MINITRAN 5 Adhesive transdermal patch Ref.[7279] Active ingredients: Glyceryl trinitrate

Warnings

Minitran is not indicated for the treatment of acute angina attacks requiring rapid relief. Minitran should be used only under strict medical supervision in recent myocardial infarction or acute congestive cardiac insufficiency. Minitran should be used with caution in patients with hypoxaemia or ventilation perfusion imbalance.

The appearance of cross-tolerance with other nitrates is possible.

The use of products for topical application, especially if prolonged, may give rise to sensitisation phenomena, in which case treatment should be suspended, and suitable therapeutic measures adopted.

Minitran does not contain any metal components, and therefore it is not considered necessary to remove the patch prior to diathermy.

Removal of the patch should be considered as part of the management of patients who develop significant hypotension.

Precautions

Hypoxaemia

Caution should be exercised in patients with arterial hypoxaemia due to severe anaemia (including G6PD deficiency induced forms), because in such patients the biotransformation of glyeryl trinitrate is reduced. Similarly, caution is called for in patients with hypoxaemia and ventilation/perfusion imbalance due to lung disease or ischaemic heart failure. In Patients with alveolar hypoventilation a vasoconstriction occurs within the lung to shift perfusion from areas of alveolar hypoxia to better ventilated regions of the lung (Euler-Liljestrand mechanism). Patients with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, or cerebral ischaemia frequently suffer from abnormalities of the small airways (especially alveolar hypoxia). Under these circumstances vasoconstriction occurs within the lung to shift perfusion from areas of alveolar hypoxia to better ventilated regions of the lung. As a potent vasodilator, glyeryl trinitrate could reverse this protective vasoconstriction and thus result in increased perfusion of poorly ventilated areas, worsening of the ventilation/perfusion imbalance, and a further decrease in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Nitrate therapy may aggravate the angina caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Increased angina

The possibility of increased frequency of angina during patch-off periods should be considered. In such cases the use of concomitant anti-anginal therapy is desirable.

Tolerance to sublingual glyceryl trinitrate

As tolerance to glyceryl trinitrate patches develops, the effect of sublingual glyceryl trinitrate on exercise tolerance may be partially diminished.

Use for maintenance of venous patency at peripheral infusion sites

The infusion site should be examined regularly. If phlebitis develops, it should be treated accordingly

Interactions resulting in a concomitant use contraindicated

Concomitant administration of Minitran and other vasodilators (e.g. PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil [Viagra]), potentiates the blood-pressure-lowering effect of Minitran.

The use of Minitran with riociguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, is contraindicated (see section 4.3) since concomitant use can cause hypotension.

Interactions to be considered

Concomitant treatment with calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, antihypertensives, tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptics and major tranquillisers may potentiate the blood-pressure-lowering effect of Minitran, as may alcohol.

Concurrent administration of Minitran with dihydroergotamine may increase the bioavailability of dihydroergotamine. This warrants special attention in patients with coronary artery disease, because dihydroergotamine antagonizes the effect of glyceryl trinitrate and may lead to coronary vasoconstriction.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs except acetyl salicylic acid may diminish the therapeutic response of Minitran.

Concurrent administration of Minitran with amifostine and acetyl salicylic acid may potentiate the blood pressure lowering effects of Minitran.

Fertility

There is no data available on the effect of Minitran on fertility in humans.

Pregnancy

As with all drugs Minitran should not be prescribed during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, unless there are compelling reasons for doing so. It is not known whether the active substance passes into the breast milk. The benefits for the mother must be weighed against the risks for the child.

Lactation

There is limited information on the excretion of the active substance in human or animal breast milk. A risk to the suckling child cannot be excluded.

A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from Minitran therapy taking into account the benefit of breast feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Minitran, especially at the start of treatment or dose adjustments, may impair the reactions or might rarely cause orthostatic hypotension and dizziness (as well as exceptionally syncope after overdosing). Patients experiencing these effects should refrain from driving or using machines.

Within the system organ classes, adverse reactions are listed under headings of frequency (number of patients expected to experience the reaction), using the following categories:

Very common (≥1/10)
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10)
Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
Very rare (<1/10,000)
Not known (The adverse drug reactions have been derived from post-marketing experience with Minitran via spontaneous case reports and literature cases. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency)

Nervous system disorders

Common: Headache¹

Very rare: Dizziness

Not known: Syncope

Cardiac disorders

Rare: Tachycardia²

Not known: Palpitation, fainting

Vascular disorders

Rare: Orthostatic hypotension, flushing²

Gastrointestinal disorders

Very common: Nausea, vomiting

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Uncommon: Dermatitis contact

Not known: Rash generalized

General disorders and administration site conditions

Uncommon: Application site erythema, pruritus, burning, irritation³

Investigations

Rare: Heart rate increase

¹ Like other nitrate preparations, Minitran commonly causes dose-dependent headaches due to cerebral vasodilatation. These often regress after a few days despite the maintenance of therapy. If headaches persist during intermittent therapy, they should be treated with mild analgesics. Unresponsive headaches are an indication for reducing the dosage of glyceryl trinitrate or discontinuing treatment.
² A slight reflex-induced increase in heart rate can be avoided by resorting, if necessary, to combined treatment with a beta-blocker.
³ Upon removal of the patch, any slight reddening of the skin will usually disappear within a few hours. The application site should be changed regularly to prevent local irritation.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

None known.