Targiniq er (oral)

Overdose

Acute overdose with TARGINIQ ER can be manifested by respiratory depression, somnolence progressing to stupor or coma, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold and clammy skin, constricted pupils, and, in some cases, pulmonary edema, bradycardia, hypotension, partial or complete airway obstruction, atypical snoring, and death. Marked mydriasis rather than miosis may be seen with hypoxia in overdose situations.

In case of overdose, priorities are the reestablishment of a patent and protected airway and institution of assisted or controlled ventilation, if needed. Employ other supportive measures (including oxygen, vasopressors) in the management of circulatory shock and pulmonary edema as indicated. Cardiac arrest or arrhythmias will require advanced life support techniques.

The opioid antagonists, naloxone or nalmefene, are specific antidotes to respiratory depression resulting from opioid overdose. For clinically significant respiratory or circulatory depression secondary to oxycodone overdose, administer an opioid antagonist. Although TARGINIQ ER contains naloxone, in overdose situations, administration of naloxone should be repeated as clinically necessary. Higher than normal doses and repeated administration may be necessary. Opioid antagonists should not be administered in the absence of clinically significant respiratory or circulatory depression secondary to oxycodone overdose. Because the duration of reversal is expected to be less than the duration of action of oxycodone in TARGINIQ ER, carefully monitor the patient until spontaneous respiration is reliably reestablished. TARGINIQ ER will continue to release oxycodone and add to the oxycodone load for 24 to 48 hours or longer following ingestion, necessitating prolonged monitoring. If the response to an opioid antagonist is suboptimal or only brief in nature, administer additional antagonist as directed by the product's prescribing information.

In an individual physically dependent on opioids, administration of the recommended usual dosage of the antagonist will precipitate an acute withdrawal syndrome. The severity of the withdrawal symptoms experienced will depend on the degree of physical dependence and the dose of the antagonist administered. If a decision is made to treat serious respiratory depression in the physically dependent patient, administration of the antagonist should be initiated with care and by titration with smaller than usual doses of the antagonist.

Contraindications

TARGINIQ ER is contraindicated in patients with:

• Significant respiratory depression
• Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment
• Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus
• Hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to oxycodone or naloxone
• Moderate to severe hepatic impairment

Undesirable effects

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

• Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
• Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression
• Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
• Interactions with Benzodiazepine or Other CNS Depressants
• Adrenal Insufficiency
• Severe Hypotension
• Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions
• Seizures
• Withdrawal

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.

A total of 2,396 patients were treated in controlled and open-label clinical studies with TARGINIQ ER. Seven hundred and ninety-four of these patients (33%) were treated for approximately six months and 621 (26%) were treated for approximately one year.

TARGINIQ ER may increase the risk of serious adverse reactions such as those observed with other opioid analgesics, including respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, hypotension, or shock.

The safety data described in Table 4 below are based on a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in opioid-experienced patients with moderate to severe chronic low back pain. This trial included 1,095 TARGINIQ ER-treated patients in an open-label titration period, and 298 TARGINIQ ER-and 302 placebo-treated patients in a double-blind treatment period. The mean age was 52 years old; 55% were female, and 45% were male; 74% were Caucasian, 22% were Black, and 11% were Hispanic.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 5% of TARGINIQ ER subjects) during the open-label or double-blind periods were nausea and vomiting.

The most common reason for discontinuation during the open-label period due to treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 1% of subjects) was nausea (2%).

The most common reason for discontinuation during the double-blind period due to treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 1% of subjects with TARGINIQ ER or placebo) was drug withdrawal syndrome ( < 1% vs. 1%), respectively.

The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse reactions reported by ≥ 2% of subjects in a clinical trial comparing TARGINIQ ER with placebo is shown in Table 4 below:

Table 4: Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 2% of Subjects Taking TARGINIQ ER: Safety Population (Open-Label Titration Period) and Randomized Safety Population (Double-Blind Period)

In a clinical trial, the following adverse reactions were reported in patients treated with TARGINIQ ER with an incidence between ≥ 1% and < 2%:

Eye disorders: lacrimation increased

General disorders and administration site conditions: fatigue

Infections and infestations: influenza

Injury, poisoning, and procedural complications: fall

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: arthralgia

Nervous system disorders: dizziness, sinus headache, somnolence

Psychiatric disorders: drug abuse

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pruritus, rash, cold sweat

Vascular disorders: hot flush, hypertension

The following most frequently reported adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of oxycodone/naloxone extended-release tablets. 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.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: drug withdrawal syndrome, fatigue, pain, malaise, and drug ineffective

Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: inadequate analgesia

Neoplasms Benign, Malignant, and Unspecified (including cysts and polyps): malignant neoplasm progression

Nervous System Disorders: dizziness, headache, tremor, and somnolence

Psychiatric Disorders: restlessness, confusional state, and anxiety

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: dyspnea

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: hyperhidrosis and pruritus

Serotonin syndrome: Cases of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.

Adrenal insufficiency: Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use.

Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported with ingredients contained in TARGINIQ ER.

Androgen deficiency: Cases of androgen deficiency have occurred with chronic use of opioids.

Therapeutic indications

TARGINIQ ER is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, aroundthe-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

• Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse with opioids, even at recommended doses, and because of the greater risks of overdose and death with extended-release opioid formulations.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Oxycodone produces respiratory depression by direct action on brain stem respiratory centers. The respiratory depression involves a reduction in the responsiveness of the brain stem respiratory centers to both increases in CO2 tension and electrical stimulation.

Oxycodone causes miosis, even in total darkness. Pinpoint pupils are a sign of opioid overdose but are not pathognomonic (e.g., pontine lesions of hemorrhagic or ischemic origin may produce similar findings). Marked mydriasis rather than miosis may be seen with hypoxia in overdose situations.

Naloxone prevents or reverses the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression and sedation, when administered intravenously. When naloxone is administered orally, at the same doses as in TARGINIQ ER, these effects would not be expected due to low circulating plasma concentrations.

Oxycodone causes a reduction in motility associated with an increase in smooth muscle tone in the antrum of the stomach and duodenum. Digestion of food in the small intestine is delayed and propulsive contractions are decreased. Propulsive peristaltic waves in the colon are decreased, while tone may be increased to the point of spasm, resulting in constipation. Other opioid-induced effects may include a reduction in biliary and pancreatic secretions, spasm of sphincter of Oddi, and transient elevations in serum amylase.

Oxycodone produces peripheral vasodilation, which may result in orthostatic hypotension or syncope. Manifestations of histamine release and/or peripheral vasodilation may include pruritus, flushing, red eyes, sweating, and/or orthostatic hypotension.

Opioids inhibit the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and luteinizing hormone (LH) in humans. They also stimulate prolactin, growth hormone (GH) secretion, and pancreatic secretion of insulin and glucagon.

Chronic use of opioids may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to androgen deficiency that may manifest as low libido, impotence, erectile dysfunction, amenorrhea, or infertility. The causal role of opioids in the clinical syndrome of hypogonadism is unknown because the various medical, physical, lifestyle, and psychological stressors that may influence gonadal hormone levels have not been adequately controlled for in studies conducted to date.

Opioids have been shown to have a variety of effects on components of the immune system in in vitro and animal models. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown. Overall, the effects of opioids appear to be modestly immunosuppressive.

Studies with oxycodone in normal volunteers and patients reveal predictable relationships between oxycodone dosage and plasma oxycodone concentrations, as well as between concentration and certain expected opioid effects, such as pupillary constriction, sedation, overall subjective “drug effect”, and analgesia.

The minimum effective analgesic concentration will vary widely among patients, especially among patients who have been previously treated with potent agonist opioids. The minimum effective analgesic concentration of oxycodone for any individual patient may increase over time due to an increase in pain, the development of a new pain syndrome, and/or the development of analgesic tolerance.

There is a relationship between increasing oxycodone plasma concentration and increasing frequency of dose-related opioid adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, CNS effects, and respiratory depression. In opioid-tolerant patients, the situation may be altered by the development of tolerance to opioid-related adverse reactions.

Pharmacokinetic properties

The analgesic activity of TARGINIQ ER is primarily due to the parent drug oxycodone. TARGINIQ ER is designed to provide delivery of oxycodone over 12 hours.

Cutting, breaking, chewing, crushing, or dissolving TARGINIQ ER impairs the extended-release delivery mechanism and results in the rapid release and absorption of a potentially fatal dose of oxycodone.

Oxycodone

Oxycodone from TARGINIQ ER tablets was rapidly absorbed with the median Tmax 3 to 4 hours following a single oral administration over a range of doses from 10 mg/5 mg to 80 mg/40 mg. About 60% to 87% of an oral dose of oxycodone reaches the central compartment in comparison to a parenteral dose. This high oral bioavailability is due to low pre-systemic and/or first-pass metabolism. Dose proportionality for oxycodone has been established for the 10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg, and 40 mg/20 mg TARGINIQ ER tablet strengths for both peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) and extent of absorption (AUC) (see Table 8 and Table 9, below) following single or multiple oral dose with q12h administration. Steady-state plasma concentrations are reached in approximately 2 days for oxycodone and naloxone and for their metabolites.

Naloxone

Absolute bioavailability of naloxone from TARGINIQ ER tablets was very low ( ≥ 2%) following oral administration. However in an abuse potential study conducted in nondependent drug users, naloxone bioavailability was much higher (approximately 31%) following intranasal administration of crushed TARGINIQ ER 40 mg/20 mg tablets, due to circumvention of GI and hepatic first-pass naloxone metabolism. Mean AUC and Cmax values of naloxone were 29.9 ng•hr/mL and 20.2 ng/mL following intranasal administration of crushed TARGINIQ ER 40 mg/20 mg tablets, while mean AUC and Cmax values were 0.833 ng• hr/mL and 0.0845 ng/mL under normal use condition.

Table 9: Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Oxycodone (Mean [SD])

Table 10: Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Naloxone (Mean [SD])

Food Effect:

Administration of TARGINIQ ER with a standardized high-fat meal did not meaningfully affect the extent of absorption of oxycodone, naloxone, or naloxone-3β-glucuronide. In the clinical trial program, TARGINIQ ER was administered to chronic pain patients without regard to meals. Therefore, TARGINIQ ER can be administered with or without food.

Oxycodone

Plasma protein binding for oxycodone measured in healthy subjects was < 24%. Following IV administration, the mean volume of distribution for oxycodone (0.07 mg/kg) was 245 L. Once absorbed, oxycodone is distributed to skeletal muscle, liver, intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and brain. Oxycodone is found in breast milk. Oxycodone crossed the blood-brain barrier in preclinical species.

Naloxone

Plasma protein binding for naloxone measured in healthy subjects, was < 60%. Following IV administration, the mean volume of distribution for naloxone (0.035 mg/kg) was 378 L. It is not known whether naloxone passes into breast milk. Naloxone crossed the blood-brain barrier in preclinical species.

Metabolism

Oxycodone: Oxycodone metabolism is primarily mediated by CYP3A4/5 and CYP2D6. Oxycodone is mainly metabolized to Phase 1 metabolites including noroxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxymorphone. Oxycodone metabolites are present in plasma at lower concentrations than the parent drug. Noroxycodone and noroxymorphone are the major metabolites in the blood circulation. The mean molar ratio of metabolite to parent (oxycodone), as evaluated by AUC across proposed therapeutic doses of TARGINIQ ER, was 0.928 for noroxycodone, 0.379 for noroxymorphone, and 0.0251 for oxymorphone, respectively.

Naloxone: Naloxone metabolism is primarily mediated by UGT1A8 and UGT2B7. Naloxone is mainly metabolized to 6β-naloxol, naloxone-3β-glucuronide and 6β-naloxol-3β-glucuronide. The mean molar ratio of metabolite to parent (naloxone), as evaluated by AUC across proposed therapeutic doses TARGINIQ ER was 31.5 for 6β-naloxol, 1459 for naloxone-3βglucuronide, and 1301 for 6β-naloxol-3β-glucuronide, respectively. Naloxone metabolites were present in plasma at higher concentrations than the parent drug, especially for naloxone3β-glucuronide and 6β-naloxol-3β-glucuronide due to the extremely low plasma naloxone concentrations following oral administration of TARGINIQ ER.

Excretion

Oxycodone: Oxycodone is rapidly eliminated from the body with a mean t½ of approximately 3.9-5.3 hours after a single oral dose administration of TARGINIQ ER in healthy subjects. Oxycodone and its metabolites are excreted in both urine and feces. Following an IV dose (0.07 mg/kg), the mean total plasma clearance was 47.8 L/hour in healthy subjects. Following TARGINIQ ER 10/5 mg administration, the mean renal clearance was approximately 3.66-4.37 L/hour. Following an oral dose of oxycodone immediate-release (15 mg), the mean total urine recovery (48 hour cumulative recovery) of oxycodone and its metabolites from 16 healthy subjects was 72%. These findings suggest that metabolism is the major route of elimination.

Naloxone: Naloxone is eliminated from the body with mean t½ ranging from 4.1 to 17.2 hours after a single oral dose administration of TARGINIQ ER in healthy subjects. The mean total plasma clearance was 217 L/hour following an IV dose (0.035 mg/kg), and the mean renal clearance was 7.85-31.9 L/hour following an oral dose of TARGINIQ ER 10 mg/5 mg. These findings suggest that the metabolism is the major route of elimination.

Date of revision of the text

Name of the medicinal product

Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy may cause neonatal opioid withdrawal. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with TARGINIQ ER in pregnant women. The naloxone component of TARGINIQ ER may precipitate opioid withdrawal in a fetus due to the immaturity of the fetal blood brain barrier. Animal reproduction studies were not conducted with the combination of oxycodone and naloxone, the components of TARGINIQ ER. However, animal data are available from studies conducted with the individual components. Embryo-fetal toxicity was not observed following oral administration of oxycodone to rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses equal to or 30 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily dose (MRDD) of 80 mg oxycodone/day on a body surface area basis. Decreased pup weight was observed in rats with oral administration of oxycodone throughout pregnancy at doses 0.8 times the MRDD dose of 80 mg oxycodone/day. Embryo-fetal toxicity was not observed following oral administration of naloxone (800 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg) to pregnant rats and rabbits, respectively, during organogenesis at doses 192 times the MRDD of 40 mg naloxone/day, on a body surface area basis. In several published studies, treatment of pregnant rats with oxycodone hydrochloride at clinically relevant doses and below resulted in neurobehavioral effects in offspring. Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Fetal/neonatal Adverse Reactions

Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy for medical or nonmedical purposes can result in physical dependence in the neonate and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome shortly after birth.

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome presents as irritability, hyperactivity and abnormal sleep pattern, high pitched cry, tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to gain weight. The onset, duration, and severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome vary based on the specific opioid used, duration of use, timing and amount of last maternal use, and rate of elimination of the drug by the newborn. Observe newborns for symptoms of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly.

Qualitative and quantitative composition

Extended-release tablets: 10 mg/5 mg, 20 mg/10 mg, and 40 mg/20.

• 10 mg/5 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (capsule shaped, white film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “10” on the other)
• 20 mg/10 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (capsule shaped, pink film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “20” on the other)
• 40 mg/20 mg film-coated extended-release tablets (capsule shaped, yellow film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “40” on the other)

TARGINIQ ER (oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride extended-release tablets) 10 mg/5 mg are capsule shaped, white film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “10” on the other and are supplied as child-resistant closure, opaque HDPE bottles of 100 (NDC 59011-520-01).

TARGINIQ ER (oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride extended-release tablets) 20 mg/10 mg are capsule shaped, pink film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “20” on the other and are supplied as child-resistant closure, opaque HDPE bottles of 100 (NDC 59011-521-01).

TARGINIQ ER (oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride extended-release tablets) 40 mg/20 mg are capsule shaped, yellow film-coated tablets debossed with “ONX” on one side and “40” on the other and are supplied as child-resistant closure, opaque HDPE bottles of 100 (NDC 59011-522-01).

Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted between 15°-30°C (59°-86°F).

Dispense in tight, light-resistant container, with a child-resistant closing.

Purdue Pharma L.P. Stamford, CT 06901-3431. Revised: Dec 2016

Special warnings and precautions for use

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

TARGINIQ ER contains oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance. As an opioid, TARGINIQ ER exposes users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse. Because extended-release products such as TARGINIQ ER deliver the opioid over an extended period of time, there is a greater risk for overdose and death due to the larger amount of oxycodone present.

Although the risk of addiction in any individual is unknown, it can occur in patients appropriately prescribed TARGINIQ ER. Addiction can occur at recommended doses and if the drug is misused or abused.

Assess each patient's risk for opioid addiction, abuse or misuse, prior to prescribing TARGINIQ ER, and monitor all patients receiving TARGINIQ ER for the development of these behaviors and conditions. Risks are increased in patients with a personal or family history of substance abuse (including drug or alcohol abuse or addiction) or mental illness (e.g., major depression). The potential for these risks should not, however, prevent the proper management of pain in any given patient. Patients at increased risk may be prescribed opioids such as TARGINIQ ER, but use in such patients necessitates intensive counseling about the risks and proper use of TARGINIQ ER along with intensive monitoring for signs of addiction, abuse, and misuse.

Abuse or misuse of TARGINIQ ER by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product will result in the uncontrolled delivery of oxycodone and can result in overdose and death.

Opioids are sought by drug abusers and people with addiction disorders and are subject to criminal diversion. Consider these risks when prescribing or dispensing TARGINIQ ER. Strategies to reduce these risks include prescribing the drug in the smallest appropriate quantity and advising the patient on the proper disposal of unused drug. Contact local state professional licensing board or state controlled substances authority for information on how to prevent and detect abuse or diversion of this product.

Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression has been reported with the use of opioids, even when used as recommended. Respiratory depression, if not immediately recognized and treated, may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Management of respiratory depression may include close observation, supportive measures, and use of opioid antagonists, depending on the patient's clinical status. Carbon dioxide (CO2) retention from opioid-induced respiratory depression can exacerbate the sedating effects of opioids.

While serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression can occur at any time during the use of TARGINIQ ER, the risk is greatest during the initiation of therapy or following a dosage increase. Monitor patients closely for respiratory depression, especially within the first 24-72 hours of initiating therapy and following dosage increases of TARGINIQ ER.

To reduce the risk of respiratory depression, proper dosing and titration of TARGINIQ ER are essential. Overestimating the TARGINIQ ER dosage when converting patients from another opioid product can result in a fatal overdose with the first dose.

Accidental ingestion of even one dose of TARGINIQ ER, especially by children, can result in respiratory depression and death due to an overdose of oxycodone.

Prolonged use of TARGINIQ ER during pregnancy can result in withdrawal in the neonate. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, unlike opioid withdrawal syndrome in adults, may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. Observe newborns for signs of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly. Advise pregnant women using opioids for a prolonged period of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available.

Concomitant use of TARGINIQ ER with a CYP3A4 inhibitor, such as macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g., ketoconazole), and protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir), may increase plasma concentrations of oxycodone and prolong opioid adverse reactions, which may cause potentially fatal respiratory depression , particularly when an inhibitor is added after a stable dose of TARGINIQ ER is achieved. Similarly, discontinuation of a CYP3A4 inducer, such as rifampin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin, in TARGINIQ ER-treated patients may increase oxycodone plasma concentrations and prolong opioid adverse reactions. When using TARGINIQ ER with CYP3A4 inhibitors or discontinuing CYP3A4 inducers in TARGINIQ ER-treated patients, monitor patients closely at frequent intervals and consider dosage reduction of TARGINIQ ER until stable drug effects are achieved.

Concomitant use of TARGINIQ ER with CYP3A4 inducers or discontinuation of an CYP3A4 inhibitor could decrease oxycodone plasma concentrations, decrease opioid efficacy or, possibly, lead to a withdrawal syndrome in a patient who had developed physical dependence to oxycodone. When using TARGINIQ ER with CYP3A4 inducers or discontinuing CYP3A4 inhibitors, monitor patients closely at frequent intervals and consider increasing the opioid dosage if needed to maintain adequate analgesia or if symptoms of opioid withdrawal occur.

Profound sedation, respiratory depression coma, and death may result from the concomitant use of TARGINIQ ER with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (e.g., non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, other opioids, alcohol). Because of these risks, reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Observational studies have demonstrated that concomitant use of opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines increases the risk of drug-related mortality compared to use of opioid analgesics alone. Because of similar pharmacological properties, it is reasonable to expect similar risk with the concomitant use of other CNS depressant drugs with opioid analgesics.

If the decision is made to prescribe a benzodiazepine or other CNS depressant concomitantly with an opioid analgesic, prescribe the lowest effective dosages and minimum durations of concomitant use. In patients already receiving an opioid analgesic, prescribe a lower initial dose of the benzodiazepine or other CNS depressant than indicated in the absence of an opioid, and titrate based on clinical response. If an opioid analgesic is initiated in a patient already taking a benzodiazepine or other CNS depressant, prescribe a lower initial dose of the opioid analgesic, and titrate based on clinical response. Follow patients closely for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

Advise both patients and caregivers about the risks of respiratory depression and sedation when TARGINIQ ER is used with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol and illicit drugs). Advise patients not to drive or operate heavy machinery until the effects of concomitant use of the benzodiazepine or other CNS depressant have been determined. Screen patients for risk of substance use disorders, including opioid abuse and misuse, and warn them of the risk for overdose and death associated with the use of additional CNS depressants including alcohol and illicit drugs.

The use of TARGINIQ ER in patients with acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment is contraindicated.

TARGINIQ ER-treated patients with significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale, and those with a substantially decreased respiratory reserve, hypoxia, hypercapnia, or pre-existing respiratory depression are at increased risk of decreased respiratory drive including apnea, even at recommended dosages of TARGINIQ ER.

Life-threatening respiratory depression is more likely to occur in elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients because they may have altered pharmacokinetics or altered clearance compared to younger, healthier patients.

Monitor such patients closely, particularly when initiating and titrating TARGIIQ ER and when TARGINIQ ER is given concomitantly with other drugs that depress respiration. Alternatively, consider the use of non-opioid analgesics in these patients.

Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use. Presentation of adrenal insufficiency may include non-specific symptoms and signs including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. If adrenal insufficiency is suspected, confirm the diagnosis with diagnostic testing as soon as possible. If adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed, treat with physiologic replacement doses of corticosteroids. Wean the patient off of the opioid to allow adrenal function to recover and continue corticosteroid treatment until adrenal function recovers. Other opioids may be tried as some cases reported use of a different opioid without recurrence of adrenal insufficiency. The information available does not identify any particular opioids as being more likely to be associated with adrenal insufficiency.

TARGINIQ ER may cause severe hypotension, including orthostatic hypotension and syncope in ambulatory patients. There is an increased risk in patients whose ability to maintain blood pressure has already been compromised by a reduced blood volume or concurrent administration of certain CNS depressant drugs (e.g., phenothiazines or general anesthetics). Monitor these patients for signs of hypotension after initiating or titrating the dosage of TARGINIQ ER. In patients with circulatory shock, TARGINIQ ER may cause vasodilation that can further reduce cardiac output and blood pressure. Avoid the use of TARGINIQ ER in patients with circulatory shock.

In patients who may be susceptible to the intracranial effects of CO2 retention (e.g., those with evidence of increased intracranial pressure or brain tumors), TARGINIQ ER may reduce respiratory drive, and the resultant CO2 retention can further increase intracranial pressure. Monitor such patients for signs of sedation and respiratory depression, particularly when initiating therapy with TARGINIQ ER.

Opioids may also obscure the clinical course in a patient with a head injury. Avoid the use of TARGINIQ ER in patients with impaired consciousness or coma.

TARGINIQ ER is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus.

The oxycodone in TARGINIQ ER may cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. Opioids may cause increases in the serum amylase. Monitor patients with biliary tract disease, including acute pancreatitis, for worsening symptoms.

The oxycodone in TARGINIQ ER may increase the frequency of seizures in patients with seizure disorders, and may increase the risk of seizures occurring in other clinical settings associated with seizures. Monitor patients with a history of seizure disorders for worsened seizure control during TARGINIQ ER therapy.

Avoid the use of mixed agonist/antagonist (e.g.., pentazocine, nalbuphine, and butorphanol) or partial agonist (e.g., buprenorphine) analgesics in patients who are receiving a full opioid agonist analgesic, including TARGINIQ ER. In these patients, mixed agonist/antagonist and partial agonist analgesics may reduce the analgesic effect and/or may precipitate withdrawal symptoms.

When discontinuing TARGINIQ ER, gradually taper the dosage. Do not abruptly discontinue TARGINIQ ER.

Symptoms of opioid withdrawal occurred in some patients in clinical trials. Symptoms included but were not limited to hyperhidrosis, chills, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anxiety, irritability, and yawning. Monitor patients for symptoms of opioid withdrawal. In opioid-tolerant patients, if symptoms of opioid withdrawal occur following conversion to TARGINIQ ER or following dose escalation, consider lowering the dose to determine whether symptoms are reduced.

Parenteral use of naloxone has been associated with abrupt and complete reversal of opioid effects leading to withdrawal symptoms (e.g., abdominal cramping, muscle aches, sweating, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Several instances of hypotension, hypertension, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, and pulmonary edema have been associated with parenteral naloxone used postoperatively.

TARGINIQ ER may impair the mental or physical abilities needed to perform potentially hazardous activities such as driving a car or operating machinery. Warn patients not to drive or operate dangerous machinery unless they are tolerant to the effects of TARGINIQ ER and know how they will react to the medication.

Not every urine drug test for “opioids” or “opiates” detects oxycodone reliably, especially those designed for in-office use. Further, many laboratories will report urine drug concentrations below a specified “cut-off” value as “negative”. Therefore, if urine testing for oxycodone is considered in the clinical management of an individual patient, ensure that the sensitivity and specificity of the assay is appropriate, and consider the limitations of the testing used when interpreting results.

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).

Inform patients that the use of TARGINIQ ER, even when taken as recommended, can result in addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Instruct patients not to share TARGINIQ ER with others and to take steps to protect TARGINIQ ER from theft or misuse.

Inform patients of the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression including information that the risk is greatest when starting TARGINIQ ER or when the dose is increased and that it can occur even at recommended dosages. Advise patients how to recognize respiratory depression and to seek medical attention if breathing difficulties develop.

Inform patients that accidental ingestion, especially by children, may result in respiratory depression or death. Instruct patients to take steps to store TARGINIQ ER securely and to dispose of unused TARGINIQ ER by flushing the tablets down the toilet.

Inform patients and caregivers that potentially fatal additive effects may occur if TARGINIQ ER is used with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, and not to use these concomitantly unless supervised by a healthcare provider.

Inform patients that opioids could cause a rare but potentially life-threatening condition resulting from concomitant administration of serotonergic drugs. Warn patients of the symptoms of serotonin syndrome and to seek medical attention right away if symptoms develop. Instruct patients to inform their physicians if they are taking, or plan to take serotonergic medications.

Inform patients to avoid taking TARGINIQ ER while using any drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase. Patients should not start MAOIs while taking TARGINIQ ER.

Inform patients that opioids could cause adrenal insufficiency, a potentially life-threatening condition. Adrenal insufficiency may present with non-specific symptoms and signs such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Advise patients to seek medical attention if they experience a constellation of these symptoms.

Instruct patients how to properly take TARGINIQ ER, including the following:

• TARGINIQ ER is designed to work properly only if swallowed intact. Taking cut, broken, chewed, crushed, or dissolved TARGINIQ ER tablets can result in a fatal overdose or other serious side effects (e.g., withdrawal symptoms).
• Do not discontinue TARGINIQ ER without first discussing the need for a tapering regimen with the prescriber.

Inform patients that TARGINIQ ER may cause orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Instruct patients how to recognize symptoms of low blood pressure and how to reduce the risk of serious consequences should hypotension occur (e.g., sit or lie down, carefully rise from a sitting or lying position).

Inform patients that anaphylaxis has been reported with ingredients contained in TARGINIQ ER. Advise patients how to recognize such a reaction and when to seek medical attention.

Inform female patients of reproductive potential that prolonged use of TARGINIQ ER during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.

Inform female patients of reproductive potential that TARGINIQ ER can cause fetal harm and to inform the healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy.

Advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with TARGINIQ ER

Inform patients that chronic use of opioids may cause reduced fertility. It is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible  .

Advise patients that TARGINIQ ER may be associated with symptoms possibly related to opioid withdrawal, including sweating, tremors, anxiety, chills, diarrhea, abdominal pain, irritability, and yawning, and to contact their prescriber if these symptoms occur.

Inform patients that TARGINIQ ER may impair the ability to perform potentially hazardous activities such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery. Advise patients not to perform such tasks until they know how they will react to the medication.

Advise patients of the potential for severe constipation, including management instructions and when to seek medical attention.

Advise patients to flush the unused tablets down the toilet when TARGINIQ ER is no longer needed.

Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with oxycodone alone or the oxycodone and naloxone combination.

Naloxone was tested in two carcinogenicity studies in rats and transgenic mice. Naloxone was not carcinogenic in a 2-year rat bioassay at doses as high as 100 mg/kg/day (24-times the maximum recommended daily dose of 40 mg naloxone/day on a mg/m&sup basis).

Naloxone did not produce evidence of carcinogenic potential in the Tg.rasH2 mouse model.

Oxycodone was genotoxic in the mouse lymphoma assay. Clastogenicity was observed with oxycodone in the presence of metabolic activation in one chromosomal aberration assay in human lymphocytes at concentrations greater than or equal to 1250 mcg/mL at 24 but not 48 hours of exposure. In a second chromosomal aberration assay with human lymphocytes, no structural clastogenicity was observed either with or without metabolic activation; however, in the absence of metabolic activation, oxycodone increased numerical chromosomal aberrations (polyploidy). Oxycodone was not genotoxic in the following assays: Ames S. typhimurium and E. coli test with and without metabolic activation at concentrations up to 5000 μg/plate, chromosomal aberration test in human lymphocytes (in the absence of metabolic activation) at concentrations up to 1500 μg/mL, and with activation after 48 hours of exposure at concentrations up to 5000 μg/mL, and in the in vivo bone marrow micronucleus assay in mice (at plasma levels up to 48 μg/mL).

Naloxone was genotoxic in the mouse lymphoma assay. Naloxone produced a non-dose-related increase in chromosomal aberrations in the presence of metabolic activation that was statistically significant at concentrations of 375 and 1500 mcg/mL but not at 750 or 3000 mcg/mL. In contrast, naloxone was not mutagenic in the S. typhimurium/E. coli bacterial mutagenicity test with or without metabolic activation nor was it genotoxic in in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test at a dose of 500 mg/kg.

Fertility studies to evaluate the combination of oxycodone and naloxone have not been conducted. In a study of reproductive performance, rats were administered a once daily gavage dose of the vehicle or oxycodone hydrochloride doses up to 8 mg/kg (equivalent to the maximum recommended daily dose of 80 mg/day on a mg/m&sup basis). Male rats were dosed for 28 days before cohabitation with females, during the cohabitation and until necropsy (2-3 weeks post-cohabitation). Females were dosed for 14 days before cohabitation with males, during cohabitation and up to Gestation Day 6. Oxycodone hydrochloride did not affect reproductive function in male or female rats.

Oral administration of naloxone to male and female rats at dosages as high as 800 mg/kg/day had no effect on fertility or general reproductive performance (approximately 192-times the maximum recommended daily dose of 40 mg naloxone/day, on a mg/m&sup basis).

Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy may cause neonatal opioid withdrawal. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with TARGINIQ ER in pregnant women. The naloxone component of TARGINIQ ER may precipitate opioid withdrawal in a fetus due to the immaturity of the fetal blood brain barrier. Animal reproduction studies were not conducted with the combination of oxycodone and naloxone, the components of TARGINIQ ER. However, animal data are available from studies conducted with the individual components. Embryo-fetal toxicity was not observed following oral administration of oxycodone to rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses equal to or 30 times, respectively, the maximum recommended daily dose (MRDD) of 80 mg oxycodone/day on a body surface area basis. Decreased pup weight was observed in rats with oral administration of oxycodone throughout pregnancy at doses 0.8 times the MRDD dose of 80 mg oxycodone/day. Embryo-fetal toxicity was not observed following oral administration of naloxone (800 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg) to pregnant rats and rabbits, respectively, during organogenesis at doses 192 times the MRDD of 40 mg naloxone/day, on a body surface area basis. In several published studies, treatment of pregnant rats with oxycodone hydrochloride at clinically relevant doses and below resulted in neurobehavioral effects in offspring. Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Fetal/neonatal Adverse Reactions

Prolonged use of opioid analgesics during pregnancy for medical or nonmedical purposes can result in physical dependence in the neonate and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome shortly after birth.

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome presents as irritability, hyperactivity and abnormal sleep pattern, high pitched cry, tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to gain weight. The onset, duration, and severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome vary based on the specific opioid used, duration of use, timing and amount of last maternal use, and rate of elimination of the drug by the newborn. Observe newborns for symptoms of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly.

Opioids cross the placenta and may produce respiratory depression and psycho-physiologiceffects in neonates. An opioid antagonist, such as naloxone, must be available for reversal of narcotic-opioid induced respiratory depression in the neonate. TARGINIQ ER is notrecommended for use in women during or immediately prior to labor, when use of shorter actinganalgesics or other analgesic techniques are more appropriate. Opioid analgesics, includingTARGINIQ ER, can prolong labor through actions which temporarily reduce the strength, duration, and frequency of uterine contractions. However, this effect is not consistent and maybe offset by an increased rate of cervical dilation, which tends to shorten labor. Monitor neonates exposed to opioid analgesics during labor for signs of excess sedation and respiratorydepression.

Animal Data

There are no studies examining the reproductive and developmental effects of the combination of oxycodone and naloxone; however, there are data with the individual agents.

Oxycodone

Studies with oral doses of oxycodone hydrochloride in rats up to 8 mg/kg/day and rabbits up to 125 mg/kg/day, equivalent to 1 and 30 times the maximum total daily dose of 80 mg oxycodone/day, respectively on a mg/m&sup basis, did not reveal evidence of harm to the fetus due to oxycodone. In a pre-and postnatal toxicity study, female rats received oxycodone during gestation and lactation. There were no long-term developmental or reproductive effects in the pups.

Oxycodone hydrochloride was administered orally to female rats during gestation and lactation in a pre-and postnatal toxicity study. There were no drug-related effects on reproductive performance in these females or any long-term developmental or reproductive effects in pups born to these rats. Decreased body weight was found during lactation and the early post-weaning phase in pups nursed by mothers given the highest dose used (6 mg/kg/day, equivalent to approximately 0.8-times the maximum total daily dose of 80 mg/day, on a mg/m&sup basis). However, body weight of these pups recovered.

In published studies, offspring of pregnant rats administered oxycodone hydrochloride during gestation have been reported to exhibit neurobehavioral effects including altered stress responses and increased anxiety-like behavior (2 mg/kg/day IV from Gestation Day 8 to 21 and Postnatal Day 1, 3, and 5; 0.3 times an adult human oral dose of 60 mg/day on a mg/m&sup basis), and altered learning and memory (15 mg/kg/day orally from breeding through parturition; 2.4 times an adult human oral dose of 60 mg/day on a mg/m&sup basis).

Naloxone Orally administered naloxone was not teratogenic in the rat or rabbit at the maximum dosages tested (800 mg/kg/day or 400 mg/kg/day, respectively) which were equivalent to approximately 192-times the intake of naloxone at the maximum recommended dose of 40 mg naloxone/day on a mg/m&sup basis.

In a peri-/post-natal development study with naloxone in rats, the highest dosage of 800 mg/kg/day (192-times the intake of naloxone at the maximum total daily dose of 40 mg naloxone/day, on a mg/m&sup basis) produced mortality and significant toxicity in maternal rats, which was associated with increased pup deaths in the immediate postpartum period. Mild toxic signs were also observed in maternal rats that received 200 mg/kg/day (approximately 48-times the intake of naloxone at the maximum daily dose of 40 mg naloxone on a body surface area basis); however, there were no adverse effects on the pups.

Oxycodone is present in breast milk. Published lactation studies report variable concentrations of oxycodone in breast milk with administration of immediate-release oxycodone to nursing mothers in the early postpartum period. The lactation studies did not assess breastfed infants for potential adverse reactions. Lactation studies have not been conducted with TARGINIQ ER. It is unknown whether naloxone is present in breast milk. Instruct patients not to undertake nursing while receiving TARGINIQ ER. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including excess sedation and respiratory depression in a breastfed infant, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with TARGINIQ ER.

Infants exposed to TARGINIQ ER through breast milk should be monitored for excess sedation and respiratory depression. Withdrawal symptoms can occur in breast-fed infants when maternal administration of an opioid analgesic is stopped, or when breast-feeding is stopped. Furthermore, naloxone may precipitate opioid withdrawal in a breast-fed infant.

Chronic use of opioids may cause reduced fertility in females and males of reproductive potential. It is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible.

Safety and effectiveness of TARGINIQ ER in pediatric patients below the age of 18 years have not been established.

A prospective study conducted in two age groups (younger: 19-44 years old vs. elderly: 65-77 years old) to assess age effects on the PK of TARGINIQ ER (10 mg/5 mg) demonstrated slightly higher steady-state oxycodone AUC (18% increase), and higher steady-state naloxone AUC (82% increase) for elderly subjects compared with younger subjects. Evaluate elderly patients at frequent intervals and consider TARGINIQ ER dose adjustments until stable drug effects are achieved.

Respiratory depression is the chief risk for elderly patients treated with opioids, and has occurred after large initial doses were administered to patients who were not opioid-tolerant or when opioids were co-administered with other agents that depress respiration. Titrate the dosage of TARGINIQ ER slowly in geriatric patients and monitor closely for signs of central nervous system and respiratory depression.

Oxycodone and naloxone are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

TARGINIQ ER should be prescribed only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable in the use of potent opioids for the management of chronic pain.

A single dose of TARGINIQ ER greater than 40 mg/20 mg or a total daily dose greater than 80 mg/40 mg are only for use in patients in whom tolerance to an opioid of comparable potency has been established. Patients who are opioid tolerant are those receiving, for one week or longer, at least 60 mg oral morphine per day, 25 mcg transdermal fentanyl per hour, 30 mg oral oxycodone per day, 8 mg oral hydromorphone per day, 25 mg oral oxymorphone per day, 60 mg oral hydrocodone per day, or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid.

• Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals.Initiate the dosing regimen for each patient individually, taking into account the patient's severity of pain, patient response, prior analgesic treatment experience, and risk factors for addiction, abuse, and misuse.
• Monitor patients closely for respiratory depression, especially within the first 24-72 hours of initiating therapy with TARGINIQ ER and following dosage increases with TARGINIQ and adjust the dosage accordingly.

Instruct patients to swallow TARGINIQ ER tablets whole. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving TARGINIQ ER tablets will result in uncontrolled delivery of oxycodone and can lead to overdose or death.

TARGINIQ ER is administered orally every 12 hours.

Initiate treatment with TARGINIQ ER with one 10 mg/5 mg tablet orally every 12 hours.

The starting dosage for patients who are not opioid tolerant is TARGINIQ ER 10 mg/5 mg orally every 12 hours.

Use of higher starting doses in patients who are not opioid tolerant may cause fatal respiratory depression.

Patients receiving other oral oxycodone formulations may be converted to TARGINIQ ER by administering one-half of the patient's total daily oral oxycodone dose as TARGINIQ ER every 12 hours.

Discontinue all other around-the-clock opioid drugs when TARGINIQ ER therapy is initiated.

There is inter-patient variability in the relative potency of opioid drugs and opioid formulations. Therefore, a conservative approach is advised when determining the total daily dosage of TARGINIQ ER. It is safer to underestimate a patient's 24-hour oral oxycodone requirements and provide rescue medication (e.g., immediate-release opioid) than to overestimate the 24-hour oral oxycodone dosage and manage an adverse reaction due to an overdose.

In a TARGINIQ ER clinical trial with an open-label titration period, patients were converted from their prior opioid to TARGINIQ ER using both Table 1 and Table 2 below.

Consider the following when using the information in Table 1 and Table 2:

• These are not tables of equianalgesic doses. The conversion factors in Table 1 are only for the conversion from one of the listed oral opioid analgesics to the Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine Dose.
• The conversion factors in Table 2 are only for conversion from the calculated Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine Dose to TARGINIQ ER.
• The tables cannot be used to convert from TARGINIQ ER to another opioid. Doing so will result in an overestimation of the dose of the new opioid and may result in a fatal overdose.

Convert patients from their previous opioid to TARGINIQ ER as follows:

1. Using Table 1, calculate the Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine Dose by multiplying the current total daily dose of each opioid by the appropriate Conversion Factor.
2. Using Table 2, determine the starting dose of TARGINIQ ER by reading across from the appropriate Equivalent Daily Dose of Oral Morphine range, rounding down, if necessary.

Table 1: Converting the Current Total Daily Oral Opioid Dose(s) to the Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine Dose

Table 2: Initial TARGINIQ ER Dose

Example conversion from a single opioid to TARGINIQ ER:

Step 1: A patient receiving oxymorphone at a total daily dose of 10 mg would equate to an Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine Dose of 40 mg (10 mg x 4; Table 1).

Step 2: Based on Table 2, the starting dose is TARGINIQ ER 10 mg/5 mg every 12 hours.

• For patients on a regimen of more than one opioid, use Table 1 to calculate the Equivalent Daily Oral Morphine dose for each opioid and sum the totals, then use Table 2 to obtain the starting dose of TARGINIQ ER.
• Round down, if necessary, to the appropriate TARGINIQ ER tablet strengths available.
• Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal or for signs of over-sedation/toxicity after converting patients to TARGINIQ ER.
• Titrate appropriately to a stable and tolerated dose.

Close observation and frequent titration are warranted until pain management is stable on the new opioid. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal and for signs of oversedation/toxicity after converting patients to TARGINIQ ER.

Close monitoring is of particular importance when converting from methadone to other opioid agonists. The ratio between methadone and other opioid agonists may vary widely as a function of previous dose exposure. Methadone has a long half-life and can accumulate in the plasma.

Treatment with, TARGINIQ ER can be initiated after the transdermal fentanyl patch has been removed for at least 18 hours. Although there has been no systematic assessment of such conversion, start with a conservative conversion: substitute 10 mg/5 mg of TARGINIQ ER every 12 hours for each 25 mcg/hr fentanyl transdermal patch. Follow the patient closely during conversion from transdermal fentanyl to TARGINIQ ER, as there is limited documented experience with this conversion.

For patients receiving transdermal buprenorphine ( < 20 mcg/hr), the recommended starting dose is TARGINIQ ER 10 mg/5 mg every 12 hours. Follow the patient closely during conversion from transdermal buprenorphine to TARGINIQ ER, as there is limited experience with this conversion.

Individually titrate TARGINIQ ER to a dose that provides adequate analgesia and minimizes adverse reactions. Continually reevaluate patients receiving TARGINIQ ER to assess the maintenance of pain control and the relative incidence of adverse reactions, as well as monitoring for the development of addiction, abuse, and misuse. Frequent communication is important among the prescriber, other members of the healthcare team, the patient, and the caregiver/family during periods of changing analgesic requirements, including initial titration. During chronic therapy, periodically reassess the continued need for the use of opioid analgesics.

Patients who experience breakthrough pain may require a dosage adjustment of TARGINIQ ER or may need rescue medication with an appropriate dose of an immediate-release analgesic. If the level of pain increases after dose stabilization, attempt to identify the source of increased pain before increasing the TARGINIQ ER dose.

As a guideline, the dose of TARGINIQ ER can be up-titrated from the current dose by increasing the dose 10 mg/5 mg q12h every 1 to 2 days as needed based on efficacy, safety, and tolerability. The total daily dose of TARGINIQ ER should not exceed 80 mg/40 mg (40 mg/20 mg q12h).

The highest total daily dose of TARGINIQ ER studied in the main clinical program is 80 mg/40 mg (40 mg/20 mg twice daily). Total daily doses above 80 mg/40 mg have not been studied sufficiently to ensure patient safety and may be associated with symptoms of opioid withdrawal or decreased analgesia.

If unacceptable opioid-related adverse reactions are observed, consider reducing the dosage. Adjust the dosage to obtain an appropriate balance between management of pain and opioid-related adverse reactions.

There are no well-controlled clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy with dosing more frequently than every 12 hours.

If the patient is currently taking a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and the decision is made to begin TARGINIQ ER, start with one-third to one-half the recommended starting dosage of TARGINIQ ER, consider using a lower dosage of the concomitant CNS depressant, and monitor patients for signs of respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension.

TARGINIQ ER is contraindicated in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment. When administering TARGINIQ ER to patients with mild hepatic impairment, reduce the dose to one-third to one-half the usual starting dose followed by careful dose titration. Monitor for signs of respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension.

When administering TARGINIQ ER to patients with renal impairment, reduce the initial dose to one-half the usual starting dose followed by careful dose titration. Monitor for signs of respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension.

When the patient no longer requires therapy with TARGINIQ ER, taper the dose gradually by 25% to 50 % every 2 to 4 days, while monitoring carefully for signs and symptoms of withdrawal. If the patient develops these signs or symptoms, raise the dose to the previous level and taper more slowly, either by increasing the interval between decreases, decreasing the amount of change in dose, or both. Do not abruptly discontinue TARGINIQ ER.

Table 3 presents a suggested taper schedule that was used in a clinical trial to discontinue patients from TARGINIQ ER:

Table 3: Suggested Taper Schedule

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

• Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse
• Life-Threatening Respiratory Depression
• Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome
• Interactions with Benzodiazepine or Other CNS Depressants
• Adrenal Insufficiency
• Severe Hypotension
• Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions
• Seizures
• Withdrawal

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.

A total of 2,396 patients were treated in controlled and open-label clinical studies with TARGINIQ ER. Seven hundred and ninety-four of these patients (33%) were treated for approximately six months and 621 (26%) were treated for approximately one year.

TARGINIQ ER may increase the risk of serious adverse reactions such as those observed with other opioid analgesics, including respiratory depression, apnea, respiratory arrest, circulatory depression, hypotension, or shock.

The safety data described in Table 4 below are based on a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in opioid-experienced patients with moderate to severe chronic low back pain. This trial included 1,095 TARGINIQ ER-treated patients in an open-label titration period, and 298 TARGINIQ ER-and 302 placebo-treated patients in a double-blind treatment period. The mean age was 52 years old; 55% were female, and 45% were male; 74% were Caucasian, 22% were Black, and 11% were Hispanic.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 5% of TARGINIQ ER subjects) during the open-label or double-blind periods were nausea and vomiting.

The most common reason for discontinuation during the open-label period due to treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 1% of subjects) was nausea (2%).

The most common reason for discontinuation during the double-blind period due to treatment-emergent adverse reactions (reported by ≥ 1% of subjects with TARGINIQ ER or placebo) was drug withdrawal syndrome ( < 1% vs. 1%), respectively.

The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse reactions reported by ≥ 2% of subjects in a clinical trial comparing TARGINIQ ER with placebo is shown in Table 4 below:

Table 4: Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 2% of Subjects Taking TARGINIQ ER: Safety Population (Open-Label Titration Period) and Randomized Safety Population (Double-Blind Period)

In a clinical trial, the following adverse reactions were reported in patients treated with TARGINIQ ER with an incidence between ≥ 1% and < 2%:

Eye disorders: lacrimation increased

General disorders and administration site conditions: fatigue

Infections and infestations: influenza

Injury, poisoning, and procedural complications: fall

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: arthralgia

Nervous system disorders: dizziness, sinus headache, somnolence

Psychiatric disorders: drug abuse

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pruritus, rash, cold sweat

Vascular disorders: hot flush, hypertension

The following most frequently reported adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of oxycodone/naloxone extended-release tablets. 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.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: drug withdrawal syndrome, fatigue, pain, malaise, and drug ineffective

Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: inadequate analgesia

Neoplasms Benign, Malignant, and Unspecified (including cysts and polyps): malignant neoplasm progression

Nervous System Disorders: dizziness, headache, tremor, and somnolence

Psychiatric Disorders: restlessness, confusional state, and anxiety

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: dyspnea

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: hyperhidrosis and pruritus

Serotonin syndrome: Cases of serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.

Adrenal insufficiency: Cases of adrenal insufficiency have been reported with opioid use, more often following greater than one month of use.

Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis has been reported with ingredients contained in TARGINIQ ER.

Androgen deficiency: Cases of androgen deficiency have occurred with chronic use of opioids.

Table 5 includes clinically significant drug interactions with TARGINIQ ER

Table 5: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with TARGINIQ ER

TARGINIQ ER contains oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

TARGINIQ ER contains oxycodone, a substance with a high potential for abuse similar to other opioids including fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxymorphone, and tapentadol. TARGINIQ ER can be abused and is subject to misuse, addiction, and criminal diversion.

The high drug content in extended-release formulations adds to the risk of adverse outcomes from abuse and misuse.

All patients treated with opioids require careful monitoring for signs of abuse and addiction, because use of opioid analgesic products carries the risk of addiction even under appropriate medical use.

Prescription drug abuse is the intentional non-therapeutic use of a prescription drug, even once, for its rewarding psychological or physiological effects.

Drug addiction is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and includes: a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal.

“Drug-seeking” behavior is very common in persons with substance use disorders. Drug-seeking tactics include emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing, or referral, repeated “loss” of prescriptions, tampering with prescriptions and reluctance to provide prior medical records or contact information for other healthcare provider(s). “Doctor shopping” (visiting multiple prescribers to obtain additional prescriptions) is common among drug abusers and people suffering from untreated addiction. Preoccupation with achieving adequate pain relief can be appropriate behavior in a patient with poor pain control.

Abuse and addiction are separate and distinct from physical dependence and tolerance. Healthcare providers should be aware that addiction may not be accompanied by concurrent tolerance and symptoms of physical dependence in all addicts. In addition, abuse of opioids can occur in the absence of true addiction.

TARGINIQ ER, like other opioids, can be diverted for non-medical use into illicit channels of distribution. Careful record-keeping of prescribing information, including quantity, frequency, and renewal requests, as required by state and federal law, is strongly advised.

Proper assessment of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic reevaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs.

TARGINIQ ER is for oral use only. Abuse of TARGINIQ ER poses a risk of overdose and death. The risk is increased with concurrent use of TARGINIQ ER with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Taking cut, broken, chewed, crushed, or dissolved TARGINIQ ER enhances drug release and increases the risk of overdose and death.

If TARGINIQ ER tablets are crushed and administered via intranasal or intravenous routes, the resulting systemic naloxone concentrations are much higher and can induce a severe withdrawal syndrome in opioid-dependent individuals. Cases have been reported to the international drug safety database that involved attempts to manipulate the product for injection or insufflation, which resulted in withdrawal symptoms. In the majority of these cases, emergency attention was required.

With parenteral abuse, the inactive ingredients in TARGINIQ ER can be expected to result in local tissue necrosis, infection, pulmonary granulomas, and increased risk of endocarditis and valvular heart injury. Parenteral drug abuse is commonly associated with transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV.

In Vitro Testing

In vitro physical and chemical tablet manipulation studies were performed to evaluate the success of different extraction methods in defeating the controlled-release formulation of TARGINIQ ER and separating the oxycodone component from naloxone, a potent opioid antagonist. Laboratory test data demonstrate that TARGINIQ ER can be crushed and dissolved in solution. However, complete separation or complete inactivation of naloxone from oxycodone was not achieved despite using various techniques and conditions.

Clinical Abuse Potential Studies

In the clinical abuse potential studies described below, drug-liking was measured on a bipolar drug liking scale of 0 to 100 where 50 represents a neutral response of neither liking nor disliking, 0 represents maximum disliking and 100 represents maximum liking. Response to whether the subject would take the study drug again was measured on a unipolar scale of 0 to 100 where 0 represents the strongest negative response (“definitely would not take drug again”) and 100 represents the strongest positive response (“definitely would take drug again”). Response to subjective feeling of getting “high” was measured on a unipolar scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents “definitely not” and 100 represents “definitely so”.

Study in Non-Dependent, Opioid Abusers (Intranasal (IN) Administration)

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-and active-controlled, 3-period crossover pharmacodynamic study, 23 non-dependent, opioid abusers with moderate experience with opioids received IN administered TARGINIQ ER 40 mg/20 mg (finely crushed tablets), oxycodone HCl 40 mg powder (active control), and placebo treatments.

IN administration of finely crushed TARGINIQ ER was associated with statistically significant lower maximum drug liking scores (p < 0.001) and statistically significant lower maximum scores for take drug again (p < 0.001), compared to powdered oxycodone HCl, and was associated with similar mean and median maximum scores for drug liking and take drug again, compared to placebo treatment, as summarized in Table 6.

Table 6: Summary of Maximum Drug Liking (Emax) and Take Drug Again (Emax) Following Intranasal (IN) Administration of TARGINIQ ER, Oxycodone, and Placebo in Non-Dependent, Opioid Abusers (N=23)

Figure 1 demonstrates a comparison of maximum drug liking for finely crushed TARGINIQ ER compared to powdered oxycodone HCl in subjects who received both treatments. The Y-axis represents the percent of subjects attaining a percent reduction in maximum drug liking for TARGINIQ ER vs. oxycodone HCl powder greater than or equal to the value on the X-axis. Among non-dependent, opioid drug abusers, 78% (n = 18) of subjects had a reduction of at least 30% in maximum drug liking with TARGINIQ ER compared to oxycodone HCl, and approximately 74% (n = 17) of subjects had a reduction of at least 50% in maximum drug liking with TARGINIQ ER compared to oxycodone HCl.

Figure 1: Percent Reduction in Maximum Drug Liking for Finely Crushed TARGINIQ ER 40 mg/20 mg vs. Powdered Oxycodone HCl 40 mg Following Intranasal Administration in Non-Dependent Opioid Abusers

Study in Non-Dependent, Opioid Abusers (Intravenous (IV) Administration)

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-and active-controlled, 3-period crossover pharmacodynamic study, 22 non-dependent, opioid abusers with moderate experience with opioids received intravenously administered 0.07 mg/kg oxycodone HCl and 0.035 mg/kg naloxone HCl solution (simulated version of TARGINIQ ER), oxycodone HCl (0.07 mg/kg solution; active control) and placebo (saline) treatments.

The intravenous administration of simulated TARGINIQ ER solution was associated with statistically significant lower maximum drug liking scores (p < 0.001) and statistically significant lower maximum scores for take drug again (p < 0.001), compared to oxycodone solution, and was associated with similar mean and median scores for drug liking and take drug again, compared to placebo treatment, as summarized in Table 7.

Table 7: Summary of Maximum Drug Liking (Emax) and Take Drug Again Following IV Administration of Oxycodone HCl + Naloxone HCl (Simulated TARGINIQ ER Solution), Oxycodone HCl, and Placebo in Non-Dependent, Opioid Abusers (N=22)

Figure 2 demonstrates a comparison of maximum drug liking for simulated TARGINIQ ER solution compared to oxycodone HCl solution in subjects who received both treatments. Among non-dependent, opioid drug abusers, approximately 91% (n = 20) of subjects had a reduction of at least 50% in maximum drug liking with TARGINIQ ER compared to oxycodone solution.

Figure 2: Percent Reduction in Maximum Drug Liking for Oxycodone 0.07 mg/kg + Naloxone 0.035 mg/kg (Simulated TARGINIQ ER) vs. Oxycodone HCl 0.07 mg/kg Following Intravenous Administration in Non-Dependent, Opioid Abusers

Study in Opioid-Dependent Subjects

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-and positive-controlled, 4-period crossover pharmacodynamic study, 29 opioid-dependent, methadone-maintained subjects received orally administered TARGINIQ ER 60 mg/30 mg chewed and intact tablets, oxycodone HCl solution 60 mg (active control) and placebo (chewed and intact tablets and solution) treatments.

The oral administration of TARGINIQ ER, either chewed or intact, was associated with statistically significant lower maximum drug liking scores (p < 0.001) and statistically significant lower scores for take drug again (p < 0.001), compared to oxycodone solution, and was associated with similar mean and median maximum scores for drug liking and take drug again, compared to placebo treatment, as summarized in Table 8.

Table 8: Summary of High, Maximum Drug Liking (Emax), and Take Drug Again Following Oral Administration of TARGINIQ ER (Intact and Chewed), Oxycodone HCl solution, and Placebo in Opioid-Dependent Subjects (N=29)

Figure 3 demonstrates a comparison of maximum drug liking (Emax) for TARGINIQ ER either chewed or intact compared to oxycodone solution in subjects who received both treatments. Among opioid-dependent subjects, 69.0% (n = 20) had a reduction of at least 30%, and 65.5% (n = 19) of subjects had a reduction of at least 50% in maximum drug liking with chewed TARGINIQ ER tablets compared to oxycodone solution; 79.3% (n = 23) of subjects had a reduction at least 50% in maximum drug liking with intact TARGINIQ ER tablets compared to oxycodone solution.

Figure 3: Percent Reduction in Maximum Drug Liking for TARGINIQ ER 60 mg/30 mg Chewed or Intact vs. Oxycodone HCl 60 mg Solution Following Oral Administration in Opioid-Dependent Subjects

Summary

Based on the in vitro study results, it is expected that abuse of oxycodone from physically and chemically manipulated TARGINIQ ER tablets will be deterred by the inability to separate the two active components.

The data from the clinical abuse potential studies indicate that TARGINIQ ER has pharmacologic properties that are expected to reduce abuse via the intranasal and intravenous routes of administration. However, abuse of TARGINIQ ER by these routes is still possible.

Additional data, including epidemiological data, when available, may provide further information on the impact of TARGINIQ ER on the abuse liability of the drug in the community. Accordingly, this section may be updated in the future as appropriate.

TARGINIQ ER contains oxycodone, an opioid agonist and Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability similar to other opioid agonists, legal or illicit, including fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, and oxymorphone. TARGINIQ ER can be abused and is subject to misuse, addiction, and criminal diversion.

Both tolerance and physical dependence can develop during chronic opioid therapy. Tolerance is the need for increasing doses of opioids to maintain a defined effect such as analgesia (in the absence of disease progression or other external factors). Tolerance may occur to both the desired and undesired effects of drugs, and may develop at different rates for different effects.

Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or a significant dosage reduction of a drug. Withdrawal also may be precipitated through the administration of drugs with opioid antagonist activity (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene), mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics (e.g., pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine), or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). Physic