Pharmacy & Therapeutics - December 2008 - (Page 704)

IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA INVEGA® (paliperidone) extended-release tablets are indicated for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR INVEGA® Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of 17 placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in the drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. The extent to which the ﬁndings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. INVEGA® (paliperidone) is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. Cerebrovascular Adverse Events (CAEs): CAEs, including fatalities, have been reported in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis taking atypical antipsychotics in clinical trials. INVEGA® is not approved for treating these patients. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS, a potentially fatal symptom complex, has been reported with the use of antipsychotic medications, including INVEGA®. Clinical manifestations include muscle rigidity, fever, altered mental status and evidence of autonomic instability (see full Prescribing Information). Management should include immediate discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs and other drugs not essential to concurrent therapy, intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring, and treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems. QT Prolongation: INVEGA® causes a modest increase in the corrected QT (QTc) interval. INVEGA® should be avoided in combination with other drugs that are known to prolong the QTc interval, in patients with congenital long QT syndrome or a history of cardiac arrhythmias. Certain circumstances may increase the risk of torsades de pointes and/or sudden death in association with the use of drugs that prolong the QTc interval. Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): TD is a syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements that may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic medications. The risk of developing TD and the likelihood that dyskinetic movements will become irreversible are believed to increase with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose. Elderly patients appeared to be at increased risk for TD. Prescribing should be consistent with the need to minimize the risk of TD. The syndrome may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Hyperglycemia and Diabetes: Hyperglycemia, some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma or death has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics (APS). Patients starting treatment with APS who have or are at risk for diabetes should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of and during treatment. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia should also undergo fasting blood glucose testing. Hyperprolactinemia: As with other drugs that antagonize dopamine D2 receptors, INVEGA® elevates prolactin levels and the elevation persists during chronic administration. Potential for Gastrointestinal Obstruction: INVEGA® should ordinarily not be administered to patients with pre-existing severe gastrointestinal narrowing. Rare instances of obstructive © Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2008 November 2008 01JN482R4

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Pharmacy & Therapeutics - December 2008 Contents Editorial Medication Errors Prescription: Washington New Drugs/Drug News/ New Medical Devices Drug Forecast Interpreting Estimates of Treatment Effects Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXVI: Innovative Cancer Therapy for Tomorrow Third Annual Onmark National Payor/Provider Forum Fourth Annual Ophthalmic Drug Development and Delivery Summit Classification and Pharmacological Management Of Obesity CE Test and Forms Season’s Greetings: Thanks to Our Readers and Reviewers

Pharmacy & Therapeutics - December 2008

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