Treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult males.

In order for tadalafil to be effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, sexual stimulation is required.

Tadalafil is not indicated for use by women.

Route of administration: Orally.

Erectile dysfunction in adult Men

In general, the recommended dose is 10 mg taken prior to anticipated sexual activity and with or without food.

In those patients in whom tadalafil 10 mg does not produce an adequate effect, 20 mg might be tried. It may be taken at least 30 minutes prior to sexual activity.

The maximum dose frequency is once per day.

Tadalafil 10 and 20 mg is intended for use prior to anticipated sexual activity and it is not recommended for continuous daily use.

In patients who anticipate a frequent use of tadalafil (i.e., at least twice weekly) a once daily regimen with the lowest doses of tadalafil might be considered suitable, based on patient choice and the physician's judgement.

In these patients, the recommended dose is 5mg taken once a day at approximately the same time of day. The appropriateness of continued use of the daily regimen should be reassessed periodically.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia in adult men (tadalafil 5 mg only)

The recommended dose is 5 mg, taken at approximately the same time every day with or without food. For adult men being treated for both benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction the recommended dose is also 5 mg taken at approximately the same time every day.

Special Populations

Elderly Men

Dose adjustments are not required in elderly patients.

Men with Renal Impairment

Dose adjustments are not required in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. For patients with severe renal impairment, 10 mg is the maximum recommended dose.

Men with Hepatic Impairment

For the treatment of erectile dysfunction using on-demand tadalafil the recommended dose of tadalafil is 10 mg taken prior to anticipated sexual activity and with or without food. There is limited clinical data on the safety of tadalafil in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C); if prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician. There are no available data about the administration of doses higher than 10mg of tadalafil to patients with hepatic impairment.

Once-a-day dosing both for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia has not been evaluated in patients with hepatic impairment; therefore, if prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician.

Men with Diabetes

Dose adjustments are not required in diabetic patients.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of tadalafil in the paediatric population with regard to the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. Tadalafil was shown to augment the hypotensive effects of nitrates. This is thought to result from the combined effects of nitrates and tadalafil on the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway. Therefore, administration of tadalafil to patients who are using any form of organic nitrate is contraindicated. Tadalafil must not be used in men with cardiac disease for whom sexual activity is inadvisable. Physicians should consider the potential cardiac risk of sexual activity in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The following groups of patients with cardiovascular disease were not included and the use of tadalafil is therefore contraindicated: - Patients with myocardial infarction within the last 90 days, - Patients with unstable angina or angina occurring during sexual intercourse, - Patients with New York Heart Association Class 2 or greater heart failure in the last 6 months, - Patients with uncontrolled arrhythmias, hypotension (<90/50 mm Hg), or uncontrolled hypertension, - Patients with a stroke within the last 6 months. Tadalafil is contraindicated in patients who have loss of vision in one eye because of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), regardless of whether this episode was in connection or not with previous PDE5 inhibitor exposure. The co-administration of PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil, with guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat, is contraindicated as it may potentially lead to symptomatic hypotension.

Before treatment with tadalafil

A medical history and physical examination should be undertaken to diagnose erectile dysfunction or benign prostatic hyperplasia and determine potential underlying causes, before pharmacological treatment is considered.

Prior to initiating any treatment for erectile dysfunction, physicians should consider the cardiovascular status of their patients, since there is a degree of cardiac risk associated with sexual activity. Tadalafil has vasodilator properties, resulting in mild and transient decreases in blood pressure and as such potentiates the hypotensive effect of nitrates.

The evaluation of erectile dysfunction should include a determination of potential underlying causes and the identification of appropriate treatment following an appropriate medical assessment. It is not known if tadalafil is effective in patients who have undergone pelvic surgery or radical non-nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

Tadalafil 5 mg - Prior to initiating treatment with tadalafil for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients should be examined to rule out the presence of carcinoma of the prostate and carefully assessed for cardiovascular conditions.

Cardiovascular

Serious cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, unstable angina pectoris, ventricular arrhythmia, stroke, transient ischaemic attacks, chest pain, palpitations and tachycardia, have been reported either. Most of the patients in whom these events have been reported had pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. However, it is not possible to definitively determine whether these events are related directly to these risk factors, to tadalafil, to sexual activity, or to a combination of these or other factors.

Tadalafil in patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medicinal products, tadalafil may induce a blood pressure decrease. When initiating daily treatment with tadalafil, appropriate clinical considerations should be given to a possible dose adjustment of the antihypertensive therapy.

In patients who are taking alpha₁ blockers, concomitant administration of tadalafil may lead to symptomatic hypotension in some patients. The combination of tadalafil and doxazosin is not recommended.

Vision

Visual defects and cases of NAION have been reported in connection with the intake of tadalafil and other PDE5 inhibitors. The patient should be advised that in case of sudden visual defect, he should stop taking tadalafil and consult a physician immediately.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Due to increased tadalafil exposure (AUC), limited clinical experience and the lack of ability to influence clearance by dialysis, once-a-day dosing of tadalafil is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment.

There is limited clinical data on the safety of single-dose administration of tadalafil in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh Class C). Once-a-day administration has not been evaluated in patients with hepatic insufficiency. If tadalafil is prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician.

Hepatic impairment

There is limited clinical data on the safety of single-dose administration of tadalafil in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh Class C). If tadalafil is prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician.

Priapism and anatomical deformation of the penis

Patients who experience erections lasting 4 hours or more should be instructed to seek immediate medical assistance. If priapism is not treated immediately, penile tissue damage and permanent loss of potency may result.

Tadalafil, should be used with caution in patients with anatomical deformation of the penis (such as angulation, cavernosal fibrosis, or Peyronie's disease) or in patients who have conditions which may predispose them to priapism (such as sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma or leukaemia).

Use with CYP3A4 inhibitors

Caution should be exercised when prescribing tadalafil to patients using potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (ritonavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and erythromycin), as increased tadalafil exposure (AUC) has been observed if the medicinal products are combined.

Tadalafil and other treatments for erectile dysfunction

The safety and efficacy of combinations of tadalafil and other PDE5 inhibitors or other treatments for erectile dysfunction have not been studied. The patients should be informed not to take tadalafil in such combinations.

Lactose

Tadalafil contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.

Interaction studies were conducted with 10 mg and/or 20 mg tadalafil, as indicated below. With regard to those interaction studies where only the 10 mg tadalafil dose was used, clinically relevant interactions at higher doses cannot be completely ruled out.

Effects of Other Substances on tadalafil

Cytochrome P450 inhibitors

Tadalafil is principally metabolised by CYP3A4. A selective inhibitor of CYP3A4, ketoconazole (200 mg daily), increased tadalafil (10 mg) exposure (AUC) 2-fold and C_max by 15%, relative to the AUC and C_max values for tadalafil alone. Ketoconazole (400 mg daily) increased tadalafil (20 mg) exposure (AUC) 4-fold and C_max by 22%. Ritonavir, a protease inhibitor (200 mg twice daily), which is an inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6, increased tadalafil (20 mg) exposure (AUC) 2-fold with no change in C_max. Although specific interactions have not been studied, other protease inhibitors, such as saquinavir, and other CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, and grapefruit juice, should be co-administered with caution, as they would be expected to increase plasma concentrations of tadalafil. Consequently, the incidence of the adverse reactions listed in section 4.8 might be increased.

Transporters

The role of transporters (for example, p-glycoprotein) in the disposition of tadalafil is not known. Therefore, there is the potential of drug interactions mediated by inhibition of transporters.

Cytochrome P450 inducers

A CYP3A4 inducer, rifampicin, reduced tadalafil AUC by 88%, relative to the AUC values for tadalafil alone (10 mg). This reduced exposure can be anticipated to decrease the efficacy of tadalafil; the magnitude of decreased efficacy is unknown. Other inducers of CYP3A4, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, may also decrease plasma concentrations of tadalafil.

Effects of tadalafil on Other Medicinal Products

Nitrates

Tadalafil was shown to augment the hypotensive effects of nitrates. Therefore, administration of tadalafil to patients who are using any form of organic nitrate is contraindicated. In a patient prescribed any dose of tadalafil (5 mg- 20 mg), where nitrate administration is deemed medically necessary in a life-threatening situation, at least 48 hours should have elapsed after the last dose of tadalafil before nitrate administration is considered. In such circumstances, nitrates should only be administered under close medical supervision with appropriate hemodynamic monitoring.

Anti-hypertensives (including calcium channel blockers)

The co-administration of doxazosin (4 and 8 mg daily) and tadalafil 20 mg as a single dose increases the blood pressure-lowering effect of this alpha-blocker in a significant manner. This effect lasts at least twelve hours and may be symptomatic, including syncope. Therefore, this combination is not recommended.

Caution should be exercised when using tadalafil in patients treated with any alpha-blockers, and notably in the elderly. Treatments should be initiated at minimal dosage and progressively adjusted.

In clinical pharmacology, the potential for tadalafil to augment the hypotensive effects of antihypertensive medicinal products was examined. Major classes of antihypertensive medicinal products, including calcium-channel blockers (amlodipine), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (enalapril), beta-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol), thiazide diuretics (bendrofluazide), and angiotensin II receptor blockers (various types and doses, alone or in combination with thiazides, calcium-channel blockers, beta-blockers, and/or alpha-blockers). Tadalafil (10 mg, except with angiotensin II receptor blockers and amlodipine in which a 20 mg dose was applied) had no clinically significant interaction with any of these classes. In subjects taking multiple antihypertensives, the ambulatory-blood-pressure changes appeared to relate to the degree of blood pressure control. In this regard whose blood pressure was well controlled, the reduction was minimal and similar to that seen in healthy subjects. In whose blood pressure was not controlled, the reduction was greater, although this reduction was not associated with hypotensive symptoms in the majority of subjects. In patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medicinal products, tadalafil 20 mg may induce a blood pressure decrease, which (with the exception of alpha-blockers) is, in general, minor and not likely to be clinically relevant. Analysis showed no difference in adverse events in patients taking tadalafil with or without antihypertensive medicinal products. However, appropriate clinical advice should be given to patients regarding a possible decrease in blood pressure when they are treated with antihypertensive medicinal products.

Riociguat

Riociguat has been shown to augment the hypotensive effects of PDE5 inhibitors. There was no evidence of favorable clinical effect of the combination. Concomitant use of riociguat with PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil, is contraindicated.

5- Alpha reductase inhibitors

Caution should be exercised when tadalafil is co-administered with 5-ARIs.

CYP1A2 substrates (e.g. theophylline)

When tadalafil 10 mg was administered with theophylline (a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor), there was no pharmacokinetic interaction. The only pharmacodynamic effect was a small increase in heart rate. Although this effect is minor and was of no clinical significance, it should be considered when co-administering these medicinal products.

Ethinylestradiol and terbutaline

Tadalafil has been demonstrated to produce an increase in the oral bioavailability of ethinylestradiol; a similar increase may be expected with oral administration of terbutaline, although the clinical consequence of this is uncertain.

Alcohol

Alcohol concentrat

Interaction studies were conducted with 10 mg and/or 20 mg tadalafil, as indicated below. With regard to those interaction studies where only the 10 mg tadalafil dose was used, clinically relevant interactions at higher doses cannot be completely ruled out.

Effects of Other Substances on tadalafil

Cytochrome P450 inhibitors

Tadalafil is principally metabolised by CYP3A4. A selective inhibitor of CYP3A4, ketoconazole (200 mg daily), increased tadalafil (10 mg) exposure (AUC) 2-fold and C_max by 15%, relative to the AUC and C_max values for tadalafil alone. Ketoconazole (400 mg daily) increased tadalafil (20 mg) exposure (AUC) 4-fold and C_max by 22%. Ritonavir, a protease inhibitor (200 mg twice daily), which is an inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6, increased tadalafil (20 mg) exposure (AUC) 2-fold with no change in C_max. Although specific interactions have not been studied, other protease inhibitors, such as saquinavir, and other CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, and grapefruit juice, should be co-administered with caution, as they would be expected to increase plasma concentrations of tadalafil. Consequently, the incidence of the adverse reactions listed in section 4.8 might be increased.

Transporters

The role of transporters (for example, p-glycoprotein) in the disposition of tadalafil is not known. Therefore, there is the potential of drug interactions mediated by inhibition of transporters.

Cytochrome P450 inducers

A CYP3A4 inducer, rifampicin, reduced tadalafil AUC by 88%, relative to the AUC values for tadalafil alone (10 mg). This reduced exposure can be anticipated to decrease the efficacy of tadalafil; the magnitude of decreased efficacy is unknown. Other inducers of CYP3A4, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, may also decrease plasma concentrations of tadalafil.

Effects of tadalafil on Other Medicinal Products

Nitrates

Tadalafil was shown to augment the hypotensive effects of nitrates. Therefore, administration of tadalafil to patients who are using any form of organic nitrate is contraindicated. In a patient prescribed any dose of tadalafil (5 mg- 20 mg), where nitrate administration is deemed medically necessary in a life-threatening situation, at least 48 hours should have elapsed after the last dose of tadalafil before nitrate administration is considered. In such circumstances, nitrates should only be administered under close medical supervision with appropriate hemodynamic monitoring.

Anti-hypertensives (including calcium channel blockers)

The co-administration of doxazosin (4 and 8 mg daily) and tadalafil 20 mg as a single dose increases the blood pressure-lowering effect of this alpha-blocker in a significant manner. This effect lasts at least twelve hours and may be symptomatic, including syncope. Therefore, this combination is not recommended.

Caution should be exercised when using tadalafil in patients treated with any alpha-blockers, and notably in the elderly. Treatments should be initiated at minimal dosage and progressively adjusted.

In clinical pharmacology, the potential for tadalafil to augment the hypotensive effects of antihypertensive medicinal products was examined. Major classes of antihypertensive medicinal products, including calcium-channel blockers (amlodipine), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (enalapril), beta-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol), thiazide diuretics (bendrofluazide), and angiotensin II receptor blockers (various types and doses, alone or in combination with thiazides, calcium-channel blockers, beta-blockers, and/or alpha-blockers). Tadalafil (10 mg, except with angiotensin II receptor blockers and amlodipine in which a 20 mg dose was applied) had no clinically significant interaction with any of these classes. In subjects taking multiple antihypertensives, the ambulatory-blood-pressure changes appeared to relate to the degree of blood pressure control. In this regard whose blood pressure was well controlled, the reduction was minimal and similar to that seen in healthy subjects. In whose blood pressure was not controlled, the reduction was greater, although this reduction was not associated with hypotensive symptoms in the majority of subjects. In patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medicinal products, tadalafil 20 mg may induce a blood pressure decrease, which (with the exception of alpha-blockers) is, in general, minor and not likely to be clinically relevant. Analysis showed no difference in adverse events in patients taking tadalafil with or without antihypertensive medicinal products. However, appropriate clinical advice should be given to patients regarding a possible decrease in blood pressure when they are treated with antihypertensive medicinal products.

Riociguat

Riociguat has been shown to augment the hypotensive effects of PDE5 inhibitors. There was no evidence of favorable clinical effect of the combination. Concomitant use of riociguat with PDE5 inhibitors, including tadalafil, is contraindicated.

5- Alpha reductase inhibitors

Caution should be exercised when tadalafil is co-administered with 5-ARIs.

CYP1A2 substrates (e.g. theophylline)

When tadalafil 10 mg was administered with theophylline (a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor), there was no pharmacokinetic interaction. The only pharmacodynamic effect was a small increase in heart rate. Although this effect is minor and was of no clinical significance, it should be considered when co-administering these medicinal products.

Ethinylestradiol and terbutaline

Tadalafil has been demonstrated to produce an increase in the oral bioavailability of ethinylestradiol; a similar increase may be expected with oral administration of terbutaline, although the clinical consequence of this is uncertain.

Alcohol

Alcohol concentrations (mean maximum blood concentration 0.08%) were not affected by co-administration with tadalafil (10 mg or 20 mg). In addition, no changes in tadalafil concentrations were seen 3 hours after co-administration with alcohol. Alcohol was administered in a manner to maximize the rate of alcohol absorption (overnight fast with no food until 2 hours after alcohol). Tadalafil (20 mg) did not augment the mean blood pressure decrease produced by alcohol (0.7 g/kg or approximately 180 ml of 40% alcohol [vodka] in an 80 kg male) but, in some subjects, postural dizziness and orthostatic hypotension were observed. When tadalafil was administered with lower doses of alcohol (0.6 g/kg), hypotension was not observed and dizziness occurred with similar frequency to alcohol alone. The effect of alcohol on cognitive function was not augmented by tadalafil (10 mg).

Cytochrome P450 metabolised medicinal products

Tadalafil is not expected to cause clinically significant inhibition or induction of the clearance of medicinal products metabolised by CYP450 isoforms. Tadalafil does not inhibit or induce CYP450 isoforms, including CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.

CYP2C9 substrates (e.g. R-warfarin)

Tadalafil (10 mg and 20 mg) had no clinically significant effect on exposure (AUC) to S-warfarin or R-warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), nor did tadalafil affect changes in prothrombin time induced by warfarin.

Aspirin

Tadalafil (10 mg and 20 mg) did not potentiate the increase in bleeding time caused by acetylsalicylic acid.

Antidiabetic medicinal products

Specific interaction studies with antidiabetic medicinal products were not conducted.

ions (mean maximum blood concentration 0.08%) were not affected by co-administration with tadalafil (10 mg or 20 mg). In addition, no changes in tadalafil concentrations were seen 3 hours after co-administration with alcohol. Alcohol was administered in a manner to maximize the rate of alcohol absorption (overnight fast with no food until 2 hours after alcohol). Tadalafil (20 mg) did not augment the mean blood pressure decrease produced by alcohol (0.7 g/kg or approximately 180 ml of 40% alcohol [vodka] in an 80 kg male) but, in some subjects, postural dizziness and orthostatic hypotension were observed. When tadalafil was administered with lower doses of alcohol (0.6 g/kg), hypotension was not observed and dizziness occurred with similar frequency to alcohol alone. The effect of alcohol on cognitive function was not augmented by tadalafil (10 mg).

Cytochrome P450 metabolised medicinal products

Tadalafil is not expected to cause clinically significant inhibition or induction of the clearance of medicinal products metabolised by CYP450 isoforms. Tadalafil does not inhibit or induce CYP450 isoforms, including CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.

CYP2C9 substrates (e.g. R-warfarin)

Tadalafil (10 mg and 20 mg) had no clinically significant effect on exposure (AUC) to S-warfarin or R-warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), nor did tadalafil affect changes in prothrombin time induced by warfarin.

Aspirin

Tadalafil (10 mg and 20 mg) did not potentiate the increase in bleeding time caused by acetylsalicylic acid.

Antidiabetic medicinal products

Specific interaction studies with antidiabetic medicinal products were not conducted.

Tadalafil is not indicated for use by women.

Pregnancy

There are limited data from the use of tadalafil in pregnant women. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonic/fetal development, parturition or postnatal development. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of tadalafil during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding

Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of tadalafil in milk. A risk to the suckling child cannot be excluded. Tadalafil should not be used during breast feeding.

Fertility

Effects were seen in dogs that might indicate impairment of fertility. Two subsequent clinical studies suggest that this effect is unlikely in humans, although a decrease in sperm concentration was seen in some men.

Tadalafil has negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines. Patients should be aware of how they react to tadalafil before driving or using machines.

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions in patients taking tadalafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or benign prostatic hyperplasia were headache, dyspepsia, back pain and myalgia, in which the incidences increase with increasing dose of tadalafil. The adverse reactions reported were transient, and generally mild or moderate. The majority of headaches reported with tadalafil once-a-day dosing are experienced within the first 10 to 30 days of starting treatment.

Tabulated summary of adverse reactions

The table below lists the adverse reactions observed for on-demand and once-a-day treatment of erectile dysfunction and the once-a-day treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Frequency convention: 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) and Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Very common	Common	Uncommon	Rare
Immune system disorders
		Hypersensitivity reactions	Angioedema2
Nervous system disorders
	Headache	Dizziness	Stroke1 (including hemorrhagic events), Syncope, Transient ischaemic attacks1, Migraine2, Seizures2, Transient amnesia
Eye disorders
		Blurred vision, Sensations described as eye pain	Visual field defect, Swelling of eyelids, Conjunctival hyperemia, Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)2, Retinal vascular occlusion2
Ear and labyrinth disorders
		Tinnitus	Sudden hearing loss
Cardiac disorders1
		Tachycardia, Palpitations	Myocardial infarction, Unstable angina pectoris2, Ventricular arrhythmia2
Vascular disorders
	Flushing	Hypotension3, Hypertension
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
	Nasal congestion	Dyspnoea, Epistaxis
Gastrointestinal disorders
	Dyspepsia	Abdominal pain, Vomiting, Nausea, Gastro-oesophageal reflux
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
		Rash	Urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome2, Exfoliative dermatitis2, Hyperhydrosis (sweating)
Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders
	Back pain, Myalgia, Pain in extremity
Renal and urinary disorders
		Haematuria
Reproductive system and breast disorders
		Prolonged erections	Priapism, Penile hemorrhage, Hematospermia
General disorders and administration site conditions
		Chest pain1, Peripheral oedema, Fatigue	Facial oedema2, Sudden cardiac death1,2

(1) Most of the patients had pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors.

(2) Post marketing surveillance reported adverse reactions.

(3) More commonly reported when tadalafil is given to patients who are already taking antihypertensive medicinal products.

Description of selected adverse reactions

A slightly higher incidence of ECG abnormalities, primarily sinus bradycardia, has been reported in patients treated with tadalafil once a day as compared with placebo. Most of these ECG abnormalities were not associated with adverse reactions.

Other special populations

Data in patients over 65 years of age receiving tadalafil, either for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, are limited. Tadalafil taken on demand for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, diarrhoea was reported more frequently in patients over 65 years of age. Tadalafil taken once a day for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, dizziness and diarrhoea were reported more frequently in patients over 75 years of age.

To report any side effect(s):

·      Saudi Arabia:

-       National Pharmacovigilance & Drug Safety Centre (NPC): ·      Fax: +966-11-205-7662 ·      Call NPC at +966-11-2038222, Ext.: 2317-2356-2353-2354-2334-2340. ·      Toll free phone : 8002490000 ·      E-mail: npc.drug@sfda.gov.sa ·      Website: www.sfda.gov.sa/npc

-    Other GCC States:

Please contact the relevant competent authority.

Single doses of up to 500 mg have been given to healthy subjects, and multiple daily doses up to 100 mg have been given to patients. Adverse events were similar to those seen at lower doses.

In cases of overdose, standard supportive measures should be adopted, as required. Hemodialysis contributes negligibly to tadalafil elimination.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Urological, Drugs used in erectile dysfunction. ATC code: G04BE08.

Mechanism of action

Tadalafil is a selective, reversible inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). When sexual stimulation causes the local release of nitric oxide, inhibition of PDE5 by tadalafil produces increased levels of cGMP in the corpus cavernosum. This results in smooth muscle relaxation and inflow of blood into the penile tissues, thereby producing an erection. Tadalafil has no effect in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the absence of sexual stimulation.

Tadalafil 5 mg - The effect of PDE5 inhibition on cGMP concentration in the corpus cavernosum is also observed in the smooth muscle of the prostate, the bladder and their vascular supply. The resulting vascular relaxation increases blood perfusion which may be the mechanism by which symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia are reduced. These vascular effects may be complemented by inhibition of bladder afferent nerve activity and smooth muscle relaxation of the prostate and bladder.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Tadalafil is a selective inhibitor of PDE5. PDE5 is an enzyme found in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, vascular and visceral smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, platelets, kidney, lung, and cerebellum. The effect of tadalafil is more potent on PDE5 than on other phosphodiesterase. Tadalafil is >10,000-fold more potent for PDE5 than for PDE1, PDE2, and PDE4 enzymes which are found in the heart, brain, blood vessels, liver, and other organs. Tadalafil is >10,000-fold more potent for PDE5 than for PDE3, an enzyme found in the heart and blood vessels. This selectivity for PDE5 over PDE3 is important because PDE3 is an enzyme involved in cardiac contractility. Additionally, tadalafil is approximately 700-fold more potent for PDE5 than for PDE6, an enzyme which is found in the retina and is responsible for photo-transduction. Tadalafil is also >10,000-fold more potent for PDE5 than for PDE7 through PDE10.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Tadalafil administered to healthy subjects produced no significant difference compared to placebo in supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean maximal decrease of 1.6/0.8mmHg, respectively), in standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean maximal decrease of 0.2/4.6mmHg, respectively), and no significant change in heart rate.

No impairment of colour discrimination (blue/green) was detected using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test. This finding is consistent with the low affinity of tadalafil for PDE6 compared to PDE5. Reports of changes in colour vision were rare (<0.1%).

In men spermatogenesis decreases were observed in sperm count and concentration related to tadalafil treatment of unlikely clinical relevance. These effects were not associated with changes in other parameters, such as motility, morphology, and FSH.

Erectile dysfunction

Tadalafil demonstrated statistically significant improvement in erectile function and the ability to have successful sexual intercourse up to 36 hours following dosing, as well as patients' ability to attain and maintain erections for successful intercourse compared to placebo as early as 16 minutes following dosing.

In patients with erectile dysfunction secondary to spinal cord injury, tadalafil significantly improved the erectile function.

Tadalafil at doses of 2 to 100mg has been evaluated including patients with erectile dysfunction of various severities (mild, moderate, severe), etiologies, ages (range 21-86 years), and ethnicities. Most patients reported erectile dysfunction of at least 1 year in duration.

Most patient’s responders to previous on-demand treatment with PDE5 inhibitors. Patients who were treatment-naive to PDE5 inhibitors were randomised to tadalafil 5mg once a day successful sexual intercourse attempts was 68% for tadalafil patients.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

The improvements in total international prostate symptom score occurred as early as 1 week

The improvements in the erectile function domain of the international index of erectile function and the total international prostate symptom score in successful sexual intercourse attempts was 71.9% with tadalafil 5 mg showed that the improvement in total international prostate symptom score seen at 12 weeks was maintained for up to 1 additional year of treatment with tadalafil 5mg.

Paediatric population

A single study has been performed in paediatric patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in which no evidence of efficacy was seen. The randomised, double–blind, placebo–controlled, parallel, 3–arm study of tadalafil was conducted in 331 boys aged 7–14 years with DMD receiving concurrent corticosteroid therapy. The study included a 48–week double-blind period where patients were randomised to tadalafil 0.3 mg/kg, tadalafil 0.6 mg/kg, or placebo daily. Tadalafil did not show efficacy in slowing the decline in ambulation as measured by the primary 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) endpoint: least squares (LS) mean change in 6MWD at 48 weeks was –51.0 meters (m) in the placebo group, compared with –64.7 m in the tadalafil 0.3 mg/kg group (p = 0.307) and –59.1 m in the tadalafil 0.6 mg/kg group (p = 0.538). In addition, there was no evidence of efficacy from any of the secondary analyses performed in this study. The overall safety results from this study were generally consistent with the known safety profile of tadalafil and with adverse events (AEs) expected in a paediatric DMD population receiving corticosteroids

The European Medicines Agency has waived the obligation to submit the results of studies in all subsets of the paediatric population in the treatment of the erectile dysfunction.

Absorption

Tadalafil is readily absorbed after oral administration and the mean maximum observed plasma concentration (C_max) is achieved at a median time of 2 hours after dosing. Absolute bioavailability of tadalafil following oral dosing has not been determined.

The rate and extent of absorption of tadalafil are not influenced by food, thus tadalafil may be taken with or without food. The time of dosing (morning versus evening) had no clinically relevant effects on the rate and extent of absorption.

Distribution

The mean volume of distribution is approximately 63 l, indicating that tadalafil is distributed into tissues. At therapeutic concentrations, 94% of tadalafil in plasma is bound to proteins. Protein binding is not affected by impaired renal function.

Less than 0.0005% of the administered dose appeared in the semen of healthy subjects.

Biotransformation

Tadalafil is predominantly metabolised by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 isoform. The major circulating metabolite is the methyl catechol glucuronide. This metabolite is at least 13,000-fold less potent than tadalafil for PDE5. Consequently, it is not expected to be clinically active at observed metabolite concentrations.

Elimination

The mean oral clearance for tadalafil is 2.5 l/h and the mean half-life is 17.5 hours in healthy subjects.

Tadalafil is excreted predominantly as inactive metabolites, mainly in the faeces (approximately 61% of the dose) and to a lesser extent in the urine (approximately 36% of the dose).

Linearity/Non-Linearity

Tadalafil pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects are linear with respect to time and dose. Over a dose range of 2.5 to 20 mg, exposure (AUC) increases proportionally with dose. Steady-state plasma concentrations are attained within 5 days of once daily dosing.

Pharmacokinetics determined with a population approach in patients with erectile dysfunction are similar to pharmacokinetics in subjects without erectile dysfunction.

Special Populations

Elderly

Healthy elderly subjects (65 years or over) had a lower oral clearance of tadalafil, resulting in 25% higher exposure (AUC) relative to healthy subjects aged 19 to 45 years. This effect of age is not clinically significant and does not warrant a dose adjustment.

Renal Insufficiency

In hemodialysis patients, C_max was 41% higher than that observed in healthy subjects. Hemodialysis contributes negligibly to tadalafil elimination.

Hepatic Insufficiency

There is limited clinical data on the safety of tadalafil in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh class C). If tadalafil is prescribed, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician. There are no available data about the administration of once-a-day dosing of tadalafil to patients with hepatic impairment. If tadalafil is prescribed once-a-day, a careful individual benefit/risk evaluation should be undertaken by the prescribing physician. There are no available data about the administration of doses higher than 10 mg of tadalafil to patients with hepatic impairment.

Patients with Diabetes

Tadalafil exposure (AUC) in patients with diabetes was approximately 19% lower than the AUC value for healthy subjects. This difference in exposure does not warrant a dose adjustment.

 

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, and toxicity to reproduction.

Lactose Monohydrate,

Crosscarmellose Sodium,

Hydroxypropylcellulose,

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate,

Microcrystalline Cellulose,

Magnesium Stearate,

Opadry White,

Red Iron Oxide &

Yellow Iron Oxide.

Not applicable.

2 years.

Do not store above 30°C, protect from moisture.

Edyst^® 20mg F.C. Tablets are packed in Aluminum foil, PVC/ Aclar/ PVC blisters, with a multi folded leaflet packed in registration box.

Pack sizes:

4 tablets / blister, one blister/ pack &

One tablet/ blister, one blister/ pack.

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