Diacomit

Laboratory Tests Prior to First Dose of DIACOMIT

Hematologic testing should be obtained prior to starting treatment with DIACOMIT [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Dosing Information

The recommended oral dosage of DIACOMIT is 50 mg/kg/day, administered in 2 or 3 divided doses (i.e., 16.67 mg/kg three times daily or 25 mg/kg twice daily), depending on the patient’s age and body weight as shown in Table 1. If the exact dosage is not achievable given the available strengths, round to the nearest possible dosage, which is usually within 50 mg to 150 mg of the recommended 50 mg/kg/day. A combination of the two DIACOMIT strengths can be used to achieve this dosage. The maximum recommended total dosage is 3,000 mg/day.

Table 1. Recommended Dosage for Patients 6 Months of Age and Older Weighing 7 kg or More with Dravet Syndrome

a Dosing frequency should not exceed twice daily to limit free water administration.

b Dosing frequency should not exceed twice daily to avoid overexposures.

Important Administration Instructions

DIACOMIT Capsules
DIACOMIT capsules must be swallowed whole with a glass of water during a meal. Capsules should not be broken or opened.

DIACOMIT for Oral Suspension
DIACOMIT should be mixed in a glass of water (100 mL) and should be taken immediately after mixing during a meal. To be sure there is no medicine left in the glass, add a small amount of water (25 mL) to the drinking cup and drink all of the mixture [see Instructions for Use].

Missed Dose

A missed dose should be taken as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, the missed dose should not be taken. Instead, the next scheduled dose should be taken. Doses should not be doubled.

Gradual Withdrawal

As is advisable for most antiepileptic drugs, if DIACOMIT treatment is discontinued, the drug should be withdrawn gradually to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus [see Warnings and Precautions ].

In situations where rapid withdrawal of DIACOMIT is medically required, appropriate monitoring is recommended.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to AEDs, such as DIACOMIT, during pregnancy. Physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking DIACOMIT enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. This can be done by calling the toll free number 1-888-233-2334, and must be done by patients themselves or their caregiver. Information on the registry can also be found at the website http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.

Risk Summary
There are no adequate data on the developmental risks associated with the use of DIACOMIT in pregnant women. Administration of stiripentol to pregnant animals produced evidence of developmental toxicity, including increased incidences of fetal malformations, increased embryofetal and pup mortality, and decreased embryofetal and pup growth, at maternal doses lower than the recommended clinical dose [see Animal Data].

The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in Dravet syndrome is unknown. 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.

Data

Animal Data
Oral administration of stiripentol (0, 50, 200, or 800 mg/kg/day) to pregnant mice throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality and decreased fetal body weights at all doses and an increased incidence of malformations at the high dose, with no evidence of maternal toxicity. The lowest effect dose for developmental toxicity in mice (50 mg/kg/day) was less than the recommended human dose (RHD) of 50 mg/kg/day on a body surface area (mg/m2) basis.

Oral administration of stiripentol (0, 50, 200, or 800 mg/kg/day) to pregnant rabbits throughout organogenesis resulted in increased embryofetal mortality at the mid and high dose and decreased fetal body weights at all doses. The mid and high doses were associated with maternal toxicity. The lowest effect dose for developmental toxicity in rabbits (50 mg/kg/day) was less than the RHD on a mg/m2 basis.

Oral administration of stiripentol (0, 50, 200, or 800 mg/kg/day) to rats throughout pregnancy and lactation resulted in decreased pup survival, decreased pup body weights at birth and throughout lactation, and deficits in pup reflex development at the high dose, which was also associated with maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats (200 mg/kg) was less than the RHD on a mg/m2 basis.

Lactation

Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of stiripentol 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 DIACOMIT and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from DIACOMIT or from the underlying maternal condition.

Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of DIACOMIT have been established for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients taking clobazam who are 6 months and older and weighing 7 kg or more. Use of DIACOMIT in this pediatric population is supported by 2 multicenter placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized studies in patients 3 to 18 years of age with additional pharmacokinetic and safety data in patients 6 months to less than 3 years of age [see Clinical Studies ].

The safety and effectiveness of DIACOMIT have not been established in pediatric patients below the age of 6 months or who weigh less than 7 kg.

Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of DIACOMIT in Dravet syndrome did not include patients ≥65 years of age to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. The possibility of age-associated hepatic and renal function abnormalities should be considered when using DIACOMIT in patients ≥65 years of age [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Renal Impairment

There is no formal study of the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of DIACOMIT in patients with renal impairment. However, since DIACOMIT metabolites are eliminated mainly through the kidney, administration to patients with moderate or severe renal impairment is not recommended.

Hepatic Impairment

There has been no formal study of the pharmacokinetics of DIACOMIT in patients with liver impairment. However, since the drug is mainly metabolized by the liver, administration to patients with moderate or severe liver impairment is not recommended.

Somnolence

DIACOMIT can cause somnolence.  In controlled studies in patients with Dravet syndrome, the incidence of somnolence was 67% in DIACOMIT-treated patients, compared to 23% in patients on placebo. All patients in both groups were on concomitant clobazam, which is also known to cause somnolence. Co-administration of DIACOMIT with clobazam results in increased levels of clobazam and its active metabolite [see Drug Interactions (7.1)]. Other central nervous system CNS depressants, including alcohol, could potentiate the somnolence effect of DIACOMIT.

Prescribers should monitor patients for somnolence. If somnolence occurs during co-administration with clobazam, consider an initial reduction of clobazam by 25%.  If somnolence persists, further clobazam reduction by an additional 25% should be considered, as should adjustment of the dosage of other concomitant anticonvulsant drugs with sedating properties. Prescribers should caution patients against engaging in hazardous activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating dangerous machinery or motor vehicles, until the effect of DIACOMIT on mental alertness is known.

Decreased Appetite and Decreased Weight

DIACOMIT can cause decreases in appetite and weight. In controlled studies in patients with Dravet syndrome, the incidence of decreased appetite was 46% in DIACOMIT-treated patients, compared to 10% in patients on placebo. The incidence of decreased weight was 27% in DIACOMIT-treated patients, compared to 6% in patients on placebo. Nausea and vomiting also occurred more frequently in DIACOMIT-treated patients [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Given the frequency of these adverse reactions, the growth of pediatric patients treated with DIACOMIT should be carefully monitored. In some cases, decreasing the dose of concomitant valproate by 30% per week can reduce the decrease in appetite and weight.

Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia

DIACOMIT can cause a significant decline in neutrophil count. In controlled studies in patients with Dravet syndrome, there were 31 patients treated with DIACOMIT who had both a baseline and end-of-study neutrophil count obtained. A decrease in neutrophil count from normal at baseline to less than 1500 cells/mm3 during the trial was observed in 13% of these DIACOMIT- treated patients, but not in any placebo-treated patients.

DIACOMIT can cause a significant decline in platelet count. In controlled studies in patients with Dravet syndrome, there were 31 patients treated with DIACOMIT who had both a baseline and end-of-study platelet count. A decrease in platelet count from normal at baseline to less than 150,000/µL during the trial was observed in 13% of these DIACOMIT-treated patients, but not in any placebo-treated patients.

Hematologic testing should be obtained prior to starting treatment with DIACOMIT, and then every 6 months.

Withdrawal Symptoms

As with most antiepileptic drugs, DIACOMIT should generally be withdrawn gradually to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus.

In situations where rapid withdrawal of DIACOMIT is required (e.g., in the setting of a serious adverse reaction), appropriate monitoring is recommended.

Risks in Patients with Phenylketonuria

Phenylalanine can be harmful to patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). DIACOMIT for oral suspension contains phenylalanine, a component of aspartame. Each 250 mg packet contains 1.40 mg phenylalanine; each 500 mg packet contains 2.80 mg phenylalanine. Before prescribing DIACOMIT for oral Suspension to a patient with PKU, consider the combined daily amount of phenylalanine from all sources, including DIACOMIT  for oral Suspension.

DIACOMIT capsules do not contain phenylalanine.

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

AEDs, including DIACOMIT, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Patients treated with any AED for any indication should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.

Pooled analyses of 199 placebo-controlled clinical trials (mono- and adjunctive therapy) of 11 different AEDs showed that patients randomized to one of the AEDs had approximately twice the risk (adjusted relative risk 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.2, 2.7) of suicidal thinking or behavior compared to patients randomized to placebo. In these trials, which had a median treatment duration of 12 weeks, the estimated incidence rate of suicidal behavior or ideation among 27,863 AED treated patients was 0.43%, compared to 0.24% among 16,029 placebo treated patients, representing an increase of approximately one case of suicidal thinking or behavior for every 530 patients treated. There were four suicides in drug treated patients in the trials and none in placebo treated patients, but the number is too small to allow any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.

The increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with AEDs was observed as early as one week after starting drug treatment with AEDs and persisted for the duration of treatment assessed. Because most trials included in the analysis did not extend beyond 24 weeks, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior beyond 24 weeks could not be assessed.

The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior was generally consistent among drugs in the data analyzed. The finding of increased risk with AEDs of varying mechanisms of action and across a range of indications suggests that the risk applies to all AEDs used for any indication. The risk did not vary substantially by age (5-100 years) in the clinical trials analyzed. Table 2 shows absolute and relative risk by indication for all evaluated AEDs.

The relative risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior was higher in clinical trials for epilepsy than in clinical trials for psychiatric or other conditions, but the absolute risk differences were similar for the epilepsy and psychiatric indications.

Anyone considering prescribing DIACOMIT or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with the risk of untreated illness. Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Should suicidal thoughts and behavior emerge during treatment, the prescriber needs to consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated.

Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed that AEDs increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and should be advised of the need to be alert for the emergence or worsening of the signs and symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self-harm. Behaviors of concern should be reported immediately to healthcare providers.