Diclofenac Sodium, Isopropyl Alcohol

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% is indicated for the relief of the pain of osteoarthritis of joints amenable to topical treatment, such as the knees and those of the hands. Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% has not been evaluated for use on the spine, hip, or shoulder. Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for the relief of the pain of osteoarthritis of joints amenable to topical treatment, such as the knees and those of the hands. ( 1 ) Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% was not evaluated for use on joints of the spine, hip, or shoulder. ( 14.1 )

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals [ see Warnings and Precautions (5) ]. Use the lowest effective dosage for shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals ( 2.1 ) Lower extremities: Apply the gel (4 g) to the affected area 4 times daily. Do not apply more than 16 g daily to any one affected joint of the lower extremities. ( 2.2 ) Upper extremities: Apply the gel (2 g) to the affected area 4 times daily. Do not apply more than 8 g daily to any one affected joint of the upper extremities. ( 2.3 ) Total dose should not exceed 32 g per day, over all affected joints. ( 2.3 ) Diclofenac sodium topical gel should be measured onto the enclosed dosing card to the appropriate 2 g or 4 g designation. ( 2 ) 2.1 Dosing Card [See the patient Instructions for Use] The dosing card can be found attached to the inside of the carton. The proper amount of diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% should be measured using the dosing card supplied in the drug product carton. The dosing card is made of clear polypropylene. The dosing card should be used for each application of drug product. The gel should be applied within the rectangular area of the dosing card up to the 2 gram or 4 gram line (2 g for each elbow, wrist, or hand, and 4 g for each knee, ankle, or foot). The 2 g line is 2.25 inches long. The 4 g line is 4.5 inches long. The dosing card containing diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% can be used to apply the gel. The hands should then be used to gently rub the gel into the skin. After using the dosing card, hold with fingertips, rinse, and dry. If treatment site is the hands, patients should wait at least one (1) hour to wash their hands. 2.2 Lower extremities including the feet, ankles, or knees Apply the gel (4 g) to the affected foot, ankle, or knee 4 times daily. Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% should be gently massaged into the skin ensuring application to the entire affected foot, or knee or ankle. The entire foot includes the sole, top of the foot and the toes. Do not apply more than 16 g daily to any single joint of the lower extremities. 2.3 Upper extremities including the hands, wrists, or elbows Apply the gel (2 g) to the affected hand, wrist, or elbow 4 times daily. Diclofenac sodium topical gel, 1% should be gently massaged into the skin ensuring application to the entire affected hand, wrist, or elbow. The entire hand includes the palm, back of the hands, and the fingers. Do not apply more than 8 g daily to any single joint of the upper extremities. Total dose should not exceed 32 g per day, over all affected joints. 2.4 Special Precautions Avoid showering/bathing for at least 1 hour after the application. Inform patient to wash his/her hands after use, unless the hands are the treated joint. If diclofenac sodium topical gel is applied to the hand(s) for treatment; inform patient not to wash the treated hand(s) for at least 1 hour after the application. Do not apply diclofenac sodium topical gel to open wounds. Avoid contact of diclofenac sodium topical gel with eyes and mucous membranes. Do not apply external heat and/or occlusive dressings to treated joints. Avoid exposure of the treated joint(s) to natural or artificial sunlight. Avoid concomitant use of diclofenac sodium topical gel on the treated skin site with other topical products, including sunscreens, cosmetics, lotions, moisturizers, insect repellants, or other topical medications Concomitant use of diclofenac sodium topical gel with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has not been evaluated, and may increase adverse NSAIDs effects. Do not use combination therapy with diclofenac sodium topical gel and an oral NSAID unless the benefit outweighs the risk and conduct periodic laboratory evaluations. Avoid wearing of clothing or gloves for at least 10 minutes after applying diclofenac sodium topical gel

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] GI Bleeding, Ulceration and Perforation [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hepatotoxicity [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Hypertension [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Heart Failure and Edema [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Renal Toxicity and Hyperkalemia [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Anaphylactic Reactions [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Serious Skin Reactions [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Hematologic Toxicity [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence >2% of patients treated with diclofenac sodium topical gel and greater than placebo) are application site reactions, including dermatitis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amneal Pharmaceuticals at 1-877-835-5472 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 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 with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. During clinical development, 913 patients were exposed to diclofenac sodium topical gel in randomized, double-blind, multicenter, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group studies in osteoarthritis of the superficial joints of the extremities. Of these, 513 patients received diclofenac sodium topical gel for osteoarthritis of the knee and 400 were treated for osteoarthritis of the hand. Additionally, 583 patients were exposed to diclofenac sodium topical gel in an uncontrolled, open-label, long-term safety trial in osteoarthritis of the knee. Of these, 355 patients were treated for osteoarthritis of 1 knee and 228 were treated for osteoarthritis of both knees. Duration of exposure ranged from 8 to 12 weeks for the placebo-controlled studies, and up to 12 months for the open-label safety trial. Short-Term Placebo-Controlled Trials: Adverse reactions observed in at least 1% of patients treated with diclofenac sodium topical gel: Non-serious adverse reactions that were reported during the short-term placebo-controlled studies comparing diclofenac sodium topical gel and placebo (vehicle gel) over study periods of 8 to 12 weeks (16 g per day), were application site reactions. These were the only adverse reactions that occurred in > 1% of treated patients with a greater frequency in the diclofenac sodium topical gel group (7%) than the placebo group (2%). Table 1 lists the types of application site reactions reported. Application site dermatitis was the most frequent type of application site reaction and was reported by 4% of patients treated with diclofenac sodium topical gel, compared to 1% of placebo patients. Adverse Reaction † Diclofenac sodium topical gel N=913 Placebo (vehicle) N=876 N (%) N (%) Any application site reaction 62 (7) 19 (2) Application site dermatitis 32 (4) 6 (˂1) Application site pruritus 7 (˂1) 1 (˂1) Application site erythema 6 (˂1) 3 (˂1) Application site paresthesia 5 (˂1) 3 (˂1) Application site dryness 4 (˂1) 3 (˂1) Application site vesicles 3 (˂1) 0 Application site irritation 2 (˂1) 0 Application site papules 1 (˂1) 0 † Preferred Term according to MedDRA 9.1 In the placebo-controlled trials, the discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 5% for patients treated with diclofenac sodium topical gel, and 3% for patients in the placebo group. Application site reactions, including application site dermatitis, were the most frequent reason for treatment discontinuation. Long-Term Open-Label Safety Trial: In the open-label, long-term safety study, distribution of adverse reactions was similar to that in the placebo-controlled studies. In this study, where patients were treated for up to 1 year with diclofenac sodium topical gel up to 32 g per day, application site dermatitis was observed in 11% of patients. Adverse reactions that led to the discontinuation of the study drug were experienced in 12% of patients. The most common adverse reaction that led to discontinuation of the study was application site dermatitis, which was experienced by 6% of patients.

​12.3 Pharmacokinetics The pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium topical gel were assessed in healthy volunteers following repeated applications during 7 days of diclofenac sodium topical gel to 1 knee (4 x 4 g per day) or to 2 knees and 2 hands (4 x 12 g per day) versus the recommended oral dose of diclofenac sodium for the treatment of osteoarthritis (3 x 50 mg per day). A summary of the pharmacokinetic parameters is presented in Table 2. Table 3. Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Comparison of Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel to Oral Diclofenac Sodium Tablets After Repeated Administration Treatment C max (ng/mL) Mean ± SD % of Oral (CI) t max (hr) Median (range) AUC 0-24 (ng●h/mL) Mean ± SD % of Oral (CI) Diclofenac sodium topical gel 4 x 4 g per day (= 160 mg diclofenac sodium per day) 15 ± 7.3 0.6% (0.5 to 0.7) 14 (0 to 24) 223 ± 128 5.8% (5 to 6.7) Diclofenac sodium topical gel 4 x 12 g per day (= 480 mg diclofenac sodium per day) 53.8 ± 32 2.2% (1.9 to 2.6) 10 (0 to 24) 807 ± 478 19.7% (17 to 22.8) Diclofenac sodium tablets, orally 3 x 50 mg per day (=150 mg diclofenac sodium per day) 2270 ± 778 100% 6.5 (1 to 14) 3890 ± 1710 100% C max = maximum plasma concentration, t max = time of C max : AUC 024 = area under the concentration-time curve; SD = standard deviation; CI confidence interval. Systemic exposure (area under the concentration-time curve) and maximum plasma concentrations of diclofenac are significantly lower with diclofenac sodium topical gel than with comparable oral treatment of diclofenac sodium. Systemic exposure with recommended use of diclofenac sodium topical gel (4 x 4 g per day applied to 1 knee) is on average 17 times lower than with oral treatment. (Basis: treatment with diclofenac sodium topical gel of 1 knee, 4 times a day versus 50 mg, 3 times a day of oral diclofenac tablets.) The amount of diclofenac sodium that is systemically absorbed from diclofenac sodium topical gel is on average 6% of the systemic exposure from an oral form of diclofenac sodium. The average peak plasma concentration with recommended use of diclofenac sodium topical gel (4 x 4 g per day applied to 1 knee) is 158 times lower than with the oral treatment. The pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium topical gel has been tested under conditions of moderate heat (application of a heat patch for 15 minutes prior to gel application) and of moderate exercise (first gel application followed by a 20-minute treadmill exercise). No clinically relevant differences of systemic absorption and of tolerability were found between applications of diclofenac sodium topical gel (4 x 4 g per day on 1 knee) with and under the conditions tested. However, the pharmacokinetics of diclofenac sodium topical gel were not tested under the condition of heat application following gel application. Therefore, concurrent use of diclofenac sodium topical gel and heat is not recommended. Drug Interaction Studies Aspirin: When NSAIDs were administered with aspirin, the protein binding of NSAIDs were reduced, although the clearance of free NSAID was not altered. The clinical significance of this interaction is not known. See Table 2 for clinically significant drug interactions of NSAIDs with aspirin [ see Drug Interactions (7) ].