Roflumilast

Administration of the cytochrome P450 enzyme inducer rifampicin resulted in a reduction in total PDE4 inhibitory activity by about 60%. Therefore, the use of strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers (e.g. phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin) may reduce the therapeutic efficacy of roflumilast. Thus, roflumilast treatment is not recommended in patients receiving strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers.

The clinical data with roflumilast in patients with mild hepatic impairment classified as Child-Pugh A are insufficient to recommend a dose adjustment and therefore roflumilast should be used with caution in these patients.

A major step in roflumilast metabolism is the N-oxidation of roflumilast to roflumilast N-oxide by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. Both roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide have intrinsic phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitory activity. Therefore, following administration of roflumilast, the total PDE4 inhibition is considered to be the combined effect of both roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide. Interaction studies with CYP1A2/3A4 inhibitor enoxacin and the CYP1A2/2C19/3A4 inhibitors cimetidine and fluvoxamine, resulted in increases of the total PDE4 inhibitory activity of 25%, 47% and 59%, respectively. The tested dose of fluvoxamine was 50 mg. A combination of roflumilast with these active substances might lead to an increase of exposure and persistent intolerability. In this case, roflumilast treatment should be reassessed.

There are no clinical data to support the concomitant treatment with theophylline for maintenance therapy. Therefore, the concomitant treatment with theophylline is not recommended.

Roflumilast is not recommended in patients with a history of depression associated with suicidal ideation or behaviour. Patients and caregivers should be instructed to notify the prescriber of any changes in behaviour or mood and of any suicidal ideation. If patients suffered from new or worsening psychiatric symptoms, or suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt is identified, it is recommended to discontinue treatment with roflumilast.

Patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA grades 3 and 4) have not been studied and therefore treatment of these patients is not recommended.

There are limited amount of data from the use of roflumilast in pregnant women.

Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity. Roflumilast is not recommended during pregnancy.

Roflumilast has been demonstrated to cross the placenta in pregnant rats.

Available pharmacokinetic data in animals have shown excretion of roflumilast or its metabolites in milk. A risk to the breastfed infant cannot be excluded. Roflumilast should not be used during breast-feeding.

Women of childbearing potential

Women of childbearing age should be advised to use an effective method of contraception during treatment. Roflumilast is not recommended in women of childbearing potential not using contraception.

Fertility

In a human spermatogenesis study, roflumilast 500 micrograms had no effects on semen parameters or reproductive hormones during the 3-month treatment period and the following 3-month off-treatment period.

Roflumilast has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are diarrhoea (5.9%), weight decreased (3.4%), nausea (2.9%), abdominal pain (1.9%) and headache (1.7%). These adverse reactions mainly occurred within the first weeks of therapy and mostly resolved on continued treatment.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Within the following table, adverse reactions are ranked under the MedDRA frequency classification: 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 (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Adverse reactions with roflumilast in clinical COPD studies and post-marketing experience:

Description of selected adverse reactions

In clinical studies and post-marketing experience, rare instances of suicidal ideation and behaviour, including suicide, were reported. Patients and caregivers should be instructed to notify the prescriber of any suicidal ideation.

Other special populations

Elderly

A higher incidence of sleep disorders (mainly insomnia) in patients ≥75 years or older was observed in Study RO-2455-404-RD for patients treated with roflumilast when compared to those treated with placebo (3.9% vs 2.3%). The incidence observed was also higher in patients less than 75 years old, treated with roflumilast when compared to those treated with placebo (3.1% vs 2.0%).

Body weight <60 kg

A higher incidence of sleep disorders (mainly insomnia) in patients with a baseline body weight <60 kg was observed in Study RO-2455-404-RD for patients treated with roflumilast when compared to those treated with placebo (6.0% vs 1.7%). The incidence was 2.5% vs 2.2% in patients with a baseline body weight ≥60 kg, treated with roflumilast when compared to those treated with placebo.

Concomitant treatment with long acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA)

A higher incidence of weight decrease, decreased appetite, headache and depression was observed during Study RO-2455-404-RD in patients receiving concomitant roflumilast and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) plus concomitant inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long acting B2 agonists (LABA) compared to those treated only with concomitant roflumilast, ICS and LABA. Difference of incidence between roflumilast and placebo was quantitatively greater with concomitant LAMA for weight decreased (7.2% vs 4.2%), decreased appetite (3.7% vs 2.0%), headache (2.4% vs 1.1%) and depression (1.4% vs -0.3%).