Aplenzin

APLENZIN is an aminoketone antidepressant, indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Periodically reevaluate long-term usefulness for the individual patient.

• •Increase dose gradually to reduce seizure risk.

• •Starting dose: 174 mg once daily (equivalent to 150 mg bupropion HCl). Usual target dose: 348 mg once daily (equivalent to 300 mg bupropion HCl).
• •After 4 days, may increase the dose to 348 mg once daily.

• •Initiate treatment in the autumn prior to onset of seasonal depressive symptoms.
• •Starting dose: 174 mg once daily (equivalent to 150 mg bupropion HCl). Usual target dose: 348 mg once daily (equivalent to 300 mg bupropion HCl).
• •After one week, may increase the dose to 348 mg once daily.
• •Continue treatment through the winter season.

• •Moderate to severe hepatic impairment: Maximum dose 174 mg every other day
• •Mild hepatic impairment: Consider reducing the dose and/or frequency of dosing.

• •Consider reducing the dose and/or frequency of dosing.

APLENZIN Extended-Release Tablets, 174 mg of bupropion hydrobromide, are white to off-white, round tablets printed on one side with black ink "BR" over "174".

APLENZIN Extended-Release Tablets, 348 mg of bupropion hydrobromide, are white to off-white, round tablets printed on one side with black ink "BR" over "348".

APLENZIN Extended-Release Tablets, 522 mg of bupropion hydrobromide, are white to off-white, round tablets printed on one side with black ink "BR" over "522".

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants at 1-844-405-6185 or visiting online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants/.

The estimated background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage are unknown for the indicated population. All pregnancies have a background rate 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% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

A prospective, longitudinal study followed 201 pregnant women with a history of major depressive disorder who were euthymic and taking antidepressants during pregnancy at the beginning of pregnancy. The women who discontinued antidepressants during pregnancy were more likely to experience a relapse of major depression than women who continued antidepressants. Consider the risks to the mother of untreated depression and potential effects on the fetus when discontinuing or changing treatment with antidepressant medications during pregnancy and postpartum.

Data from the international bupropion Pregnancy Registry (675 first trimester exposures) and a retrospective cohort study using the United Healthcare database (1,213 first trimester exposures) did not show an increased risk for malformations overall. The Registry was not designed or powered to evaluate specific defects but suggested a possible increase in cardiac malformations.

No increased risk for cardiovascular malformations overall has been observed after bupropion exposure during the first trimester. The prospectively observed rate of cardiovascular malformations in pregnancies with exposure to bupropion in the first trimester from the international Pregnancy Registry was 1.3% (9 cardiovascular malformations/675 first-trimester maternal bupropion exposures), which is similar to the background rate of cardiovascular malformations (approximately 1%). Data from the United Healthcare database, which has a limited number of exposed cases with cardiovascular malformations, and a case-controlled study (6,853 infants with cardiovascular malformations and 5,753 with non-cardiovascular malformations) from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) did not show an increased risk for cardiovascular malformations overall after bupropion exposure during the first trimester.

Study findings on bupropion exposure during the first trimester and risk left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) are inconsistent and do not allow conclusions regarding possible association. The United Healthcare database lacked sufficient power to evaluate this association; the NBDPS found increased risk for LVOTO (n = 10; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.6; 95% CI 1.2, 5.7) and the Slone Epidemiology case control study did not find increased risk for LVOTO.

Study findings on bupropion exposure during the first trimester and risk for ventricular septal defect (VSD) are inconsistent and do not allow conclusions regarding a possible association. The Slone Epidemiology Study found an increased risk for VSD following first trimester maternal bupropion exposure (n = 17; adjusted OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.0) but did not find an increased risk for any other cardiovascular malformations studied (including LVOTO as above). The NBDPS and United Healthcare database study did not find an association between first trimester maternal bupropion exposure and VSD.

For the findings of LVOTO and VSD, the studies were limited by the small number of exposed cases, inconsistent findings among studies, and the potential for chance findings from multiple comparisons in case control studies.

In studies conducted in pregnant rats and rabbits, bupropion was administered orally during the period of organogenesis at doses of up to 450 and 150 mg/kg/day, respectively (approximately 10 and 6 times the MRHD, respectively, on a mg/m² basis). There was no evidence of fetal malformations in rats. When given to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis, non-dose-related increases in incidence of fetal malformations and skeletal variations were observed at the lowest dose tested (25 mg/kg/day, approximately equal to the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and greater. Decreased fetal weights were observed at 50 mg/kg (approximately 2 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and greater. No maternal toxicity was evident at doses of 50/mg/kg/day or less.

In a pre- and postnatal development study, bupropion administered orally to pregnant rats at doses of up to 150 mg/kg/day (approximately 6 times the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) from embryonic implantation through lactation, had no effect on pup growth or development.