Dinoprostone

PREPIDIL Gel is indicated for ripening an unfavorable cervix in pregnant women at or near term with a medical or obstetrical need for labor induction.

Endocervically administered PREPIDIL Gel is not recommended for the following: a. Patients in whom oxytocic drugs are generally contraindicated or where prolonged contractions of the uterus are considered inappropriate, such as:

• cases with a history of cesarean section or major uterine surgery
• cases in which cephalopelvic disproportion is present
• cases in which there is a history of difficult labor and/or traumatic delivery
• grand multiparae with six or more previous term pregnancies cases with non-vertex presentation
• cases with hyperactive or hypertonic uterine patterns
• cases of fetal distress where delivery is not imminent
• in obstetric emergencies where the benefit-to-risk ratio for either the fetus or the mother favors surgical intervention b. Patients with hypersensitivity to prostaglandins or constituents of the gel (see WARNINGS and ADVERSE REACTIONS ). c. Patients with placenta previa or unexplained vaginal bleeding during this pregnancy. d. Patients for whom vaginal delivery is not indicated, such as vasa previa or active herpes genitalia.

FOR HOSPITAL USE ONLY Dinoprostone, as with other potent oxytocic agents, should be used only with strict adherence to recommended dosages. Dinoprostone should be administered by physicians in a hospital that can provide immediate intensive care and acute surgical facilities. Women aged 30 years or older, those with complications during pregnancy and those with a gestational age over 40 weeks have been shown to have an increased risk of post-partum disseminated intravascular coagulation. In addition, these factors may further increase the risk associated with labor induction (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). Therefore, in these women, use of dinoprostone should be undertaken with caution. Measures should be applied to detect as soon as possible an evolving fibrinolysis in the immediate post-partum phase. The Clinician should be alert that the intracervical placement of dinoprostone gel may result in inadvertent disruption and subsequent embolization of antigenic tissue causing in rare circumstances the development of Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy (Amniotic Fluid Embolism). There have been post-marketing reports of serious and life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema with PREPIDIL Gel (dinoprostone). Onset of these reported reactions occurred within minutes to hours after initiation with PREPIDIL Gel (dinoprostone). If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, if possible remove PREPIDIL Gel (dinoprostone). Assess for other potential causes of the event, and institute symptomatic and supportive therapy, as needed.

1. General Precautions During use, uterine activity, fetal status, and character of the cervix (dilation and effacement) should be carefully monitored either by auscultation or electronic fetal monitoring to detect possible evidence of undesired responses, e.g., hypertonus, sustained uterine contractility, or fetal distress. In cases where there is a history of hypertonic uterine contractility or tetanic uterine contractions, it is recommended that uterine activity and the state of the fetus should be continuously monitored. The possibility of uterine rupture should be borne in mind when high-tone myometrial contractions are sustained. Feto-pelvic relationships should be carefully evaluated before use of PREPIDIL Gel (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Caution should be exercised in administration of PREPIDIL Gel in patients with:

• asthma or history of asthma
• glaucoma or raised intraocular pressure Caution should be taken so as not to administer PREPIDIL Gel above the level of the internal os. Careful vaginal examination will reveal the degree of effacement which will regulate the size of the shielded endocervical catheter to be used. That is, the 20 mm endocervical catheter should be used if no effacement is present, and the 10 mm catheter should be used if the cervix is 50% effaced. Placement of PREPIDIL Gel into the extra-amniotic space has been associated with uterine hyperstimulation. As PREPIDIL Gel is extensively metabolized in the lung, liver, and kidney, and the major route of elimination is the kidney, PREPIDIL Gel should be used with caution in patients with renal and hepatic dysfunction. 2. Patients With Ruptured Membranes Caution should be exercised in the administration of PREPIDIL Gel in patients with ruptured membranes. The safety of use of PREPIDIL Gel in these patients has not been determined. 3. Drug Interactions PREPIDIL Gel may augment the activity of other oxytocic agents and their concomitant use is not recommended. For the sequential use of oxytocin following PREPIDIL Gel administration, a dosing interval of 6–12 hours is recommended. 4. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Carcinogenic bioassay studies have not been conducted in animals with PREPIDIL Gel due to the limited indications for use and short duration of administration. No evidence of mutagenicity was observed in the Micronucleus Test or Ames Assay. 5. Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Prostaglandin E2 produced an increase in skeletal anomalies in rats and rabbits. No effect would be expected clinically, when used as indicated, since PREPIDIL Gel is administered after the period of organogenesis. PREPIDIL Gel has been shown to be embryotoxic in rats and rabbits, and any dose that produces sustained increased uterine tone could put the embryo or fetus at risk. See statements under General Precautions . 6. Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

PREPIDIL Gel is generally well-tolerated. In controlled trials, in which 1731 women were entered, the following events were reported at an occurrence of ≥ 1%: Adverse Reaction PGE 2 (N = 884) Control placebo gel or no treatment (N = 847) Maternal N (%) N (%) Uterine contractile abnormality 58 (6.6) 34 (4.0) Any gastrointestinal effect 50 (5.7) 22 (2.6) Back pain 27 (3.1) 0 (0) Warm feeling in vagina 13 (1.5) 0 (0) Fever 12 (1.4) 10 (1.2) Fetal Any fetal heart rate abnormality 150 (17.0) 123 (14.5) Bradycardia 36 (4.1) 26 (3.1) Deceleration Late 25 (2.8) 18 (2.1) Variable 38 (4.3) 29 (3.4) Unspecified 19 (2.1) 19 (2.2) In addition, in other trials amnionitis and intrauterine fetal sepsis have been associated with extra-amniotic intrauterine administration of PGE 2 . Uterine rupture has been reported in association with the use of PREPIDIL Gel intracervically. Additional events reported in the literature, associated by the authors with the use of PREPIDIL Gel, included premature rupture of membranes, fetal depression (1 min Apgar < 7), and fetal acidosis (umbilical artery pH < 7.15). Post-marketing surveillance Blood and lymphatic system disorders An increased risk of post-partum disseminated intravascular coagulation has been described in patients whose labor was induced by pharmacological means, either with dinoprostone or oxytocin (see WARNINGS ) . The frequency of this adverse event, however, appears to be rare (<1 per 1,000 labors). Immune system disorders Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., Anaphylactic reaction, Anaphylactic shock, Anaphylactoid reaction).

3. Drug Interactions PREPIDIL Gel may augment the activity of other oxytocic agents and their concomitant use is not recommended. For the sequential use of oxytocin following PREPIDIL Gel administration, a dosing interval of 6–12 hours is recommended.

5. Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Prostaglandin E2 produced an increase in skeletal anomalies in rats and rabbits. No effect would be expected clinically, when used as indicated, since PREPIDIL Gel is administered after the period of organogenesis. PREPIDIL Gel has been shown to be embryotoxic in rats and rabbits, and any dose that produces sustained increased uterine tone could put the embryo or fetus at risk. See statements under General Precautions .

6. Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.