Indications and usage▾
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE AMPYRA is indicated as a treatment to improve walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. AMPYRA ® (dalfampridine) is a potassium channel blocker indicated to improve walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed ( 1 , 14 ).
Dosage and administration▾
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The maximum recommended dosage is 10 mg twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart). There is no evidence of additional benefit with doses greater than 10 mg twice daily. Adverse reactions, including seizures, were more frequent at higher doses. ( 2.1 ) Take with or without food. Administer tablets whole; do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve ( 2.2 ) Patients should not take double or extra doses if they miss a dose. ( 2.2 ) Estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA. In patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51–80 mL/min), AMPYRA may reach plasma levels associated with a greater risk of seizures, and the potential benefits of AMPYRA should be carefully considered against the risk of seizures in these patients ( 2.3 , 5.2 , 8.6 ) 2.1 Dosage Information The maximum recommended dosage of AMPYRA is one 10 mg tablet twice daily and should not be exceeded. Take doses approximately 12 hours apart. There is no evidence of additional benefit at doses greater than 10 mg twice daily. Adverse reactions, including seizures, and discontinuations because of adverse reactions were more frequent at higher doses. 2.2 Administration Instructions AMPYRA can be taken with or without food. Administer tablets whole; do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve AMPYRA tablets. If a dose is missed, patients should not take double or extra doses. 2.3 Renal Monitoring Prior to and During Treatment Estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) should be known before initiating treatment with AMPYRA, and monitored at least annually during treatment with AMPYRA. CrCl can be estimated using the following equation (multiply by 0.85 for women): crcl-eqn-102716.jpg 2.4 Dosage in Patients with Renal Impairment In patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51–80 mL/min), AMPYRA plasma levels may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that is 1.5 times the maximum recommended dose and may be associated with an increased risk of seizures. As mild renal impairment is common after age 50, estimating CrCl is particularly important in these patients. The potential benefits of AMPYRA should be carefully considered against the risk of seizures in these patients [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl≤50 mL/min).
Contraindications▾
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS The use of AMPYRA is contraindicated in the following conditions: History of seizure [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl≤50 mL/min) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] History of hypersensitivity to AMPYRA or 4-aminopyridine; reactions have included anaphylaxis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] History of seizure ( 4 ) Moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl≤50 mL/min) ( 4 ) History of hypersensitivity to AMPYRA or 4-aminopyridine ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions▾
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS AMPYRA can cause seizures; the risk of seizures increases with increasing AMPYRA doses; discontinue AMPYRA and do not restart if a seizure occurs ( 5.1 ) Avoid concomitant use with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine), since the active ingredient is the same ( 5.3 ) AMPYRA can cause anaphylaxis. Discontinue and do not restart AMPYRA if this occurs ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Seizures AMPYRA can cause seizures. Increased incidence of seizures has been observed at 20 mg twice daily (2 times the maximum recommended dosage) in controlled clinical studies of 9–14 weeks duration with dalfampridine in patients with MS. In open-label extension trials in MS patients, the incidence of seizures during treatment with dalfampridine 15 mg twice daily (1.7/100PY) was over 4 times higher than the incidence during treatment with 10 mg twice daily (0.4/100PY). In the post-marketing period seizures have been reported. The majority of seizures occurred at the recommended dose and in patients without a history of seizures, and generally within days to weeks of starting therapy. AMPYRA has not been evaluated in patients with a history of seizures or with evidence of epileptiform activity on an EEG, as these patients were excluded from clinical trials. The risk of seizures in patients with epileptiform activity on an EEG is unknown, and could be substantially higher than that observed in AMPYRA clinical studies. Permanently discontinue AMPYRA in patients who have a seizure while on treatment. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a history of seizures [see Contraindications (4) ] . 5.2 Renal Impairment AMPYRA is eliminated through the kidneys primarily as unchanged drug [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Because patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl ≤50mL/min) would require a dose lower than 10 mg twice daily and no strength smaller than 10 mg is available, AMPYRA is contraindicated in these patients [see Contraindications (4) ] . In patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51–80 mL/min), AMPYRA plasma levels may approach those seen at a dose of 15 mg twice daily, a dose that may be associated with an increased risk of seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . 5.3 Concurrent Treatment with Other Forms of 4-Aminopyridine Avoid concomitant use with other forms of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, fampridine) since the active ingredient is the same. Instruct patients to discontinue use of any product containing 4-aminopyridine prior to initiating treatment with AMPYRA in order to reduce the potential for dose-related adverse reactions. 5.4 Anaphylaxis AMPYRA can cause anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions. Signs and symptoms have included respiratory compromise, urticaria, and angioedema of the throat and or tongue. AMPYRA is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to AMPYRA or 4-aminopyridine. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instruct them to discontinue AMPYRA and seek immediate medical care should these signs and symptoms occur.
Drug interactions▾
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS OCT2 Inhibitors: Concomitant use may cause an increased exposure and potential risk of seizures ( 7.1 ) 7.1 OCT2 Inhibitors Concurrent treatment with OCT2 inhibitors, such as cimetidine, may cause increased exposure to dalfampridine [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Elevated levels of dalfampridine increase the risk of seizures [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) ]. The potential benefits of taking OCT2 inhibitors concurrently with AMPYRA should be considered against the risk of seizures in these patients. 7.2 Baclofen No interaction was identified between dalfampridine and baclofen [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Adverse reactions▾
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described in more detail elsewhere in the labeling: Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Anaphylaxis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] The most common adverse events (incidence ≥2% and at a rate greater than the placebo rate) for AMPYRA were urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, and pharyngolaryngeal pain ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC at 1-800-367-5109 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies 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. In three placebo-controlled clinical trials of up to 14 weeks duration, 4% (15/400) of patients treated with AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily experienced one or more adverse reactions leading to discontinuation, compared to 2% (5/238) of placebo-treated patients. The adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of at least 2 patients treated with AMPYRA and that led to discontinuation more frequently compared to placebo were headache (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), balance disorder (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), dizziness (AMPYRA 0.5%, placebo 0%), and confusional state (AMPYRA 0.3%, placebo 0%). Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of patients treated with AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily, and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients, in controlled clinical trials. Table 1: Adverse Reactions with an Incidence ≥2% of AMPYRA-Treated Adult MS Patients and More Frequent with AMPYRA Compared to Placebo in Controlled Clinical Trials Adverse Reaction Placebo (N=238) % AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily (N=400) % Urinary tract infection 8 12 Insomnia 4 9 Dizziness 4 7 Headache 4 7 Nausea 3 7 Asthenia 4 7 Back pain 2 5 Balance disorder 1 5 Multiple sclerosis relapse 3 4 Paresthesia 3 4 Nasopharyngitis 2 4 Constipation 2 3 Dyspepsia 1 2 Pharyngolaryngeal pain 1 2 Other Adverse Reactions AMPYRA has been evaluated in a total of 1,952 subjects, including 917 MS patients. A total of 741 patients have been treated with AMPYRA for over six months, 501 for over one year and 352 for over two years. The experience in open-label clinical trials is consistent with the safety profile observed in the placebo-controlled clinical trials. As in controlled clinical trials, a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of seizures has been observed in open-label clinical trials with AMPYRA in patients with MS as follows: AMPYRA 10 mg twice daily 0.41 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.13–0.96); dalfampridine 15 mg twice daily 1.7 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 0.21–6.28). 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use with dalfampridine. 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: vomiting, vertigo.
Use in pregnancy▾
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with use of AMPYRA in pregnant women. Administration of dalfampridine to animals during pregnancy and lactation resulted in decreased offspring viability and growth at clinically relevant doses [see Data ]. 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. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Data Animal Data Oral administration of dalfampridine to pregnant rats and rabbits throughout organogenesis resulted in no evidence of developmental toxicity in either species. The highest doses tested (10 mg/kg/day in rats, 5 mg/kg/day in rabbits), which were associated with maternal toxicity, are approximately 5 times the MRHD on a body surface area (mg/m 2 ) basis. Oral administration of dalfampridine (0, 1, 3, and 9 to 6 mg/kg/day; high dose reduced during the second week of dosing) to female rats throughout pregnancy and lactation resulted in decreased offspring viability at the highest dose tested and decreased body weight in offspring at the mid and high doses. The no-effect dose for pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats (1 mg/kg/day) is less than the MRHD on a mg/m 2 basis.
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