ARTHROTEC® Patient Counseling Information

(misoprostol, diclofenac sodium)

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide). Inform patients, families, or their caregivers of the following information before initiating therapy with ARTHROTEC and periodically during the course of ongoing therapy.

Uterine Rupture, Abortion, Premature Birth, or Birth Defects with Misoprostol and Embryo-Fetal Toxicity with NSAIDs

Advise females that ARTHROTEC is contraindicated in pregnant women. Use of misoprostol, a component of ARTHROTEC during pregnancy can result in maternal and fetal harm, including uterine rupture, abortion, premature birth, or birth defects. Use of diclofenac may cause oligohydramnios/fetal renal dysfunction and premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus.
Advise patients not to give ARTHROTEC to others.
Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment with ARTHROTEC. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].

Infertility

Advise females of reproductive potential that ARTHROTEC may delay or prevent rupture of ovarian follicles, which has been associated with reversible infertility in some women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)].

Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events

Advise patients to be alert for the symptoms of cardiovascular thrombotic events, including chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or slurring of speech, and to report any of these symptoms to their health care provider immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation

Advise patients to report symptoms of ulcerations and bleeding, including epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melena, and hematemesis to their health care provider. In the setting of concomitant use of low-dose aspirin for cardiac prophylaxis, inform patients of the increased risk for and the signs and symptoms of GI bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Hepatotoxicity

Inform patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pruritus, diarrhea, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness, and "flu-like" symptoms). If these occur, instruct patients to stop ARTHROTEC and seek immediate medical therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

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 (5.6)].

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 Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].

Serious Skin Reactions, including DRESS

Advise patients to stop taking ARTHROTEC immediately if they develop any type of rash or fever and contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10, 5.11)].

Avoid Concomitant Use of NSAIDs

Inform patients that the concomitant use of ARTHROTEC with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) is not recommended due to the increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity, and little or no increase in efficacy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Drug Interactions (7)]. Alert patients that NSAIDs may be present in "over the counter" medications for treatment of colds, fever, or insomnia.

Use of NSAIDS and Low-Dose Aspirin

Inform patients not to use low-dose aspirin concomitantly with ARTHROTEC until they talk to their healthcare provider [see Drug Interactions (7)].

This product's labeling may have been updated. For the most recent prescribing information, please visit www.pfizer.com.

For medical information about Arthrotec, please visit www.pfizermedinfo.com or call 1‑800‑438-1985.

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Patient Counseling Information

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide). Inform patients, families, or their caregivers of the following information before initiating therapy with ARTHROTEC and periodically during the course of ongoing therapy.

Uterine Rupture, Abortion, Premature Birth, or Birth Defects with Misoprostol and Embryo-Fetal Toxicity with NSAIDs

Advise females that ARTHROTEC is contraindicated in pregnant women. Use of misoprostol, a component of ARTHROTEC during pregnancy can result in maternal and fetal harm, including uterine rupture, abortion, premature birth, or birth defects. Use of diclofenac may cause oligohydramnios/fetal renal dysfunction and premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus.
Advise patients not to give ARTHROTEC to others.
Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment with ARTHROTEC. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].

Infertility

Advise females of reproductive potential that ARTHROTEC may delay or prevent rupture of ovarian follicles, which has been associated with reversible infertility in some women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)].

Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events

Advise patients to be alert for the symptoms of cardiovascular thrombotic events, including chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, or slurring of speech, and to report any of these symptoms to their health care provider immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation

Advise patients to report symptoms of ulcerations and bleeding, including epigastric pain, dyspepsia, melena, and hematemesis to their health care provider. In the setting of concomitant use of low-dose aspirin for cardiac prophylaxis, inform patients of the increased risk for and the signs and symptoms of GI bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Hepatotoxicity

Inform patients of the warning signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity (e.g., nausea, fatigue, lethargy, pruritus, diarrhea, jaundice, right upper quadrant tenderness, and "flu-like" symptoms). If these occur, instruct patients to stop ARTHROTEC and seek immediate medical therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

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 (5.6)].

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 Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].

Serious Skin Reactions, including DRESS

Advise patients to stop taking ARTHROTEC immediately if they develop any type of rash or fever and contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10, 5.11)].

Avoid Concomitant Use of NSAIDs

Inform patients that the concomitant use of ARTHROTEC with other NSAIDs or salicylates (e.g., diflunisal, salsalate) is not recommended due to the increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity, and little or no increase in efficacy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Drug Interactions (7)]. Alert patients that NSAIDs may be present in "over the counter" medications for treatment of colds, fever, or insomnia.

Use of NSAIDS and Low-Dose Aspirin

Inform patients not to use low-dose aspirin concomitantly with ARTHROTEC until they talk to their healthcare provider [see Drug Interactions (7)].

This product's labeling may have been updated. For the most recent prescribing information, please visit www.pfizer.com.

For medical information about Arthrotec, please visit www.pfizermedinfo.com or call 1‑800‑438-1985.

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