Aripiprazole (Page 5 of 13)

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Adult Patients with Schizophrenia
The following findings are based on a pool of five placebo-controlled trials (four 4-week and one 6-week) in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses ranging from 2 to 30 mg/day.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
The only commonly observed adverse reaction associated with the use of aripiprazole in patients with schizophrenia (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) was akathisia (aripiprazole 8%; placebo 4%).
Less Common Adverse Reactions in Adults
Table 17 enumerates the pooled incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy (up to 6 weeks in schizophrenia and up to 3 weeks in another indication), including only those reactions that occurred in 2% or more of patients treated with aripiprazole (doses ≥2 mg/day) and for which the incidence in patients treated with aripiprazole was greater than the incidence in patients treated with placebo in the combined dataset.
Table 17: Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials in Adult Patients Treated with Oral Aripiprazole

System Organ Class Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction*
Preferred Term Aripiprazole (n=1843) Placebo (n=1166)
Eye Disorders
Blurred Vision 3 1
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Nausea 15 11
Constipation 11 7
Vomiting 11 6
Dyspepsia 9 7
Dry Mouth 5 4
Toothache 4 3
Abdominal Discomfort 3 2
Stomach Discomfort 3 2
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
Fatigue 6 4
Pain 3 2
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
Musculoskeletal Stiffness 4 3
Pain in Extremity 4 2
Myalgia 2 1
Muscle Spasms 2 1
Nervous System Disorders
Headache 27 23
Dizziness 10 7
Akathisia 10 4
Sedation 7 4
Extrapyramidal Disorder 5 3
Tremor 5 3
Somnolence 5 3
Psychiatric Disorders
Agitation 19 17
Insomnia 18 13
Anxiety 17 13
Restlessness 5 3
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders
Pharyngolaryngeal Pain 3 2
Cough 3 2

An examination of population subgroups did not reveal any clear evidence of differential adverse reaction incidence on the basis of age, gender, or race.

Pediatric Patients (13 to 17 years) with Schizophrenia
The following findings are based on one 6-week, placebo-controlled trial in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses ranging from 2 to 30 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole-treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (13 to 17 years) was 5% and 2%, respectively.
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in adolescent patients with schizophrenia (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) were extrapyramidal disorder, somnolence, and tremor.

Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years) with Autistic Disorder
The following findings are based on two 8 week, placebo-controlled trials in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses of 2 to 15 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole -treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (6 to 17 years) was 10% and 8%, respectively
Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions
Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with autistic disorder (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 20.

Table 20: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years) with Autistic Disorder Treated with Oral Aripiprazole

Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction
Preferred Term Aripiprazole (n=212 Placebo (n=101)
Sedation 21 4
Fatigue 17 2
Vomiting 14 7
Somnolence 10 4
Tremor 10 0
Pyrexia 9 1
Drooling 9 0
Decreased Appetite 7 2
Salivary Hypersecretion 6 1
Extrapyramidal Disorder 6 0
Lethargy 5 0

Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s Disorder
The following findings are based on one 8 week and one 10 week, placebo-controlled trials in which oral aripiprazole was administered in doses of 2 to 20 mg/day.
Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment
The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse reactions between aripiprazole -treated and placebo-treated pediatric patients (6 to 18 years) was 7% and 1%, respectively.

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions Commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of aripiprazole in pediatric patients with Tourette’s disorder (incidence of 5% or greater and aripiprazole incidence at least twice that for placebo) are shown in Table 21.

Table 21: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Tourette’s Disorder Treated with Oral Aripiprazole

Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction
Preferred Term Aripiprazole (n=121 Placebo (n=72)
Sedation 13 6
Somnolence 13 1
Nausea 11 4
Headache 10 3
Nasopharyngitis 9 0
Fatigue 8 0
Increased Appetite 7 1

Less Common Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Mania, Autistic Disorder, or Tourette’s Disorder

Table 22 enumerates the pooled incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of adverse reactions that occurred during acute therapy (up to 6 weeks in schizophrenia, up to 4 weeks in one indication, and up to 8 weeks in another indication and up to 10 weeks in another indication), including only those reactions that occurred in 2% or more of pediatric patients treated with aripiprazole (doses ≥2 mg/day) and for which the incidence in patients treated with aripiprazole was greater than the incidence in patients treated with placebo.

Table 22: Adverse Reactions in Short-Term, Placebo-Controlled Trials of Pediatric Patients (6 to 18 years) Treated with Oral Aripiprazole

System Organ Class Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction*
Preferred Term Aripiprazole (n=732) Placebo (n=370)
Eye Disorders
Blurred Vision 3 0
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Abdominal Discomfort 2 1
Vomiting 8 7
Nausea 8 4
Diarrhea 4 3
Salivary Hypersecretion 4 1
Abdominal Pain Upper 3 2
Constipation 2 2
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
Fatigue 10 2
Pyrexia 4 1
Irritability 2 1
Asthenia 2 1
Infections and Infestations
Nasopharyngitis 6 3
Investigations
Weight Increased 3 1
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders
Increased Appetite 7 3
Decreased Appetite 5 4
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
Musculoskeletal Stiffness 2 1
Muscle Rigidity 2 1
Nervous System Disorders
Somnolence 16 4
Headache 12 10
Sedation 9 2
Tremor 9 1
Extrapyramidal Disorder 6 1
Akathisia 6 4
Drooling 3 0
Lethargy 3 0
Dizziness 3 2
Dystonia 2 1
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders
Epistaxis 2 1
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Rash 2 1
* Adverse reactions reported by at least 2% of pediatric patients treated with oral aripiprazole, except adverse reactions which had an incidence equal to or less than placebo.

Dose-Related Adverse Reactions
Schizophrenia
Dose response relationships for the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events were evaluated from four trials in adult patients with schizophrenia comparing various fixed doses (2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg/day) of oral aripiprazole to placebo. This analysis, stratified by study, indicated that the only adverse reaction to have a possible dose response relationship, and then most prominent only with 30 mg, was somnolence [including sedation]; (incidences were placebo, 7.1%; 10 mg, 8.5%; 15 mg, 8.7%; 20 mg, 7.5%; 30 mg, 12.6%).
In the study of pediatric patients (13 to 17 years of age) with schizophrenia, three common adverse reactions appeared to have a possible dose response relationship: extrapyramidal disorder (incidences were placebo, 5.0%; 10 mg, 13.0%; 30 mg, 21.6%); somnolence (incidences were placebo, 6.0%; 10 mg, 11.0%; 30 mg, 21.6%); and tremor (incidences were placebo, 2.0%; 10 mg, 2.0%; 30 mg, 11.8%).

Autistic Disorder
In a study of pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) with autistic disorder, one common adverse reaction had a possible dose response relationship: fatigue (incidences were placebo, 0%; 5 mg, 3.8%; 10 mg, 22.0%; 15 mg, 18.5%).

Tourette’s Disorder
In a study of pediatric patients (7 to 17 years of age) with Tourette’s disorder, no common adverse reaction(s) had a dose response relationship.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms

Schizophrenia
In short-term, placebo-controlled trials in schizophrenia in adults, the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 13% vs. 12% for placebo; and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 8% vs. 4% for placebo. In the short-term, placebo-controlled trial of schizophrenia in pediatric patients (13 to 17 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole-treated patients was 25% vs. 7% for placebo; and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole-treated patients was 9% vs. 6% for placebo.
Objectively collected data from those trials was collected on the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (for EPS), the Barnes Akathisia Scale (for akathisia), and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales (for dyskinesias). In the adult schizophrenia trials, the objectively collected data did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo, with the exception of the Barnes Akathisia Scale (aripiprazole, 0.08; placebo, –0.05). In the pediatric (13 to 17 years) schizophrenia trial, the objectively collected data did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo, with the exception of the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (aripiprazole, 0.24; placebo, –0.29).
Similarly, in a long-term (26-week), placebo-controlled trial of schizophrenia in adults, objectively collected data on the Simpson Angus Rating Scale (for EPS), the Barnes Akathisia Scale (for akathisia), and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales (for dyskinesias) did not show a difference between aripiprazole and placebo.

Autistic Disorder
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in autistic disorder in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole -treated patients was 18% vs. 2% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole -treated patients was 3% vs. 9% for placebo.
In the pediatric (6 to 17 years) short-term autistic disorder trials, the Simpson Angus Rating Scale showed a significant difference between aripiprazole and placebo (aripiprazole, 0.1; placebo, – 0.4). Changes in the Barnes Akathisia Scale and the Assessments of Involuntary Movement Scales were similar for the aripiprazole and placebo groups.
Tourette’s Disorder
In the short-term, placebo-controlled trials in Tourette’s disorder in pediatric patients (6 to 18 years), the incidence of reported EPS-related events, excluding events related to akathisia, for aripiprazole -treated patients was 7% vs. 6% for placebo and the incidence of akathisia-related events for aripiprazole -treated patients was 4% vs. 6% for placebo.

Dystonia
Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups.

Additional Findings Observed in Clinical Trials

Adverse Reactions in Long-Term, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials
The adverse reactions reported in a 26-week, double-blind trial comparing oral aripiprazole and placebo in patients with schizophrenia were generally consistent with those reported in the short-term, placebo-controlled trials, except for a higher incidence of tremor [8% (12/153) for aripiprazole vs. 2% (3/153) for placebo]. In this study, the majority of the cases of tremor were of mild intensity (8/12 mild and 4/12 moderate), occurred early in therapy (9/12 ≤49 days), and were of limited duration (7/12 ≤10 days). Tremor infrequently led to discontinuation (<1%) of aripiprazole. In addition, in a long-term (52 week), active-controlled study, the incidence of tremor was 5% (40/859) for aripiprazole.

Other Adverse Reactions Observed During Clinical Trial Evaluation of aripiprazole

The following listing does not include reactions: 1) already listed in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, 2) for which a drug cause was remote, 3) which were so general as to be uninformative, 4) which were not considered to have significant clinical implications, or 5) which occurred at a rate equal to or less than placebo.
Reactions are categorized by body system according to the following definitions: frequent adverse reactions are those occurring in at least 1/100 patients; infrequent adverse reactions are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients; rare reactions are those occurring in fewer than 1/1000 patients:

Adults — Oral Administration
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders:
rare — thrombocytopenia
Cardiac Disorders:
infrequent – bradycardia, palpitations, rare – atrial flutter, cardio- respiratory arrest, atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary failure.
Eye Disorders:
infrequent – photophobia; rare -diplopia
Gastrointestinal Disorders:
infrequent — gastroesophageal reflux disease
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: frequent — asthenia; infrequent – peripheral edema, chest pain; rare – face edema
Hepatobiliary Disorders:
rare — hepatitis, jaundice
Immune System Disorders:
rare -hypersensitivity

Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications:
infrequent– fall; rare – heat stroke
Investigations:
frequent — weight decreased, infrequent — hepatic enzyme increased, blood glucose increased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, gamma glutamyl transferase increased; rare – blood prolactin increased, blood urea inceased, blood creatinine increased, blood bilirubin increased, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, glycosylated hemoglobin increased
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders:
frequent –anorexia; -rare — hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: infrequent -muscular weakness, muscle tightness; rare – rhabdomyolysis, mobility decreased
Nervous System Disorders:
infrequent — parkinsonism, memory impairment, cogwheel rigidity, hypokinesia, bradykinesia; rare – akinesia, myoclonus, coordination abnormal, speech disorder, Grand Mal convulsion; <1/10,000 patients — choreoathetosis
Psychiatric Disorders:
infrequent – aggression, loss of libido, delirium; rare – libido increased, anorgasmia, tic, homicidal ideation, catatonia, sleep walking
Renal and Urinary Disorders:
rare — urinary retention, nocturia
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders:
infrequent — erectile dysfunction; rare – gynaecomastia, menstruation irregular, amenorrhea, breast pain, priapism
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: infrequent — nasal congestion, dyspnea
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders:
infrequent — rash, hyperhidrosis, pruritus, photosensitivity reaction, alopecia; rare — urticaria
Vascular Disorders:
infrequent – hypotension, hypertension

Pediatric Patients — Oral Administration
Most adverse events observed in the pooled database of 1,686 pediatric patients, aged 6 to 18 years, were also observed in the adult population. Additional adverse reactions observed in the pediatric population are listed below.
Eye Disorders
infrequent – oculogyric crisis
Gastrointestinal Disorders:
infrequent –tongue dry, tongue spasm
Investigations:
frequent — blood insulin increased
Nervous System Disorders:
infrequent – sleep talking
Renal and Urinary Disorders
frequent – enuresis
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders:
infrequent – hirsutism

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