Becker's Hospital Review

Generally, these risks are greatest at the beginning of treatment and during dose escalation. Patients at increased risk of these adverse reactions or at increased risk of developing complications from hypotension include those with dehydration, hypovolemia, treatment with antihypertensive medication, history of cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemia, or conduction abnormalities), history of cerebrovascular disease, as well as patients who are antipsychotic-naïve. In such patients, consider using a lower starting dose, and monitor orthostatic vital signs. Orthostatic hypotension was reported for 1 patient in the ARISTADA 882 mg group (0.5%) and no patients in the ARISTADA 441 mg and placebo groups in the 12-week schizophrenia efficacy study. In the long-term open-label schizophrenia study, orthostatic hypotension was reported for 1 (0.2%) patient treated with ARISTADA. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥20 mmHg accompanied by an increase in heart rate ≥25 bpm when comparing standing to supine values. Falls: Antipsychotics including ARISTADA may cause somnolence, postural hypotension, or motor and sensory instability, which may lead to falls and, consequently, fractures or other injuries. For patients with diseases, conditions, or medications that could exacerbate these effects, complete fall risk assessments when initiating antipsychotic treatment and recurrently for those patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy. Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis: In clinical trials and/or postmarketing experience, events of leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported temporally related to antipsychotic agents. Agranulocytosis has also been reported. Possible risk factors for leukopenia/neutropenia include pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC)/absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and history of drug-induced leukopenia/ neutropenia. In patients with a history of a clinically significant low WBC/ANC or drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia, perform a complete blood count (CBC) frequently during the first few months of therapy. In such patients, consider discontinuation of ARISTADA at the first sign of a clinical significant decline in WBC in the absence of other causative factors. Monitor patients with clinically significant neutropenia for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection and treat promptly if such symptoms or signs occur. Discontinue ARISTADA in patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm 3 ) and follow their WBC until recovery. Seizures: As with other antipsychotic drugs, use ARISTADA cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold. Conditions that lower the seizure threshold may be more prevalent in a population of 65 years or older. Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: ARISTADA, like other antipsychotics, has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that therapy with ARISTADA does not affect them adversely. Body Temperature Regulation: Disruption of the body's ability to reduce core body temperature has been attributed to antipsychotic agents. Appropriate care is advised when prescribing ARISTADA for patients who will be experiencing conditions which may contribute to an elevation in core body temperature (e.g., exercising strenuously, exposure to extreme heat, receiving concomitant medication with anticholinergic activity, or being subject to dehydration). Dysphagia: Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotic drug use. ARISTADA and other antipsychotic drugs should be used cautiously in patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia. ADVERSE REACTIONS Clinical Studies 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 and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Patient Exposure: ARISTADA has been evaluated for safety in 1180 adult patients in clinical trials in schizophrenia. Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reaction (incidence ≥5% and at least twice the rate of placebo in patients treated with ARISTADA) was akathisia. Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of 2% or More in ARISTADA-Treated Patients. Adverse reactions associated with the use of ARISTADA (incidence of 2% or greater, rounded to the nearest percent and ARISTADA incidence greater than placebo) that occurred are shown in Table 2. Table 2: Adverse Reaction in 2% or More of ARISTADA-Treated Patients and That Occurred at Greater Incidence Than in the Placebo-Treated Patients in the 12-Week, Placebo-Controlled, Fixed-Dose Schizophrenia Trial Adverse Reaction System Organ Class Preferred Term Placebo N = 207 (%) Aripiprazole Lauroxil 441 mg N = 207 (%) 882 mg N = 208 (%) General disorders and administration site conditions Injection site pain 2 3 4 Investigations Increased weight 1 2 2 Increased blood creatine phosphokinase 0 2 1 Nervous system disorders Akathisia 4 11 11 Headache 3 3 5 Adverse Reaction System Organ Class Preferred Term Placebo N = 207 (%) Aripiprazole Lauroxil 441 mg N = 207 (%) 882 mg N = 208 (%) Psychiatric disorders Insomnia 2 3 4 Restlessness 1 3 1 In an open-label pharmacokinetic study, the adverse reactions associated with the use of 441 mg monthly, 882 mg every 6 weeks, and 1064 mg every 2 months were similar across the dose groups. Injection-Site Reactions: Injection-site reactions were reported by 4% of patients treated with 441 mg ARISTADA and 5% of patients treated with 882 mg ARISTADA compared to 2% of patients treated with placebo. Most of these were injection-site pain (3%, 4%, and 2% in the 441 mg ARISTADA, 882 mg ARISTADA, and placebo groups, respectively), and most were associated with the first injection and decreased with each subsequent injection to less than or equal to 1% for both doses of ARISTADA and placebo. Other injection-site reactions (induration, swelling, and redness) occurred at less than 1%. In an open-label pharmacokinetic study evaluating 441 mg monthly, 882 mg every 6 weeks, and 1064 mg every 2 months, injection-site reactions were similar across the dose groups. Extrapyramidal Symptoms: In the 12-week schizophrenia efficacy study, for ARISTADA-treated patients, the incidence of other EPS-related events, excluding akathisia and restlessness, was 5% and 7% for patients on 441 mg and 882 mg, respectively, versus 4% for placebo-treated patients (Table 3). Table 3: Incidence of EPS Compared to Placebo Adverse Reaction Term Placebo N = 207 (%) ARISTADA 441 mg N = 207 (%) 882 mg N = 208 (%) Akathisia 4 11 11 Restlessness 1 3 1 Other EPS 4 5 7 Dystonia 1 2 2 Parkinsonism 3 3 4 Dystonia: Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first-generation antipsychotic drugs. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups. Other Adverse Reactions Observed in Clinical Studies: The following listing does not include reactions: 1) already listed in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, 2) for which a drug cause was remote, 3) which were so general as to be uninformative, 4) which were not considered to have significant clinical implications, or 5) which occurred at a rate equal to or less than placebo. Cardiac – angina pectoris, tachycardia, palpitations Gastrointestinal disorders – constipation, dry mouth General disorders – asthenia Musculoskeletal – muscular weakness Nervous system disorders – dizziness Psychiatric disorders – anxiety, suicide Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical Trials with Oral Aripiprazole: The following is a list of additional adverse reactions that have been reported in clinical trials with oral aripiprazole and not reported above for ARISTADA. Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: thrombocytopenia Cardiac Disorders: bradycardia, atrial flutter, cardiorespiratory arrest, atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary failure Eye Disorders: photophobia, diplopia Gastrointestinal Disorders: gastroesophageal reflux disease General Disorders and Administration-Site Conditions: peripheral edema, chest pain, face edema Hepatobiliary Disorders: hepatitis, jaundice Immune System Disorders: hypersensitivity Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: fall, heat stroke Investigations: weight decreased, hepatic enzyme increased, blood glucose increased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, gamma glutamyl transferase increased, blood prolactin increased, blood urea increased, blood creatinine increased, blood bilirubin increased, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, glycosylated hemoglobin increased Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: anorexia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: muscle tightness, rhabdomyolysis, mobility decreased Nervous System Disorders: memory impairment, cogwheel rigidity, hypokinesia, myoclonus, bradykinesia, akinesia, coordination abnormal, speech disorder, choreoathetosis Psychiatric Disorders: aggression, loss of libido, delirium, libido increased, anorgasmia, tic, homicidal ideation, catatonia, sleep walking Table 2: Continued

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