Venlafaxine Hydrochloride (Page 13 of 14)

14.4 Panic Disorder

The efficacy of venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules as a treatment for Panic Disorder (PD) was established in two double-blind, 12-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled studies in adult outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for PD, with or without agoraphobia. Patients received fixed doses of 75 or 150 mg per day in one study (study 1) and 75 or 225 mg per day in the other study (study 2).

Efficacy was assessed on the basis of outcomes in three variables: (1) percentage of patients free of full-symptom panic attacks on the Panic and Anticipatory Anxiety Scale (PAAS); (2) mean change from baseline to endpoint on the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) total score; and (3) percentage of patients rated as responders (much improved or very much improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Improvement scale. In these two studies, venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules were statistically significantly more effective than placebo (for each fixed dose) on all three endpoints, but a dose-response relationship was not clearly established.

Examination of subsets of the population studied did not reveal any differential responsiveness on the basis of gender. There was insufficient information to determine the effect of age or race on outcome in these studies.

In a longer term study (study 3), adult outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for PD who had responded during a 12-week open phase with venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules (75 to 225 mg per day) were randomly assigned to continue the same venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules dose (75, 150, or 225 mg) or switch to placebo for observation for relapse under double-blind conditions. Response during the open phase was defined as ≤ 1 full-symptom panic attack per week during the last 2 weeks of the open phase and a CGI Improvement score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved). Relapse during the double-blind phase was defined as having 2 or more full-symptom panic attacks per week for 2 consecutive weeks or having discontinued due to loss of effectiveness as determined by the investigators during the study. Randomized patients were in response status for a mean time of 34 days prior to being randomized. In the randomized phase following the 12-week open-label period, patients receiving continued venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules experienced a statistically significantly longer time to relapse.

Table 20: Panic Disorder Studies:
a Odds ratio (drug to placebo) in terms of probability of free of full-symptom panic attacks based on logistic regression model. 95% CI: 95% confidence interval without adjusting for multiple dose arms. * Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.
Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: Whether Free of Full-symptom Panic Attacks
Percent of patients Free of Full symptom panic attack Adjusted Odds Ratio a to placebo Adjusted Odds Ratio a 95% Confidence Interval
Study 1 Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules 75 mg * 54.1% (85/157) 2. 268 (1.43, 3.59)
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules 150 mg * 61.4% (97/158) 3.035 (1.91, 4.82)
Placebo 34.4% (53/154)
Study 2 Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules 75 mg * 64.1% (100/156) 2.350 (1.46, 3.78)
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules 225 mg * 70% (112/160) 2.890 (1.80, 4.64)
Placebo 46.5% (73/157)

14.5 Pediatric Patients

Two placebo-controlled studies in 766 pediatric patients with MDD and two placebo-controlled studies in 793 pediatric patients with GAD have been conducted with venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules, and the data were not sufficient to support a claim for use in pediatric patients.

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

Venlafaxine Hydrochlorid e Extended-Release Capsules USP , 37.5 mg are white to off white spherical to oval pellets filled in empty hard gelatin capsule shell (size ‘3’) of opaque grey color cap and opaque peach color body imprinted with “E” on cap and “73” on the body with edible black ink.
Bottles of 15 NDC 65862-527-47
Bottles of 30 NDC 65862-527-30
Bottles of 90 NDC 65862-527-90
Bottles of 100 NDC 65862-527-01
Bottles of 1,000 NDC 65862-527-99
Bottles of 5,000 NDC 65862-527-59
10 x 10 Unit-dose Capsules NDC 65862-527-10

Venlafaxine Hydrochlorid e Extended-Release Capsules USP , 75 mg are white to off white spherical to oval pellets filled in empty hard gelatin capsule shell (size ‘1’) of opaque peach color cap and opaque peach color body imprinted with “E” on cap and “74” on the body with edible black ink.
Bottles of 15 NDC 65862-528-47
Bottles of 30 NDC 65862-528-30
Bottles of 90 NDC 65862-528-90
Bottles of 100 NDC 65862-528-01
Bottles of 1,000 NDC 65862-528-99
Bottles of 3,500 NDC 65862-528-35
10 x 10 Unit-dose Capsules NDC 65862-528-10

Venlafaxine Hydrochlorid e Extended-Release Capsules USP , 150 mg are white to off white spherical to oval pellets filled in empty hard gelatin capsule shell (size ‘0’) of opaque dark orange color cap and opaque dark orange color body imprinted with “E” on cap and “89” on the body with edible black ink.
Bottles of 15 NDC 65862-697-47
Bottles of 30 NDC 65862-697-30
Bottles of 90 NDC 65862-697-90
Bottles of 100 NDC 65862-697-01
Bottles of 500 NDC 65862-697-05
Bottles of 2,500 NDC 65862-697-26
10 x 10 Unit-dose Capsules NDC 65862-697-10
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Prescribers or other healthcare professionals should inform patients, their families, and their caregivers about the benefits and risks associated with treatment with venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules and should counsel them in its appropriate use. A patient Medication Guide about “Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions” is available for venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules. The prescriber or healthcare professional should instruct patients, their families, and their caregivers to read the Medication Guide and should assist them in understanding its contents. Patients should be given the opportunity to discuss the contents of the Medication Guide and to obtain answers to any questions they may have. The complete text of the Medication Guide is reprinted at the end of this document. Patients should be advised of the following issues and should be asked to alert their prescriber if these occur while taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

Advise patients, their families and caregivers to look for the emergence of suicidality, worsening of depression, and other psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia, psychomotor restlessness, hypomania, mania, other unusual changes in behavior), especially early during treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or health professional, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms. Symptoms such as these may be associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior and indicate a need for very close monitoring [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] .

Concomitant Medication

Advise patients taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules not to use concomitantly other products containing venlafaxine or desvenlafaxine. Healthcare professionals should instruct patients not to take venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules with an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping an MAOI and to allow 7 days after stopping venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules before starting an MAOI [see Contraindications (4.2)] .

Serotonin Syndrome

Patients should be cautioned about the risk of serotonin syndrome, with the concomitant use of venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules and triptans, tramadol, amphetamines, tryptophan supplements, with antipsychotics or other dopamine antagonists, or other serotonergic agents [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Drug Interactions (7.3)] .

Elevated Blood Pressure

Advise patients that they should have regular monitoring of blood pressure when taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] .

Abnormal Bleeding

Patients should be cautioned about the concomitant use of venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules and NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin, or other drugs that affect coagulation since combined use of psychotropic drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake and these agents has been associated with an increased risk of bleeding [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] .

Angle Closure Glaucoma

Patients should be advised that taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules can cause mild pupillary dilation, which in susceptible individuals, can lead to an episode of angle closure glaucoma. Pre-existing glaucoma is almost always open-angle glaucoma because angle closure glaucoma, when diagnosed, can be treated definitively with iridectomy. Open-angle glaucoma is not a risk factor for angle closure glaucoma. Patients may wish to be examined to determine whether they are susceptible to angle closure, and have a prophylactic procedure (e.g., iridectomy), if they are susceptible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] .

Activation of Mania/Hypomania

Advise patients, their families and caregivers to observe for signs of activation of mania/hypomania [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)] .

Cardiovascular/Cerebrovascular Disease

Caution is advised in administering venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules to patients with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or lipid metabolism disorders [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)] .

Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride Elevation
Advise patients that elevations in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides may occur and that measurement of serum lipids may be considered [see Warnings and Precautions (6.3)] .

Discontinuation [Symptoms]

Advise patients not to stop taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules without talking first with their healthcare professional. Patients should be aware that discontinuation effects may occur when stopping venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)] .

Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance

Caution patients about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules therapy does not adversely affect their ability to engage in such activities.

Alcohol

Advise patients to avoid alcohol while taking venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules [see Drug Interactions (7.6)] .

Allergic Reactions

Advise patients to notify their physician if they develop allergic phenomena such as rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

Pregnancy

Advise patients to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] .

Nursing

Advise patients to notify their physician if they are breast-feeding an infant [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)] .

Residual Spheroids

Venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsule contains spheroids, which release the drug slowly into the digestive tract. The insoluble portion of these spheroids is eliminated, and patients may notice spheroids passing in the stool or via colostomy. Patients should be informed that the active medication has already been absorbed by the time the patient sees the spheroids.
Dispense with Medication Guide available at: www.aurobindousa.com/product-medication-guides

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