Rivastigmine Tartrate

RIVASTIGMINE TARTRATE- rivastigmine tartrate capsule
Major Pharmaceuticals

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

1.1 Alzheimer’s Disease

Rivastigmine tartrate capsules are indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (AD).

1.2 Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Rivastigmine tartrate capsules are indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Dosing in Alzheimer’s Disease

Rivastigmine tartrate capsules should be taken with meals in divided doses in the morning and evening.
The recommended dosage of rivastigmine tartrate capsules in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is 6 mg to 12 mg per day, administered twice a day (daily doses of 3 mg to 6 mg twice a day). There is evidence from the clinical trials that doses at the higher end of this range may be more beneficial.

Initial Dose
Initiate treatment with the 1.5 mg twice a day with rivastigmine tartrate capsules.

Dose Titration
After a minimum of 2 weeks and if well tolerated, increase the dose to 3 mg twice a day. Subsequent increases to 4.5 mg twice a day and 6 mg twice a day should be attempted after a minimum of 2 weeks at the previous dose and if well tolerated. The maximum dose is 6 mg twice a day (12 mg per day).

2.2 Dosing in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia

Rivastigmine tartrate capsules should be taken with meals in divided doses in the morning and evening.
The dosage of rivastigmine tartrate capsules shown to be effective in the single controlled clinical trial conducted in dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease is 3 mg to 12 mg per day, administered twice a day (daily doses of 1.5 mg to 6 mg twice a day).

Initial Dose
Initiate treatment with the 1.5 mg twice a day with rivastigmine tartrate capsules.

Dose Titration
After a minimum of 4 weeks and if well tolerated, increase the dose to 3 mg twice a day. Subsequent increases to 4.5 mg twice a day and 6 mg twice a day should be attempted after a minimum of 4 weeks at the previous dose and if well tolerated. The maximum dose is 6 mg twice a day (12 mg per day).

2.3 Interruption of Treatment

If adverse effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite) cause intolerance during treatment, the patient should be instructed to discontinue treatment for several doses and then restart at the same or next lower dose level.

If dosing is interrupted for 3 days or fewer, restart treatment with the same or lower dose of rivastigmine tartrate capsules. If dosing is interrupted for more than 3 days, treatment should be restarted with 1.5 mg twice a day and titrated as described above [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

2.4 Dosing in Specific Populations

Dosing Modifications in Patients with Renal Impairment
Patients with moderate and severe renal impairment may be able to only tolerate lower doses.

Dosing Modifications in Patients with Hepatic Impairment
Patients with mild (Child-Pugh score 5 to 6) and moderate (Child-Pugh score 7 to 9) hepatic impairment may be able to only tolerate lower doses. No data are available on the use of rivastigmine in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Dosing Modifications in Patients with Low Body Weight
Carefully titrate and monitor patients with low body weight (less than 50 kg) for toxicities (e.g., excessive nausea, vomiting), and consider reducing the dose if such toxicities develop.

2.5 Important Administration Instructions

Rivastigmine tartrate oral solution and rivastigmine tartrate capsules may be interchanged at equal doses.

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

3.1 Rivastigmine Tartrate Capsules USP

Capsules, containing rivastigmine tartrate USP equivalent to 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg, or 6 mg of rivastigmine base, are available as follows:

1.5 mg capsule – yellow cap and yellow body colored size ‘2’ capsules imprinted in black ink with ‘H’ on cap and ‘67’ on body, containing white to off-white granular powder.
3 mg capsule – orange cap and orange body colored size ‘2’ capsules imprinted in black ink with ‘H’ on cap and ‘68’ on body, containing white to off-white granular powder.
4.5 mg capsule – red cap and red body colored size ‘2’ capsules imprinted in black ink with ‘H’ on cap and ‘69’ on body, containing white to off-white granular powder.
6 mg capsule – red cap and orange body colored size ‘2’ capsules imprinted in black ink with ‘H’ on cap and ‘70’ on body, containing white to off-white granular powder.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Rivastigmine tartrate capsules are contraindicated in patients with:

known hypersensitivity to rivastigmine, other carbamate derivatives or other components of the formulation [see Description (11)]
a previous history of application site reaction with rivastigmine transdermal patch suggestive of allergic contact dermatitis, in the absence of negative allergy testing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]

Isolated cases of generalized skin reactions have been described in postmarketing experience [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions

Rivastigmine tartrate can cause gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including significant nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia/decreased appetite, and weight loss. Dehydration may result from prolonged vomiting or diarrhea and can be associated with serious outcomes. The incidence and severity of these reactions are dose-related [see AdverseReactions (6.1)]. For this reason, patients should always be started at a dose of 1.5 mg twice a day and titrated to their maintenance dose.
If treatment is interrupted for longer than 3 days, treatment should be reinitiated with the lowest daily dose [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)] to reduce the possibility of severe vomiting and its potentially serious sequelae (e.g., there has been one postmarketing report of severe vomiting with esophageal rupture following inappropriate reinitiation of treatment with a 4.5 mg dose after 8 weeks of treatment interruption).
Inform caregivers to monitor for gastrointestinal adverse reactions and to inform the physician if they occur. It is critical to inform caregivers that if therapy has been interrupted for more than 3 days because of intolerance, the next dose should not be administered without contacting the physician regarding proper retitration.

5.2 Allergic Dermatitis

There have been isolated postmarketing reports of patients experiencing disseminated allergic dermatitis when administered rivastigmine irrespective of the route of administration (oral or transdermal). Treatment should be discontinued if disseminated allergic dermatitis occurs [see Contraindications (4)]. Patients and caregivers should be instructed accordingly [see Patient Counseling Information (17)].
In patients who develop application site reactions, suggestive of allergic contact dermatitis to rivastigmine tartrate patch and who still require rivastigmine, treatment should be switched to oral rivastigmine only after negative allergy testing and under close medical supervision. It is possible that some patients sensitized to rivastigmine by exposure to rivastigmine patch may not be able to take rivastigmine in any form.

5.3 Other Adverse Reactions from Increased Cholinergic Activity

Neurologic Effects
Extrapyramidal Symptoms: Cholinomimetics, including rivastigmine may exacerbate or induce extrapyramidal symptoms. Worsening of parkinsonian symptoms, particularly tremor has been observed in patients with dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease who were treated with rivastigmine tartrate capsules.
Seizures: Drugs that increase cholinergic activity are believed to have some potential for causing seizures. However, seizure activity also may be a manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease.
Peptic Ulcers/Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Cholinesterase inhibitors, including rivastigmine, may be expected to increase gastric acid secretion due to increased cholinergic activity. Monitor patients using rivastigmine tartrate for symptoms of active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, especially those at increased risk for developing ulcers, e.g., those with a history of ulcer disease or those receiving concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Clinical studies of rivastigmine have shown no significant increase, relative to placebo, in the incidence of either peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Use with Anesthesia
Rivastigmine, as a cholinesterase inhibitor, is likely to exaggerate succinylcholine-type muscle relaxation during anesthesia.
Cardiac Conduction Effects
Because rivastigmine increases cholinergic activity, use of rivastigmine may have vagotonic effects on heart rate (e.g., bradycardia). The potential for this action may be particularly important in patients with sick sinus syndrome or other supraventricular cardiac conduction conditions. In clinical trials, rivastigmine was not associated with any increased incidence of cardiovascular adverse events, heart rate or blood pressure changes, or electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities. Syncopal episodes have been reported in 3% of patients receiving 6 mg to 12 mg per day of rivastigmine tartrate, compared to 2% of placebo patients.
Genitourinary Effects
Although not observed in clinical trials of rivastigmine, drugs that increase cholinergic activity may cause urinary obstruction.
Pulmonary Effects Drugs that increase cholinergic activity, including rivastigmine, should be used with care in patients with a history of asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease.

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