dosage adjustment is recommended based on gender, age, body weight or race.

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years. AUC is increased in elderly patients 65 years of age and older.

Hypertension: The usual dose of Valsartan is 80 to 160 mg once daily. The maximum dose is 320 mg daily. Maximum blood pressure reduction occurs within 4 weeks.

Heart failure:The usual dose is 40 mg twice daily and may be increased to 80-160 mg twice daily.

Post-Myocardial Infarction:The initial dose after myocardial infarction is 20 mg twice daily. The dose should be increased with a target of 160 mg daily if tolerated without side effects.

Administration of Valsartan with food decreases the absorption of Valsartan by about 40%, so it should be taken on an empty stomach. No initial dosage adjustment is required for elderly patients with mild to moderate renal and hepatic insufficiency.

Side Effects

Skin rash (1%), Diarrhea (2%), Increased creatine phosphokinase, Increased blood urea nitrogen (≤7%), increased serum creatinine (≤7%), RespirCough (1%)

Limited to important or life-threatening: Anaphylaxis, decreased hematocrit, decreased hemoglobin, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hepatic insufficiency, hyperkalemia, increased uric acid, nausea, rhabdomyolysis, seizure, severe hypotension, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, tonic-clonic seizures, vomiting

Valsartan is generally well tolerated and side effects are rare. The most common side effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, abdominal pain, cough, diarrhea and nausea. Patient may also experience hyperkalemia, impotency, reduced renal function, allergic reactions, dyspnea, constipation, back pain, muscle cramps, rash, anxiety, insomnia and vertigo. Hypotension may also occur if patient have been taking diuretics along with Valsartan.

Toxicity

The oral LD50 of aliskiren in rats is >2000 mg/kg. Overdose information is limited in the literature, however, an overdose with aliskiren is likely to result in hypotension. Supportive treatment should be initiated in the case of an overdose.

Approximate LD50 >2000 mg/kg (Gavage, rat) [F3139]

Reproductive Toxicology Studies

No teratogenic effects were seen when valsartan was given to pregnant mice and rats at oral doses up to 600 mg/kg/day and to pregnant rabbits at oral doses reaching up to 10 mg/kg/day. Despite this, marked decreases in fetal weight, pup birth weight, pup survival rate, and delays in developmental milestones were noted in studies in which parental rats were treated with valsartan at oral, maternally toxic doses of 600 mg/kg/day during the organogenesis period or during late gestation and lactation.[F4607]

Pregnancy

When used in pregnancy, drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, valsartan should be discontinued as soon as possible.[F4607]

Precaution

Impaired Hepatic Function: As the majority of Valsartan is eliminated in the bile, care should be exercised in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment including biliary obstructive disorder.

Impaired Renal Function: Dosage reduction or discontinuation may be required with patients having pre-existing renal impairment.

Heart Failure and Myocardial Infarction: Caution should be exercised when initiating therapy in patients with heart failure and post-myocardial infarction patients.

Interaction

Major: Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.

Moderate: Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.

Minor: Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.

No drug interactions of clinical significance have been found. Compounds which have been studied in clinical trials include Cimetidine, Warfarin, Furosemide, Digoxin, Atenolol, Indomethacin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Amlodipine and GlibenclamideAs Valsartan is not metabolized to a significant extent, clinically relevant drug-drug interactions in the form of metabolic induction or inhibition of the cytochrome P450 system are not expected with Valsartan. Although valsartan is highly bound to plasma proteins, in vitrostudies have not shown any interaction at this level with a range of molecules which are also highly protein bound, such as Diclofenac, Furosemide, and Warfarin. Concomitant use of potassium sparing diuretics (e.g., Spironolactone, Triamterene, Amiloride) potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to increase in serum potassium. If co medication is considered necessary, caution is advisable

Volume of Distribution

Unchanged aliskiren accounts for about 80% of the drug found in the plasma.

The steady state volume of distribution of valsartan after intravenous administration is small (17 L), indicating that valsartan does not distribute into tissues extensively.[F3139,F3607]

Elimination Route

Aliskiren is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and is poorly absorbed with a bioavailability between 2.0 and 2.5%. Peak plasma concentrations of aliskiren are achieved between 1 to 3 hours after administration. Steady-state concentrations of aliskiren are achieved within 7-8 days of regular administration.

After one oral dose, the antihypertensive activity of valsartan begins within approximately 2 hours and peaks within 4-6 hours in most patients.[F3139] Food decreases the exposure to orally administered valsartan by approximately 40% and peak plasma concentration by approximately 50%. AUC and Cmax values of valsartan genereally increase linearly with increasing dose over the therapeutic dose range. Valsartan does not accumulate appreciably in plasma following repetitive administration.[F4607]

Half Life

Plasma half-life for aliskiren can range from 30 to 40 hours with an accumulation half-life of about 24 hours.

After intravenous (IV) administration, valsartan demonstrates bi-exponential decay kinetics, with an average elimination half-life of about 6 hours.[F4607]

Clearance

Aliskiren is partially cleared in the kidneys, and safety data have not been established for patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 30 mL/min. One pharmacokinetic study revealed an average renal clearance of 1280 +/- 500 mL/hour in healthy volunteers.

Following intravenous administration, plasma clearance of valsartan is approximately 2 L/hour and its renal clearance is 0.62 L/hour (about 30% of total clearance).[F4607]

Elimination Route

Aliskiren is mainly excreted via the hepatobiliary route and by oxidative metabolism by hepatic cytochrome enzymes. Approximately one-quarter of the absorbed dose appears in the urine as unchanged parent drug. One pharmacokinetic study of radiolabeled aliskiren detected 0.6% radioactivity in the urine and more than 80% in the feces, suggesting that aliskiren is mainly eliminated by the fecal route.

Valsartan, when administered as an oral solution, is primarily recovered in feces (about 83% of dose) and urine (about 13% of dose). The recovery is mainly as unchanged drug, with only about 20% of dose recovered as metabolites.[F4607]

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

If pregnancy is detected, discontinue aliskiren as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.

Pregnancy: Valsartan should not be used in pregnancy, as in 2nd and 3rd trimester it can cause injury and even death to fetus. When pregnancy is detected, Valsartan should be stopped as soon as possible.

Nursing mothers: It is not known whether Valsartan is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for adverse effects on the nursing infant, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Contraindication

Hypersensitivity to aliskiren or any component of the formulation; concomitant use with an ACE inhibitor or ARB in patients with diabetes mellitus History of angioedema with aliskiren, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs; hereditary or idiopathic angioedema; pregnancy, breast-feeding; concomitant use with ACE inhibitors or ARBs in patients with GFR <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2; patients <2 years of age.

Valsartan is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any component of this product.

Special Warning

Renal Dose Adjustments:

• Mild to moderate renal dysfunction (CrCl 30 mL/min or greater): No adjustment recommended.
• Severe renal dysfunction (CrCl 30 mL/min or less): Not recommended

Liver Dose Adjustments

: No adjustment recommended

Pediatric use: Safety and effectiveness in paediatric patients have not been established.Geriatric use: No overall difference in the efficacy or safety of Valsartan was observed in this patient population, but greater sensitivity of some elderly persons cannot be ruled out.Hepatic Impairment:

• Mild to moderate: Max: 80 mg once daily.
• Severe: Contraindicated.

Acute Overdose

Limited data are available related to overdosage in humans. The most likely manifestations of overdosage would be hypotension and tachycardia, bradycardia could occur from parasympathetic (vagal) stimulation. If excessive hypotension occurs, the patient should be placed in the supine position and if necessary, has to be given an intravenous infusion of normal saline.

Storage Condition

Store aliskiren at room temperature, between 15° to 30° C. Store in the original bottle, away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep aliskiren out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Store between 15-30° C. Protect from moisture and heat.

Innovators Monograph

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