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ARISTADA is a brand name for Aripiprazole Lauroxil. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ARISTADA is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )]. ARISTADA is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults ( 1 ).
Verbatim from this product's FDA label. Tap a section to expand.
1 ). 1 ).
There are two options for initiating treatment with ARISTADA:
Option #1: Administer one injection of 675 mg of ARISTADA INITIO ® and one 30 mg dose of oral aripiprazole in conjunction with the first ARISTADA injection. 1 ). 1 ). 1 ). 2 ). 4 ). 1 Recommended Dosage ARISTADA is only to be administered as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional.
For patients who have never taken aripiprazole, establish tolerability with oral aripiprazole prior to initiating treatment with ARISTADA. Due to the half-life of oral aripiprazole, it may take up to 2 weeks to fully assess tolerability.
Refer to the prescribing information of oral aripiprazole for the recommended dosage and administration of the oral formulation.
There are two ways to initiate treatment with ARISTADA:
Option #1: Administer one intramuscular injection of ARISTADA INITIO 675 mg (in either the deltoid or gluteal muscle) and one dose of oral aripiprazole 30 mg in conjunction with the first ARISTADA injection. The first ARISTADA injection may be administered on the same day as ARISTADA INITIO or up to 10 days thereafter.
See the ARISTADA INITIO prescribing information for additional information regarding administration of ARISTADA INITIO. Avoid injecting both ARISTADA INITIO and ARISTADA concomitantly into the same deltoid or gluteal muscle.
Option #2:
Administer 21 consecutive days of oral aripiprazole in conjunction with the first ARISTADA injection. Depending on individual patient's needs, treatment with ARISTADA can be initiated at a dose of 441 mg, 662 mg or 882 mg administered monthly, 882 mg administered every 6 weeks or 1064 mg administered every 2 months.
1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alkermes, Inc. gov/medwatch . 1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
ARISTADA Patient Exposure ARISTADA has been evaluated for safety in 1180 adult patients in clinical trials in schizophrenia. Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions The most common adverse reaction (incidence ≥5% and at least twice the rate of placebo in patients treated with ARISTADA) was akathisia.
Adverse Reactions Occurring at an Incidence of 2% or More in ARISTADA-Treated Patients Adverse reactions associated with the use of ARISTADA (incidence of 2% or greater, rounded to the nearest percent and ARISTADA incidence greater than placebo) that occurred are shown in Table 8 .
Table 8:
Adverse Reaction in 2% or More of ARISTADA-Treated Patients and That Occurred at Greater Incidence than in the Placebo-Treated Patients in the 12-Week, Placebo-Controlled, Fixed-Dose Schizophrenia Trial Adverse Reaction System Organ Class Preferred Term Placebo N=207 (%) Aripiprazole Lauroxil 441 mg N=207 (%) 882 mg N=208 (%) General disorders and administration site conditions Injection site pain 2 3 4 Investigations Increased weight 1 2 2 Increased blood creatine phosphokinase 0 2 1 Nervous system disorders Akathisia 4 11 11 Headache 3 3 5 Psychiatric disorders Insomnia 2 3 4 Restlessness 1 3 1 In an open label pharmacokinetic study, the adverse reactions associated with the use of 441 mg monthly, 882 mg every 6 weeks, and 1064 mg every 2 months were similar across the dose groups.
Injection Site Reactions Injection site reactions were reported by 4% of patients treated with 441 mg ARISTADA and 5% of patients treated with 882 mg ARISTADA compared to 2% of patients treated with placebo. Most of these were injection site pain (3%, 4% and 2% in the 441 mg ARISTADA, 882 mg ARISTADA and placebo groups, respectively) and most were associated with the first injection, and decreased with each subsequent injection to less than or equal to 1% for both doses of ARISTADA and placebo.
2 ).
Potential for Dosing and Medication Errors :
Substitution and dispensing errors between ARISTADA and ARISTADA INITIO could occur. 3 ). 4 ). 5 ). 6 ). 7 ). 8 ).
Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis :
Perform complete blood counts in patients with a history of a clinically significant low white blood cell (WBC) count. 10 ). 11 ). 12 ). 1 Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death.
7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. 6% in the placebo group. , pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality.
The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. 2 )]. 2 Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions, Including Stroke In placebo-controlled trials with risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine in elderly patients with dementia, there was a higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks) including fatalities compared to placebo-treated patients.
1 )]. 3 Potential for Dosing and Medication Errors Medication errors, including substitution and dispensing errors, between ARISTADA and ARISTADA INITIO could occur. 1 )] . 3 )]. 4 Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome A potentially fatal symptom complex sometimes referred to as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) may occur in association with antipsychotic drugs, including ARISTADA.
Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure.
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ARISTADA is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity reaction to aripiprazole. Hypersensitivity reactions have ranged from pruritus/urticaria to anaphylaxis [see Adverse Reactions ( 6 )]. Known hypersensitivity to aripiprazole ( 4 )
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3 )].
Table 1:
ARISTADA Dosing Frequency and Site of Injection Dose Dosing Frequency Site of Intramuscular Injection 441 mg Monthly Deltoid or Gluteal 662 mg Monthly Gluteal 882 mg Monthly or every 6 weeks Gluteal 1064 mg Every 2 months Gluteal Use the following ARISTADA doses for patients who are stabilized on oral aripiprazole, as shown in Table 2 .
1 )]. Adjust the ARISTADA dose as needed. 3 )]. 2 Missed Doses When a dose of ARISTADA is missed, administer the next injection of ARISTADA as soon as possible. Depending on the time elapsed since the last ARISTADA injection, supplement the next ARISTADA injection as recommended in Table 3 below.
Table 3:
Recommendation for Concomitant Supplementation Following Missed Doses of ARISTADA Dose of Patient's Last ARISTADA Injection Length of Time Since Last Injection a The patient should supplement with the same dose of oral aripiprazole as when the patient began ARISTADA (see Table 2 ).
3 Early Dosing The recommended ARISTADA dosing interval is monthly for the 441 mg, 662 mg and 882 mg doses, every 6 weeks for the 882 mg dose, or every 2 months for the 1064 mg dose and should be maintained. In the event of early dosing, an ARISTADA injection should not be given earlier than 14 days after the previous injection.
4 Dose Adjustments for CYP450 Considerations Refer to the prescribing information for oral aripiprazole for recommendations regarding dosage adjustments due to drug interactions, for the first 21 days when the patient is taking 21 days of oral aripiprazole concomitantly with the first dose of ARISTADA.
Avoid initiating ARISTADA treatment with ARISTADA INITIO in patients requiring dose adjustments. Once stabilized on ARISTADA, refer to the dosing recommendations below for patients taking strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, or strong CYP3A4 inducers: No dosage changes recommended for ARISTADA, if CYP450 modulators are added for less than 2 weeks.
Make dose changes to ARISTADA if CYP450 modulators are added for greater than 2 weeks (see Table 4 ).
Table 4:
ARISTADA Dose Adjustments with Concomitant CYP450 Modulator Use Concomitant Medicine Dose Change for ARISTADA a a For the 882 mg dose administered every 6 weeks and the 1064 mg administered every 2 months, the next lower strength should be 441 mg administered monthly.
Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitor Reduce the dose of ARISTADA to the next lower strength. No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients taking 441 mg ARISTADA, if tolerated.
For patients known to be poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 :
Reduce dose to 441 mg from 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1064 mg. No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients taking 441 mg ARISTADA, if tolerated. Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitor Reduce the dose of ARISTADA to the next lower strength. No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients taking 441 mg ARISTADA, if tolerated.
For patients known to be poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 :
No dose adjustment required. Both Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitor and Strong CYP2D6 Inhibitor Avoid use for patients at 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1064 mg dose. No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients taking 441 mg ARISTADA, if tolerated. CYP3A4 Inducers No dose adjustment for 662 mg, 882 mg, or 1064 mg dose; increase the 441 mg dose to 662 mg.
5 Important Administration Instructions The kit contains a syringe containing ARISTADA sterile aqueous extended-release injectable suspension and 2 or 3 safety needles depending on dose (a 2-inch 20 gauge needle with yellow needle hub, a 1 ½-inch 20 gauge needle with yellow needle hub, and a 1-inch 21 gauge needle with green needle hub (441 mg kit only)) for intramuscular injection.
All materials should be stored at room temperature. A | 5 mL syringe containing ARISTADA sterile aqueous extended-release injectable suspension B | 20 gauge needle, 2-inch with yellow needle hub C | 20 gauge needle, 1½-inch with yellow needle hub D | 21 gauge needle, 1-inch with green needle hub 1.
TAP and vigorously SHAKE the syringe. 1a. Tap the syringe at least 10 times to dislodge any material which may have settled. 1b. Shake the syringe vigorously for a minimum of 30 seconds to ensure a uniform suspension. If the syringe is not used within 15 minutes, shake again for 30 seconds.
2. SELECT the injection needle. 2a. Select injection site. 2b. Select needle length based on injection site. For patients with a larger amount of subcutaneous tissue overlaying the injection site muscle, use the longer of the needles provided.
1 )] 3. ATTACH the injection needle. Attach the appropriate needle securely with a clockwise twisting motion. Do NOT overtighten. Overtightening could lead to needle hub cracking. 4. PRIME the syringe to remove air. 4a. Bring the syringe into upright position and tap the syringe to bring air to the top.
4b. Depress the plunger rod to remove air until a few drops are released. It is normal to see small air bubbles remaining in the syringe. 5. Inject in a RAPID and CONTINUOUS manner. Product requires a RAPID injection. Do not hesitate. Administer the entire content intramuscularly.
Do not inject by any other route. 6. DISPOSE of the needle. Cover the needle by pressing the safety device. Dispose of used and unused items in a proper waste container. Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure
Other injection site reactions (induration, swelling and redness) occurred at less than 1%. In an open label pharmacokinetic study evaluating 441 mg monthly, 882 mg every 6 weeks, and 1064 mg every 2 months, injection site reactions were similar across the dose groups.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms In the 12-week schizophrenia efficacy study [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] , for ARISTADA-treated patients, the incidence of other EPS-related events, excluding akathisia and restlessness, was 5% and 7% for patients on 441 mg and 882 mg, respectively, versus 4% for placebo-treated patient ( Table 9 ).
Table 9:
Incidence of EPS Compared to Placebo ARISTADA Adverse Reaction Term Placebo N=207 (%) 441 mg N=207 (%) 882 mg N=208 (%) Akathisia 4 11 11 Restlessness 1 3 1 Other EPS 4 5 7 Dystonia 1 2 2 Parkinsonism 3 3 4 Dystonia Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment.
Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs.
An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups. Other Adverse Reactions Observed in Clinical Studies The following listing does not include reactions: 1) already listed in previous tables or elsewhere in labeling, 2) for which a drug cause was remote, 3) which were so general as to be uninformative, 4) which were not considered to have significant clinical implications, or 5) which occurred at a rate equal to or less than placebo.
Cardiac – angina pectoris, tachycardia, palpitations Gastrointestinal disorders – constipation, dry mouth General disorders – asthenia Musculoskeletal – muscular weakness Nervous system disorders – dizziness Psychiatric disorders – anxiety, suicide Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical Trials with Oral Aripiprazole The following is a list of additional adverse reactions that have been reported in clinical trials with oral aripiprazole and not reported above for ARISTADA.
2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of oral aripiprazole. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: occurrences of allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction, angioedema, laryngospasm, pruritus/urticaria, or oropharyngeal spasm), pathological gambling, hiccups, blood glucose fluctuation, oculogyric crisis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and fecal incontinence.
The diagnostic evaluation of patients with this syndrome is complicated. ) and untreated or inadequately treated extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (EPS). Other important considerations in the differential diagnosis include central anticholinergic toxicity, heat stroke, drug fever, and primary central nervous system pathology.
The management of NMS should include: (1) immediate discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs and other drugs not essential to concurrent therapy; (2) intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring; and (3) treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems for which specific treatments are available.
There is no general agreement about specific pharmacological treatment regimens for uncomplicated NMS. If a patient appears to require antipsychotic drug treatment after recovery from NMS, reintroduction of drug therapy should be closely monitored, since recurrences of NMS have been reported.
5 Tardive Dyskinesia A syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. Although the prevalence of the syndrome appears to be highest among the elderly, especially elderly women, it is impossible to predict which patients will develop the syndrome.
Whether antipsychotic drug products differ in their potential to cause tardive dyskinesia is unknown. The risk of developing tardive dyskinesia and the likelihood that it will become irreversible appear to increase as the duration of treatment and the total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase, but the syndrome can develop after relatively brief treatment periods at low doses, although this is uncommon.
Tardive dyskinesia may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Antipsychotic treatment itself may suppress (or partially suppress) the signs and symptoms of the syndrome and may thus mask the underlying process.
The effect of symptomatic suppression on the long-term course of the syndrome is unknown. Given these considerations, ARISTADA should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia. Chronic antipsychotic treatment should generally be reserved for patients who suffer from a chronic illness that is known to respond to antipsychotic drugs.
In patients who do require chronic treatment, the smallest dose and the shortest duration of treatment producing a satisfactory clinical response should be sought. The need for continued treatment should be reassessed periodically. If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in a patient treated with ARISTADA drug discontinuation should be considered.
However, some patients may require treatment with ARISTADA despite the presence of the syndrome. 6 Metabolic Changes Atypical antipsychotic drugs have been associated with metabolic changes that include hyperglycemia/diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and weight gain.
While all drugs in the class have been shown to produce some metabolic changes, each drug has its own specific risk profile. Hyperglycemia/ Diabetes Mellitus Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.
There have been reports of hyperglycemia in patients treated with oral aripiprazole. Assessment of the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and glucose abnormalities is complicated by the possibility of an increased background risk of diabetes mellitus in patients with schizophrenia and the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in the general population.
Given these confounders, the relationship between atypical antipsychotic use and hyperglycemia-related adverse events is not completely understood. However, epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of hyperglycemia-related adverse reactions in patients treated with the atypical antipsychotics.
Patients with an established diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who are started on atypical antipsychotics should be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose control. , obesity, family history of diabetes) who are starting treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of treatment and periodically during treatment.
Any patient treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia including polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weakness. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia during treatment with atypical antipsychotics should undergo fasting blood glucose testing.
In some cases, hyperglycemia has resolved when the atypical antipsychotic was discontinued; however, some patients require continuation of anti-diabetic treatment despite discontinuation of the suspect drug. 7%) post-baseline. Dyslipidemia Undesirable alterations in lipids have been observed in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.
In the long-term, open-label schizophrenia study with ARISTADA, shifts in baseline fasting total cholesterol from normal (<200 mg/dL) to high (≥240 mg/dL) were reported in 1% of patients; shifts in baseline fasting LDL cholesterol from normal (<100 mg/dL) to high (≥160 mg/dL) were reported in 1% of patients; and shifts in baseline fasting triglycerides from normal (<150 mg/dL) to high (≥200 mg/dL) were reported in 8% of patients.
In the same study, shifts in baseline fasting total cholesterol from borderline (≥ 200 mg/dL and <240 mg/dL) to high (≥240 mg/dL) were reported in 15% of patients; shifts in baseline fasting LDL cholesterol from borderline (≥100 mg/dL and <160 mg/dL) to high (≥160 mg/dL) were reported in 8% of patients; and shifts in baseline fasting triglycerides from borderline (≥150 mg/dL and <200 mg/dL) to high (≥200 mg/dL) were reported in 35% of patients.
In addition, the proportion of patients with shifts in fasting HDL cholesterol from normal (≥40 mg/dL) to low (<40 mg/dL) was reported in 15% of patients. Weight Gain Weight gain has been observed with atypical antipsychotic use. Clinical monitoring of weight is recommended.
The proportion of adult patients with weight gain ≥7% of body weight is presented in Table 7 . 7 Pathological Gambling and Other Compulsive Behaviors Post-marketing case reports suggest that patients can experience intense urges, particularly for gambling, and the inability to control these urges while taking aripiprazole.
Other compulsive urges, reported less frequently include: sexual urges, shopping, eating or binge eating, and other impulsive or compulsive behaviors. Because patients may not recognize these behaviors as abnormal, it is important for prescribers to ask patients or their caregivers specifically about the development of new or intense gambling urges, compulsive sexual urges, compulsive shopping, binge or compulsive eating, or other urges while being treated with aripiprazole.
It should be noted that impulse-control symptoms can be associated with the underlying disorder. In some cases, although not all, urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or the medication was discontinued. Compulsive behaviors may result in harm for the patient and others if not recognized.
Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges. 8 Orthostatic Hypotension Aripiprazole may cause orthostatic hypotension, perhaps due to its α 1 -adrenergic receptor antagonism. Associated adverse reactions related to orthostatic hypotension can include dizziness, lightheadedness and tachycardia.
Generally, these risks are greatest at the beginning of treatment and during dose escalation. , heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemia, or conduction abnormalities), history of cerebrovascular disease, as well as patients who are antipsychotic-naïve.
In such patients, consider using a lower starting dose, and monitor orthostatic vital signs. 5%) and no patients in the ARISTADA 441 mg and placebo groups in the 12-week schizophrenia efficacy study [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . 2%) patient treated with ARISTADA.
Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥20 mmHg accompanied by an increase in heart rate ≥25 bpm when comparing standing to supine values. 9 Falls Antipsychotics including ARISTADA may cause somnolence, postural hypotension, or motor and sensory instability, which may lead to falls and, consequently, fractures or other injuries.
For patients with diseases, conditions, or medications that could exacerbate these effects, complete fall risk assessments when initiating antipsychotic treatment and recurrently for those patients on long-term antipsychotic therapy.
10 Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis In clinical trials and/or postmarketing experience, events of leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported temporally related to antipsychotic agents. Agranulocytosis has also been reported.
Possible risk factors for leukopenia/neutropenia include pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC)/absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and history of drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia. In patients with a history of a clinically significant low WBC/ANC or drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia, perform a complete blood count (CBC) frequently during the first few months of therapy.
In such patients, consider discontinuation of ARISTADA at the first sign of a clinical significant decline in WBC in the absence of other causative factors. Monitor patients with clinically significant neutropenia for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection and treat promptly if such symptoms or signs occur.
Discontinue ARISTADA in patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1000/mm 3 ) and follow their WBC until recovery. 11 Seizures As with other antipsychotic drugs, use ARISTADA cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold.
Conditions that lower the seizure threshold may be more prevalent in a population of 65 years or older. 12 Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment ARISTADA, like other antipsychotics, has the potential to impair judgment, thinking or motor skills.
Patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that therapy with ARISTADA does not affect them adversely. 13 Body Temperature Regulation Disruption of the body's ability to reduce core body temperature has been attributed to antipsychotic agents.
, exercising strenuously, exposure to extreme heat, receiving concomitant medication with anticholinergic activity, or being subject to dehydration). 14 Dysphagia Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotic drug use.
ARISTADA and other antipsychotic drugs should be used cautiously in patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia.