Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008 - (Page 556)

Extended-Release Tablets BRIEF SUMMARY. See package insert for full Prescribing Information. For further product information and current package insert, please visit www.wyeth.com or call our medical communications department toll-free at 1-800-934-5556. WARNING: Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Pristiq or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Pristiq is not approved for use in pediatric patients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Use in Specific Populations (8.4), and Patient Counseling Information (17.1 in the full prescribing information)]. INDICATIONS AND USAGE: Pristiq, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity-Hypersensitivity to desvenlafaxine succinate, venlafaxine hydrochloride or to any excipients in the Pristiq formulation. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors-Pristiq must not be used concomitantly in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or in patients who have taken MAOIs within the preceding 14 days due to the risk of serious, sometimes fatal, drug interactions with SNRI or SSRI treatment or with other serotonergic drugs. Based on the half-life of desvenlafaxine, at least 7 days should be allowed after stopping Pristiq before starting an MAOI [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) in the full prescribing information]. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk-Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide. There has been a long-standing concern, however, that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients during the early phases of treatment. Pooled analyses of short-term placebo-controlled studies of antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and others) showed that these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18-24) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled studies in children and adolescents with MDD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 24 short-term studies of 9 antidepressant drugs in over 4,400 patients. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled studies in adults with MDD or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 295 short-term studies (median duration of 2 months) of 11 antidepressant drugs in over 77,000 patients. There was considerable variation in risk of suicidality among drugs, but a tendency toward an increase in the younger patients for almost all drugs studied. There were differences in absolute risk of suicidality across the different indications, with the highest incidence in MDD. The risk differences (drug vs. placebo), however, were relatively stable within age strata and across indications. These risk differences (drug-placebo difference in the number of cases of suicidality per 1000 patients treated) are provided in Table 1 of the full prescribing information. No suicides occurred in any of the pediatric studies. There were suicides in the adult studies, but the number was not sufficient to reach any conclusion about drug effect on suicide. It is unknown whether the suicidality risk extends to longer-term use, i.e., beyond several months. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance studies in adults with depression that the use of antidepressants can delay the recurrence of depression. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases. The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality. Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose depression is persistently worse, or who are experiencing emergent suicidality or symptoms that might be precursors to worsening depression or suicidality, especially if these symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. If the decision has been made to discontinue treatment, medication should be tapered, as rapidly as is feasible, but with recognition that abrupt discontinuation can be associated with certain symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) and Dosage and Administration (2.3) in the full prescribing information for a description of the risks of discontinuation of Pristiq ]. Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder or other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, unusual changes in behavior, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and to report such symptoms immediately to health care providers. Such monitoring should include daily observation by families and caregivers. Prescriptions for Pristiq should be written for the smallest quantity of tablets consistent with good patient management, in order to reduce the risk of overdose. Screening patients for bipolar disorder- A major depressive episode may be the initial presentation of bipolar disorder. It is generally believed (though not established in controlled studies) that treating such an episode with an antidepressant alone may increase the likelihood of precipitation of a mixed/manic episode in patients at risk for bipolar disorder. Whether any of the symptoms described above represent such a conversion is unknown. However, prior to initiating treatment with an antidepressant, patients with depressive symptoms should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk fo r bipolar disorder; such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression. It should be noted that Pristiq is not approved for use in treating bipolar depression. Serotonin Syndrome-The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome may occur with Pristiq treatment, particularly with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including SSRIs, SNRIs and triptans) and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs). The concomitant use of Pristiq and MAOIs is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4.2)]. If concomitant treatment with Pristiq and an SSRI, another SNRI or a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonist (triptan) is clinically warranted, careful observation of the patient is advised, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases. The concomitant use of Pristiq with serotonin precursors (such as tryptophan supplements) is not recommended. Elevated Blood Pressure- Patients receiving Pristiq should have regular monitoring of blood pressure since dose-dependent increases were observed in clinical studies. Pre-existing hypertension should be controlled before initiating treatment with Pristiq. Caution should be exercised in treating patients with pre-existing hypertension or other underlying conditions that might be compromised by increases in blood pressure. Cases of elevated blood pressure requiring immediate treatment have been reported with Pristiq. Sustained hypertension- Sustained blood pressure increases could have adverse consequences. For patients who experience a sustained increase in blood pressure while receiving Pristiq, either dose reduction or discontinuation should be considered [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Tr http://www.wyeth.com

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Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008 Contents Editorial Medication Errors Prescription: Washington New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices Drug Forecast Medical Management of Parkinson’s Disease Why Is Health Care Regulation So Complex? The Next President’s Prescription for Action on Drugs Trends in Managing Multiple Sclerosis Product Profiler: Sancuso®

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - October 2008

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