Pramipexole Dihydrochloride (Page 3 of 8)

5.11 Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms including apathy, anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, sweating, and pain have been reported during taper or after discontinuation of dopamine agonists, including pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets. These symptoms generally do not respond to levodopa.

Prior to discontinuation of pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets, patients should be informed about potential withdrawal symptoms, and monitored during and after discontinuation. In case of severe withdrawal symptoms, a trial re-administration of a dopamine agonist at the lowest effective dose may be considered.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:

  • Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
  • Symptomatic Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
  • Impulse Control / Compulsive Behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
  • Hallucinations and Psychotic-like Behavior [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
  • Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
  • Postural Deformity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
  • Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
  • Retinal Pathology [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)]
  • Events Reported with Dopaminergic Therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]
  • Withdrawal Symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)]

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug (or of another development program of a different formulation of the same drug) and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

During the premarketing development of pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets, patients with early Parkinson’s disease were treated with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets, placebo, or immediate-release pramipexole tablets. In addition, a randomized, double-blind, parallel group trial was conducted in 156 early Parkinson’s disease patients (Hoehn & Yahr Stages I-III) to assess overnight switching of immediate-release pramipexole tablets to extended-release pramipexole tablets. In this latter study, concomitant treatment with stable doses of levodopa, monoamine oxidase B inhibitor (MAOB-I) drugs, anticholinergics, or amantadine, individually or in combination, was allowed. In a third trial, advanced Parkinson’s disease patients received pramipexole extended-release tablets, placebo, or immediate-release pramipexole tablets as adjunctive therapy to levodopa.

Early Parkinson’s Disease

The most common adverse reactions (≥5% and more frequent than placebo) after 33 weeks of treatment with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets in the trial of early Parkinson’s disease patients were somnolence, nausea, constipation, dizziness, fatigue, hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle spasms, and peripheral edema.

Twenty four of 223 (11%) patients treated with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets for 33 weeks discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 4 of 103 (4%) patients who received placebo and approximately 20 of 213 (9%) patients who received immediate-release pramipexole tablets. The adverse reaction most commonly causing discontinuation of treatment with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets was nausea (2%).

Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred with a frequency of at least 2% with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release and were more frequent than with placebo during 33 weeks of treatment in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in early Parkinson’s disease. In this study, patients did not receive concomitant levodopa; however, levodopa was permitted as rescue medication.

Table 1 Adverse-Reactions in a 33-Week Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial with Pramipexole Dihydrochloride Extended-Release in Early Parkinson’s Disease

Body System / Adverse Reaction Placebo Extended-Release Pramipexole Immediate Release Pramipexole
(n=103) (n=223) (n=213)
% % %
Nervous system disorders
Somnolence 15 36 33
Dizziness 7 12 12
Tremor 1 3 3
Balance disorder 1 2 0
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea 9 22 24
Constipation 2 14 12
Dry mouth 1 5 4
Vomiting 0 4 4
Upper abdominal pain 1 3 4
Dyspepsia 2 3 3
Abdominal discomfort 0 2 1
Psychiatric disorders
Hallucinations, including visual, auditory and mixed 1 5 6
Insomnia 3 4 4
Sleep attacks or sudden onset of sleep 1 3 6
Sleep disorder 1 2 3
Depression 0 2 0
General disorders and administration site conditions
Fatigue 4 6 6
Peripheral edema 4 5 8
Asthenia 2 3 1
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Muscle spasms 3 5 3
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Fall 1 4 4
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Vertigo 1 4 2
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Cough 1 3 3
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Increased appetite 1 3 2
Vascular disorders
Orthostatic hypotension 1 3 0

Because this study used a flexible dose titration design, it was not possible to assess the effects of dose on the incidence of adverse reactions.

Adverse reactions can initially occur in either the titration or maintenance phase. Some adverse reactions developed in pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release-treated patients during the titration phase and persisted (≥7 days) into the maintenance phase (i.e., pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release % — placebo % = treatment difference ≥2%); persistent adverse reactions were somnolence, nausea, constipation, fatigue, and dry mouth.

A double-blind, randomized, parallel group trial evaluated the tolerability of an overnight switch from immediate-release pramipexole tablets to extended-release pramipexole tablets at the same daily dose in 156 early Parkinson’s disease patients with or without levodopa. One of 104 patients switched from immediate-release pramipexole tablets to extended-release pramipexole tablets discontinued due to adverse reactions (vertigo and nausea).

Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

The most common adverse reactions (≥5% and greater frequency than in placebo) during 18 weeks of treatment with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets in the trial of advanced Parkinson’s disease patients with concomitant levodopa were dyskinesia, nausea, constipation, hallucinations, headache, and anorexia.

Eight of 164 (5%) patients treated with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets for 18 weeks discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 7 of 178 (4%) patients who received placebo and 8 of 175 (5%) patients who received immediate-release pramipexole tablets. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of treatment with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets were nausea (1%) and hallucination (1%).

Table 2 lists adverse reactions that occurred with a frequency of at least 2% with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release and were more frequent than with placebo during 18 weeks of treatment in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease treated with pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets. In this study, pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets, immediate-release pramipexole tablets, or placebo was administered to patients who were also receiving concomitant levodopa.

Table 2 Adverse-Reactions in an 18-Week Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial with Pramipexole Dihydrochloride Extended-Release in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

Body System/Adverse Reaction Placebo Extended-Release
Pramipexole
Immediate-Release Pramipexole
n = 178 n = 164 n = 175
% % %
Nervous system disorders
Dyskinesia 8 17 18
Headache 3 7 4
Dizziness (postural) 1 2 3
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea 10 11 11
Constipation 5 7 6
Salivary hypersecretion 0 2 0
Diarrhea 1 2 1
Psychiatric disorders
Hallucinations, including visual, auditory and mixed 2 9 7
Insomnia 2 4 4
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Anorexia 2 5 1
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Back pain 1 2 3

Because this flexible dose study used a titration design, it was not possible to assess the effects of dose on the incidence of adverse reactions.

Adverse reactions can initially occur in either the titration or maintenance phase. Some adverse reactions developed in pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release-treated patients during the titration phase and persisted (≥7 days) into the maintenance phase (i.e., pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release % — placebo % = treatment difference ≥2%); persistent adverse reactions were dyskinesia and insomnia.

Laboratory Testing

During the development of pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets, no systematic abnormalities on routine laboratory testing were noted.

Other adverse reactions observed during clinical trials of pramipexole dihydrochloride immediate-release tablets or pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets inearly and advanced Parkinson’s disease

Other adverse reactions in clinical studies involving pramipexole dihydrochloride immediate-release tablets or pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release tablets include abnormal dreams, akathisia, amnesia, decreased libido, decreased weight, dyspnea, pneumonia, and vision abnormalities.

All MedLibrary.org resources are included in as near-original form as possible, meaning that the information from the original provider has been rendered here with only typographical or stylistic modifications and not with any substantive alterations of content, meaning or intent.

This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, in accordance with our Terms of Use, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or other qualified health professional.

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.