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Indication
SABRIL is indicated as adjunctive therapy for adult patients with refractory complex
partial seizures (CPS) who have inadequately responded to several alternative treatments
and for whom the potential benefits outweigh the risk of vision loss. SABRIL is
not indicated as a first line agent for complex partial seizures.
SABRIL is indicated as monotherapy for pediatric patients 1 month to 2 years of
age with infantile spasms (IS) for whom the potential benefits outweigh the potential
risk of vision loss.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: VISION LOSS
See full Prescribing Information for complete boxed warning
- SABRIL causes progressive and permanent bilateral concentric visual field constriction
in a high percentage of patients. In some cases, SABRIL may also reduce visual acuity.
- Risk increases with total dose and duration of use, but no exposure to SABRIL is
known that is free of risk of vision loss
- Risk of new and worsening vision loss continues as long as SABRIL is used, and possibly
after discontinuing SABRIL
- Periodic vision testing is required for patients on SABRIL, but cannot reliably
prevent vision damage
- Because of the risk of permanent vision loss, SABRIL is available only through a
special restricted distribution program
SABRIL causes permanent vision loss in infants, children, and adults. Because
assessing vision loss is difficult in children, the frequency and extent of vision
loss in infants and children is poorly characterized.
In adults, SABRIL causes progressive and permanent bilateral concentric visual
field constriction in 30% or more of patients that ranges in severity from mild
to severe, including tunnel vision to within 10° of visual fixation, and can result
in disability. In some cases, SABRIL also can damage the central retina and may
decrease visual acuity. The lowest dose and shortest exposure to SABRIL should be
used that is consistent with clinical objectives.
Because of the risk of permanent vision loss, SABRIL should be withdrawn from
a pediatric patient treated for IS (1 month to 2 years of age) who fails to show
substantial clinical benefit within 2 to 4 weeks of treatment initiation, or sooner
if treatment failure becomes obvious, or an adult patient treated for refractory
CPS as adjunctive therapy who fails to show substantial clinical benefit within
3 months of treatment initiation, or sooner if treatment failure becomes obvious.
Vision testing for adults treated for refractory CPS as adjunctive therapy is
required at baseline (no later than 4 weeks after starting SABRIL) and at least
every 3 months while on therapy. Vision testing for pediatric patients treated for
IS is required to the extent possible at baseline (no later than 4 weeks after starting
SABRIL) and at least every 3 months while on therapy. Once detected, vision loss
is not reversible. It is expected that, even with frequent monitoring, some patients
will develop severe vision loss. Vision testing for adults and pediatric patients
is also required about 3 to 6 months after discontinuing SABRIL therapy. The onset
of vision loss from SABRIL is unpredictable and can occur within weeks of starting
treatment or sooner, or at any time during treatment, even after months or years.
Patient response to and continued need for SABRIL should be periodically reassessed.
Symptoms of vision loss from SABRIL are unlikely to be recognized by the patient,
parent or caregiver before vision loss is severe. Vision loss of milder severity,
although unrecognized by the patient, parent or caregiver may still adversely affect
function. The possibility that vision loss from SABRIL may be more common or more
severe, or have more severe functional consequences in infants and children than
in adults, cannot be excluded.
SABRIL should not be used in patients with, or at high risk of, other types of irreversible
vision loss or with other drugs associated with serious adverse ophthalmic effects
such as retinopathy or glaucoma unless the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
The interaction of other types of irreversible vision damage with vision damage
from SABRIL has not been well characterized, but is likely adverse.
In adult patients treated for CPS, dose adjustment, including initiating treatment
with a lower dose, is necessary in patients with renal impairment. A 16% to 20%
average reduction in total phenytoin plasma levels was reported in controlled clinical
studies.
Abnormal MRI signal changes have been observed in some infants treated for IS with
SABRIL. These changes generally resolved with discontinuation of treatment and in
a few patients the lesion resolved despite continued use.
SABRIL should be discontinued gradually to avoid withdrawal seizures. In controlled
clinical studies in adults with CPS, SABRIL was tapered by decreasing the daily
dose at a rate of 1 g/day on a weekly basis until discontinued. In a controlled
clinical study in patients with IS, vigabatrin was tapered by decreasing the daily
dose at a rate of 25 to 50 mg/kg every 3 to 4 days.
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including SABRIL, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts
or behavior. Adult patients should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of
depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior and/or any unusual changes in mood or
behavior.
SABRIL has been shown to cause neurotoxicity, anemia, somnolence, fatigue, weight
gain, edema, and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. SABRIL should not be used during
pregnancy unless the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Vigabatrin is excreted in human milk and may cause serious adverse events in nursing
infants.
The most commonly observed adverse reactions reported in 2 add-on clinical studies
of adults with refractory CPS treated with SABRIL as adjunctive therapy with the
recommended dose of 3 g/day (≥10% and at least 5% greater than placebo) were
dizziness (SABRIL 24% vs placebo 17%), fatigue (SABRIL 23% vs placebo 16%), somnolence
(SABRIL 22% vs placebo 13%), tremor (SABRIL 15% vs placebo 8%), blurred vision (SABRIL
13% vs placebo 5%), and arthralgia (SABRIL 10% vs placebo 3%). A 6 g/day dose has
not been shown to confer additional benefit compared to the 3 g/day dose and is
associated with an increased incidence of adverse events.
The most common adverse events reported by >5% of infants taking SABRIL for IS occurring
more frequently than placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled IS study with a
5-day double-blind treatment phase (n=40) were somnolence (SABRIL 45% vs placebo
30%), bronchitis (SABRIL 30% vs placebo 15%), ear infection (SABRIL 10% vs placebo
5%), and acute otitis media (SABRIL 10% vs placebo 0%).
Pregnancy Registry: To provide information regarding the
effects of in utero exposure to SABRIL, physicians are advised to recommend that
pregnant patients taking SABRIL 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. Information on the registry can also be
found at the website
http://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/.
Oral Solution: For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning, Medication Guide and Dosing Instructions.
Solución oral: Para más información, vea por favor la información que prescribe completa incluyendo la advertencia encajonada, guía de la medicación y las instrucciones de la dosificación.
Tablets: For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.
Tabletas: Para más información, vea por favor la información que prescribe completa incluyendo la advertencia encajonada y guía de la medicación.