EXPAREL Suspension for solution for injection Ref.[27449] Active ingredients: Bupivacaine

5.1 Warnings and Precautions for Bupivacaine Containing Products

The safety and effectiveness of bupivacaine and other amide-containing products depend on proper dosage, correct technique, adequate precautions, and readiness for emergencies. As there is a potential risk of severe life-threatening adverse effects associated with the administration of bupivacaine, any bupivacaine-containing product should be administered in a setting where trained personnel and equipment are available to promptly treat patients who show evidence of neurological or cardiac toxicity [See Overdosage (10)].

Careful and constant monitoring of cardiovascular and respiratory (adequacy of ventilation) vital signs and the patient’s state of consciousness should be performed after injection of bupivacaine and other amide-containing products. Restlessness, anxiety, incoherent speech, lightheadedness, numbness and tingling of the mouth and lips, metallic taste, tinnitus, dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, twitching, depression, or drowsiness may be early warning signs of central nervous system toxicity.

Bupivacaine and other amide-containing products should also be used with caution in patients with impaired cardiovascular function because they may be less able to compensate for functional changes associated with the prolongation of AV conduction produced by these drugs.

Injection of multiple doses of bupivacaine and other amide-containing products may cause significant increases in plasma concentrations with each repeated dose due to slow accumulation of the drug or its metabolites, or to slow metabolic degradation. Tolerance to elevated blood concentrations varies with the status of the patient.

Because amide-type local anesthetics, such as bupivacaine, are metabolized by the liver, these drugs should be used cautiously in patients with hepatic disease. Patients with severe hepatic disease, because of their inability to metabolize local anesthetics normally, are at a greater risk of developing toxic plasma concentrations.

Central Nervous System Reactions

The incidences of adverse neurologic reactions associated with the use of local anesthetics may be related to the total dose of local anesthetic administered and are also dependent upon the particular drug used, the route of administration, and the physical status of the patient. Many of these effects may be related to local anesthetic techniques, with or without a contribution from the drug. Neurologic effects following infiltration of soft tissue may include persistent anesthesia, paresthesia, weakness, and paralysis, all of which may have slow, incomplete, or no recovery.

Central nervous system reactions are characterized by excitation and/or depression. Restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, or tremors may occur, possibly proceeding to convulsions. However, excitement may be transient or absent, with depression being the first manifestation of an adverse reaction. This may quickly be followed by drowsiness merging into unconsciousness and respiratory arrest. Other central nervous system effects may be nausea, vomiting, chills, and constriction of the pupils. The incidence of convulsions associated with the use of local anesthetics varies with the procedure used and the total dose administered.

Cardiovascular System Reactions

Toxic blood concentrations depress cardiac conductivity and excitability, which may lead to atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest, sometimes resulting in fatalities. In addition, myocardial contractility is depressed and peripheral vasodilation occurs, leading to decreased cardiac output and arterial blood pressure [See Overdosage (10)].

Allergic Reactions

Allergic-type reactions are rare and may occur as a result of hypersensitivity to the local anesthetic or to other formulation ingredients. These reactions are characterized by signs such as urticaria, pruritus, erythema, angioneurotic edema (including laryngeal edema), tachycardia, sneezing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, syncope, excessive sweating, elevated temperature, and possibly anaphylactoid-like symptoms (including severe hypotension). Cross-sensitivity among members of the amide-type local anesthetic group has been reported. The usefulness of screening for sensitivity has not been definitively established.

Chondrolysis

Intra-articular infusions of local anesthetics following arthroscopic and other surgical procedures is an unapproved use, and there have been postmarketing reports of chondrolysis in patients receiving such infusions. The majority of reported cases of chondrolysis have involved the shoulder joint; cases of gleno-humeral chondrolysis have been described in pediatric patients and adult patients following intra-articular infusions of local anesthetics with and without epinephrine for periods of 48 to 72 hours. There is insufficient information to determine whether shorter infusion periods are not associated with these findings. The time of onset of symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness, and loss of motion can be variable, but may begin as early as the second month after surgery. Currently, there is no effective treatment for chondrolysis; patients who have experienced chondrolysis have required additional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and some required arthroplasty or shoulder replacement.

Methemoglobinemia

Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with local anesthetic use. Although all patients are at risk for methemoglobinemia, patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, congenital or idiopathic methemoglobinemia, cardiac or pulmonary compromise, infants under 6 months of age, and concurrent exposure to oxidizing agents or their metabolites are more susceptible to developing clinical manifestations of the condition. If local anesthetics must be used in these patients, close monitoring for symptoms and signs of methemoglobinemia is recommended.

Signs of methemoglobinemia may occur immediately or may be delayed some hours after exposure, and are characterized by a cyanotic skin discoloration and/or abnormal coloration of the blood. Methemoglobin levels may continue to rise; therefore, immediate treatment is required to avert more serious central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse effects, including seizures, coma, arrhythmias, and death. Discontinue EXPAREL and any oxidizing agents. Depending on the severity of the signs and symptoms, patients may respond to supportive care, i.e., oxygen therapy, hydration. A more severe clinical presentation may require treatment with methylene blue, exchange transfusion, or hyperbaric oxygen.

5.2 Warnings and Precautions Specific for EXPAREL

As there is a potential risk of severe life-threatening adverse effects associated with the administration of bupivacaine, EXPAREL should be administered in a setting where trained personnel and equipment are available to promptly treat patients who show evidence of neurological or cardiac toxicity [See Overdosage (10)].

Caution should be taken to avoid accidental intravascular injection of EXPAREL. Convulsions and cardiac arrest have occurred following accidental intravascular injection of bupivacaine and other amide-containing products.

Avoid additional use of local anesthetics within 96 hours following administration of EXPAREL [See Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

EXPAREL has not been evaluated for the following uses and, therefore, is not recommended for these types of analgesia or routes of administration.

• epidural
• intrathecal
• regional nerve blocks other than interscalene brachial plexus nerve block
• intravascular or intra-articular use

EXPAREL has not been evaluated for use in the following patient populations and, therefore, is not recommended for administration to these groups.

• patients younger than 6 years old for infiltration
• patients younger than 18 years old for interscalene brachial plexus nerve block
• pregnant patients

The potential sensory and/or motor loss with EXPAREL is temporary and varies in degree and duration depending on the site of injection and dosage administered and may last for up to 5 days as seen in clinical trials.

The following serious adverse reactions have been associated with bupivacaine hydrochloride in clinical trials and are described in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:

• Central Nervous System Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Cardiovascular System Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Allergic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Chondrolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Methemoglobinemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Accidental intravascular injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]

Adverse Reactions Reported in All Local Infiltration Clinical Studies

Because clinical studies 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 studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The safety of EXPAREL was evaluated in 10 randomized, double-blind, local administration into the surgical site clinical studies involving 823 patients undergoing various surgical procedures. Patients were administered a dose ranging from 66 to 532 mg of EXPAREL. In these studies, the most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%) following EXPAREL administration were nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

The common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 2% to less than 10%) following EXPAREL administration were pyrexia, dizziness, edema peripheral, anemia, hypotension, pruritus, tachycardia, headache, insomnia, anemia postoperative, muscle spasms, hemorrhagic anemia, back pain, somnolence, and procedural pain.

The less common/rare adverse reactions (incidence less than 2%) following EXPAREL administration were chills, erythema, bradycardia, anxiety, urinary retention, pain, edema, tremor, dizziness postural, paresthesia, syncope, incision site edema, procedural hypertension, procedural hypotension, procedural nausea, muscular weakness, neck pain, pruritus generalized, rash pruritic, hyperhidrosis, cold sweat, urticaria, palpitations, sinus bradycardia, supraventricular extrasystoles, ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia, hypertension, pallor, anxiety, confusional state, depression, agitation, restlessness, hypoxia, laryngospasm, apnea, respiratory depression, respiratory failure, body temperature increased, blood pressure increased, blood pressure decreased, oxygen saturation decreased, urinary incontinence, vision blurred, tinnitus, drug hypersensitivity, and hypersensitivity.

Neurological and Cardiac Adverse Reactions

In the EXPAREL surgical site infiltration studies, adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Nervous System Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were dizziness (6.2%), headache (3.8%), somnolence (2.1%), hypoesthesia (1.5%), and lethargy (1.3%). The adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Cardiac Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were tachycardia (3.9%) and bradycardia (1.6%).

Adverse Reactions Reported in All Local Infiltration Placebo-Controlled Trials

Adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 2% reported by patients in clinical studies comparing 8 mL EXPAREL 1.3% (106 mg) to placebo and 20 mL EXPAREL 1.3% (266 mg) to placebo are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions (TEAE) with an Incidence Greater than or Equal to 2%: Local Infiltration Placebo-Controlled Studies:

^a Study 1: Bunionectomy ^b Study 2: HemorrhoidectomyAt each level of summation (overall, system organ class, preferred term), patients are only counted once.Preferred terms are included where at least 2% of patients reported the event in any treatment group.TEAE = treatment-emergent adverse event.

Adverse Reactions Reported in All Local Infiltration Clinical Studies in Pediatric Patients Aged 6 to Less Than 17 Years

The safety of EXPAREL in 110 pediatric patients between the age of 6 and 17 years old undergoing spine or cardiac surgical procedures was evaluated in one randomized, open-label, clinical study in which EXPAREL was administered by infiltration into the surgical site and one single-arm, open-label study in which EXPAREL was administered by infiltration into the surgical site. Patients were administered a weight-based dose of EXPAREL at 4 mg/kg (maximum dose of 266 mg) or bupivacaine HCl 2 mg/kg (maximum dose of 175 mg). In these studies, the most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%) following EXPAREL administration were nausea, vomiting, constipation, hypotension, anemia, muscle twitching, vision blurred, pruritus, and tachycardia.

The common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 2% to less than 10%) following EXPAREL administration were bradycardia, muscle spasms, tachypnea, hypoesthesia oral, anemia postoperative, dizziness, pyrexia, diarrhea, hypoacusis, hypoesthesia, back pain, hematuria, incontinence, muscular weakness, and visual impairment.

The less common or rare adverse reactions (incidence less than 2%) following EXPAREL administration were flatulence, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, lip swelling, pain in extremity, musculoskeletal pain, flank pain, musculoskeletal chest pain, hypertension, sinus tachycardia, ventricular extrasystoles, dysgeusia, paresthesia, burning sensation, syncope, diplopia, eye swelling, dyspnea, atelectasis, hypopnea, hypoxia, chest pain, face edema, gait disturbance, pruritus generalized, rash, delayed recovery from anesthesia, fall, incision site hemorrhage, joint dislocation, seroma, hypomagnesemia, acidosis, hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, ear discomfort, urine output decreased, heart rate increased, anxiety, panic attack, ear infection, and wound infection fungal.

Neurological and Cardiac Adverse Reactions

In the EXPAREL infiltration studies, adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Nervous System Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were dizziness (6.3%, n=5), and dysgeusia (1.3%, n=1). The adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Cardiac Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were tachycardia (11.3%, n=9), bradycardia (8.8%, n=7), sinus tachycardia (1.3%, n=1), and ventricular extrasystoles (1.3%, n=1).

Adverse Reactions Reported in All Local Infiltration Trials in Pediatric Patients Aged 6 to Less than 17 Years Old

Adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 2% reported by patients in clinical studies studying 4 mg/kg EXPAREL are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions (TEAE) with an Incidence Greater than or Equal to 2%: Local Infiltration Studies in Pediatric Patients Aged 6 to Less than 17 Years Old:

^a Study 1: Includes spine surgery subjects aged 6 to less than 17 years old, and cardiac surgery subjects aged 6 to less than 12 years old.
^b Study 2: Includes spine surgery subjects aged 12 to less than 17 years old.
^c Patients received EXPAREL 4 mg/kg, not to exceed 266 mg.At each level of summation (overall, system organ class, preferred term), patients are only counted once.Preferred terms are included where at least 2% of patients reported the event in any treatment group.TEAE = treatment-emergent adverse event.

Adverse Reactions Reported in All Nerve Block Clinical Studies

The safety of EXPAREL was evaluated in four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nerve block clinical studies involving 469 patients undergoing various surgical procedures. Patients were administered a dose of either 133 or 266 mg of EXPAREL. In these studies, the most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 10%) following EXPAREL administration were nausea, pyrexia, and constipation.

The common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 2% to less than 10%) following EXPAREL administration as a nerve block were muscle twitching, dysgeusia, urinary retention, fatigue, headache, confusional state, hypotension, hypertension, hypoesthesia oral, pruritus generalized, hyperhidrosis, tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, anxiety, fall, body temperature increased, edema peripheral, sensory loss, hepatic enzyme increased, hiccups, hypoxia, and post-procedural hematoma.

The less common/rare adverse reactions (incidence less than 2%) following EXPAREL administration as a nerve block were arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block first degree, bradycardia, bundle branch block left, bundle branch block right, cardiac arrest, hearing impaired, vision blurred, visual impairment, asthenia, chills, hyperthermia, cellulitis, lung infection, pneumonia, procedural nausea, wound dehiscence, wound secretion, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, white blood cell count increased, arthralgia, back pain, joint swelling, mobility decreased, muscle spasms, muscular weakness, musculoskeletal pain, paraesthesia, presyncope, sedation, somnolence, syncope, delirium, dysuria, urinary incontinence, atelectasis, cough, dyspnea, lung infiltration, blister, drug eruption, erythema, rash, urticaria, deep vein thrombosis, hematoma, and orthostatic hypotension.

Adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 2% reported by patients in clinical studies comparing 10 mL EXPAREL 1.3% (133 mg) and 20 mL EXPAREL 1.3% (266 mg) to placebo are shown in Table 3.

Neurological and Cardiac Adverse Reactions

In the EXPAREL nerve block studies, adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Nervous System Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were motor dysfunction (14.9%), dysgeusia (7.2%), headache (5.1%), hypoesthesia (2.3%), and sensory loss (2.3%). The adverse reactions with an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in the Cardiac Disorders system organ class following EXPAREL administration were tachycardia (3.0%), sinus tachycardia (2.3%), and bradycardia (1.3%).

Table 3. Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions with an Incidence Greater than or Equal to 2%: Nerve Block Placebo-Controlled Studies:

At each level of summation (overall, system organ class, preferred term), patients are only counted once.Preferred terms are included where at least 2% of patients reported the event in any treatment group.
TEAE = treatment-emergent adverse event.

Because adverse reactions reported during postmarketing 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.

These adverse reactions are consistent with those observed in clinical studies and most commonly involve the following system organ classes (SOCs): Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications (e.g., drug-drug interaction, procedural pain), Nervous System Disorders (e.g., palsy, seizure), General Disorders And Administration Site Conditions (e.g., lack of efficacy, pain), Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders (e.g., erythema, rash), and Cardiac Disorders (e.g., bradycardia, cardiac arrest).

The toxic effects of local anesthetics are additive and their co-administration should be used with caution including monitoring for neurologic and cardiovascular effects related to local anesthetic systemic toxicity [See Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Overdosage (10)]. Avoid additional use of local anesthetics within 96 hours following administration of EXPAREL.

Patients who are administered local anesthetics may be at increased risk of developing methemoglobinemia when concurrently exposed to the following drugs, which could include other local anesthetics:

Examples of Drugs Associated with Methemoglobinemia:

Bupivacaine

Bupivacaine HCl administered together with EXPAREL may impact the pharmacokinetic and/or physicochemical properties of EXPAREL, and this effect is concentration dependent. Therefore, bupivacaine HCl and EXPAREL may be administered simultaneously in the same syringe, and bupivacaine HCl may be injected immediately before EXPAREL as long as the ratio of the milligram dose of bupivacaine HCl solution to EXPAREL does not exceed 1:2.

Non-Bupivacaine Local Anesthetics

EXPAREL should not be admixed with local anesthetics other than bupivacaine. Non-bupivacaine based local anesthetics, including lidocaine, may cause an immediate release of bupivacaine from EXPAREL if administered together locally. The administration of EXPAREL may follow the administration of lidocaine after a delay of 20 minutes or more. There are no data to support administration of other local anesthetics prior to administration of EXPAREL.

Other than bupivacaine as noted above, EXPAREL should not be admixed with other drugs prior to administration.

Water and Hypotonic Agents

Do not dilute EXPAREL with water or other hypotonic agents, as it will result in disruption of the liposomal particles.

Risk Summary

There are no studies conducted with EXPAREL in pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, embryo-fetal deaths were observed with subcutaneous administration of bupivacaine to rabbits during organogenesis at a dose equivalent to 1.6 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 266 mg. Subcutaneous administration of bupivacaine to rats from implantation through weaning produced decreased pup survival at a dose equivalent to 1.5 times the MRHD [see Data]. Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risks to a fetus.

The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.

Clinical Considerations

Labor or Delivery

Bupivacaine is contraindicated for obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. While EXPAREL has not been studied with this technique, the use of bupivacaine for obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia has resulted in fetal bradycardia and death.

Bupivacaine can rapidly cross the placenta, and when used for epidural, caudal, or pudendal block anesthesia, can cause varying degrees of maternal, fetal, and neonatal toxicity [See Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. The incidence and degree of toxicity depend upon the procedure performed, the type, and amount of drug used, and the technique of drug administration. Adverse reactions in the parturient, fetus, and neonate involve alterations of the central nervous system, peripheral vascular tone, and cardiac function.

Data

Animal Data

Bupivacaine hydrochloride was administered subcutaneously to rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis (implantation to closure of the hard plate). Rat doses were 4.4, 13.3, and 40 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 0.2, 0.5 and 1.5 times the MRHD, respectively, based on the BSA comparisons and a 60 kg human weight) and rabbit doses were 1.3, 5.8, and 22.2 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 0.1, 0.4 and 1.6 times the MRHD, respectively, based on the BSA comparisons and a 60 kg human weight). No embryo-fetal effects were observed in rats at the doses tested with the high dose causing increased maternal lethality. An increase in embryo-fetal deaths was observed in rabbits at the high dose in the absence of maternal toxicity.

Decreased pup survival was noted at 1.5 times the MRHD in a rat pre- and post-natal development study when pregnant animals were administered subcutaneous doses of 4.4, 13.3, and 40 mg/kg/day bupivacaine hydrochloride (equivalent to 0.2, 0.5 and 1.5 times the MRHD, respectively, based on the BSA comparisons and a 60 kg human weight) from implantation through weaning (during pregnancy and lactation).

Risk Summary

Limited published literature reports that bupivacaine and its metabolite, pipecoloxylidide, are present in human milk at low levels. There is no available information on effects of the drug in the breastfed infant or effects of the drug on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for EXPAREL and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from EXPAREL or from the underlying maternal condition.

The safety and effectiveness of EXPAREL for single-dose infiltration to produce postsurgical local anesthesia have been established in pediatric patients aged 6 years and older. Use of EXPAREL for this indication is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies in adults with additional pharmacokinetic and safety data in pediatric patients aged 6 years and older [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3), and Clinical Studies (14.3)].

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients aged less than 6 years old for local infiltration or less than 18 years old for interscalene brachial plexus nerve block.

Of the total number of patients in the EXPAREL local infiltration clinical studies (N=823), 171 patients were greater than or equal to 65 years of age and 47 patients were greater than or equal to 75 years of age. Of the total number of patients in the EXPAREL nerve block clinical studies (N=531), 241 patients were greater than or equal to 65 years of age and 60 patients were greater than or equal to 75 years of age. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients. Clinical experience with EXPAREL has not identified differences in efficacy or safety between elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

In clinical studies, differences in various pharmacokinetic parameters have been observed between elderly and younger patients. Bupivacaine is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to bupivacaine may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, this should be considered when performing dose selection of EXPAREL.

Bupivacaine is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. This should be considered when performing dose selection of EXPAREL.

Amide-type local anesthetics, such as bupivacaine, are metabolized by the liver. Patients with severe hepatic disease, because of their inability to metabolize local anesthetics normally, are at a greater risk of developing toxic plasma concentrations, and potentially local anesthetic systemic toxicity. Therefore, consider increased monitoring for local anesthetic systemic toxicity in subjects with moderate to severe hepatic disease.