What is Isturisa?
Isturisa inhibits cortisol synthesis. Isturisa can be used to treat adults with Cushing’s disease, which cannot be treated by pituitary surgery. Isturisa can also be used for patients with Cushing's disease who have undergone pituitary surgery but it has not cured them.
Warnings
Isturisa may cause serious side effects, such as decreased hormones from the adrenal gland. If you experience irregular heartbeats or stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, or light-headedness, call your doctor immediately.
Inform your doctor if you are taking certain medicines to treat heart disease.
Before you take this drug
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Isturisa will be safe for you:
- A heart rhythm disorder.
- Long-QT syndrome
- Congestive heart failure;
- High blood pressure
- An electrolyte imbalance is a low potassium or magnesium level in the blood.
- Fluid retention;
- Liver disease
Inform your doctor immediately if you plan to get pregnant. Osilodrostat is not known to harm a baby. Cushing during pregnancy can cause complications such as diabetes and eclampsia. Cushing may be worth treating, even if it means putting the baby at risk.
Do not breastfeed for 1 week after the last dose of Isturisa.
Isturisa cannot be used by anyone under the age of 18.
Similar/related drugs
Dexamethasone, Decadron, Cyproheptadine, and Mifepristone
How to take Isturisa?
Follow all directions listed on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets before beginning treatment. Read all the instructions and directions that come with your prescription. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose. Isturisa can be taken with or without food.
Electrocardiographs (also called ekgs) are used by your doctor to check the heart's function. The results of an ECG or any other medical test may delay your next dose. Do not alter your dosage or schedule without consulting your doctor. Store Isturisa tablets at room temperature, away from moisture and warmth.
Details on dosage
Adult dose of Isturisa:
2 mg orally twice daily as a starting dose
TITRATION: Initially, increase the dose of 1 to 2 mg twice daily, but no more than once every two weeks, depending on the rate at which cortisol levels change, the individual's tolerance, and the patient's improvement. If a patient tolerates the 10 mg twice a day dose and still has elevated urine free cortisol levels (UFC) above upper normal limits, then the dose may be increased by 5 mg twice a week every 2 weeks. Monitor cortisol from at least 2 24-hour urine-free cortisol samples every 1 to 2 weeks until the patient is responding adequately.
MAINTENANCE DOSAGE: This should be determined individually and by titration, based on the patient's symptoms and cortisol level. The maintenance dose can vary between 2 mg and 7mg twice per day.
Monitor cortisol levels every 1 to 2 weeks or as directed.
Use: To treat adult patients with Cushing’s disease when pituitary surgery hasn't been successful or isn't an option.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take the missed dose. Use your next dose as usual. Do not take two doses in one go.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
Overdose symptoms include nausea and vomiting, severe fatigue, lightheadedness, or fainting.
What should be avoided?
If your doctor prescribes any restrictions regarding food, beverage, or activity, follow their instructions.
Side effects of Isturisa
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy to Istarusa, seek immediate medical attention: itching; difficulty breathing; swelling in your face, lips, or throat; or hives.
If you experience:
- You may experience rapid or pounding pulses, chest fluttering, sudden dizziness, and shortness of breath.
- Feeling short of breath or swelling in the ankles or feet
- Reduced adrenal gland hormones—nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
- Increased Adrenal Glands Hormones: Hunger, weight gain, swellings, discolorations of the skin, slow wound healing, and sweating Acne: increased body hair, fatigue, mood swings, muscle weakness, missed periods, sexual changes
- Low sodium level: cramps in the legs, constipation, fluttering of your chest, increased thirst, increased urination or numbness, muscle weakness, or a limp feeling.
Isturisa can cause a variety of side effects.
- Nausea;
- Feeling tired
- Headache
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
Tourism is a serious condition that can lead to heart problems. This risk increases if you are also taking certain medications for asthma, heart disease, depression, mental illness, or HIV.
Osilodrostat may also interact with other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you stop or start using.
