ZUNVEYL Delayed release tablet Ref.[116136] Active ingredients: Galantamine

5.1 Serious Skin Reactions

Serious skin reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis) have been reported in patients receiving galantamine (the active metabolite of (ZUNVEYL) tablets. Inform patients and caregivers that the use of ZUNVEYL tablets should be discontinued at the first appearance of a skin rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug-related. If signs or symptoms suggest a serious skin reaction, use of this drug should not be resumed, and alternative therapy should be considered [see Contraindications (4)].

5.2 Anesthesia

ZUNVEYL, as a cholinesterase inhibitor, is likely to increase the neuromuscular blocking effects of succinylcholine-type and similar neuromuscular blocking agents during anesthesia.

5.3 Cardiovascular Conditions

Because of their pharmacological action, cholinesterase inhibitors, including ZUNVEYL, have vagotonic effects on the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, leading to bradycardia and AV block. Bradycardia and all types of heart block have been reported in patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors, both with and without known underlying cardiac conduction abnormalities. Therefore, all patients should be considered at risk for adverse effects on cardiac conduction.

Patients treated with galantamine up to 24 mg/day using the recommended dosing schedule showed a dose-related increase in risk of syncope (placebo 0.7% [2/286]; 4 mg twice daily 0.4% [3/692]; 8 mg twice daily 1.3% [7/552]; 12 mg twice daily 2.2% [6/273]).

5.4 Gastrointestinal Conditions

Through their primary action, cholinomimetics, including ZUNVEYL, may be expected to increase gastric acid secretion because of increased cholinergic activity. Therefore, patients should be monitored closely for symptoms of active or occult gastrointestinal bleeding, especially those with an increased risk for developing ulcers (e.g., those with a history of ulcer disease or patients using concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]). Clinical studies of galantamine have shown no increase, relative to placebo, in the incidence of either peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding.

Galantamine, as a predictable consequence of its pharmacological properties, has been shown to produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Monitor the patient's weight during therapy with ZUNVEYL.

5.5 Genitourinary Conditions

Although this was not observed in clinical trials with galantamine, cholinomimetics, including ZUNVEYL, may cause bladder outflow obstruction.

5.6 Neurological Conditions

Cholinesterase inhibitors are believed to have some potential to cause generalized convulsions [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Seizure activity may also be a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. Patients with Alzheimer's disease should be monitored closely for seizures while taking ZUNVEYL.

5.7 Pulmonary Conditions

Because of its cholinomimetic action, ZUNVEYL should be prescribed with care to patients with a history of severe asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease. Respiratory function should be monitored closely for the occurrence of respiratory adverse reactions.

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in more detail elsewhere in the labeling:

• Serious Skin Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Cardiovascular Conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
• Gastrointestinal Conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
• Genitourinary Conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
• Neurological Conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
• Pulmonary Conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]

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.

The safety of ZUNVEYL has been established in studies of galantamine immediate-release tablets and galantamine extended-release capsules [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Below is a display of the adverse reactions of galantamine in these studies.

Galantamine Extended-Release Capsules and Immediate-Release Tablets

The safety of the extended-release capsule and immediate-release tablet formulations of galantamine was evaluated in 3956 galantamine-treated patients who participated in 8 placebocontrolled clinical studies and 1454 patients in 5 open-label clinical studies with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type. In clinical studies, the safety profile of once-daily treatment with extended-release galantamine was similar in frequency and nature to that seen with immediate-release galantamine. The information presented in this section was derived from pooled double-blind studies and from pooled open-label data.

Commonly-Observed Adverse Reactions in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials of Galantamine

The most common adverse reactions in galantamine-treated patients from double-blind clinical trials (≥5%) were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and decreased appetite.

Table 1 lists the adverse reactions reported in ≥1% of galantamine-treated patients in 8 placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials.

Table 1. Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥1% of Galantamine-Treated Patients in 8 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trials:

The majority of these adverse reactions occurred during the dose-escalation period. In those patients who experienced the most frequent adverse reaction, nausea, the median duration of the nausea was 5-7 days.

Other Adverse Reactions Observed in Clinical Trials of Galantamine

The following adverse reactions occurred in <1% of all galantamine-treated patients (N=3956) in the above double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial data sets. In addition, the following also includes all adverse reactions reported at any frequency rate in patients (N=1454) who participated in open-label studies.

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Dehydration

Nervous System Disorders: Dysgeusia, Hypersomnia, Paresthesia

Eye Disorders: Blurred vision

Cardiac Disorders: First degree atrioventricular block, Palpitations, Sinus bradycardia, Supraventricular extrasystoles

Vascular Disorders: Flushing, Hypotension

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Retching

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Hyperhidrosis

Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Muscular weakness

Discontinuations Due to Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials of Galantamine

In the 8 placebo-controlled studies of adults, 418 (10.6%) galantamine-treated patients (N=3956) and 56 (2.2%) placebo patients (N=2546) discontinued because of an adverse reaction. Those reactions with an incidence of ≥0.5% in the galantamine-treated patients included nausea (6.2%), vomiting (3.3%), decreased appetite (1.5%), dizziness (1.3%), diarrhea (0.8%), headache (0.7%), and decreased weight (0.7%). The only event that caused discontinuation with an incidence of ≥0.5% in placebo patients was nausea (17, 0.7%).

In the 5 open-label studies, 103 (7.1%) patients (N=1454) discontinued because of an adverse reaction. Those reactions that caused discontinuation with an incidence of ≥0.5% included nausea (3.0%), vomiting (1.6%), decreased appetite (0.9%), headache (0.8%), decreased weight (0.6%), dizziness (0.6%), and diarrhea (0.5%).

The following additional adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of galantamine. 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:

Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications (4)]

Psychiatric Disorders: Hallucinations

Nervous System Disorders: Seizures, extrapyramidal disorder [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]

Ear and Labyrinth Disorders: Tinnitus

Cardiac Disorders: Complete atrioventricular block

Vascular Disorders: Hypertension

Hepatobiliary Disorders: Hepatitis, increased hepatic enzyme

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)], erythema multiforme

7.1 Use with Anticholinergics

Galantamine has the potential to interfere with the activity of anticholinergic medications.

7.2 Use with Cholinomimetics and Other Cholinesterase Inhibitors

A synergistic effect is expected when cholinesterase inhibitors are given concurrently with succinylcholine, other cholinesterase inhibitors, similar neuromuscular blocking agents or cholinergic agonists such as bethanechol.

Risk Summary

There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with the use of ZUNVEYL or galantamine in pregnant women. In studies conducted in animals, administration of galantamine during pregnancy resulted in developmental toxicity (increased incidence of morphological abnormalities and decreased growth in offspring) at doses similar to or greater than those used clinically (see Data).

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. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

Data

Animal Data

In rats, administration of galantamine (oral doses of 2, 8, or 16 mg/kg/day), from day 14 (females) or day 60 (males) prior to mating and continuing in females through the period of organogenesis, resulted in an increased incidence of fetal skeletal variations at the two highest doses, which were associated with maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for embryo-fetal developmental toxicity in rats (2 mg/kg/day) is approximately equal to the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 22 mg/day galantamine (equivalent to 30 mg/day benzgalantamine) on a body surface area (mg/m²) basis. When galantamine (oral doses of 4, 12, 28, or 40 mg/kg/day) was administered to pregnant rabbits throughout the period of organogenesis, small increases in fetal visceral malformations and skeletal variations were observed at the highest dose which was associated with maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for embryo-fetal developmental toxicity in rabbits (28 mg/kg/day) is approximately 20 times the MRHD of galantamine on a mg/m² basis. In a study in which pregnant rats were orally dosed with galantamine (2, 8, or 16 mg/kg/day) from the beginning of organogenesis through day 21 post-partum, pup weights were decreased at birth and during the lactation period at the two highest doses. The no-effect dose for pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats (2 mg/kg/day) is approximately equal to the MRHD of galantamine on a mg/m² basis.

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of benzgalantamine or galantamine in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production.

The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for ZUNVEYL and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from ZUNVEYL or from the underlying maternal condition.

The safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Eight double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and 5 open-label trials in a total of 6519 patients have investigated galantamine in the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's type [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14)]. The mean age of patients enrolled in these clinical studies was 75 years; 78% of these patients were between 65 and 84 years of age, and 10% of patients were 85 years of age or older. Clinical studies of galantamine did not include sufficient numbers of younger adult patients to determine if patients 65 years of age and older respond differently than younger adult patients.

In patients with a creatinine clearance of 9 to 59 mL/min, an increase in exposure of galantamine was observed; therefore, a dosage adjustment is recommended [see Dosage and Administration (232) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. The use of ZUNVEYL in patients with creatinine clearance less than 9 mL/min is not recommended.

In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, a decrease in clearance of galantamine was observed; therefore, a dosage adjustment is recommended [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. The use of ZUNVEYL in patients with severe hepatic impairment is not recommended.