ELEPSIA XR 1000 MG (Page 2 of 9)

5.2 Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including ELEPSIA XR, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.

Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical trials (mono- and adjunctive therapy) of 11 different AEDs showed that patients randomized to one of the AEDs had approximately twice the risk (adjusted Relative Risk 1.8, 95% CI:1.2, 2.7) of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients randomized to placebo. In these trials, which had a median treatment duration of 12 weeks, the estimated incidence rate of suicidal behavior or ideation among 27,863 AED-treated patients was 0.43%, compared to 0.24% among 16,029 placebo-treated patients, representing an increase of approximately one case of suicidal thinking or behavior for every 530 patients treated. There were four suicides in drug-treated patients in the trials and none in placebo-treated patients, but the number is too small to allow any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.

The increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with AEDs was observed as early as one week after starting drug treatment with AEDs and persisted for the duration of treatment assessed. Because most trials included in the analysis did not extend beyond 24 weeks, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior beyond 24 weeks could not be assessed.

The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior was generally consistent among drugs in the data analyzed. The finding of increased risk with AEDs of varying mechanisms of action and across a range of indications suggests that the risk applies to all AEDs used for any indication. The risk did not vary substantially by age (5 to 100 years) in the clinical trials analyzed. Table 2 shows absolute and relative risk by indication for all evaluated AEDs.

Table 2: Risk by Indication for Antiepileptic Drugs in the Pooled Analysis
Indication Placebo Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients Drug Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients Relative Risk: Incidence of Events in Drug Patients/Incidence in Placebo Patients Risk Difference: Additional Drug Patients with Events Per 1000 Patients
Epilepsy 1 3.4 3.5 2.4
Psychiatric 5.7 8.5 1.5 2.9
Other 1 1.8 1.9 0.9
Total 2.4 4.3 1.8 1.9

The relative risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior was higher in clinical trials for epilepsy than in clinical trials for psychiatric or other conditions, but the absolute risk differences were similar for the epilepsy and psychiatric indications.

Anyone considering prescribing ELEPSIA XR or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with the risk of untreated illness. Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Should suicidal thoughts and behavior emerge during treatment, the prescriber needs to consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated.

5.3 Somnolence and Fatigue

ELEPSIA XR may cause somnolence and fatigue. Patients should be monitored for these signs and symptoms and advised not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on ELEPSIA XR to gauge whether it adversely affects their ability to drive or operate machinery.

Somnolence

Levetiracetam Extended-Release Tablets

In the levetiracetam extended-release tablets double-blind, controlled trial in patients experiencing partial-onset seizures, 8% of levetiracetam extended-release tablets-treated patients experienced somnolence, compared to 3% of placebo-treated patients.

No patient discontinued treatment or had a dose reduction as a result of these adverse reactions.

The number of patients exposed to levetiracetam extended-release tablets was considerably smaller than the number of patients exposed to immediate-release levetiracetam tablets in controlled trials. Therefore, certain adverse reactions observed in the immediate-release levetiracetam tablets controlled trials will likely occur in patients receiving ELEPSIA XR.

Immediate-Release Levetiracetam Tablets

In controlled trials of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial-onset seizures, 15% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients reported somnolence, compared to 8% of placebo treated patients. There was no clear dose response up to 3000 mg/day. In a study where there was no titration, about 45% of patients receiving 4000 mg/day (1.33 times the maximum recommended dosage) reported somnolence. The somnolence was considered serious in 0.3% of the immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients, compared to 0% in the placebo group. About 3% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients discontinued treatment due to somnolence, compared to 0.7% of placebo-treated patients. In 1.4% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients and in 0.9% of placebo- treated patients the dose was reduced, while 0.3% of the treated patients were hospitalized due to somnolence.

Asthenia

Immediate-Release Levetiracetam Tablets

In controlled trials of adult patients with epilepsy experiencing partial-onset seizures, 15% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients reported asthenia, compared to 9% of placebo-treated patients. Treatment was discontinued due to asthenia in 0.8% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients, as compared to 0.5% of placebo treated patients. In 0.5% of immediate-release levetiracetam tablets-treated patients and in 0.2% of placebo- treated patients, the dose was reduced due to asthenia.

Somnolence and asthenia occurred most frequently within the first 4 weeks of treatment.

5.4 Anaphylaxis and Angioedema

ELEPSIA XR can cause anaphylaxis or angioedema after the first dose or at any time during treatment. Signs and symptoms in cases reported in the postmarketing setting in patients treated with levetiracetam have included hypotension, hives, rash, respiratory distress, and swelling of the face, lip, mouth, eye, tongue, throat, and feet. In some reported cases, reactions were life-threatening and required emergency treatment. If a patient develops signs or symptoms of anaphylaxis or angioedema, ELEPSIA XR should be discontinued and the patient should seek immediate medical attention. ELEPSIA XR should be discontinued permanently if a clear alternative etiology for the reaction cannot be established [see Contraindications (4)].

5.5 Serious Dermatological Reactions

Serious dermatological reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been reported in patients treated with levetiracetam. The median time of onset is reported to be 14 to 17 days, but cases have been reported at least four months after initiation of treatment. Recurrence of the serious skin reactions following rechallenge with levetiracetam has also been reported. ELEPSIA XR should be discontinued at the first sign of a rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related. If signs or symptoms suggest SJS/TEN, use of this drug should not be resumed and alternative therapy should be considered.

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