Vigabatrin: FDA label

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Indications

Vigabatrin tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Refractory Complex Partial Seizures as adjunctive therapy in patients 2 years of age and older who have responded inadequately to several alternative treatments; Vigabatrin tablets are not indicated as a first line agent ( 1.1 )

1.1Refractory Complex Partial Seizures (CPS)

Vigabatrin tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy for adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with refractory complex partial seizures who have inadequately responded to several alternative treatments and for whom the potential benefits outweigh the risk of vision loss [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Vigabatrin tablets are not indicated as a first line agent for complex partial seizures.

Warnings and precautions

Abnormal MRI signal changes and intramyelinic edema have been reported in some infants with Infantile Spasms receiving vigabatrin ( 5.3 , 5.4 ) Suicidal behavior and ideation: Antiepileptic drugs, including vigabatrin, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior ( 5.5 ) Withdrawal of AEDs: Taper dose to avoid withdrawal seizures ( 5.6 ) Anemia: Monitor for symptoms of anemia ( 5.7 ) Somnolence and fatigue: Advise patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on vigabatrin ( 5.8 )

5.1Permanent Vision Loss

Vigabatrin can cause permanent vision loss. Because of this risk and because, when it is effective, vigabatrin provides an observable symptomatic benefit; patient response and continued need for treatment should be periodically assessed. Based upon adult studies, 30 percent or more of patients can be affected with bilateral concentric visual field constriction ranging in severity from mild to severe. Severe cases may be characterized by tunnel vision to within 10 degrees of visual fixation, which can result in disability.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to AEDs, including vigabatrin, during pregnancy. Encourage women who are taking vigabatrin during pregnancy to enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. This can be done by calling the toll-free number 1-888-233-2334 or visiting the website, http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/ . This must be done by the patient herself.

Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with the use of vigabatrin in pregnant women. Limited available data from case reports and cohort studies pertaining to vigabatrin use in pregnant women have not established a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. However, based on animal data, vigabatrin use in pregnant women may result in fetal harm.

When administered to pregnant animals, vigabatrin produced developmental toxicity, including an increase in fetal malformations and offspring neurobehavioral and neurohistopathological effects, at clinically relevant doses. In addition, developmental neurotoxicity was observed in rats treated with vigabatrin during a period of postnatal development corresponding to the third trimester of human pregnancy (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 Animal Data Administration of vigabatrin (oral doses of 50 to 200 mg/kg/day) to pregnant rabbits throughout the period of organogenesis was associated with an increased incidence of malformations (cleft palate) and embryofetal death; these findings were observed in two separate studies. The no-effect dose for adverse effects on embryofetal development in rabbits (100 mg/kg/day) is approximately 1/2 the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 3 g/day on a body surface area (mg/m 2 ) basis.

In rats, oral administration of vigabatrin (50, 100, or 150 mg/kg/day) throughout organogenesis resulted in decreased fetal body weights and increased incidences of fetal anatomic variations. The no-effect dose for adverse effects on embryo-fetal development in rats (50 mg/kg/day) is approximately 1/5 the MRHD on a mg/m 2 basis. Oral administration of vigabatrin (50, 100, 150 mg/kg/day) to rats from the latter part of pregnancy through weaning produced long-term neurohistopathological (hippocampal vacuolation) and neurobehavioral (convulsions) abnormalities in the offspring.

A no-effect dose for developmental neurotoxicity in rats was not established; the low-effect dose (50 mg/kg/day) is approximately 1/5 the MRHD on a mg/m 2 basis. In a published study, vigabatrin (300 or 450 mg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection to a mutant mouse strain on a single day during organogenesis (day 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12). An increase in fetal malformations (including cleft palate) was observed at both doses.

Oral administration of vigabatrin (5, 15, or 50 mg/kg/day) to young rats during the neonatal and juvenile periods of development (postnatal days 4 to 65) produced neurobehavioral (convulsions, neuromotor impairment, learning deficits) and neurohistopathological (brain vacuolation, decreased myelination, and retinal dysplasia) abnormalities in treated animals. The early postnatal period in rats is generally thought to correspond to late pregnancy in humans in terms of brain development.

The no-effect dose for developmental neurotoxicity in juvenile rats (5 mg/kg/day) was associated with plasma vigabatrin exposures (AUC) less than 1/30 of those measured in pediatric patients receiving an oral dose of 50 mg/kg.

Adverse reactions

The following serious and otherwise important adverse reactions are described elsewhere in labeling: Permanent Vision Loss [see BOXED WARNING and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Abnormalities in Infants [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Neurotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Withdrawal of Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Anemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Somnolence and Fatigue [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Peripheral Neuropathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Weight Gain [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Edema [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] Refractory Complex Partial Seizures Most common adverse reactions in controlled studies include (incidence ≥5% over placebo): Adults: blurred vision, somnolence, dizziness, abnormal coordination, tremor, and fatigue ( 6.1 ) Pediatric patients (3 to 16 years of age): weight gain ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. at 1-877-993-8779 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trial 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. In U.S. and primary non-U.S. clinical studies of 4,079 vigabatrin-treated patients, the most common (≥5%) adverse reactions associated with the use of vigabatrin in combination with other AEDs were headache, somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, convulsion, nasopharyngitis, weight gain, upper respiratory tract infection, visual field defect, depression, tremor, nystagmus, nausea, diarrhea, memory impairment, insomnia, irritability, abnormal coordination, blurred vision, diplopia, vomiting, influenza, pyrexia, and rash.

The adverse reactions most commonly associated with vigabatrin treatment discontinuation in ≥1% of patients were convulsion and depression. Refractory Complex Partial Seizures Adults Table 5 lists the adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% and more than one patient per vigabatrin-treated group and that occurred more frequently than in placebo patients from 2 U.S. adjunctive clinical studies of refractory CPS in adults.

Table 5. Adverse Reactions in Pooled, Adjunctive Trials in Adults with Refractory Complex Partial Seizures Vigabatrin dosage (mg/day) Body system Adverse reaction 3,000 [N=134] % 6,000 [N=43] % Placebo [N=135] % Ear Disorders Tinnitus 2 0 1 Vertigo 2 5 1 Eye Disorders Blurred vision 13 16 5 Diplopia 7 16 3 Asthenopia 2 2 0 Eye pain 0 5 0 Gastrointestinal Disorders Diarrhea 10 16 7 Nausea 10 2 8 Vomiting 7 9 6 Constipation 8 5 3 Upper abdominal pain 5 5 1 Dyspepsia 4 5 3 Stomach discomfort 4 2 1 Abdominal pain 3 2 1 Toothache 2 5 2 Abdominal distension 2 0 1 General Disorders Fatigue 23 40 16 Gait disturbance 6 12 7 Asthenia 5 7 1 Edema peripheral 5 7 1 Fever 4 7 3 Chest pain 1 5 1 Thirst 2 0 0 Malaise 0 5 0 Infections Nasopharyngitis 14 9 10 Upper respiratory tract infection 7 9 6 Influenza 5 7 4 Urinary tract infection 4 5 0 Bronchitis 0 5 1 Injury Contusion 3 5 2 Joint sprain 1 2 1 Muscle strain 1 2 1 Wound secretion 0 2 0 Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders Increased appetite 1 5 1 Weight gain 6 14 3 Musculoskeletal Disorders Arthralgia 10 5 3 Back pain 4 7 2 Pain in extremity 6 2 4 Myalgia 3 5 1 Muscle twitching 1 9 1 Muscle spasms 3 0 1 Nervous System Disorders Headache 33 26 31 Somnolence 22 26 13 Dizziness 24 26 17 Nystagmus 13 19 9 Tremor 15 16 8 Memory impairment 7 16 3 Abnormal coordination 7 16 2 Disturbance in attention 9 0 1 Sensory disturbance 4 7 2 Hyporeflexia 4 5 1 Paraesthesia 7 2 1 Lethargy 4 7 2 Hyperreflexia 4 2 3 Hypoaesthesia 4 5 1 Sedation 4 0 0 Status epilepticus 2 5 0 Dysarthria 2 2 1 Postictal state 2 0 1 Sensory loss 0 5 0 Psychiatric Disorders Irritability 7 23 7 Depression 6 14 3 Confusional state 4 14 1 Anxiety 4 0 3 Depressed mood 5 0 1 Abnormal thinking 3 7 0 Abnormal behavior 3 5 1 Expressive language disorder 1 7 1 Nervousness 2 5 2 Abnormal dreams 1 5 1 Reproductive System Dysmenorrhea 9 5 3 Erectile dysfunction 0 5 0 Respiratory and Thoracic Disorders Pharyngolaryngeal pain 7 14 5 Cough 2 14 7 Pulmonary congestion 0 5 1 Sinus headache 6 2 1 Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Rash 4 5 4 Pediatrics 2 to 16 years of age Table 6 lists adverse reactions from controlled clinical studies of pediatric patients receiving vigabatrin or placebo as adjunctive therapy for refractory complex partial seizures.

Adverse reactions that are listed occurred in at least 2% of vigabatrin-treated patients and more frequently than placebo. The median vigabatrin dose was 49.4 mg/kg (range of 8 to 105.9 mg/kg). Table 6. Adverse Reactions in Pooled, Adjunctive Trials in Pediatric Patients 3 to 16 Years of Age with Refractory Complex Partial Seizures All Vigabatrin Placebo Body System Adverse Reaction [N=165] % [N=104] % Eye Disorders Diplopia 3 2 Blurred vision 2 0 Gastrointestinal Disorders Upper abdominal pain 4 3 Constipation 2 1 General Disorders Fatigue 10 7 Infections and Infestations Upper respiratory tract infection 15 11 Influenza 7 3 Otitis media 6 4 Streptococcal pharyngitis 4 3 Viral gastroenteritis 2 0 Investigations Weight gain 15 2 Nervous System Disorders Somnolence 6 5 Nystagmus 4 3 Tremor 4 2 Status epilepticus 2 1 Psychiatric Disorders Abnormal behavior 7 6 Aggression 6 2 Disorientation 3 0 Safety of vigabatrin for the treatment of refractory CPS in patients 2 years of age is expected to be similar to pediatric patients 3 to 16 years of age.

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of vigabatrin. 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. Adverse reactions are categorized by system organ class. Birth Defects: Congenital cardiac defects, congenital external ear anomaly, congenital hemangioma, congenital hydronephrosis, congenital male genital malformation, congenital oral malformation, congenital vesicoureteric reflux, dentofacial anomaly, dysmorphism, fetal anticonvulsant syndrome, hamartomas, hip dysplasia, limb malformation, limb reduction defect, low set ears, renal aplasia, retinitis pigmentosa, supernumerary nipple, talipes Ear Disorders: Deafness Endocrine Disorders: Delayed puberty Gastrointestinal Disorders: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, esophagitis General Disorders: Developmental delay, facial edema, malignant hyperthermia, multi-organ failure Hepatobiliary Disorders: Cholestasis Nervous System Disorders: Dystonia, encephalopathy, hypertonia, hypotonia, muscle spasticity, myoclonus, optic neuritis, dyskinesia Psychiatric Disorders: Acute psychosis, apathy, delirium, hypomania, neonatal agitation, psychotic disorder Respiratory Disorders: Laryngeal edema, pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure, stridor Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Angioedema, maculo-papular rash, pruritus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), alopecia

Vigabatrin

Indications

1.1Refractory Complex Partial Seizures (CPS)

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Permanent Vision Loss

Two medicines in one question?

5.2Vigabatrin REMS Program

5.3Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Abnormalities in Infants Abnormal

Interactions

7.1Antiepileptic Drugs Phenytoin

7.2Oral Contraceptives

7.3Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trial Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information

At a glance

Guidelines