Deflazacort

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# Overview
Deflazacort is a corticosteroid that is FDA approved for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients 5 years of age and older.   Common adverse reactions include cushingoid appearance, weight increased, increased appetite, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, pollakiuria, hirsutism, central obesity, and nasopharyngitis.

# Adult Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Deflazacort is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients 5 years of age and older.
- The recommended oral dosage of deflazacort is approximately 0.9 mg/kg/day once daily.  If tablets are used, round up to the nearest possible dose.  Any combination of the four deflazacort tablet strengths can be used to achieve this dose.  If the oral suspension is used, round up to the nearest tenth of a milliliter (mL).
CYP3A4 Inhibitors
- Give one third of the recommended dosage when deflazacort is administered with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. For example, a 36 mg per day dose would be reduced to a 12 mg per day dose when used with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
CYP3A4 Inducers
- Avoid use with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inducers with deflazacort.
- Tablets
- 6 mg:   White and round with 6 debossed on one side
- 18 mg: White and round with 18 debossed on one side
- 30 mg: White and oval with 30 debossed on one side
- 36 mg: White and oval with 36 debossed on one side
- Oral Suspension
- 22.75 mg/mL: Whitish suspension

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding deflazacort Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use and Dosage (Adult) in the drug label.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding deflazacort Off-Label Non-Guideline-Supported Use and Dosage (Adult) in the drug label.

# Pediatric Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
- Deflazacort is indicated for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients 5 years of age and older.
- The recommended oral dosage of deflazacort is approximately 0.9 mg/kg/day once daily.  If tablets are used, round up to the nearest possible dose.  Any combination of the four deflazacort tablet strengths can be used to achieve this dose.  If the oral suspension is used, round up to the nearest tenth of a milliliter (mL).
CYP3A4 Inhibitors
- Give one third of the recommended dosage when deflazacort is administered with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.  For example, a 36 mg per day dose would be reduced to a 12 mg per day dose when used with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
CYP3A4 Inducers
- Avoid use with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inducers with deflazacort.
- Tablets
- 6 mg:   White and round with 6 debossed on one side
- 18 mg: White and round with 18 debossed on one side
- 30 mg: White and oval with 30 debossed on one side
- 36 mg: White and oval with 36 debossed on one side
- Oral Suspension
- 22.75 mg/mL: Whitish suspension

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding deflazacort Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use and Dosage (Pediatric) in the drug label.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding deflazacort Off-Label Non-Guideline-Supported Use and Dosage (Pediatric) in the drug label.

# Contraindications
- Deflazacort is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to deflazacort or to any of the inactive ingredients.  Instances of hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, have occurred in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy

# Warnings

## Alterations in Endocrine Function
- Corticosteroids, such as deflazacort, can cause serious and life-threatening alterations in endocrine function, especially with chronic use.  Monitor patients receiving deflazacort for Cushings syndrome, hyperglycemia, and adrenal insufficiency after deflazacort withdrawal.  In addition, patients with hypopituitarism, primary adrenal insufficiency or congenital adrenal hyperplasia, altered thyroid function, or pheochromocytoma may be at increased risk for adverse endocrine events.

### Risk of Adrenal Insufficiency Following Corticosteroid Withdrawal
- Corticosteroids produce reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, with the potential for the development of secondary adrenal insufficiency after withdrawal of corticosteroid treatment.  Acute adrenal insufficiency can occur if corticosteroids are withdrawn abruptly, and can be fatal.  The degree and duration of adrenocortical insufficiency produced is variable among patients and depends on the dose, frequency, and duration of corticosteroid therapy.  The risk is reduced by gradually tapering the corticosteroid dose when withdrawing treatment.  This insufficiency may persist, however, for months after discontinuation of prolonged therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period of discontinuation, corticosteroid therapy should be reinstituted.  For patients already taking corticosteroids during times of stress, the dosage may need to be increased.
- A steroid withdrawal syndrome, seemingly unrelated to adrenocortical insufficiency, may also occur following abrupt discontinuance of corticosteroids.  This syndrome includes symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, headache, fever, joint pain, desquamation, myalgia, and/or weight loss.  These effects are thought to be due to the sudden change in corticosteroid concentration rather than to low corticosteroid levels.

### Cushings Syndrome
- Cushings syndrome (hypercortisolism) occurs with prolonged exposure to exogenous corticosteroids, including deflazacort.  Symptoms include hypertension, truncal obesity and thinning of the limbs, purple striae, facial rounding, facial plethora, muscle weakness, easy and frequent bruising with thin fragile skin, posterior neck fat deposition, osteopenia, acne, amenorrhea, hirsutism and psychiatric abnormalities.

### Hyperglycemia
- Corticosteroids can increase blood glucose, worsen pre-existing diabetes, predispose those on long-term therapy to diabetes mellitus, and may reduce the effect of anti-diabetic drugs.  Monitor blood glucose at regular intervals.  For patients with hyperglycemia, anti-diabetic treatment should be initiated or adjusted accordingly.

### Considerations for Use in Patients with Altered Thyroid Function
- Metabolic clearance of corticosteroids is decreased in hypothyroid patients and increased in hyperthyroid patients.  Changes in thyroid status of the patient may necessitate a dose adjustment of the corticosteroid.  When concomitant administration of corticosteroids and levothyroxine is required, administration of corticosteroid should precede the initiation of levothyroxine therapy to reduce the risk of adrenal crisis.

### Pheochromocytoma crisis
- There have been reports of pheochromocytoma crisis, which can be fatal, after administration of systemic corticosteroids.  In patients with suspected or identified pheochromocytoma, consider the risk of pheochromocytoma crisis prior to administering corticosteroids.

## Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection
- Corticosteroids, including deflazacort, suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection with any pathogen, including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or helminthic.  Corticosteroids reduce resistance to new infections, exacerbate existing infections, increase the risk of disseminated infections, increase the risk of reactivation or exacerbation of latent infections, and mask some signs of infection.  These infections can be severe, and at times fatal.  The degree to which the dose, route, and duration of corticosteroid administration correlates with the specific risks of infection is not well characterized; however, the rate of occurrence of infectious complications increases with increasing doses of corticosteroids.
- Monitor for the development of infection and consider withdrawal of corticosteroids or reduction of the dose of corticosteroids as needed.

### Varicella Zoster and Measles Viral Infections
- Chickenpox caused by Varicella Zoster virus and measles can have a serious or even fatal course in non-immune children or adults on corticosteroids, including deflazacort.  In children or adults who have not had these diseases, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure.  If a patient is exposed to chickenpox, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) may be indicated.  If a patient is exposed to measles, prophylaxis with immunoglobulin (IG) may be indicated.  If chickenpox develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered.

### Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation
- Hepatitis B virus reactivation can occur in patients who are hepatitis B carriers undergoing treatment with immunosuppressive drugs including corticosteroids.  Reactivation can also occur in patients who appear to have resolved hepatitis B infection.

### Fungal Infections
- Corticosteroids may exacerbate systemic fungal infections and therefore should not be used in the presence of such infections.  For patients on corticosteroids who develop systemic fungal infections, withdrawal of corticosteroids or reduction of the dose of corticosteroids is recommended.

### Amebiasis
- Corticosteroids may activate latent amebiasis.  Therefore, it is recommended that latent amebiasis or active amebiasis be ruled out before initiating corticosteroid therapy in any patient who has spent time in the tropics, or any patient with unexplained diarrhea.

### Strongyloides Infestation
- In patients with known or suspected Strongyloides (threadworm) infestation, corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression may lead to Strongyloides hyperinfection and dissemination with widespread larval migration, often accompanied by severe enterocolitis and potentially fatal gram-negative septicemia.  For patients on corticosteroids who develop known or suspected Strongyloides (threadworm) infestation, withdrawal of corticosteroids or reduction of the dose of corticosteroids is recommended.

## Alterations in Cardiovascular/Renal Function
- Corticosteroids, including deflazacort, can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt, and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium and calcium.  Monitor blood pressure and assess for signs and symptoms of volume overload.  Monitor serum potassium levels.  Dietary salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be necessary.  deflazacort should be used with caution in patients with congestive heart failure, hypertension, or renal insufficiency.
- Literature reports suggest an association between use of corticosteroids and left ventricular free wall rupture after a recent myocardial infarction; therefore, therapy with deflazacort should be used with great caution in these patients.

## Gastrointestinal Perforation
- There is an increased risk of gastrointestinal perforation during corticosteroid use in patients with certain gastrointestinal disorders such as active or latent peptic ulcers, diverticulitis, fresh intestinal anastomoses, and non-specific ulcerative colitis.  Signs of gastrointestinal perforation, such as peritoneal irritation, may be masked in patients receiving corticosteroids.
- Avoid corticosteroids if there is a probability of impending perforation, abscess, or other pyogenic infections; diverticulitis; fresh intestinal anastomoses; or active or latent peptic ulcer.

## Behavioral and Mood Disturbances
- Potentially severe psychiatric adverse reactions may occur with systemic corticosteroids, including deflazacort.  Symptoms typically emerge within a few days or weeks of starting treatment and may be dose-related.  These reactions may improve after either dose reduction or withdrawal, although pharmacologic treatment may be necessary.  Psychiatric adverse reactions usually involve hypomanic or manic symptoms (e.g., euphoria, insomnia, mood swings) during treatment and depressive episodes after discontinuation of treatment.  Inform patients or caregivers of the potential for behavioral and mood changes and encourage them to seek medical attention if psychiatric symptoms develop, especially if depressed mood or suicidal ideation is suspected.

## Effects on Bones

### Decreased Bone Mineral Density
- Corticosteroids, including deflazacort, decrease bone formation and increase bone resorption both through their effect on calcium regulation (i.e., decreasing absorption and increasing excretion) and inhibition of osteoblast function.  This, together with a decrease in the protein matrix of the bone secondary to an increase in protein catabolism and reduced sex hormone production, may lead to inhibition of bone growth in pediatric patients and the development of bone loss at any age.  Bone loss can predispose patients to vertebral and long bone fractures.  Consider a patients risk of osteoporosis before initiating corticosteroid therapy.  Monitor bone mineral density in patients on long-term treatment with deflazacort.

### Avascular Necrosis
- Corticosteroids, including deflazacort, may cause avascular necrosis.

## Ophthalmic Effects
- Use of corticosteroids, including deflazacort, may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts.  Corticosteroids may also cause glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves, and may increase the risk of secondary ocular infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.  Corticosteroids are not recommended for patients with active ocular herpes simplex.
- Intraocular pressure may become elevated in some patients taking corticosteroids.  If treatment with deflazacort is continued for more than 6 weeks, monitor intraocular pressure.

## Vaccination
- Administration of live or live attenuated vaccines is not recommended in patients receiving immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids, including deflazacort.  Corticosteroids may also potentiate the replication of some organisms contained in live attenuated vaccines.
- Killed or inactivated vaccines may be administered during corticosteroid therapy; however, the response to such vaccines cannot be predicted.
- Patients on corticosteroid therapy, including deflazacort, may exhibit a diminished response to toxoids and live or inactivated vaccines because of inhibition of antibody response.

## Serious Skin Rashes
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis has been reported with the use of deflazacort with symptoms beginning within 8 weeks of starting treatment.  Discontinue at the first sign of rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug related.

## Effects on Growth and Development
- Long-term use of corticosteroids, including deflazacort, can have negative effects on growth and development in children.

## Myopathy
- Patients receiving corticosteroids, including deflazacort, and concomitant therapy with neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., pancuronium) or patients with disorders of neuromuscular transmission (e.g., myasthenia gravis) may be at increased risk of developing acute myopathy.  This acute myopathy is generalized, may involve ocular and respiratory muscles, and may result in quadriparesis.  Elevation of creatine kinase may occur.  Clinical improvement or recovery after stopping corticosteroids may require weeks to years.

## Kaposis Sarcoma
- Kaposis sarcoma has been reported to occur in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, most often for chronic conditions.  Discontinuation of corticosteroids may result in clinical improvement.

## Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions in Infants because of Benzyl Alcohol Preservative
- Deflazacort Oral Suspension contains benzyl alcohol and is not approved for use in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age.  Serious and fatal adverse reactions including gasping syndrome can occur in neonates and low birth weight infants treated with benzyl alcohol-preserved drugs.  The gasping syndrome is characterized by central nervous system depression, metabolic acidosis, and gasping respirations.  The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur is not known (Deflazacort Oral Suspension contains 10.45 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL; deflazacort Tablets do not contain benzyl alcohol).

## Thromboembolic Events
- Observational studies have shown an increased risk of thromboembolism (including venous thromboembolism) particularly with higher cumulative doses of corticosteroids.  It is unclear if risk differs by daily dose or duration of use.  Use deflazacort with caution in patients who have or may be predisposed to thromboembolic disorders.

## Anaphylaxis
- Rare instances of anaphylaxis have occurred in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, including deflazacort.

# Adverse Reactions

## Clinical Trials Experience
- Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
- In Study 1, the adverse reactions that were associated with deflazacort treatment discontinuation, in decreasing order of frequency, were weight increased, obesity, cataract, and sleep disorder.

## Most Common Adverse Reactions in Clinical Studies
- TABLE 1 lists the adverse reactions that occurred in  5% of patients in the 0.9 mg/kg/day deflazacort-treated group and that occurred more frequently than in placebo patients in Study 1, which included patients with DMD between the ages of 5 and 15 years.
- Common adverse reactions ( 5% of deflazacort-treated patients) that occurred over 52 weeks of exposure to deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day in Study 1 and at a higher rate than deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day in the 12-week placebo-controlled phase of the trial include Cushingoid appearance (60%), hirsutism (35%), weight increased (28%), erythema (28%), central obesity (25%), abdominal pain/abdominal pain upper (18% combined), pollakiuria (15%), constipation (10%), irritability (10%), abnormal behavior (9%), pyrexia (9%), back pain (7%), rash (7%), contusion (6%), nausea (6%), psychomotor hyperactivity (6%), epistaxis (6%), and skin striae (6%).
- Study 1 also evaluated a higher dosage of deflazacort (1.2 mg/kg/day).  Compared with the 0.9 mg/kg/day dosage, deflazacort 1.2 mg/kg/day over 52 weeks was associated with a higher incidence of certain adverse reactions, including Cushingoid appearance (69%), erythema (49%), hirsutism (37%), headache (34%), weight increased (32%), constipation (15%), abdominal pain upper (14%), skin striae (11%), acne (11%), and abdominal discomfort (8%).  As there was no additional benefit with the 1.2 mg/kg/day dose of deflazacort, use of deflazacort 1.2 mg/kg/day is not recommended for the treatment of DMD.
- In an additional clinical study of two years duration with extended follow-up (Study 2), many of the same adverse reactions were observed.  In addition, musculoskeletal events associated with long-term steroid use were also observed, including muscle weakness, tendon disorder, and osteopenia.

## Less Common Adverse Reactions Observed in Clinical Studies
- Other adverse reactions ( 1% frequency in any deflazacort treatment group and greater than placebo) that were observed during the 12-week placebo-controlled phase of Study 1 are shown below.
- Eye Disorders: Lacrimation increased
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: Dyspepsia, nausea, gastrointestinal disorder
- General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Thirst
- Infections: Hordeolum, impetigo, influenza, otitis externa, pharyngitis, tooth abscess, urinary tract infection, viral infection
- Injury, Poisoning and Procedural Complications: Back injury, contusion, face injury, fibula fracture, greenstick fracture, heat exhaustion
- Investigations: Glucose urine present, heart rate irregular
- Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Back pain, muscle spasms, myalgia, neck mass, neck pain, pain in extremity
- Nervous System Disorders: Dizziness, psychomotor hyperactivity
- Psychiatric Disorders: Affect lability, aggression, depression, emotional disorder, middle insomnia, mood altered, mood swings, sleep disorder
- Renal and Urinary Disorders: Chromaturia, dysuria, hypertonic bladder
- Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Testicular pain
- Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: Hypoventilation, rhinorrhea
- Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Acne, alopecia, dermatitis acneiform
- Vascular Disorders: Hot flush

## Postmarketing Experience
- The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of deflazacort worldwide or during post-approval use of other corticosteroids.  These reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size; therefore, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
- Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Leukocytosis
- Cardiac Disorder: Heart failure
- Eye Disorders: Chorioretinopathy, corneal or scleral thinning
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: Acute pancreatitis (especially in children), hemorrhage, peptic ulceration, perforation of peptic ulcer
- General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Edema, impaired healing
- Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis
- Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Impaired carbohydrate tolerance with increased requirement for anti-diabetic therapy, negative protein and calcium balance, potassium loss and hypokalemic alkalosis when co-administered with beta 2-agonist and xanthines
- Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Avascular necrosis, muscle wasting, negative nitrogen balance, tendonitis and tendon rupture when co-administered with quinolones, vertebral and long bone fractures
- Nervous System Disorders: Aggravation of epilepsy, increased intra-cranial pressure with papilledema in children (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after treatment withdrawal, vertigo
- Psychiatric Disorders: Anxiety, cognitive dysfunction including confusion and amnesia, delusions, hallucinations, mania, suicidal thoughts
- Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Vascular Disorders: Thromboembolism, in particular in patients with underlying conditions associated with increased thrombotic tendency, benign intracranial hypertension

# Drug Interactions
- CYP3A4 Inhibitors and Inducers
- Neuromuscular Blockers
Moderate or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors:
- The active metabolite of deflazacort, 21-desDFZ, is a substrate of CYP3A4.  Co-administration of deflazacort with clarithromycin, a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, increased total exposure to 21-desDFZ by about 3-fold.  Therefore, give one third the recommended dosage of deflazacort when moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, fluconazole, diltiazem, verapamil, grapefruit juice) are used concomitantly with deflazacort.
Moderate or Strong CYP3A4 Inducers:
- Co-administration of deflazacort with rifampin, a strong CYP3A4 inducer, significantly decreased the exposure of 21-desDFZ.  Avoid concomitant use of strong (e.g., efavirenz) or moderate (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin) CYP3A4 inducers with deflazacort.
- Patients receiving corticosteroids, including deflazacort, and concomitant therapy with neuromuscular blocking drugs (e.g., pancuronium) may be at increased risk of developing an acute myopathy.

# Use in Specific Populations

### Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
- Corticosteroids should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.  Infants born to mothers who have received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism.  There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with deflazacort in pregnant women to inform drug-associated risks.
- Corticosteroids, including deflazacort, readily cross the placenta.  Adverse developmental outcomes, including orofacial clefts (cleft lip, with or without cleft palate) and intrauterine growth restriction, and decreased birth weight, have been reported with maternal use of corticosteroids, including deflazacort, during pregnancy.  Some epidemiologic studies report an increased risk of orofacial clefts from about 1 per 1000 infants to 3 to 5 per 1000 infants; however, a risk for orofacial clefts has not been observed in all studies.  Intrauterine growth restriction and decreased birth weight appear to be dose-related; however, the underlying maternal condition may also contribute to these risks.  The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown.  In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.
- Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with deflazacort.  Animal reproduction studies conducted with other corticosteroids in pregnant mice, rats, hamsters, and rabbits using clinically relevant doses have shown an increased incidence of cleft palate.  An increase in embryofetal death, intrauterine growth retardation, and constriction of the ductus arteriosus were observed in some animal species.
- Multiple cohort and case-controlled studies in humans suggest that maternal corticosteroid use during the first trimester increases the rate of cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, from about 1/1000 infants to 3-5/1000 infants.  Two prospective case-controlled studies showed decreased birth weight in infants exposed to maternal corticosteroids in utero.
Pregnancy Category (AUS): 
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Deflazacort in women who are pregnant.

### Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Deflazacort during labor and delivery.

### Nursing Mothers
- Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects.  The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mothers clinical need for deflazacort and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from deflazacort.  There are no data on the effects on milk production.

### Pediatric Use
- The safety and effectiveness of deflazacort for the treatment of DMD have been established in patients 5 years of age and older.  Use of deflazacort in pediatric patients is supported by a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled study in 196 males.
- Safety and effectiveness of deflazacort have not been established in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age.
- Deflazacort Oral Suspension contains benzyl alcohol and is not approved for use in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age.  Serious adverse reactions including fatal reactions and gasping syndrome occurred in premature neonates and low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit who received drugs containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative.  In these cases, benzyl alcohol dosages of 99 to 234 mg/kg/day produced high levels of benzyl alcohol and its metabolites in the blood and urine (blood levels of benzyl alcohol were 0.61 to 1.378 mmol/L).  Additional adverse reactions included gradual neurological deterioration, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, hematologic abnormalities, skin breakdown, hepatic and renal failure, hypotension, bradycardia, and cardiovascular collapse.  Preterm, low-birth weight infants may be more likely to develop these reactions because they may be less able to metabolize benzyl alcohol.  The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur is not known (Deflazacort Oral Suspension contains 10.45 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL; deflazacort Tablets do not contain benzyl alcohol)
- Oral administration of deflazacort (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg/day) to juvenile rats from postnatal day (PND) 21 to 80 resulted in decreased body weight gain and adverse effects on skeletal development (including decreased cellularity of growth plate and altered bone distribution) and on lymphoid tissue (decreased cellularity).  A no-effect dose was not identified.  In addition, neurological and neurobehavioral abnormalities were observed at the mid and/or high dose.  Plasma 21-desDFZ exposure (AUC) at the lowest dose tested (0.1 mg/kg/day) was lower than that in humans at the recommended human dose of deflazacort (0.9 mg/kg/day).

### Geriatic Use
- DMD is largely a disease of children and young adults; therefore, there is no geriatric experience with deflazacort.

### Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Deflazacort with respect to specific gender populations.

### Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Deflazacort with respect to specific racial populations.

### Renal Impairment
- No dose adjustment is required in patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment

### Hepatic Impairment
- No dose adjustment is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.  There is no clinical experience in patients with severe hepatic impairment, and a dosing recommendation can not be provided for patients with severe hepatic impairment.

### Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Deflazacort in women of reproductive potentials and males.

### Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Deflazacort in patients who are immunocompromised.

# Administration and Monitoring

### Administration
- Deflazacort Tablets and Oral Suspension can be taken with or without food.
Deflazacort Tablets
- Deflazacort Tablets can be administered whole or crushed and taken immediately after mixing with applesauce.
Deflazacort Oral Suspension
- Shake deflazacort Oral Suspension well before administration.
- Use only the oral dispenser provided with the product.  After withdrawing the appropriate dose into the oral dispenser, slowly add the deflazacort Oral Suspension into 3 to 4 ounces of juice or milk and mix well.  The dose should then be administered immediately.  Do not administer deflazacort with grapefruit juice.
- Discard any unused deflazacort Oral Suspension remaining after 1 month of first opening the bottle.
- Dosage of deflazacort must be decreased gradually if the drug has been administered for more than a few days.

### Monitoring
- Improvement in signs and symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy indicates efficacy.
- Blood glucose: Regularly during treatment and for hyperglycemia after treatment withdrawal.
- Serum potassium levels.
- Cushing syndrome and adrenal insufficiency: After treatment withdrawal.
- Development of infection.
- Blood pressure and signs and symptoms of volume overload.
- Bone mineral density testing, in patients on long-term treatment.
- Intraocular pressure, in patients on treatment for more than 6 weeks.

# IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding the compatibility of Deflazacort and IV administrations.

# Overdosage
- Treatment of acute overdosage is by immediate gastric lavage or emesis followed by supportive and symptomatic therapy.  For chronic overdosage in the face of severe disease requiring continuous steroid therapy, the dosage of deflazacort may be reduced temporarily, or alternate day treatment may be introduced.

# Pharmacology

## Mechanism of Action
- Deflazacort is a corticosteroid prodrug, whose active metabolite, 21-desDFZ, acts through the glucocorticoid receptor to exert anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.  The precise mechanism by which deflazacort exerts its therapeutic effects in patients with DMD is unknown.

## Structure

## Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Deflazacort Pharmacodynamics in the drug label.

## Pharmacokinetics
- After oral administration in the fasted state, the median Tmax with deflazacort tablets or suspension is about 1 hour (range 0.25 to 2 hours).
Food Effect
- Co-administration of deflazacort tablets with a high-fat meal reduced Cmax by about 30% and delayed Tmax by one hour, relative to administration under fasting conditions, but there was no effect on the overall systemic absorption as measured by AUC.  The bioavailability of deflazacort tablets was similar to that of the oral suspension.  The administration of deflazacort with food or crushed in applesauce did not affect the absorption and bioavailability of deflazacort.
- The protein binding of the active metabolite of deflazacort is about 40%.
Metabolism
- Deflazacort is rapidly converted to the active metabolite 21-desDFZ by esterases after oral administration.  21-desDFZ is further metabolized by CYP3A4 to several other inactive metabolites.
Excretion
- Urinary excretion is the predominant route of deflazacort elimination (about 68% of the dose), and the elimination is almost completed by 24 hours post dose.  21-desDFZ accounts for 18% of the eliminated drug in the urine.
Pediatric Patients
- The Cmax values (Geometric mean, %CV) of 21-desDFZ in children (ages 5-11, N=16) and adolescents (ages 12-16, N=8) was 206 ng/mL (95.6%) and 381 ng/mL (37.7%), respectively, on Day 1 after administration of 0.9 mg/kg deflazacort.  The AUCinf (Geometric mean, %CV) of 21-desDFZ in children (ages 5-11, N=16) and adolescents (ages 12-16, N=8) was 400 ngh/mL (87.5%) and 655 ngh/mL (58.1%) on Day 1 after administration of 0.9 mg/kg deflazacort.
Male and Female Patients
- There are no differences in the pharmacokinetics of 21-desDFZ between males and females.
Racial or Ethnic Groups
- There are no differences in the pharmacokinetics of 21-desDFZ between Caucasians and non-Caucasians.
Patients with Renal Impairment
- In a study (N=16) comparing subjects with end stage renal disease (creatinine clearance less than 15 mL/min) with healthy matched controls, 21-desDFZ exposure was similar between the groups.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment
- In a study (N=16) comparing subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B) with healthy matched controls, 21-desDFZ exposure was similar between the groups.  There is no experience in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
In Vivo Assessment of Drug Interactions
- Compared to administration of deflazacort alone, administration of deflazacort following multiple doses of a strong CYP3A4 and Pgp inhibitor (clarithromycin) resulted in markedly higher Cmax, AUClast, and AUCinf values of 21-desDFZ.  Geometric mean exposure (Cmax, AUClast, and AUCinf) of 21-desDFZ ranged from 2.3-fold to 3.4-fold higher following administration of clarithromycin.
- Compared to administration of deflazacort alone, administration of deflazacort following multiple doses of a strong CYP3A4 inducer (rifampicin) resulted in markedly lower Cmax, AUClast,and AUCinf values of 21-desDFZ.  Geometric mean exposures (Cmax, AUClast, and AUCinf) of 21-desDFZ were approximately 95% lower following administration of rifampin.
In Vitro Assessment of Drug Interactions
- 21-desDFZ at concentrations up to 100 M did not inhibit CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 3A4, UGT1A1, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, or UGT2B7 and exhibited weak and not likely clinically meaningful inhibition for 2B6, 2C8, 2D6, and 3A4, UGT1A3 and UGT2B15.
- Deflazacort at concentrations up to 10 M caused no significant induction response for CYP1A2, 2B6, or 3A4.
- Both deflazacort and 21-desDFZ are substrates of Pgp.  21-desDFZ is not a substrate for BCRP.  Neither deflazacort nor 21-desDFZ inhibited Pgp or BCRP in vitro.  21-desDFZ was not a substrate for SLC transporters OATP1B1 or OATP1B3, and did not inhibit SLC transporters OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT1, OAT3, or OCT2.

## Nonclinical Toxicology
- In a published 2-year carcinogenicity study in rats, oral administration of deflazacort (0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.12, 0.25, 0.50, or 1.0 mg/kg/day) resulted in bone tumors (osteosarcoma and osteoma) of the head at 0.25 mg/kg/day, the highest evaluable dose.  Doses higher than 0.25 mg/kg/day could not be evaluated for tumors because of a marked decrease in survival.
- Deflazacort and 21-desDFZ were negative in in vitro (bacterial reverse mutation and human lymphocyte chromosomal aberration) assays and deflazacort was negative in an in vivo (rat micronucleus) assay.
- Fertility studies in animals were not conducted with deflazacort.  No effects on the male reproductive system were observed following oral administration of deflazacort to monkeys (0, 1.0, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/kg/day) for 39 weeks or rats (0, 0.05, 0.15, or 0.5 mg/kg/day) for 26 weeks.  Plasma 21-desDFZ exposures (AUC) at the highest doses tested in monkey and rat were 4 and 2 times, respectively, that in humans at the recommended human dose of deflazacort (0.9 mg/kg/day).

# Clinical Studies
- The effectiveness of deflazacort for the treatment of DMD was established in Study 1, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study conducted in the US and Canada.  The study population consisted of 196 male pediatric patients 5 to 15 years of age with documented mutation of the dystrophin gene, onset of weakness before 5 years of age, and serum creatinine kinase activity at least 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) at some stage in their illness.  Patients were randomized to therapy with deflazacort (0.9 or 1.2 mg/kg/day), an active comparator, or placebo.  A comparison to placebo was made after 12 weeks of treatment.  After 12 weeks, placebo patients were re-randomized to receive either deflazacort or the active comparator; all patients continued treatment for an additional 40 weeks.  Baseline characteristics were comparable between the treatment arms.
- In Study 1, efficacy was evaluated by assessing the change between Baseline and Week 12 in average strength of 18 muscle groups.  Individual muscle strength was graded using a modified Medical Research Council (MRC) 11-point scale, with higher scores representing greater strength.
- The change in average muscle strength score between Baseline and Week 12 was significantly greater for the deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day dose group than for the placebo group (see TABLE 2).
- Compared with the deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day group, the deflazacort 1.2 mg/kg/day group demonstrated a small additional benefit compared to placebo at Week 12, but had a greater incidence of adverse reactions.  Therefore, use of a 1.2 mg/kg/day dosage of deflazacort is not recommended.
- Although not a pre-specified statistical analysis, compared with placebo, the deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day dose group demonstrated at Week 52 the persistence of the treatment effect observed at Week 12 and the small advantage of the 1.2 mg/kg/day dose that was observed at Week 12 was no longer present.  Also not statistically controlled for multiple comparisons, results on several timed measures of patient function (i.e., time to stand from supine, time to climb 4 stairs, and time to walk or run 30 feet) numerically favored deflazacort 0.9 mg/kg/day at Week 12, in comparison with placebo.
- An additional randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 104-week clinical trial evaluated deflazacort in comparison to placebo (Study 2).  The study population consisted of 29 male children 6 to 12 years of age with a DMD diagnosis confirmed by the documented presence of abnormal dystrophin or a confirmed mutation of the dystrophin gene.  The results of the analysis of the primary endpoint of average muscle strength scores in Study 2 (graded on a 0-5 scale) at 2 years were not statistically significant, possibly because of a limited number of patients remaining in the placebo arm (subjects were discontinued from the trial when they lost ambulation).  Although not statistically controlled for multiple comparisons, average muscle strength scores at Months 6 and 12, as well as the average time to loss of ambulation, numerically favored deflazacort in comparison with placebo.

# How Supplied
- 6 mg are white, round with 6 debossed on one side.  They are supplied as follows:
NDC 52856-501-01      Bottle of 100 tablets
- 18 mg are white, round with 18 debossed on one side.  They are supplied as follows:
NDC 52856-502-03      Bottle of 30 tablets
- 30 mg are white, oval with 30 debossed on one side.  They are supplied as follows:
NDC 52856-503-03      Bottle of 30 tablets
- 36 mg are white, oval with 36 debossed on one side.  They are supplied as follows:
NDC 52856-504-03      Bottle of 30 tablets
- 22.75 mg/mL is a whitish colored suspension.  Supplied as 13 mL in a 20 mL bottle packaged with two 1 mL oral dispensers.
NDC 52856-505-21

## Storage
- Store at 20C to 25C (68F to 77F).  Excursion permitted between 15C to 30C (59F to 86F).
- Discard any unused deflazacort Oral Suspension remaining after 1 month of first opening the bottle.

# Images

## Drug Images

## Package and Label Display Panel

# Patient Counseling Information
- Advise the patients and/or caregivers to read the FDA-approved patient labeling if deflazacort Oral Suspension is prescribed.
- Warn patients and/or caregivers to not stop taking deflazacort abruptly or without first checking with their healthcare providers as there may be a need for gradual dose reduction to decrease the risk of adrenal insufficiency.
- Deflazacort may be taken with or without food.
Tablets
- Deflazacort Tablets may be taken whole or crushed and taken immediately after mixing with applesauce.
Oral Suspension
- Deflazacort Oral Suspension must be shaken well prior to measuring out each dose with the enclosed oral dispenser.
- The deflazacort Oral Suspension dose may be placed in 3-4 ounces of juice or milk, mixed thoroughly, and immediately administered.  Do not take with grapefruit juice.
- Discard any unused deflazacort Oral Suspension remaining after 1 month of first opening the bottle.
- Tell patients and/or caregivers to inform their healthcare provider if the patient has had recent or ongoing infections or if they have recently received a vaccine.  Medical advice should be sought immediately if the patient develops fever or other signs of infection.  Patients and/or caregivers should be made aware that some infections can potentially be severe and fatal.
- Warn patients who are on corticosteroids to avoid exposure to chickenpox or measles and to alert their healthcare provider immediately if they are exposed.
- Inform patients and/or caregivers that deflazacort can cause an increase in blood pressure and water retention.  If this occurs, dietary salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be needed.
- Advise patients and/or caregivers about the potential for severe behavioral and mood changes with deflazacort and encourage them to seek medical attention if psychiatric symptoms develop.
- Advise patients and/or caregivers about the risk of osteoporosis with prolonged use of deflazacort, which can predispose the patient to vertebral and long bone fractures.
- Inform patients and/or caregivers that deflazacort may cause cataracts or glaucoma and advise monitoring if corticosteroid therapy is continued for more than 6 weeks.
- Advise patients and/or caregivers that the administration of live or live attenuated vaccines are not recommended.  Inform them that killed or inactivated vaccines may be administered, but the responses cannot be predicted.
- Instruct patients and/or caregivers to seek medical attention at the first sign of a rash.
- Certain medications can cause an interaction with deflazacort.  Advise patients and/or caregivers to inform their healthcare provider of all the medicines the patient is taking, including over-the-counter medicines (such as insulin, aspirin or other NSAIDS), dietary supplements, and herbal products.  Inform patients and/or caregivers that alternate therapy, dosage adjustment, and/or special test(s) may be needed during the treatment.

# Precautions with Alcohol
Alcohol-Deflazacort interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor regarding the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

# Brand Names
- Emflaza

# Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Deflazacort Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.

# Drug Shortage Status
Drug Shortage

# Price