Brisdelle

Overdose

There is limited clinical experience with BRISDELLE overdosage in humans, as there were no overdoses reported in the clinical studies.

Spontaneous cases of deliberate or accidental overdosage during paroxetine treatment have been reported; some of these cases were fatal and some of the fatalities appeared to involve paroxetine alone. Of nonfatal cases with known outcome, most recovered without sequelae. The largest known ingestion involved 2000 mg of paroxetine (267 times the maximum recommended daily dose) in a patient who recovered.

Commonly reported adverse reactions associated with paroxetine overdosage include somnolence, coma, nausea, tremor, tachycardia, confusion, vomiting, and dizziness. Other notable signs and symptoms observed with overdoses involving paroxetine (alone or with other substances) include mydriasis, convulsions (including status epilepticus), ventricular dysrhythmias (including torsades de pointes), hypertension, aggressive reactions, syncope, hypotension, stupor, bradycardia, dystonia, rhabdomyolysis, symptoms of hepatic dysfunction (including hepatic failure, hepatic necrosis, jaundice, hepatitis, and hepatic steatosis), serotonin syndrome, manic reactions, myoclonus, acute renal failure, and urinary retention.

Treatment should consist of those general measures employed in the management of overdosage with any SSRI. Consult with a certified poison control center for up-to-date guidance and advice on treatment of overdosage.

Ensure an adequate airway, oxygenation, and ventilation. Monitor cardiac rhythm and vital signs. General supportive and symptomatic measures are also recommended. Induction of emesis is not recommended. In managing overdosage, consider the possibility of multiple drug involvement.

Brisdelle price

Contraindications

Concomitant use of an MAOI with BRISDELLE or within 14 days of stopping treatment with BRISDELLE is contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome. The use of BRISDELLE within 14 days of stopping an MAOI is also contraindicated.

Starting BRISDELLE in a patient who is being treated with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue, both of which inhibit monoamine oxidase, is also contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome.

Concomitant use of BRISDELLE with thioridazine is contraindicated, because thioridazine prolongs the QT interval, and paroxetine can increase thioridazine levels.

Concomitant use of BRISDELLE with pimozide is contraindicated because pimozide prolongs the QT interval, and paroxetine increases pimozide levels.

BRISDELLE is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to paroxetine or any of the other ingredients in BRISDELLE.

Menopausal VMS does not occur during pregnancy and BRISDELLE may cause fetal harm.

Undesirable effects

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in labeling:

• Suicidality
• Serotonin syndrome
• Abnormal bleeding
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma
• Hyponatremia
• Bone Fracture
• Mania/Hypomania
• Seizure
• Akathisia

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot directly be compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The data described below reflect exposure to BRISDELLE in the one 8-week Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trial and the two Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, 12-week and 24-week trials for the treatment of moderate to severe VMS. In these trials, a total of 635 women were exposed to BRISDELLE 7.5 mg administered orally once daily and 641 women received placebo. The majority of BRISDELLE-treated patients were Caucasian (68%) and African American (30%), with a mean age of 55 years (range 40 to 73 years). Women with a history of suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior were excluded from these studies.

A total of 4.7% of women taking BRISDELLE discontinued from the clinical trials due to an adverse reaction, compared to 3.7% of women on placebo; the most frequent adverse reactions leading to discontinuation among paroxetine-treated women were: abdominal pain (0.3%), attention disturbances (0.3%), headache (0.3%), and suicidal ideation (0.3%).

Overall, based on investigators’ determinations about what events were likely to be drug-related, about 20% of women treated with BRISDELLE reported at least 1 adverse reaction in the three controlled studies. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 2% and more common among BRISDELLE-treated women) reported in these studies were headache, fatigue/malaise/lethargy, and nausea/vomiting. Of these commonly reported adverse reactions, nausea occurred primarily within the first 4 weeks of treatment and fatigue occurred primarily within the first week of treatment, and decreased in frequency with continued therapy.

The adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of patients in the BRISDELLE group and at a higher incidence than placebo are shown in Table 1 for the pooled Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.

Table 1 Frequency of Advers e Reactions in the Phas e 2 and Phas e 3 Trials (≥ 2% and at a higher incidence than placebo)

Certain symptoms were seen more frequently in women at the time of discontinuation of BRISDELLE compared to women discontinuing placebo, and have also been reported upon discontinuation of other formulations of paroxetine, particularly when abrupt. These include increased dreaming/nightmares, muscle cramps/spasms/twitching, headache, nervousness/anxiety, fatigue/tiredness, restless feeling in legs, and trouble sleeping/insomnia. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms with other formulations of paroxetine.

In the pooled Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, three BRISDELLE-treated patients reported a serious adverse reaction of suicidal ideation and one BRISDELLE-treated patient reported a serious adverse reaction of suicide attempt. There were no serious adverse reactions of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt reported among the placebo-treated patients.

The following adverse reactions have been identified from clinical studies of paroxetine and during post-approval use of other formulations of paroxetine. Because some of 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.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Events related to impaired hematopoiesis (including aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia, agranulocytosis).

Cardiac Disorders: Atrial fibrillation, Pulmonary edema, Ventricular fibrillation, Ventricular tachycardia (including torsades de pointes).

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Pancreatitis, Pancreatitis hemorrhagic, Vomiting.

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Death, Drug withdrawal syndrome, Malaise.

Hepatobiliary Disorders: Drug-induced liver injury, Hepatic failure, Jaundice.

Immune System Disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction, Angioedema, Toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Investigations: Elevated liver tests (the most severe cases were deaths due to liver necrosis, and grossly elevated transaminases associated with severe liver dysfunction).

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Diabetes mellitus inadequate control, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Nervous System Disorders: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, Paresthesia, Somnolence, Tremor.

Psychiatric Disorders: Aggression, Agitation, Anxiety, Confusional state, Depression, Disorientation, Homicidal ideation, Insomnia, Restlessness.

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Pulmonary hypertension.

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Hyperhidrosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Therapeutic indications

BRISDELLE is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause.

BRISDELLE is not indicated for the treatment of any psychiatric condition. BRISDELLE contains a lower dose of paroxetine than that used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The safety and efficacy of this lower dose of paroxetine in BRISDELLE have not been established for any psychiatric condition. Patients who require paroxetine for treatment of a psychiatric condition should discontinue BRISDELLE and initiate a paroxetine-containing medication that is indicated for such use.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Studies at clinically relevant doses in humans have demonstrated that paroxetine blocks the uptake of serotonin into human platelets. In vitro studies in animals also suggest that paroxetine is a selective inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake and has weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. In vitro radioligand binding studies indicate that paroxetine has little affinity for muscarinic alpha1 -, alpha2 -, beta-adrenergic-, dopamine (D2)-, 5-HT1 -, 5-HT2 -, and histamine (H1)-receptors.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

• Paroxetine is completely absorbed after oral dosing of the mesylate salt. In a study in which healthy postmenopausal women (n=24) received BRISDELLE 7.5 mg capsules as a daily dose for 14 days, steady-state paroxetine concentrations were achieved by approximately 12 days of dosing for most subjects, although it may take substantially longer in an occasional patient. Peak concentrations were reached at a median of 6 hours (3 to 8 hours range). Steady-state mean values of Cmax, Cmin, and AUC0-last were 13.10 ng/mL (CV 91%), 7.17 ng/mL (CV 99%), and 237 hr*ng/mL (CV 94%), respectively.
• Steady-state AUC0-24 values were about 3 times those of AUC 0-inf following a single dose, indicating non-linear pharmacokinetics. Steady-state C values were approximately 5 times greater than those attained after a single dose and steady-state exposure based on AUC 0-24 was about 10 times greater than AUC 0-24 after a single dose.
• The nonlinear kinetics and excess accumulation are due to the fact that CYP2D6, an enzyme that is in part responsible for paroxetine metabolism, is readily saturable.
• The effects of food on the bioavailability of paroxetine were studied with paroxetine tablets at higher strength. AUC was only slightly increased (6%) when drug was administered with food but the Cmax was 29% greater, while the time to reach peak plasma concentration decreased from 6.4 hours post-dosing to 4.9 hours. BRISDELLE can be taken with or without food.

Distribution

• Paroxetine distributes throughout the body, including the central nervous system, with only 1% remaining in the plasma.
• Approximately 95% and 93% of paroxetine is bound to plasma protein at 100 ng/mL and 400 ng/mL, respectively. Under clinical conditions, paroxetine concentrations would normally be less than 100 ng/mL. Paroxetine does not alter the in vitro protein binding of phenytoin or warfarin.

Metabolism

• Paroxetine is extensively metabolized after oral administration. The principal metabolites are polar and conjugated products of oxidation and methylation, which are readily cleared. Conjugates with glucuronic acid and sulfate predominate, and major metabolites have been isolated and identified. Data indicate that the metabolites have no more than 1/50 the potency of the parent compound at inhibiting serotonin uptake. The metabolism of paroxetine is accomplished in part by cytochrome CYP2D6. Saturation of this enzyme at clinical doses appears to account for the nonlinearity of paroxetine kinetics with increasing dose and increasing duration of treatment. The role of this enzyme in paroxetine metabolism also suggests potential drug-drug interactions. At steady state, when the CYP2D6 pathway is essentially saturated, paroxetine clearance is governed by alternative P450 isozymes, which, unlike CYP2D6, show no evidence of saturation.

Excretion

Approximately 64% of a 30 mg oral solution of paroxetine was excreted in the urine with 2% as the parent compound and 62% as metabolites over a 10-day post-dosing period. About 36% of the dose was excreted in the feces (probably via the bile), mostly as metabolites and less than 1% as the parent compound over the 10-day post-dosing period.

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Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Risk Summary

BRISDELLE is contraindicated in pregnant women because menopausal VMS does not occur during pregnancy and paroxetine can cause fetal harm. Epidemiological studies have shown that infants exposed to paroxetine in the first trimester of pregnancy may have an increased risk of cardiovascular malformations. Cardiac malformations are a common congenital abnormality. These data would suggest that the risk of a cardiac abnormality following paroxetine exposure in the first trimester may increase the risk from 1% to 2%. Exposure to SSRIs in late pregnancy may lead to an increased risk for neonatal complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding, and/or persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). No teratogenicity was seen in reproductive development studies conducted in rats and rabbits. However, an increase in rat pup deaths was seen during the first 4 days of lactation when dosing occurred during the last trimester of gestation and continued throughout lactation, at a dose approximately equal to the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) for VMS (7.5 mg) on an mg/m basis. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.

First-Trimester Pregnancy Exposure

• Epidemiologic studies which include data from the Swedish National Registry, a retrospective cohort study using United Healthcare data and a meta-analysis of studies (1992-2008) have shown a less than 2-fold increased risk of cardiac malformations, primarily ventricular septal and atrial septal defects, with first-trimester paroxetine exposure. Two case-control studies using separate databases with > 9000 birth defect cases and > 4000 controls showed 7 and 6 paroxetine-exposed infants respectively, with right ventricular outflow tract obstructions, a 2- to 3-fold increased risk. An increase in overall congenital malformations with first-trimester paroxetine use was not observed in all studies.

Third-Trimester Pregnancy Exposure

• Neonates exposed to SSRIs late in the third trimester have developed complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding. Such complications can arise immediately upon delivery. Reported clinical findings have included respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying. These features are consistent with either a direct toxic effect of SSRIs or, possibly, a drug discontinuation syndrome. It should be noted that in some cases, the clinical picture is consistent with serotonin syndrome.
• Infants exposed to SSRIs in late pregnancy may have an increased risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN occurs in 1 – 2 per 1000 live births in the general population and is associated with substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. In a retrospective case-control study of 377 women whose infants were born with PPHN and 836 women whose infants were born healthy, the risk for developing PPHN was approximately 6-fold higher for infants exposed to SSRIs after the 20th week of gestation compared to infants who had not been exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. There is currently no corroborative evidence regarding the risk for PPHN following exposure to SSRIs in pregnancy; this is the first study that has investigated the potential risk. The study did not include enough cases with exposure to individual SSRIs to determine if all SSRIs posed similar levels of PPHN risk.

Reproduction studies were performed at doses up to 50 mg/kg/day in rats and 6 mg/kg/day in rabbits administered during organogenesis. These doses are approximately 65 (rat) and 16 (rabbit) times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) for VMS on an mg/m2 basis. There were no teratogenic effects. However, in rats, there was an increase in pup deaths during the first 4 days of lactation when dosing occurred during the last trimester of gestation and continued throughout lactation. This effect occurred at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day or approximately equal to the MRHD for VMS on an mg/m2 basis. The no-effect dose for rat pup mortality was not determined. The cause of these deaths is unknown.

Qualitative and quantitative composition

BRISDELLE is available as 7.5 mg pink capsules printed with black edible ink with “NOVEN” and “7.5 mg” on the capsule. Each capsule contains 9.69 mg paroxetine mesylate equivalent to 7.5 mg paroxetine base.

BRISDELLE is available as 7.5 mg pink capsules printed with black edible ink with “NOVEN” and “7.5 mg” on each capsule.

NDC 68968-9075-3, blister packs of 30

Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Protect from light and humidity.

Distributed by: Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc. 645 Hembree Parkway, Suite I Roswell, GA 30076. Revised: Dec 2014

Special warnings and precautions for use

Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section

BRISDELLE is not approved for any psychiatric condition.

Antidepressants, including those that contain an SSRI, increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in pediatric and young adult patients when used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. There is limited information regarding suicidality in women who use BRISDELLE for treatment of VMS. The BRISDELLE trials excluded women with a presence or history of previous psychiatric disorders.

Consider discontinuing BRISDELLE in patients with worsening depression or those who experience emergent suicidality or symptoms that might be precursors to worsening depression or suicidality, especially if these symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms.

All patients being treated with BRISDELLE should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of treatment.

Anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania have been reported in patients being treated with antidepressants for MDD as well as for other psychiatric and nonpsychiatric indications. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality.

Families and caregivers of patients being treated with BRISDELLE should be alerted about the need to monitor patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, unusual changes in behavior, and the other symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and to report such symptoms immediately to healthcare providers.

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome has been reported with SSRIs, including paroxetine, alone but particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort), and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin (in particular, MAOIs, both those intended to treat depression and others such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).

Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, delirium, and coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, dizziness, diaphoresis, flushing, hyperthermia), neuromuscular symptoms (e.g., tremor, rigidity, myoclonus, hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Monitor patients for the emergence of serotonin syndrome.

The concomitant use of BRISDELLE with MAOIs is contraindicated. Do not start BRISDELLE in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. All reports with methylene blue that provided information on the route of administration involved intravenous administration in the dose range of 1 mg/kg to 8 mg/kg. No reports involved the administration of methylene blue by other routes (such as oral tablets or local tissue injection) or at lower doses. There may be circumstances when it is necessary to initiate treatment with an MAOI such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue in a patient taking BRISDELLE. BRISDELLE should be discontinued before initiating treatment with the MAOI.

If concomitant use of BRISDELLE with other serotonergic drugs (e.g., triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort) is clinically warranted, consider the increased risk of serotonin syndrome and carefully observe the patient, particularly during treatment initiation.

Discontinue BRISDELLE and any concomitant serotonergic agents immediately if the above events occur and initiate supportive symptomatic treatment.

It is uncertain whether the co-administration of paroxetine and tamoxifen has a significant adverse effect on the efficacy of tamoxifen. Some studies have shown that the efficacy of tamoxifen, as measured by the risk of breast cancer relapse/mortality, may be reduced when co-prescribed with paroxetine as a result of paroxetine’s irreversible inhibition of CYP2D6. However, other studies have failed to demonstrate such a risk. When tamoxifen is used for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer, weigh the likely benefit of BRISDELLE for treating VMS vs. the risk of possible decreased tamoxifen effectiveness, and consider avoiding the concomitant use of BRISDELLE for VMS treatment.

SSRIs, including BRISDELLE, may increase the risk of bleeding events. Concomitant use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin, and other anticoagulants may add to this risk. Case reports and epidemiological studies (case-control and cohort design) have demonstrated an association between use of drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake and the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding events related to SSRIs have ranged from ecchymosis, hematoma, epistaxis, and petechiae to life-threatening hemorrhages. Caution patients about the risk of bleeding associated with the concomitant use of BRISDELLE and NSAIDs, aspirin, or other drugs that affect coagulation.

The pupillary dilation that occurs following use of many antidepressants and BRISDELLE may trigger an angle closure attack in a patient with anatomically narrow angles who does not have a patent iridectomy.

Hyponatremia may occur as a result of treatment with SSRIs, including BRISDELLE. Elderly patients may be at greater risk. In many cases, the hyponatremia appears to be the result of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Cases with serum sodium lower than 110 mmol/L have been reported in patients using SSRIs. Also, patients taking diuretics or who are volumedepleted can be at greater risk. Consider discontinuation of BRISDELLE in patients with symptomatic hyponatremia and institute appropriate medical intervention.

Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, confusion, weakness, and unsteadiness, which can lead to falls. Signs and symptoms associated with more severe and/or acute cases have included hallucination, syncope, seizure, coma, respiratory arrest, and death.

Epidemiological studies on bone fracture risk following exposure to SSRIs have reported an association between SSRI treatment and fractures. It is unknown to what extent fracture risk is directly attributable to SSRI treatment. If a BRISDELLE-treated patient presents with unexplained bone pain, point tenderness, swelling, or bruising, consider the possibility of a fragility fracture.

BRISDELLE is only indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe VMS and is not approved for use in treating either depression or bipolar depression. However, prior to initiating treatment with BRISDELLE, all patients should be adequately screened to determine if they are at risk for bipolar disorder; such screening should include a detailed psychiatric history, including a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, and depression. It is generally believed (though not established in controlled trials) that use of an antidepressant alone may increase the likelihood of precipitation of a mixed/manic episode in patients at risk for bipolar disorder.

In premarketing testing of paroxetine, seizures occurred in 0.1% of paroxetine-treated patients. Use BRISDELLE cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that potentially lower the seizure threshold. Evaluate and consider discontinuing use in any patient who develops seizures.

The use of paroxetine or other SSRIs has been associated with the development of akathisia, which is characterized by an inner sense of restlessness and psychomotor agitation such as an inability to sit or stand still usually associated with subjective distress. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. Discontinue treatment with BRISDELLLE if akathisia occurs.

BRISDELLE has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that the drug treatment does not affect them adversely.

See FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).

Instruct patients to read the Medication Guide before starting therapy with BRISDELLE and to reread it each time the prescription is renewed.

• Advise patients, their families, and their caregivers to look for the emergence of suicidality, especially early during treatment.
• Instruct patients not to take BRISDELLE with an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping an MAOI and allow 14 days after stopping BRISDELLE before starting an MAOI.
• Advise patients not to take BRISDELLE with thioridazine or pimozide.
• Caution patients about the risk of serotonin syndrome, particularly with the concomitant use of BRISDELLE with triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, linezolid, tramadol, amphetamines, St. John’s Wort, lithium, tryptophan supplements, other serotonergic agents, or antipsychotic drugs.
• Caution patients that efficacy of tamoxifen may be reduced when administered concomitantly and counsel them about the likely benefit of paroxetine for treating VMS vs. the risk of possible decreased tamoxifen effectiveness.
• Caution patients about the concomitant use of BRISDELLE and NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin, and other anticoagulants because combined use of drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake has been associated with an increased risk of bleeding.
• Advise patients that taking BRISDELLE 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.
• Caution patients about the risk of hyponatremia, particularly elderly patients and those who are taking diuretics or are volume-depleted.
• Inform patients that there is the possibility for an increased risk of fracture.
• Advise patients, their families, and their caregivers to observe for signs of activation of mania/hypomania.
• Advise patients to notify their physician if they become pregnant during therapy.Caution patients about operating hazardous machinery, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that paroxetine therapy does not affect their ability to engage in such activities.
• Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including herbal supplements, because there is a potential for interaction with paroxetine.
• Advise patients that paroxetine, the active ingredient in BRISDELLE, is also the active ingredient in certain other drugs and these medications should not be taken concomitantly.

Two-year carcinogenicity studies were conducted in rodents given paroxetine in the diet at 1, 5, and 25 mg/kg/day (mice) and 1, 5, and 20 mg/kg/day (rats). The doses used in these carcinogenicity studies were approximately 16 (mouse) and 26 (rat) times the MHRD for VMS. There was a significantly greater number of male rats in the high-dose group with reticulum cell sarcomas (1/100, 0/50, 0/50, and 4/50 for control, low-, middle-, and high-dose groups, respectively) and a significantly increased linear trend across groups for the occurrence of lymphoreticular tumors in male rats. Female rats were not affected. Although there was a dose-related increase in the number of tumors in mice, there was no drug-related increase in the number of mice with tumors. The relevance of these findings to humans is unknown.

Paroxetine produced no genotoxic effect in a battery of 5 in vitro and 2 in vivo assays that included the following: bacterial mutation assay, mouse lymphoma mutation assay, unscheduled DNA synthesis assay, and tests for cytogenetic aberrations in vivo in mouse bone marrow and in vitro in human lymphocytes and in a dominant lethal test in rats.

A reduced pregnancy rate was found in reproduction studies in rats at a paroxetine dose of 15 mg/kg/day, which is 19 times the MRHD for VMS on an mg/m2 basis. Irreversible lesions occurred in the reproductive tract of male rats after dosing in toxicity studies for 2 to 52 weeks. These lesions consisted of vacuolation of epididymal tubular epithelium at 50 mg/kg/day and atrophic changes in the seminiferous tubules of the testes with arrested spermatogenesis at 25 mg/kg/day (65 times and 32 times the MHRD for VMS on an mg/m2 basis, respectively).

Risk Summary

BRISDELLE is contraindicated in pregnant women because menopausal VMS does not occur during pregnancy and paroxetine can cause fetal harm. Epidemiological studies have shown that infants exposed to paroxetine in the first trimester of pregnancy may have an increased risk of cardiovascular malformations. Cardiac malformations are a common congenital abnormality. These data would suggest that the risk of a cardiac abnormality following paroxetine exposure in the first trimester may increase the risk from 1% to 2%. Exposure to SSRIs in late pregnancy may lead to an increased risk for neonatal complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding, and/or persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). No teratogenicity was seen in reproductive development studies conducted in rats and rabbits. However, an increase in rat pup deaths was seen during the first 4 days of lactation when dosing occurred during the last trimester of gestation and continued throughout lactation, at a dose approximately equal to the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) for VMS (7.5 mg) on an mg/m basis. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.

First-Trimester Pregnancy Exposure

• Epidemiologic studies which include data from the Swedish National Registry, a retrospective cohort study using United Healthcare data and a meta-analysis of studies (1992-2008) have shown a less than 2-fold increased risk of cardiac malformations, primarily ventricular septal and atrial septal defects, with first-trimester paroxetine exposure. Two case-control studies using separate databases with > 9000 birth defect cases and > 4000 controls showed 7 and 6 paroxetine-exposed infants respectively, with right ventricular outflow tract obstructions, a 2- to 3-fold increased risk. An increase in overall congenital malformations with first-trimester paroxetine use was not observed in all studies.

Third-Trimester Pregnancy Exposure

• Neonates exposed to SSRIs late in the third trimester have developed complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding. Such complications can arise immediately upon delivery. Reported clinical findings have included respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying. These features are consistent with either a direct toxic effect of SSRIs or, possibly, a drug discontinuation syndrome. It should be noted that in some cases, the clinical picture is consistent with serotonin syndrome.
• Infants exposed to SSRIs in late pregnancy may have an increased risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN occurs in 1 – 2 per 1000 live births in the general population and is associated with substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. In a retrospective case-control study of 377 women whose infants were born with PPHN and 836 women whose infants were born healthy, the risk for developing PPHN was approximately 6-fold higher for infants exposed to SSRIs after the 20th week of gestation compared to infants who had not been exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. There is currently no corroborative evidence regarding the risk for PPHN following exposure to SSRIs in pregnancy; this is the first study that has investigated the potential risk. The study did not include enough cases with exposure to individual SSRIs to determine if all SSRIs posed similar levels of PPHN risk.

Reproduction studies were performed at doses up to 50 mg/kg/day in rats and 6 mg/kg/day in rabbits administered during organogenesis. These doses are approximately 65 (rat) and 16 (rabbit) times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) for VMS on an mg/m2 basis. There were no teratogenic effects. However, in rats, there was an increase in pup deaths during the first 4 days of lactation when dosing occurred during the last trimester of gestation and continued throughout lactation. This effect occurred at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day or approximately equal to the MRHD for VMS on an mg/m2 basis. The no-effect dose for rat pup mortality was not determined. The cause of these deaths is unknown.

Paroxetine is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from BRISDELLE, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established; BRISDELLE is not indicated in the pediatric population.

Clinical studies of BRISDELLE did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Elderly patients may have elevated paroxetine plasma concentrations compared to younger patients. However, no BRISDELLE dose adjustment is considered necessary in elderly patients.

SSRIs have been associated with cases of clinically significant hyponatremia in elderly patients, who may be at greater risk for this adverse event.

No BRISDELLE dose adjustment is considered necessary in patients with renal impairment.

No BRISDELLE dose adjustment is considered necessary in patients with liver impairment.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

The recommended dosage of BRISDELLE for the treatment of moderate to severe VMS is 7.5 mg once daily, at bedtime, with or without food.

Wait at least 14 days after discontinuation of an MAOI before initiating therapy with BRISDELLE. Conversely, allow at least 14 days after stopping BRISDELLE before starting an MAOI.

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in labeling:

• Suicidality
• Serotonin syndrome
• Abnormal bleeding
• Angle-Closure Glaucoma
• Hyponatremia
• Bone Fracture
• Mania/Hypomania
• Seizure
• Akathisia

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot directly be compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The data described below reflect exposure to BRISDELLE in the one 8-week Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trial and the two Phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled, 12-week and 24-week trials for the treatment of moderate to severe VMS. In these trials, a total of 635 women were exposed to BRISDELLE 7.5 mg administered orally once daily and 641 women received placebo. The majority of BRISDELLE-treated patients were Caucasian (68%) and African American (30%), with a mean age of 55 years (range 40 to 73 years). Women with a history of suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior were excluded from these studies.

A total of 4.7% of women taking BRISDELLE discontinued from the clinical trials due to an adverse reaction, compared to 3.7% of women on placebo; the most frequent adverse reactions leading to discontinuation among paroxetine-treated women were: abdominal pain (0.3%), attention disturbances (0.3%), headache (0.3%), and suicidal ideation (0.3%).

Overall, based on investigators’ determinations about what events were likely to be drug-related, about 20% of women treated with BRISDELLE reported at least 1 adverse reaction in the three controlled studies. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 2% and more common among BRISDELLE-treated women) reported in these studies were headache, fatigue/malaise/lethargy, and nausea/vomiting. Of these commonly reported adverse reactions, nausea occurred primarily within the first 4 weeks of treatment and fatigue occurred primarily within the first week of treatment, and decreased in frequency with continued therapy.

The adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of patients in the BRISDELLE group and at a higher incidence than placebo are shown in Table 1 for the pooled Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials.

Table 1 Frequency of Advers e Reactions in the Phas e 2 and Phas e 3 Trials (≥ 2% and at a higher incidence than placebo)

Certain symptoms were seen more frequently in women at the time of discontinuation of BRISDELLE compared to women discontinuing placebo, and have also been reported upon discontinuation of other formulations of paroxetine, particularly when abrupt. These include increased dreaming/nightmares, muscle cramps/spasms/twitching, headache, nervousness/anxiety, fatigue/tiredness, restless feeling in legs, and trouble sleeping/insomnia. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms with other formulations of paroxetine.

In the pooled Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, three BRISDELLE-treated patients reported a serious adverse reaction of suicidal ideation and one BRISDELLE-treated patient reported a serious adverse reaction of suicide attempt. There were no serious adverse reactions of suicidal ideation or suicide attempt reported among the placebo-treated patients.

The following adverse reactions have been identified from clinical studies of paroxetine and during post-approval use of other formulations of paroxetine. Because some of 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.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Events related to impaired hematopoiesis (including aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia, agranulocytosis).

Cardiac Disorders: Atrial fibrillation, Pulmonary edema, Ventricular fibrillation, Ventricular tachycardia (including torsades de pointes).

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Pancreatitis, Pancreatitis hemorrhagic, Vomiting.

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Death, Drug withdrawal syndrome, Malaise.

Hepatobiliary Disorders: Drug-induced liver injury, Hepatic failure, Jaundice.

Immune System Disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction, Angioedema, Toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Investigations: Elevated liver tests (the most severe cases were deaths due to liver necrosis, and grossly elevated transaminases associated with severe liver dysfunction).

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Diabetes mellitus inadequate control, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Nervous System Disorders: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome, Paresthesia, Somnolence, Tremor.

Psychiatric Disorders: Aggression, Agitation, Anxiety, Confusional state, Depression, Disorientation, Homicidal ideation, Insomnia, Restlessness.

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Pulmonary hypertension.

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Hyperhidrosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

No drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with BRISDELLE.

Paroxetine is a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor. Clinical drug interaction studies have been performed with substrates of CYP2D6 and show that paroxetine can inhibit the metabolism of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6. Table 2 contains examples of drugs with a metabolism that may be affected by co-administration with BRISDELLE.

Table 2 Effects of Paroxetine on Other Drugs

Use caution if co-administering BRISDELLE with other drugs that are metabolized by CYP2D6, including nortriptyline, amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, fluoxetine, phenothiazines, risperidone, and Type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide, and encainide).

The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of paroxetine may be affected by the induction and inhibition of drug metabolizing enzymes such as CYP2D6. Table 3 contains a list of drugs that may affect the pharmacokinetics of BRISDELLE when administered concomitantly.

Table 3 Effects of Other Drugs on Paroxetine

Use caution if co-administering BRISDELLE with other drugs that inhibit CYP2D6 (e.g., quinidine).

Serious adverse reactions such as serotonin syndrome have been reported in patients receiving a concomitant SSRI and MAOI, in patients started on an SSRI who recently received an MAOI and in patients started on an MAOI who recently received an SSRI. Therefore, concomitant use of MAOIs with BRISDELLE or use of BRISDELLE and an MAOI within 14 days of each other is contraindicated.

If concomitant use of BRISDELLE with other serotonergic drugs (e.g., triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort) is clinically warranted, consider the increased risk of serotonin syndrome and carefully observe the patient, particularly during treatment initiation.

An interaction between paroxetine and tryptophan may occur when they are co-administered. Adverse experiences, consisting primarily of headache, nausea, sweating, and dizziness, have been reported when tryptophan was administered to patients taking paroxetine. Consequently, concomitant use of BRISDELLE with tryptophan is not recommended.

If concomitant use of BRISDELLE with a serotonergic drug is warranted, carefully observe the patient, particularly during treatment initiation. There have been postmarketing reports of serotonin syndrome with the use of an SSRI and a triptan.

BRISDELLE contains paroxetine, which is also the active ingredient in other drugs. The concomitant use of BRISDELLE with other paroxetine products is not recommended

Altered anticoagulant effects, including increased bleeding, have been reported when SSRIs are coadministered with NSAIDs, aspirin, and warfarin or other drugs that affect coagulation. There may be a pharmacodynamic interaction between paroxetine and warfarin that causes an increased bleeding diathesis despite unaltered prothrombin time. Carefully monitor patients receiving warfarin therapy when BRISDELLE is initiated or discontinued.