Health Product InfoWatch: January 2024

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Health Products and Food Branch
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Health Product InfoWatch Editorial Team

ISSN: 2368-8025

Cat.: H167-1E-PDF

Pub.: 230000

Contents

Health products mentioned in this issue

Pharmaceuticals and biologics

Other

Monthly recap of health product safety information

The following is a list of health product advisories, type I drug recalls and summaries of completed safety reviews published in December 2023 by Health Canada.

0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP

Baxter Corporation recalled additional affected lots of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP as the solution bags may be leaking.

Bleomycin for Injection USP

One lot of Bleomycin for Injection USP was recalled as the affected lot may contain glass particulate.

JAMP Guanfacine XR

JAMP Pharma Corporation recalled one lot of JAMP Guanfacine extended release (XR) 1 mg tablets because some bottles may contain JAMP Guanfacine XR 4 mg tablets in addition to the correct strength of 1 mg tablets. Patients taking a 4 mg tablet instead of a prescribed 1 mg tablet will unexpectedly receive a higher dose than intended, which may result in overdose and could pose serious health risks.

Unauthorized health products

Health Canada advised Canadians about various unauthorized health products being sold at retail locations across Canada or online that may pose serious health risks.

New health product safety information

The following topics have been selected to raise awareness and encourage reporting of adverse reactions.

Product monograph updates

The following safety labelling updates, which were recently made to the Canadian product monographs, have been selected for your awareness. A complete list of safety labelling updates for pharmaceuticals is available on Health Canada's Product monograph brand safety updates page. Canadian product monographs can be accessed through Health Canada's Drug Product Database.

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine sulfate)

The Warnings and Precautions section of the Canadian product monograph for Plaquenil has been updated with the following risks: drug-induced phospholipidosis in specific organs, hepatotoxicity, hepatitis B virus reactivation and aggravation of myasthenia gravis.

Key messages for healthcare professionals:Footnote 1

Drug-induced phospholipidosis

  • Cardiomyopathy:
    • In multiple cases of cardiomyopathy in patients treated with Plaquenil, endomyocardial biopsy showed an association with phospholipidosis in the absence of inflammation, infiltration, or necrosis.
    • Monitor cardiac function as clinically indicated during therapy.
    • Discontinue Plaquenil if cardiotoxicity is suspected or demonstrated by tissue biopsy.
  • Skeletal Muscle Myopathy or Neuropathy:
    • Muscle and nerve biopsies have shown associated phospholipidosis.
    • Monitor muscle strength and deep tendon reflexes during therapy.
    • Discontinue Plaquenil if muscle or nerve toxicity is suspected or demonstrated by tissue biopsy.
  • Drug-induced phospholipidosis may also occur in other organ systems.

Hepatotoxicity

  • Serious cases of drug-induced liver injury including hepatocellular injury, cholestasis, acute hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure (including fatal cases) have been reported during use of Plaquenil. Healthcare professionals should assess the benefits/risk of continuing the treatment in patients with significant liver function abnormalities.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation

  • The reactivation of hepatitis B virus has been reported in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine administered individually or more often in combination with other immunosuppressants.

Aggravation of Myasthenia Gravis

  • Aggravation of symptoms of myasthenia gravis (i.e., weakness of the skeletal muscles, shortness of breath, dysphagia, diplopia etc.) has been reported in myasthenic patients receiving hydroxychloroquine therapy.

Prolia (denosumab)

The Indications, Warnings and Precautions, Adverse Reactions (Post-Market Adverse Reactions), Clinical Pharmacology (Pharmacokinetics, Special Populations and Conditions), and Patient Medication Information sections of the Canadian product monograph for Prolia have been updated with additional information on the risk of severe symptomatic hypocalcemia and safety in pediatric patients.

Key messages for healthcare professionals:Footnote 2

Hypocalcemia

  • In the post-market setting, severe symptomatic hypocalcemia (resulting in hospitalization, life-threatening events and fatal cases) has been reported, particularly in patients with severe renal impairment, receiving dialysis or treatment with other calcium-lowering drugs.
  • While most cases occurred in the first weeks of initiating therapy, it can also occur later. Examples of the clinical manifestations of severe symptomatic hypocalcemia have included QT interval prolongation, tetany, convulsions and altered mental status.
  • Patients should be advised to report to their physicians any symptoms of hypocalcemia, such as paresthesias or muscle spasms, twitching and muscle cramps.

Pediatrics

  • Based on the data submitted and reviewed by Health Canada, the safety and efficacy of Prolia in pediatric patients has not been established; therefore, Health Canada has not authorized an indication for pediatric use.
  • In clinical trials, hypercalcemia has been reported in pediatric patients with osteogenesis imperfecta treated with denosumab. Some cases required hospitalization and were complicated by acute renal injury.

Propecia (finasteride, 1 mg) and Proscar (finasteride, 5 mg)

The Warnings and Precautions and Patient Medication Information sections of the Canadian product monographs for Propecia and Proscar have been updated with the risk of mood alterations including depressed mood, depression, self-harm injury and suicidal ideation.

Key messages for healthcare professionals:Footnote 3,Footnote 4
  • There have been post-marketing reports of serious psychiatric symptoms in patients treated with finasteride that sometimes continued after treatment discontinuation. Mood alterations including depressed mood, depression, self-harm injury, suicidal ideation, as well as worsening of pre-existing depression have been reported in patients treated with finasteride.
  • It is recommended that all patients be screened for suicidal ideation, self-harm, and depression and/or associated risk factors before treatment initiation.
  • Clinical monitoring of all patients for signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders should continue throughout treatment and afterward.
  • Propecia: If these symptoms occur, treatment should be discontinued and patients advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
  • Proscar: If these symptoms occur, patients should be advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Scope

This monthly publication is intended primarily for healthcare professionals and includes information on pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and natural health products. It provides a summary of key health product safety information published in the previous month by Health Canada, as well as a selection of new health product safety information meant to raise awareness. New information contained in this issue is not comprehensive but rather represents a selection of clinically relevant items warranting enhanced dissemination.

Reporting Adverse Reactions

Canada Vigilance Program
Telephone: 1-866-234-2345
Fax or mail: Form available on MedEffect Canada

For more information on how to report an adverse reaction, visit the Adverse Reaction and Medical Device Problem Reporting page.

Helpful links

Suggestions?

Your comments are important to us. Let us know what you think by reaching us at:
infowatch-infovigilance@hc-sc.gc.ca

Health Product InfoWatch Editorial Team
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Health Canada
Address Locator 1906C
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
Telephone: 613-954-6522
Teletypewriter: 1-800-465-7735 (Service Canada)

References

Footnote 1

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine sulfate) [product monograph]. Laval (QC): sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.; 2023.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Prolia (denosumab) [product monograph]. Mississauga (ON): Amgen Canada Inc., 2023.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Propecia (finasteride film-coated tablets 1 mg, USP) [product monograph]. Kirkland (QC): Organon Canada Inc., 2023.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

Proscar (finasteride film-coated tablets 5 mg, USP) [product monograph]. Kirkland (QC): Organon Canada Inc., 2023.

Return to footnote 4 referrer

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