Bupropion Hydrochloride (Page 7 of 9)

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Lifetime carcinogenicity studies were performed in rats and mice at bupropion doses up to 300 and 150 mg/kg/day, respectively. These doses are approximately 6 and 2 times the MRHD, respectively, on a mg/m² basis. In the rat study there was an increase in nodular proliferative lesions of the liver at doses of 100 to 300 mg/kg/day (approximately 2 to 6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis); lower doses were not tested. The question of whether or not such lesions may be precursors of neoplasms of the liver is currently unresolved. Similar liver lesions were not seen in the mouse study, and no increase in malignant tumors of the liver and other organs was seen in either study.

Bupropion produced a positive response (2 to 3 times control mutation rate) in 2 of 5 strains in the Ames bacterial mutagenicity assay. Bupropion produced an increase in chromosomal aberrations in 1 of 3 in vivo rat bone marrow cytogenetic studies.

There were no effects on male and female fertility when rats were administered oral doses of bupropion up to 300 mg/kg/day (approximately 6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) to females prior to mating and either through Day 13 of gestation or through lactation, and to males for 60 days prior to and through mating. However, doses of 200 mg/kg/day (approximately 4 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) or greater, caused transient ataxia or behavioral changes in adult female rats. There were also no adverse effects on fertility, reproduction, or growth and development of male or female offspring.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

The efficacy of bupropion hydrochloride tablets in the treatment of major depressive disorder was established in two 4-week, placebo-controlled trials in adult inpatients with MDD (Trials 1 and 2 in Table 4) and in one 6-week, placebo-controlled trial in adult outpatients with MDD (Trial 3 in Table 4). In the first trial, the dose range of bupropion hydrochloride tablets was 300 mg to 600 mg/day administered in 3 divided doses; 78% of subjects were treated with doses of 300 mg to 450 mg/day. The trial demonstrated the efficacy of bupropion hydrochloride tablets as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) total score, the HDRS depressed mood item (Item 1), and the Clinical Global Impressions-severity score (CGI-S). The second trial included 2 doses of bupropion hydrochloride tablets (300 and 450 mg/day) and placebo. This trial demonstrated the effectiveness of bupropion hydrochloride tablets for only the 450-mg/day dose. The efficacy results were statistically significant for the HDRS total score and the CGI-S score, but not for HDRS Item 1. In the third trial, outpatients were treated with 300 mg/day of bupropion hydrochloride tablets. This trial demonstrated the efficacy of bupropion hydrochloride tablets as measured by the HDRS total score, the HDRS Item 1, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the CGI-S score, and the CGI-Improvement Scale (CGI-I) score. Effectiveness of bupropion hydrochloride tablets in long-term use, that is, for more than 6 weeks, has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials.

Table 4. Efficacy of Bupropion Hydrochloride Tablets for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Trial Number	Treatment Group	Primary Efficacy Measure: HDRS
		Mean Baseline Score (SD)	LS Mean Score at Endpoint Visit (SE)	Placebo‑-subtracted Differencea (95%CI)
Trial 1	Bupropion Hydrochloride Tablets 300-600 mg/dayb (n = 48)	28.5 (5.1)	14.9 (1.3)	-4.7 (-8.8, -0.6)
	Placebo (n = 27)	29.3 (7.0)	19.6 (1.6)	-‑
		Mean Baseline Score (SD)	LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE)	Placebo-subtracted Differencea (95%CI)
Trial 2	Bupropion Hydrochloride Tablets 300 mg/day (n = 36)	32.4 (5.9)	-15.5 (1.7)	-4.1
	Bupropion Hydrochloride Tablets 450 mg/dayb (n = 34)	34.8 (4.6)	-17.4 (1.7)	-5.9 (-10.5, -1.4)
	Placebo (n=39)	32.9 (5.4)	-11.5 (1.6)	-‑
Trial 3142	Bupropion Hydrochloride Tablets 300 mg/dayb (n = 110)	26.5 (4.3)	-12.0 (NA)	-3.9 (-5.7, -1.0)
	Placebo (n = 106)	27.0 (3.5)	-8.7 (NA)	-‑

n: sample size; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval included for doses that were demonstrated to be effective; NA: not available.

^a Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares estimates with respect to the primary efficacy parameter. For Trial 1, it refers to the mean score at the endpoint visit; for Trials 2 and 3, it refers to the mean change from baseline to the endpoint visit.

^b Doses that are demonstrated to be statistically significantly superior to placebo.

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

Bupropion hydrochloride tablets, USP 75 mg are available for oral administration as orange, round, unscored, film coated tablets, imprinted “APO” on one side and “BU” over “75” on the other side. They are supplied as follows:

Carton of 100 tablets (10 tablets each blister pack x 10) NDC 0904-6635-61
Bupropion hydrochloride tablets, USP 100 mg are available for oral administration as purple, round, unscored, film coated tablets, imprinted “APO” on one side and “BUP” over “100” on the other side. They are supplied as follows:

Carton of 100 tablets (10 tablets each blister pack x 10) NDC 0904-6636-61

Store at 20ºC to 25ºC (68ºF to 77ºF): excursions permitted from 15ºC to 30ºC (59ºF to 86ºF) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Protect from moisture.

Store in a tight, light resistant container [see USP].

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

Instruct patients, their families, and/or their caregivers to be alert to the emergence of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, mania, other unusual changes in behavior, worsening of depression, and suicidal ideation, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Advise families and caregivers of patients to observe for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or healthcare professional, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring and possibly changes in the medication.

Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events and Suicide Risk in Smoking Cessation Treatment

Although bupropion hydrochloride tablets are not indicated for smoking cessation treatment, it contains the same active ingredient as ZYBAN^® which is approved for this use. Inform patients that some patients have experienced changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, aggression, hostility, agitation, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide when attempting to quit smoking while taking bupropion.

Instruct patients to discontinue bupropion and contact a healthcare professional if they experience such symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Severe Allergic Reactions

Educate patients on the symptoms of hypersensitivity and to discontinue bupropion hydrochloride tablets if they have a severe allergic reaction.

Seizure

Instruct patients to discontinue and not restart bupropion hydrochloride tablets if they experience a seizure while on treatment. Advise patients that the excessive use or abrupt discontinuation of alcohol, benzodiazepines, antiepileptic drugs, or sedatives/hypnotics can increase the risk of seizure. Advise patients to minimize or avoid use of alcohol.

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Patients should be advised that taking bupropion hydrochloride tablets can cause mild pupillary dilation, which in susceptible individuals, can lead to an episode of angle- closure glaucoma. Pre-existing glaucoma is almost always open-angle glaucoma because angle-closure glaucoma, when diagnosed, can be treated definitively with iridectomy. Open-angle glaucoma is not a risk factor for angle-closure glaucoma. Patients may wish to be examined to determine whether they are susceptible to angle closure, and have a prophylactic procedure (e.g., iridectomy), if they are susceptible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].

Bupropion-Containing Products

Educate patients that bupropion hydrochloride tablets contains the same active ingredient (bupropion hydrochloride) found in ZYBAN, which is used as an aid to smoking cessation treatment, and that bupropion hydrochloride tablets should not be used in combination with ZYBAN or any other medications that contain bupropion (such as WELLBUTRIN SR^® , the sustained-release formulation and WELLBUTRIN XL^® or FORFIVO XL^® , the extended-release formulations, and APLENZIN^® , the extended-release formulation of bupropion hydrobromide). In addition, there are a number of generic bupropion HCl products for the immediate-, sustained-, and extended-release formulations.

Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment

Advise patients that any CNS-active drug like bupropion hydrochloride tablets may impair their ability to perform tasks requiring judgment or motor and cognitive skills. Advise patients that until they are reasonably certain that bupropion hydrochloride tablets do not adversely affect their performance, they should refrain from driving an automobile or operating complex, hazardous machinery. Bupropion hydrochloride tablets may lead to decreased alcohol tolerance.

Concomitant Medications

Counsel patients to notify their healthcare provider if they are taking or plan to take any prescription or over-the-counter drugs because bupropion hydrochloride tablets and other drugs may affect each others’ metabolisms.

Pregnancy

Advise patients to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy with bupropion hydrochloride tablets. Advise patients that there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to bupropion hydrochloride tablets during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Storage Information

Instruct patients to store bupropion hydrochloride tablets at room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C) and keep the tablets dry and out of the light.

Administration Information

Instruct patients to take bupropion hydrochloride tablets in equally divided doses 3 or 4 times a day, with doses separated by at least 6 hours to minimize the risk of seizure. Instruct patients if they miss a dose, not to take an extra tablet to make up for the missed dose and to take the next tablet at the regular time because of the dose-related risk of seizure. Instruct patients that bupropion hydrochloride tablets should be swallowed whole and not crushed, divided, or chewed. Bupropion hydrochloride tablets can be taken with or without food.

ZYBAN^® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

WELLBUTRIN SR^® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

WELLBUTRIN XL^® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.

FORFIVO XL^® is a registered trademark of Edgemont Pharms LLC

APLENZIN^® is a registered trademark of Sanofi Aventis U.S. LLC

Dispense with Medication Guide available at www1.apotex.com/products/us
APOTEX INC.

BUPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS, USP 75 mg and 100 mg

Manufactured by	Manufactured for
Apotex Inc.	Apotex Corp.
Toronto, Ontario	Weston, Florida
Canada M9L 1T9	33326

Distributed by:

MAJOR® PHARMACEUTICALS

Livonia, MI 48152 USA

Refer to package label for Distributor’s NDC Number

Revised: May 2021

Rev. 18