Tetrabenazine (Page 4 of 8)
6.2 Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of tetrabenazine. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Nervous system disorders: tremor
Psychiatric disorders: confusion, worsening aggression
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: pneumonia
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: hyperhidrosis, skin rash
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS
7.1 Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitors
In vitro studies indicate that α-HTBZ and β-HTBZ are substrates for CYP2D6. Strong CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, quinidine) markedly increase exposure to these metabolites. A reduction in tetrabenazine dose may be necessary when adding a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor (e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine) in patients maintained on a stable dose of tetrabenazine. The daily dose of tetrabenazine should not exceed 50 mg per day and the maximum single dose of tetrabenazine should not exceed 25 mg in patients taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (2.3), WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3), USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS (8.7), CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)].
7.2 Reserpine
Reserpine binds irreversibly to VMAT2 and the duration of its effect is several days. Prescribers should wait for chorea to re-emerge before administering tetrabenazine to avoid overdosage and major depletion of serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS. At least 20 days should elapse after stopping reserpine before starting tetrabenazine. Tetrabenazine and reserpine should not be used concomitantly [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4)].
7.3 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Tetrabenazine is contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs. Tetrabenazine should not be used in combination with an MAOI, or within a minimum of 14 days of discontinuing therapy with an MAOI [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4)].
7.4 Alcohol or Other Sedating Drugs
Concomitant use of alcohol or other sedating drugs may have additive effects and worsen sedation and somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].
7.5 Drugs That Cause QTc Prolongation
Tetrabenazine causes a small prolongation of QTc (about 8 msec), concomitant use with other drugs that are known to cause QTc prolongation should be avoided, these including antipsychotic medications (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, ziprasidone), antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin), Class 1A (e.g., quinidine, procainamide), and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic medications or any other medications known to prolong the QTc interval. Tetrabenazine should be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, and in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias. Certain conditions may increase the risk for torsade de pointes or sudden death such as, (1) bradycardia; (2) hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia; (3) concomitant use of other drugs that prolong the QTc interval; and (4) presence of congenital prolongation of the QT interval [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.8), CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.2)].
7.6 Neuroleptic Drugs
The risk for Parkinsonism, NMS, and akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of tetrabenazine and dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.4, 5.5, 5.6)].
7.7 Concomitant Deutetrabenazine or Valbenazine
Tetrabenazine is contraindicated in patients currently taking deutetrabenazine or valbenazine.
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with the use of tetrabenazine in pregnant women. Administration of tetrabenazine to rats throughout pregnancy and lactation resulted in an increase in stillbirths and postnatal offspring mortality. Administration of a major human metabolite of tetrabenazine to rats during pregnancy or during pregnancy and lactation produced adverse effects on the developing fetus and offspring (increased mortality, decreased growth, and neurobehavioral and reproductive impairment). The adverse developmental effects of tetrabenazine and a major human metabolite of tetrabenazine in rats occurred at clinically relevant doses [see Data ].
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.
Data
Tetrabenazine had no clear effects on embryofetal development when administered to pregnant rats throughout the period of organogenesis at oral doses up to 30 mg/kg/day (or 3 times the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD] of 100 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis). Tetrabenazine had no effects on embryofetal development when administered to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis at oral doses up to 60 mg/kg/day (or 12 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).
When tetrabenazine (5, 15, and 30 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to pregnant rats from the beginning of organogenesis through the lactation period, an increase in stillbirths and offspring postnatal mortality was observed at 15 and 30 mg/kg/day and delayed pup maturation was observed at all doses. A no-effect dose for pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats was not identified. The lowest dose tested (5 mg/kg/day) was less than the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis.
Because rats dosed orally with tetrabenazine do not produce 9-desmethyl-β-DHTBZ, a major human metabolite of tetrabenazine, the metabolite was directly administered to pregnant and lactating rats. Oral administration of 9-desmethyl-β-DHTBZ (8, 15, and 40 mg/kg/day) throughout the period of organogenesis produced increases in embryofetal mortality at 15 and 40 mg/kg/day and reductions in fetal body weights at 40 mg/kg/day, which was also maternally toxic. When 9-desmethyl-β-DHTBZ (8, 15, and 40 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to pregnant rats from the beginning of organogenesis through the lactation period, increases in gestation duration, stillbirths, and offspring postnatal mortality (40 mg/kg/day); decreases in pup weights (40 mg/kg/day); and neurobehavioral (increased activity, learning and memory deficits) and reproductive (decreased litter size) impairment (15 and 40 mg/kg/day) were observed. Maternal toxicity was seen at the highest dose. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in rats (8 mg/kg/day) was associated with plasma exposures (AUC) of 9-desmethyl-β-DHTBZ in pregnant rats lower than that in humans at the MRHD.
8.2 Lactation
There are no data on the presence of tetrabenazine or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production.
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for tetrabenazine and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from tetrabenazine or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness of tetrabenazine in pediatric patients have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use
The pharmacokinetics of tetrabenazine and its primary metabolites have not been formally studied in geriatric subjects.
8.6 Hepatic Impairment
Because the safety and efficacy of the increased exposure to tetrabenazine and other circulating metabolites are unknown, it is not possible to adjust the dosage of tetrabenazine in hepatic impairment to ensure safe use. The use of tetrabenazine in patients with hepatic impairment is contraindicated [see CONTRAINDICATIONS (4), CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (12.3)].
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