Hysingla ER (Page 2 of 11)

2.3 Initial Dosage

Use of HYSINGLA ER as the First Opioid Analgesic (opioid-naïve patients)

Initiate treatment with HYSINGLA ER at a dose of 20 mg orally every 24 hours.

Use of HYSINGLA ER in Patients who are not Opioid Tolerant (opioid non-tolerant patients)
The starting dose for patients who are not opioid tolerant is HYSINGLA ER 20 mg orally every 24 hours.

Use of higher starting doses in patients who are not opioid tolerant may cause fatal respiratory depression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Conversion from Oral Hydrocodone Formulations to HYSINGLA ER
Patients receiving other oral hydrocodone-containing formulations may be converted to HYSINGLA ER by administering the patient’s total daily oral hydrocodone dose as HYSINGLA ER once daily.

Conversion from Other Opioids to HYSINGLA ERWhen HYSINGLA ER therapy is initiated, discontinue all other opioid analgesics other than those used on an as needed basis for breakthrough pain when appropriate.

There is inter-patient variability in the relative potency of opioid drugs and formulations. Therefore, a conservative approach is advised when determining the total daily dosage of HYSINGLA ER. It is safer to underestimate a patient’s 24-hour oral hydrocodone dosage and provide rescue medication (e.g., immediate-release opioid) than to overestimate the 24-hour oral hydrocodone dosage and manage an adverse reaction due to an overdose.

In a HYSINGLA ER clinical trial with an open-label titration period, patients were converted from their prior opioid to HYSINGLA ER using Table 1 as a guide for the initial HYSINGLA ER dose. To obtain the initial HYSINGLA ER dose, first use Table 1 to convert the prior oral opioids to a total hydrocodone daily dose and then reduce the calculated daily hydrocodone dose by 25% to account for interpatient variability in relative potency of different opioids.

Consider the following when using the information found in Table 1.

  • This is not a table of equianalgesic doses.
  • The conversion factors in this table are only for the conversion from one of the listed oral opioid analgesics to HYSINGLA ER.
  • The table cannot be used to convert from HYSINGLA ER to another opioid. Doing so will result in an over-estimation of the dose of the new opioid and may result in fatal overdose
Table 1. Conversion factors to HYSINGLA ER (Not Equianalgesic Doses)
Opioid Oral dose (mg) Approximate oral conversion factor
Codeine 133 0.15
Hydromorphone 5 4
Methadone 13.3 1.5
Morphine 40 0.5
Oxycodone 20 1
Oxymorphone 10 2
Tramadol 200 0.1

To calculate the estimated total hydrocodone daily dose using Table 1:

  • For patients on a single opioid, sum the current total daily dose of the opioid and then multiply the total daily dose by the approximate oral conversion factor to calculate the approximate oral hydrocodone daily dose.
  • For patients on a regimen of more than one opioid, calculate the approximate oral hydrocodone dose for each opioid and sum the totals to obtain the approximate oral hydrocodone daily dose.
  • For patients on a regimen of fixed-ratio opioid/non-opioid analgesic products, use only the opioid component of these products in the conversion.
  • Reduce the calculated daily oral hydrocodone dose by 25%

Always round the dose down, if necessary, to the nearest HYSINGLA ER tablet strength available and initiate therapy with that dose. If the converted HYSINGLA ER dose using Table 1 is less than 20 mg, initiate therapy with HYSINGLA ER 20 mg.

Example conversion from a single opioid to HYSINGLA ER:
For example, a total daily dose of oxycodone 50 mg would be converted to hydrocodone 50 mg based on the table above, and then multiplied by 0.75 (i.e., take a 25 % reduction) resulting in a dose of 37.5 mg hydrocodone. Round this down to the nearest dose strength available, HYSINGLA ER 30 mg, to initiate therapy.

Close observation and frequent titration are warranted until pain management is stable on the new opioid. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal or for signs of over-sedation/toxicity after converting patients to HYSINGLA ER.

Conversion from Methadone to HYSINGLA ER
Regular evaluation is of particular importance when converting from methadone to other opioid agonists. The ratio between methadone and other opioid agonists may vary widely as a function of previous dose exposure. Methadone has a long half-life and can accumulate in the plasma.

Conversion from Transdermal Fentanyl to HYSINGLA ER
Eighteen hours following the removal of the transdermal fentanyl patch, HYSINGLA ER treatment can be initiated. For each 25 mcg/hr fentanyl transdermal patch, a dose of HYSINGLA ER 20 mg every 24 hours represents a conservative initial dose. Follow the patient closely during conversion from transdermal fentanyl to HYSINGLA ER, as there is limited experience with this conversion.

Conversion from Transdermal Buprenorphine to HYSINGLA ERAll patients receiving transdermal buprenorphine (≤ 20 mcg/hr) should initiate therapy with HYSINGLA ER 20 mg every 24 hours. Follow the patient closely during conversion from transdermal buprenorphine to HYSINGLA ER, as there is limited experience with this conversion.

2.4 Titration and Maintenance of Therapy

Individually titrate HYSINGLA ER to a dose that provides adequate analgesia and minimizes adverse reactions. Continually reevaluate patients receiving HYSINGLA ER to assess the maintenance of pain control, signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and other relative incidence of adverse reactions, as well as to reassess for the development of addiction, abuse, or misuse [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.16). Frequent communication is important among the prescriber, other members of the healthcare team, the patient, and the caregiver/family during periods of changing analgesic requirements, including initial titration. During use of opioid therapy for an extended period of time, periodically reassess the continued need for the use of opioid analgesics.

Patients who experience breakthrough pain may require a dosage adjustment of HYSINGLA ER, or may need rescue medication with an appropriate dose of an immediate-release analgesic.

If the level of pain increases after dose stabilization, attempt to identify the source of increased pain before increasing the HYSINGLA ER dosage. If after increasing the dosage, unacceptable opioid-related adverse reactions are observed (including an increase in pain after a dosage increase), consider reducing the dosage [see Warnings and Precautions (5)]. Adjust the dosage to obtain an appropriate balance between management of pain and opioid-related adverse reactions. Adjust the dose of HYSINGLA ER in increments of 10 mg to 20 mg every 3 to 5 days as needed to achieve adequate analgesia.

2.5 Dosage Modifications in Patients with Severe Hepatic Impairment

Patients with severe hepatic impairment may have higher plasma concentrations of hydrocodone than those with normal function. Initiate therapy with one half the initial dose of HYSINGLA ER in these patients and regularly evaluate for respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

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