Forfivo XL (bupropion HCl) Extended-Release Tablets 450 mg

Indication:

FORFIVO XL® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases. Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder (MDD) or other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor patients on a daily basis for the emergence of agitation, irritability, or unusual changes in behavior, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and to report such symptoms immediately to healthcare providers.

Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events and Suicide Risk in Smoking Cessation Treatment

FORFIVO XL is not approved for smoking cessation treatment, but bupropion hydrochloride (HCl) sustained-release is approved for this use. Serious neuropsychiatric adverse events have been reported in patients taking bupropion for smoking cessation. These postmarketing reports have included changes in mood (including depression and mania), psychosis, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, homicidal ideation, hostility, agitation, aggression, anxiety, and panic, as well as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and completed suicide. Some patients who stopped smoking may have been experiencing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, including depressed mood. Depression, rarely including suicidal ideation, has been reported in smokers undergoing a smoking cessation attempt without medication. However, some of these adverse events occurred in patients taking bupropion who continued to smoke.

Seizures

Bupropion can cause seizure and the risk is dose-related risk. FORFIVO XL should be discontinued and not restarted in patients who experience a seizure while on treatment. The risk of seizures is also related to patient factors, clinical situations, and concomitant medications that lower the seizure threshold [see Warnings and Precautions in full prescribing information]. Consider these risks before initiating treatment with FORFIVO XL. FORFIVO XL is contraindicated in patients with a seizure disorder or conditions that increase the risk of seizure.

Hypertension

Treatment with FORFIVO XL can result in elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Assess blood pressure before initiating treatment with FORFIVO XL, and monitor periodically during treatment. The risk of hypertension is increased if FORFIVO XL is used concomitantly with MAOIs or other drugs that increase dopaminergic or noradrenergic activity. Data from a comparative trial of bupropion HCl, nicotine transdermal system (NTS), and placebo as an aid to smoking cessation suggest a higher incidence of treatment emergent hypertension in patients treated with the combination of sustained-release bupropion HCl and NTS.

Activation of Mania/Hypomania

Antidepressant treatment can precipitate a manic, mixed, or hypomanic manic episode. Prior to initiating FORFIVO XL, screen patients for a history of bipolar disorder and the presence of risk factors for bipolar disorder (eg, family history of bipolar disorder, suicide, or depression). FORFIVO XL is not approved for the treatment of bipolar depression.

Psychosis and Other Neuropsychiatric Reactions

Depressed patients treated with bupropion have had a variety of neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, psychosis, concentration disturbance, paranoia, and confusion. Discontinue FORFIVO XL if these reactions occur.

Angle-closure Glaucoma

The pupillary dilation that occurs following use of many antidepressant drugs including FORFIVO XL may trigger an angle closure attack in a patient with anatomically narrow angles who does not have a patent iridectomy.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reactions characterized by symptoms such as pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, and dyspnea requiring medical treatment have been reported in clinical trials with bupropion. In addition, there have been rare, spontaneous postmarketing reports of erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome, and anaphylactic shock associated with bupropion. Instruct patients to discontinue FORFIVO XL and consult a healthcare provider if they develop an allergic or anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reaction during treatment. There are reports of arthralgia, myalgia, fever with rash, and other symptoms of serum sickness suggestive of delayed hypersensitivity.

Clinical Trials Experience: Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Controlled Clinical Trials of Sustained-release Bupropion HCl

The most common adverse reactions were (incidence ≥ 5%; ≥ 2 times placebo rate): dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, dizziness, pharyngitis, abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, tremor, palpitation, sweating, tinnitus, myalgia, anorexia, urinary frequency, and rash.