Acetaminophen

COMBOGESIC contains acetaminophen. Acetaminophen has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death. Most of the cases of liver injury are associated with the use of acetaminophen at doses that exceed 4,000 milligrams per day, and often involved more than one acetaminophen-containing product. The excessive intake of acetaminophen may be intentional to cause self-harm or unintentional as patients attempt to obtain more pain relief or unknowingly take other acetaminophen-containing products.

The risk of acute liver failure is higher in individuals with underlying liver disease and in individuals who ingest alcohol while taking acetaminophen.

Instruct patients to look for acetaminophen or APAP on package labels and not to use more than one product that contains acetaminophen. Instruct patients to seek medical attention immediately upon ingestion of more than 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day, even if they feel well.

Ibuprofen

Elevations of ALT or AST (three or more times the upper limit of normal [ULN]) have been reported in approximately 1% of NSAID-treated patients in clinical trials. In addition, rare, sometimes fatal, cases of severe hepatic injury, including fulminant hepatitis, liver necrosis, and hepatic failure have been reported.

Elevations of ALT or AST (less than three times ULN) may occur in up to 15% of patients treated with NSAIDs including ibuprofen.

Inform patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea, fatigue, lethargy, diarrhea, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness, and "flu-like" symptoms). If clinical signs and symptoms consistent with liver disease develop, or if systemic manifestations occur (e.g., eosinophilia, rash, etc.), discontinue COMBOGESIC immediately, and perform a clinical evaluation of the patient.

COMBOGESIC has not been studied in patients with impaired hepatic function. The use of COMBOGESIC in patients with hepatic impairment is not recommended.

Status Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery

Two large, controlled clinical trials of a COX-2 selective NSAID for the treatment of pain in the first 10-14 days following CABG surgery found an increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. NSAIDs are contraindicated in the setting of CABG [see Contraindications (4)].

Post-MI Patients

Observational studies conducted in the Danish National Registry have demonstrated that patients treated with NSAIDs in the post-MI period were at increased risk of reinfarction, CV-related death, and all-cause mortality beginning in the first week of treatment. In this same cohort, the incidence of death in the first year post-MI was 20 per 100 person years in NSAID-treated patients compared to 12 per 100 person years in non-NSAID exposed patients. Although the absolute rate of death declined somewhat after the first year post-MI, the increased relative risk of death in NSAID users persisted over at least the next four years of follow-up.

Avoid the use of COMBOGESIC in patients with a recent MI unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risk of recurrent CV thrombotic events. If COMBOGESIC is used in patients with a recent MI, monitor patients for signs of cardiac ischemia.

Risk Factors for Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation

Patients with a prior history of peptic ulcer disease and/or gastrointestinal bleeding who used NSAIDs had a greater than 10-fold increased risk for developing a GI bleed compared to patients without these risk factors. Other factors that increase the risk of GI bleeding in patients treated with NSAIDs include longer duration of NSAID therapy, concomitant use of oral corticosteroids, aspirin, anticoagulants, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); smoking; use of alcohol; older age; and poor general health status. Most postmarketing reports of fatal GI events occurred in elderly or debilitated patients. Additionally, patients with advanced liver disease and/or coagulopathy are at increased risk for GI bleeding.

Strategies to Minimize the GI Risks in NSAID-treated patients:

• Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest possible duration.
• Avoid administration of more than one NSAID at a time.
• Avoid use in patients at higher risk unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the increased risk of bleeding. For such patients, as well as those with active GI bleeding, consider alternative therapies other than NSAIDs.
• Remain alert for signs and symptoms of GI ulcerations and bleeding during NSAID therapy.
• If a serious GI adverse event is suspected, promptly initiate additional evaluation and treatment, and discontinue COMBOGESIC until a serious GI adverse event is ruled out.
• In the setting of concomitant use of low-dose aspirin for cardiac prophylaxis, monitor patients more closely for evidence of GI bleeding [see Drug Interactions (7)].

Renal Toxicity

Long-term administration of NSAIDs, including the ibuprofen component of COMBOGESIC, has resulted in renal papillary necrosis and other renal injury.

Renal toxicity has also been seen in patients in whom renal prostaglandins have a compensatory role in the maintenance of renal perfusion. In these patients, administration of a NSAID may cause a dose-dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and, secondarily, in renal blood flow, which may precipitate overt renal decompensation. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, dehydration, hypovolemia, heart failure, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and the elderly. Discontinuation of NSAID therapy is usually followed by recovery to the pretreatment state.

Hyperkalemia

Increases in serum potassium concentration, including hyperkalemia, have been reported with use of NSAIDs, even in some patients without renal impairment. In patients with normal renal function, these effects have been attributed to a hyporeninemic-hypoaldosteronism state.

Acetaminophen

There have been post-marketing reports of hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis associated with the use of acetaminophen. Clinical signs included swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, respiratory distress, urticaria, rash, pruritus, and vomiting. There were infrequent reports of life-threatening anaphylaxis requiring emergency medical attention. Instruct patients to discontinue COMBOGESIC immediately and seek emergency medical care if they experience these symptoms. Do not prescribe COMBOGESIC for patients with acetaminophen allergy [see Contraindications (4)].

Ibuprofen

NSAIDs, including the ibuprofen in COMBOGESIC, has been associated with anaphylactic reactions in patients with and without known hypersensitivity to ibuprofen and in patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma. Instruct patients to discontinue COMBOGESIC immediately and seek emergency medical care if they experience these symptoms. Do not prescribe COMBOGESIC for patients with ibuprofen or NSAID allergy [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].

Premature Closure of Fetal Ductus Arteriosus

Avoid use of NSAID-containing products, including COMBOGESIC, in pregnant women at about 30 weeks gestation and later. NSAID-containing products, including COMBOGESIC, increase the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus at approximately this gestational age.

Oligohydramnios/Neonatal Renal Impairment:

Use of NSAID-containing products, including COMBOGESIC, at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy may cause fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. These adverse outcomes are seen, on average, after days to weeks of treatment, although oligohydramnios has been infrequently reported as soon as 48 hours after NSAID initiation. Oligohydramnios is often, but not always, reversible with treatment discontinuation. Complications of prolonged oligohydramnios may, for example, include limb contractures and delayed lung maturation. In some post-marketing cases of impaired neonatal renal function, invasive procedures such as exchange transfusion or dialysis were required.

If, after careful consideration of alternative treatment options for pain management, NSAID- treatment is necessary between about 20 weeks and 30 weeks gestation, limit COMBOGESIC use to the lowest effective dose and shortest duration possible. Consider ultrasound monitoring of amniotic fluid if COMBOGESIC treatment extends beyond 48 hours. Discontinue COMBOGESIC if oligohydramnios occurs and follow up according to clinical practice [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Risk Summary

Clinical Considerations

Data

Risk Summary

The components of COMBOGESIC, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, are present in human milk. Limited published literature reports that, orally administered ibuprofen is present in human milk at relative infant doses of 0.06% to 0.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted daily dose. There are no reports of adverse effects of ibuprofen on the breastfed infant and no effects on milk production.

Limited published studies report that orally administered acetaminophen passes rapidly into human milk with similar levels in the milk and plasma. Average and maximum neonatal doses of 1% and 2%, respectively, of the weight-adjusted maternal dose are reported after a single oral administration of 1 gram acetaminophen. There is one well-documented report of a rash in a breast-fed infant that resolved when the mother stopped acetaminophen use and recurred when she resumed acetaminophen use.

The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for COMBOGESIC and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from COMBOGESIC or from the underlying maternal condition.

Infertility

Analgesia

COMBOGESIC contains acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Acetaminophen is a non-opiate, non-salicylate analgesic. The precise mechanism of the analgesic properties of acetaminophen is not established but is thought to primarily involve central actions. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Its mechanism of action for analgesia, like that of other NSAIDs, is not completely understood, but involves inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2).

Ibuprofen is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis in vitro. Prostaglandins sensitize afferent nerves and potentiate the action of bradykinin in inducing pain in animal models. Prostaglandins are mediators of inflammation. Because ibuprofen is an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, its mode of action may be due to a decrease of prostaglandins in peripheral tissues.

Hematological Effects

NSAIDs inhibit platelet aggregation and have been shown to prolong bleeding time in some patients. Unlike aspirin, their effect on platelet function is quantitatively less, of shorter duration, and reversible.

Absorption

Peak plasma concentration following the administration of three COMBOGESIC tablets occurs at approximately 45 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes after administration for acetaminophen and ibuprofen, respectively, under fasting condition. In the same study, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and the extent of absorption (AUC0-inf) are 14.88 mcg/mL and 47.44 mcg.h/mL for acetaminophen and 25.58 mcg/mL and 95.62 mcg.h/mL for ibuprofen, respectively. The Cmax and AUC0-inf values for both acetaminophen and ibuprofen increase dose proportionally to increases in COMBOGESIC doses from one, to two, to three tablets. A single-dose pharmacokinetic study of COMBOGESIC in volunteers showed no drug interactions between acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Distribution

Acetaminophen appears to be widely distributed throughout most body tissues except fat. Its apparent volume of distribution is about 0.9 L/kg. A relatively small portion (~20%) of acetaminophen is bound to plasma protein.

Elimination

The half-life of acetaminophen is about 2 to 3 hours in adults. It is somewhat shorter in children and somewhat longer in neonates and in cirrhotic patients. Acetaminophen is eliminated from the body primarily by formation of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates in a dose-dependent manner.

Ibuprofen is rapidly metabolized and eliminated in the urine. The elimination half-life of ibuprofen is in the range of 1.9 to 2.2 hours.

Specific Populations

Carcinogenesis

Mutagenesis

Impairment of Fertility

Hepatotoxicity: Inform patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pruritus, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness and "flu-like" symptoms). Instruct patients to stop therapy and seek immediate medical assistance if these occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Alcohol: Advise patients not to take COMBOGESIC concomitantly with alcohol-containing beverages [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Cardiovascular Thrombotic Effects: Inform patients that COMBOGESIC, like other NSAID-containing medications, may cause serious CV side effects such as MI or stroke, which may result in hospitalization and even death. Advise patients to be alert for chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, and slurring of speech, and to seek medical assistance when observing any sign or symptom indicative of CV effects. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation: Inform patients that COMBOGESIC, like other NSAID-containing medications, can cause GI discomfort and, rarely, serious GI side effects, such as ulcers and bleeding, which may result in hospitalization and even death. Advise patients to be alert for the signs and symptoms of ulcerations and bleeding, including epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melena, and hematemesis, and to seek medical assistance should these symptoms occur. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Heart Failure and Edema: Advise patients to be alert for the symptoms of congestive heart failure including shortness of breath, unexplained weight gain, or edema and to contact their healthcare provider if such symptoms occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

Weight Gain and Edema: Advise patients to promptly report unexplained weight gain or edema to their physicians [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

Anaphylactic Reactions: Inform patients of the signs of an anaphylactic reaction (e.g., difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat). Instruct patients to seek immediate emergency help if these occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].

Serious Skin Reactions, including DRESS: Advise patients to stop taking COMBOGESIC immediately if they develop any type of rash or fever and to contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9, 5.10)].

Female Fertility: Advise females of reproductive potential who desire pregnancy that NSAID containing products, including COMBOGESIC tablets, may be associated with a reversible delay in ovulation [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)].

Fetal Toxicity: Inform pregnant women to avoid use of COMBOGESIC and other NSAIDs starting at 30 weeks gestation because of the risk of the premature closing of the fetal ductus arteriosus. If treatment with COMBOGESIC is needed for a pregnant woman between about 20 to 30 weeks gestation, advise her that she may need to be monitored for oligohydramnios, if treatment continues for longer than 48 hours [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Use of NSAIDS and Low-Dose Aspirin: Inform patients not to use low-dose aspirin concomitantly with COMBOGESIC until they talk to their healthcare provider [see Drug Interactions (7)].