USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - triazolam (unii: 1hm943223r) (triazolam - unii:1hm943223r) - triazolam is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia (generally 7 to 10 days) in adults. triazolam is contraindicated in: pregnancy exposure registry there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to psychiatric medications, including triazolam, during pregnancy. healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the national pregnancy registry for psychiatric medications at 1-866-961-2388 or visiting online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/pregnancyregistry/. risk summary neonates born to mothers using benzodiazepines late in pregnancy have been reported to experience symptoms of sedation and/or neonatal withdrawal [see warnings and precautions (5.10) and clinical considerations]. available data from published observational studies of pregnant women exposed to benzodiazepines do not report a clear association with benzodiazepines and major birth defects (see data). the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk 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. clinical considerations fetal/neonatal adverse reactions benzodiazepines cross the placenta and may produce respiratory depression, hypotonia, and sedation in neonates. monitor neonates exposed to triazolam during pregnancy or labor for signs of sedation, respiratory depression, hypotonia, and feeding problems. monitor neonates exposed to triazolam during pregnancy for signs of withdrawal. manage these neonates accordingly [see warnings and precautions ( 5.10 )]. data human data published data from observational studies on the use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy do not report a clear association with benzodiazepines and major birth defects. although early studies reported an increased risk of congenital malformations with diazepam and chlordiazepoxide, there was no consistent pattern noted. in addition, the majority of more recent case-control and cohort studies of benzodiazepine use during pregnancy, which were adjusted for confounding exposures to alcohol, tobacco and other medications, have not confirmed these findings. animal data oral administration of triazolam to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis caused skeletal developmental changes (variations and malformations) at maternally toxic doses in rats and at doses in rats and rabbits which are approximately equal to or greater than 200 times the maximum recommended human dose (mrhd) of 0.5 mg/day based on mg/m2 body surface area. oral administration of triazolam to male and female rats before mating, and continuing during gestation and lactation did not result in embryotoxicity at doses up to approximately 100 times the mrhd based on mg/m2 body surface area, but did cause an increase in the number of stillbirths and postnatal pup mortalities at doses greater than or equal to approximately 40 times the mrhd based mg/m2 body surface area. 14 c-triazolam was administered orally to pregnant mice. drug-related material appeared uniformly distributed in the fetus with 14 c concentrations approximately the same as in the brain of the mother. risk summary there are reports of sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain in infants exposed to benzodiazepines through breast milk. there are no data on the presence of triazolam in human milk or the effects on milk production. triazolam and its metabolites are present in the milk of lactating rats (see data ). when a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk. the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for triazolam and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from triazolam or from the underlying maternal condition. clinical considerations infants exposed to triazolam through breast milk should be monitored for sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain. a lactating woman may consider interrupting breastfeeding and pumping and discarding breast milk during treatment and for 28 hours (approximately 5 elimination half-lives) after triazolam administration in order to minimize drug exposure to a breast fed infant. data both triazolam and triazolam metabolites were detected in milk of rats. lactating rats were orally administered 0.3 mg/kg 14 c-triazolam; drug and metabolite levels were determined in milk collected at 6 and 24 hours after administration. safety and effectiveness of triazolam have not been established in pediatric patients. elderly patients exhibit higher plasma triazolam concentrations due to reduced clearance as compared with younger subjects at the same dose. because elderly patients are especially susceptible to dose related adverse reactions and to minimize oversedation, the smallest effective dose should be used [see dosage and administration (2.2), clinical pharmacology (12.3)]. triazolam tablets contain triazolam, a schedule iv controlled substance. triazolam is a benzodiazepine and a cns depressant with a potential for abuse and addiction. abuse is the intentional, non-therapeutic use of a drug, even once, for its desirable psychological or physiological effects. misuse is the intentional use, for therapeutic purposes, of a drug by an individual in a way other than prescribed by a health care provider or for whom it was not prescribed. drug addiction is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that may include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling drug use (e.g., continuing drug use despite harmful consequences, giving a higher priority to drug use than other activities and obligations), and possible tolerance or physical dependence. even taking benzodiazepines as prescribed may put patients at risk for abuse and misuse of their medication. abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines may lead to addiction. abuse and misuse of benzodiazepines often (but not always) involve the use of doses greater than the maximum recommended dosage and commonly involve concomitant use of other medications, alcohol, and/or illicit substances, which is associated with an increased frequency of serious adverse outcomes, including respiratory depression, overdose, or death. benzodiazepines are often sought by individuals who abuse drugs and other substances, and by individuals with addictive disorders [see warnings and precautions ( 5.2)] . the following adverse reactions have occurred with benzodiazepine abuse and/or misuse: abdominal pain, amnesia, anorexia, anxiety, aggression, ataxia, blurred vision, confusion, depression, disinhibition, disorientation, dizziness, euphoria, impaired concentration and memory, indigestion, irritability, muscle pain, slurred speech, tremors, and vertigo. the following severe adverse reactions have occurred with benzodiazepine abuse and/or misuse: delirium, paranoia, suicidal ideation and behavior, seizures, coma, breathing difficulty, and death. death is more often associated with polysubstance use (especially benzodiazepines with other cns depressants such as opioids and alcohol). physical dependence triazolam may produce physical dependence from continued therapy. physical dependence is a state that develops as a result of physiological adaptation in response to repeated drug use, manifested by withdrawal signs and symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or a significant dose reduction of a drug. abrupt discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction of benzodiazepines or administration of flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist, may precipitate acute withdrawal reactions, including seizures, which can be life-threatening. patients at an increased risk of withdrawal adverse reactions after benzodiazepine discontinuation or rapid dosage reduction include those who take higher dosages (i.e., higher and/or more frequent doses) and those who have had longer durations of use [see warnings and precautions ( 5.3)] . to reduce the risk of withdrawal reactions, use a gradual taper to discontinue triazolam or reduce the dosage [see dosage and administration ( 2.3), warnings and precautions (5.3)] . tolerance tolerance to triazolam may develop from continued therapy. tolerance is a physiological state characterized by a reduced response to a drug after repeated administration (i.e., a higher dose of a drug is required to produce the same effect that was once obtained at a lower dose). tolerance to the therapeutic effect of triazolam may develop; however, little tolerance develops to the amnestic reactions and other cognitive impairments caused by benzodiazepines.

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - vigabatrin (unii: gr120krt6k) (vigabatrin - unii:gr120krt6k) - vigabatrin for oral solution is indicated as adjunctive therapy for adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with refractory complex partial seizures who have inadequately responded to several alternative treatments and for whom the potential benefits outweigh the risk of vision loss [see warnings and precautions (5.1)] . vigabatrin for oral solution is not indicated as a first line agent for complex partial seizures. vigabatrin for oral solution is indicated as monotherapy for pediatric patients with infantile spasms 1 month to 2 years of age for whom the potential benefits outweigh the potential risk of vision loss [see warnings and precautions (5.1)]. none pregnancy exposure registry there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to aeds, including vigabatrin, during pregnancy. encourage women who are taking vigabatrin during pregnancy to enroll in the north american anti

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - naproxen (unii: 57y76r9atq) (naproxen - unii:57y76r9atq) - naproxen oral suspension is indicated for: the relief of the signs and symptoms of: the management of: naproxen oral suspension is contraindicated in the following patients: risk summary use of nsaids, including naproxen oral suspension, can cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus and fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment. because of these risks, limit dose and duration of naproxen oral suspension use between about 20 and 30 weeks of gestation, and avoid naproxen oral suspension use at about 30 weeks of gestation and later in pregnancy (see clinical considerations, data ). premature closure of fetal ductus arteriosus use of nsaids, including naproxen oral suspension , at about 30 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy increases the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. oligohydramnios/neonatal renal impairment use of nsaids at about 20 weeks gestation or later in pregnancy has been associated with cases of fetal ren

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - desvenlafaxine succinate (unii: zb22enf0xr) (desvenlafaxine - unii:ng99554anw) - desvenlafaxine 25 mg - desvenlafaxine is indicated for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (mdd) [see clinical studies (14)]. pregnancy exposure registry 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. risk summary based on data from published observational studies, exposure to snris, particularly in the month before delivery, has been associated with a less than 2-fold increase in the risk of postpartum hemorrhage [see warnings and precautions (5.4) and clinical considerations]. there are no published studies on desvenlafaxine in pregnant women; however published epidemiologic studies of pregnant women exposed to venlafaxine, the parent compound, have not reported a clear association with adverse developmental outcomes (see data ). there are risks associated with untreated depression in pregnancy a

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - methadone hydrochloride (unii: 229809935b) (methadone - unii:uc6vbe7v1z) - methadone hydrochloride 10 mg in 1 ml - methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate (intensol ™) contains methadone, an opioid agonist indicated for the: limitations of use limitations of use methadone products used for the treatment of opioid addiction in detoxification or maintenance programs are subject to the conditions for distribution and use required under 21 cfr, title 42, sec 8 [see dosage and administration (2.1)] . methadone hydrochloride intensol ™ is contraindicated in patients with: risk summary the majority of available data from clinical trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports on methadone use in pregnancy do not indicate an increased risk of major malformations specifically due to methadone. pregnant women involved in methadone maintenance programs have been reported to have improved prenatal care leading to reduced incidence of obstetric and fetal complications and neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared to women using illicit drugs. several factors, including maternal use of illicit drugs, nutrition, infection and psychosocial circumstances, complicate the interpretation of investigations of the children of women who take methadone during pregnancy. information is limited regarding dose and duration of methadone use during pregnancy, and most maternal exposure in these studies appears to occur after the first trimester of pregnancy (see data ). neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (nows) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy [see warnings and precautions (5.6)] . in published animal reproduction studies, methadone administered subcutaneously during the early gestational period produced neural tube defects (i.e., exencephaly and cranioschisis) in the hamster at doses 2 times the human daily oral dose of 120 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis (hdd) and in mice at doses equivalent to the hdd. administration of methadone to pregnant animals during organogenesis and through lactation resulted decreased litter size, increased pup mortality, decreased pup body weights, developmental delays, and long-term neurochemical changes in the brain of offspring which correlate with altered behavioral responses that persist through adulthood at exposures comparable to and less than the hdd. administration of methadone to male rodents prior to mating with untreated females resulted in increased neonatal mortality and significant differences in behavioral tests in the offspring at exposures comparable to and less than the hdd (see data ). based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk 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. clinical considerations disease-associated maternal and embryo-fetal risk: untreated opioid addiction in pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal death. in addition, untreated opioid addiction often results in continued or relapsing illicit opioid use. dosage adjustment during pregnancy: dosage adjustment using higher doses or administering the daily dose in divided doses may be necessary in pregnant women treated with methadone hydrochloride intensol ™. pregnant women appear to have significantly lower trough plasma methadone concentrations, increased plasma methadone clearance, and shorter methadone half-life than after delivery [see dosage and administration (2.9), clinical pharmacology (12.3)] . withdrawal signs and symptoms should be closely monitored and the dose adjusted as necessary. fetal/neonatal adverse reactions: neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome may occur in newborn infants of mothers who are receiving treatment with methadone hydrochloride intensol™ . neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome presents as irritability, hyperactivity and abnormal sleep pattern, high pitched cry, tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or failure to gain weight. signs of neonatal withdrawal usually occur in the first days after birth. the duration and severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome may vary. observe newborns for signs of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly [see warnings and precautions (5.6)] . labor or delivery: opioid-dependent women on methadone maintenance therapy may require additional analgesia during labor. monitor neonates exposed to opioid analgesics during labor for signs of excess sedation and respiratory depression. data human data: the majority of available data from clinical trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports on methadone use in pregnancy do not indicate an increased risk of major malformations specifically due to methadone. findings regarding specific major malformations, decreased fetal growth, premature birth and sudden infant death syndrome have been inconsistent. children prenatally exposed to methadone have been reported to demonstrate mild but persistent deficits in performance on psychometric and behavioral tests and visual abnormalities. in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial [maternal opioid treatment: human experimental research (mother)] designed primarily to assess neonatal opioid withdrawal effects, opioid-dependent pregnant women were randomized to buprenorphine (n=86) or methadone (n=89) treatment, with enrollment at an average gestational age of 18.7 weeks in both groups. a total of 28 of the 86 women in the buprenorphine group (33%) and 16 of the 89 women in the methadone group (18%) discontinued treatment before the end of pregnancy. among women who remained in treatment until delivery, there was no difference between methadone-treated and buprenorphine-treated groups in the number of neonates requiring nows treatment or in the peak severity of nows. buprenorphine-exposed neonates required less morphine (mean total dose, 1.1 mg vs. 10.4 mg), had shorter hospital stays (10.0 days vs. 17.5 days), and shorter duration of treatment for nows (4.1 days vs. 9.9 days) compared to the methadone-exposed group. there were no differences between groups in other primary outcomes (neonatal head circumference,) or secondary outcomes (weight and length at birth, preterm birth, gestational age at delivery, and 1-minute and 5-minute apgar scores), or in the rates of maternal or neonatal adverse events. the outcomes among mothers who discontinued treatment before delivery and may have relapsed to illicit opioid use are not known. because of the imbalance in discontinuation rates between the methadone and buprenorphine groups, the study findings are difficult to interpret. animal data: formal reproductive and developmental toxicology studies for methadone have not been conducted. exposure margins for the following published study reports are based on a human daily dose (hdd) of 120 mg methadone using a body surface area comparison. in a published study in pregnant hamsters, a single subcutaneous dose of methadone ranging from 31 mg/kg (2 times the hdd) to 185 mg/kg on gestation day 8 resulted in a decrease in the number of fetuses per litter and an increase in the percentage of fetuses exhibiting neural tube defects including exencephaly, cranioschisis, and “various other lesions.” the majority of the doses tested also resulted in maternal death. in a study in pregnant jbt/jd mice, a single subcutaneous dose of 22 to 24 mg/kg methadone (approximately equivalent to the hdd) administered on gestation day 9 produced exencephaly in 11% of the embryos. in another study in pregnant mice, subcutaneous doses up to 28 mg/kg/day methadone (equivalent to the hdd) administered from gestation day 6 to 15 resulted in no malformations, but there were increased postimplantation loss and decreased live fetuses at 10 mg/kg/day or greater (0.4 times the hdd) and decreased ossification and fetal body weight at 20 mg/kg/day or greater (0.8 times the hdd). in a second study of pregnant mice dosed with subcutaneous doses up to 28 mg/kg/day methadone from gestation day 6 to 15, there was decreased pup viability, delayed onset of development of negative phototaxis and eye opening, increased righting reflexes at 5 mg/kg/day or greater (0.2 times the hdd), and decreased number of live pups at birth and decreased pup weight gain at 20 mg/kg/day or greater (0.8 times the hdd). no effects were reported in a study of pregnant rats and rabbits at oral doses up to 40 mg/kg (3 and 6 times, respectively, the hdd) administered from gestation days 6 to 15 and 6 to 18, respectively. when pregnant rats were treated with intraperitoneal doses of 2.5, 5, or 7.5 mg/kg methadone from one week prior to mating, through gestation until the end of lactation period, 5 mg/kg or greater (0.4 times the hdd) methadone resulted in decreases in litter size and live pups born and 7.5 mg/kg (0.6 times the hdd) resulted in decreased birth weights. furthermore, decreased pup viability and pup body weight gain at 2.5 mg/kg or greater (0.2 times the hdd) were noted during the preweaning period. additional animal data demonstrate evidence for neurochemical changes in the brains of offspring from methadone-treated pregnant rats, including changes to the cholinergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic systems at doses below the hdd. other animal studies have reported that prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to opioids including methadone alters neuronal development and behavior in the offspring including alterations in learning ability, motor activity, thermal regulation, nociceptive responses, and sensitivity to drugs at doses below the hdd. treatment of pregnant rats subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg methadone from gestation day 14 to 19 (0.4 times the hdd) reduced fetal blood testosterone and androstenedione in males. published animal data have reported increased neonatal mortality in the offspring of male rodents that were treated with methadone at doses comparable to and less than the hdd for 1 to 12 days before and/or during mating (with more pronounced effects in the first 4 days). in these studies, the female rodents were not treated with methadone, indicating paternally-mediated developmental toxicity. specifically, methadone administered to the male rat prior to mating with methadone-naïve females resulted in decreased weight gain in progeny after weaning. the male progeny demonstrated reduced thymus weights, whereas the female progeny demonstrated increased adrenal weights. behavioral testing of these male and female progeny revealed significant differences in behavioral tests compared to control animals, suggesting that paternal methadone exposure can produce physiological and behavioral changes in progeny in this model. examination of uterine contents of methadone-naïve female mice bred to methadone-treated male mice (once a day for three consecutive days) indicated that methadone treatment produced an increase in the rate of preimplantation deaths in all post-meiotic states at 1 mg/kg/day or greater (0.04 times the hdd). chromosome analysis revealed a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities at 1 mg/kg/day or greater. studies demonstrated that methadone treatment of male rats for 21 to 32 days prior to mating with methadone-naïve females did not produce any adverse effects, suggesting that prolonged methadone treatment of the male rat resulted in tolerance to the developmental toxicities noted in the progeny. mechanistic studies in this rat model suggest that the developmental effects of “paternal” methadone on the progeny appear to be due to decreased testosterone production. these animal data mirror the reported clinical findings of decreased testosterone levels in human males on methadone maintenance therapy for opioid addiction and in males receiving chronic intraspinal opioids. risk summary based on two small clinical studies, methadone was present in low levels in human milk, but the exposed infants in these studies did not show adverse reactions. based on an average milk consumption of 150 ml/kg/day, an infant would consume approximately 17.4 mcg/kg/day which is approximately 2% to 3% of the oral maternal dose. there have been rare case reports of sedation and respiratory depression in infants exposed to methadone through breast milk (see data ). monitor infants exposed to methadone through breast milk for excess sedation and respiratory depression. the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for methadone and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition. data in a study of ten breastfeeding women maintained on oral methadone doses of 10 to 80 mg/day, methadone concentrations from 50 to 570 mcg/l in milk were reported, which, in the majority of samples, were lower than maternal serum drug concentrations at steady state. peak methadone levels in milk occur approximately 4 to 5 hours after an oral dose. in a study of twelve breastfeeding women maintained on oral methadone doses of 20 to 80 mg/day, methadone concentrations from 39 to 232 mcg/l in milk were reported. based on an average milk consumption of 150 ml/kg/day, an infant would consume approximately 17.4 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately 2% to 3% of the oral maternal dose. methadone has been detected in very low plasma concentrations in some infants whose mothers were taking methadone. infertility the effect of methadone hydrochloride intensol ™ on fertility is unknown. chronic use of opioids may cause reduced fertility in females and males of reproductive potential. it is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible [see adverse reactions (6), clinical pharmacology (12.2), nonclinical toxicology (13)] . reproductive function in human males may be decreased by methadone treatment. reductions in ejaculate volume and seminal vesicle and prostate secretions have been reported in methadone-treated individuals. in addition, reductions in serum testosterone levels and sperm motility, and abnormalities in sperm morphology have been reported. in published animal studies, methadone produces a significant regression of sex accessory organs and testes of male mice and rats and administration of methadone to pregnant rats reduced fetal blood testosterone and androstenedione in male offspring [see nonclinical toxicology (13)] . the safety, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetics of methadone in pediatric patients below the age of 18 years have not been established. clinical studies of methadone did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently compared to younger subjects. other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between elderly and younger patients. in general, start elderly patients at the low end of the dosing range, taking into account the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. closely monitor elderly patients for signs of respiratory and central nervous system depression. methadone is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function. methadone pharmacokinetics have not been extensively evaluated in patients with hepatic insufficiency. methadone is metabolized by hepatic pathways, therefore, patients with liver impairment may be at risk of increased systemic exposure to methadone after multiple dosing. start these patients on lower doses and titrate slowly while carefully monitoring for signs of respiratory and central nervous system depression. methadone pharmacokinetics have not been extensively evaluated in patients with renal insufficiency. since unmetabolized methadone and its metabolites are excreted in urine to a variable degree, start these patients on lower doses and with longer dosing intervals and titrate slowly while carefully monitoring for signs of respiratory and central nervous system depression. methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate contains methadone, a schedule ii opioid agonist. methadone hydrochloride intensol™ contains methadone, a substance with a high potential for abuse similar to other opioids including fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and tapentadol. methadone hydrochloride intensol™ can be abused and are subject to misuse, addiction, and criminal diversion [see warnings and precautions (5.5)] . all patients treated with opioids for pain management require careful monitoring for signs of abuse and addiction, since use of opioid analgesic products carries the risk of addiction even under appropriate medical use. prescription drug abuse is the intentional non-therapeutic use of a prescription drug, even once, for its rewarding psychological or physiological effects. drug addiction is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and includes: a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal. “drug-seeking” behavior is very common in persons with substance use disorders. drug-seeking tactics include emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing or referral, repeated “loss” of prescriptions, tampering with prescriptions, and reluctance to provide prior medical records or contact information for other treating healthcare provider(s). “doctor shopping” (visiting multiple prescribers to obtain additional prescriptions) is common among people who abuse opioids and people suffering from untreated addiction. abuse and addiction are separate and distinct from physical dependence and tolerance. healthcare providers should be aware that addiction may not be accompanied by concurrent tolerance and symptoms of physical dependence in all people with substance use disorders. in addition, abuse of opioids can occur in the absence of true addiction. preoccupation with achieving adequate pain relief can be appropriate behavior in a patient with poor pain control. methadone hydrochloride intensol™ , like other opioids, can be diverted for non-medical use into illicit channels of distribution. careful record-keeping of prescribing information, including quantity and frequency as required by state and federal law, is strongly advised. proper assessment and selection of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic re-evaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs. risks specific to methadone hydrochloride intensol™ abuse of methadone poses a risk of overdose and death. this risk is increased with concurrent abuse of methadone with alcohol and other substances. methadone hydrochloride intensol™ is intended for oral use only and must not be injected. parenteral drug abuse is commonly associated with transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and hiv. methadone hydrochloride intensol ™, when used for the treatment of opioid addiction in detoxification or maintenance programs, may be dispensed only by opioid treatment programs certified by the substance abuse and mental health services administration (and agencies, practitioners, and institutions by formal agreements with the program sponsor). both tolerance and physical dependence can develop during chronic opioid therapy. tolerance is the need for increasing doses of opioids to maintain a defined effect (in the absence of disease progression or other external factors). tolerance may occur to both the desired and undesired effects of drugs, and may develop at different rates for different effects. physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or significant dose reduction of a drug. withdrawal is also precipitated through the administration of drugs with opioid antagonist activity (e.g., naloxone) or mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics (e.g., pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine), or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). physical dependence may not occur to a clinically significant degree until after several days to weeks of continued opioid usage. physical dependence is expected during opioid agonist therapy of opioid addiction. methadone hydrochloride intensol ™ should not be abruptly discontinued [see dosage and administration (2.6, 2.7)] . if methadone hydrochloride intensol ™ is abruptly discontinued in a physically dependent patient, a withdrawal syndrome may occur. some or all of the following can characterize this syndrome: restlessness, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, yawning, perspiration, chills, myalgia, and mydriasis. other symptoms also may develop, including irritability, anxiety, backache, joint pain, weakness, abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, or increased blood pressure, respiratory rate, or heart rate [see dosage and administration (2.6)] . neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (nows) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy [see warnings and precautions (5.6)] .

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - alprazolam (unii: yu55mq3izy) (alprazolam - unii:yu55mq3izy) - alprazolam 1 mg in 1 ml - alprazolam is indicated for the: alprazolam is contraindicated in patients: pregnancy exposure registry there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to psychiatric medications, including alprazolam, during pregnancy. healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the national pregnancy registry for psychiatric medications at 1-866-961-2388 or visiting online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/. risk summary neonates born to mothers using benzodiazepines late in pregnancy have been reported to experience symptoms of sedation and/or neonatal withdrawal [see warnings and precautions (5.8) and clinical considerations] . available data from published observational studies of pregnant women exposed to benzodiazepines do not report a clear association with benzodiazepines and major birth defects (see data) . the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - buprenorphine hydrochloride (unii: 56w8mw3en1) (buprenorphine - unii:40d3scr4gz) - buprenorphine 2 mg - buprenorphine sublingual tablets are indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence and are preferred for induction. buprenorphine sublingual tablets should be used as part of a complete treatment plan to include counseling and psychosocial support. buprenorphine sublingual tablets are contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to buprenorphine, as serious adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported [see warnings and precautions (5.9)] . risk summary: the data on use of buprenorphine, the active ingredient in buprenorphine sublingual tablets, in pregnancy, are limited; however, these data do not indicate an increased risk of major malformations specifically due to buprenorphine exposure. there are limited data from randomized clinical trials in women maintained on buprenorphine that were not designed appropriately to assess the risk of major malformations [see data]. observational studies have reported on congenital malformations among buprenorphine-exposed pregn

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - methadone hydrochloride (unii: 229809935b) (methadone - unii:uc6vbe7v1z) - methadone hydrochloride 5 mg - methadone hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the: methadone hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with: risk summary: neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (nows) is an expected and treatable outcome of prolonged use of opioids during pregnancy [see warnings and precautions (5.5)] . pregnant women in methadone maintenance programs may have reduced incidence of obstetric and fetal complications and neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared to women using illicit drugs. untreated opioid addiction in pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes and risk of continued or relapsing illicit opioid use. these risks should be considered in women treated with methadone hydrochloride tablets for maintenance treatment of opioid addiction. for women treated with methadone hydrochloride tablets for pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment, methadone hydrochloride tablets should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - morphine sulfate (unii: x3p646a2j0) (morphine - unii:76i7g6d29c) - morphine sulfate 15 mg - morphine sulfate tablets are indicated for the management of: limitations of use : because of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse with opioids, which can occur at any dosage or duration, [see warnings and precautions (5.1)] , reserve morphine sulfate tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options (e.g., non-opioid analgesics or opioid combination products): morphine sulfate tablets should not be used for an extended period of time unless the pain remains severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatment options continue to be inadeq uate. morphine sulfate tablets are contraindicated in patients with: risk summary: use of opioid analgesics for an extended period of time during pregnancy can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome [see warnings and precautions (5.4)]. there are no available data with morphine sulfate tablets in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. published studies with morphine use during pregnancy have not reported a clear association with morphine and major birth defects [see human data]. in published animal reproduction studies, morphine administered subcutaneously during the early gestational period produced neural tube defects (i.e., exencephaly and cranioschisis) at 5 and 16 times the human daily dose of 60 mg based on body surface area (hdd) in hamsters and mice, respectively, lower fetal body weight and increased incidence of abortion at 0.4 times the hdd in the rabbit, growth retardation at 6 times the hdd in the rat, and axial skeletal fusion and cryptorchidism at 16 times the hdd in the mouse. administration of morphine sulfate to pregnant rats during organogenesis and through lactation resulted in cyanosis, hypothermia, decreased brain weights, pup mortality, decreased pup body weights, and adverse effects on reproductive tissues at 3 to 4 times the hdd; and long-term neurochemical changes in the brain of offspring which correlate with altered behavioral responses that persist through adulthood at exposures comparable to and less than the hdd [see animal data] . based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk 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. clinical considerations: fetal/neonatal adverse reactions: use of opioid analgesics for an extended period of time during pregnancy for medical or nonmedical purposes can result in physical dependence in the neonate and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome shortly after birth. neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome presents as irritability, hyperactivity and abnormal sleep pattern, high pitched cry, tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and failure to gain weight. the onset, duration, and severity of neonatal withdrawal syndrome vary based on the specific opioid used, duration of use, timing and amount of last maternal use, and rate of elimination of the drug by the newborn. observe newborns for signs of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly [see warnings and precautions (5.4)] . labor or delivery: opioids cross the placenta and may produce respiratory depression and psycho-physiologic effects in neonates. an opioid antagonist, such as naloxone, must be available for reversal of opioid induced respiratory depression in the neonate. morphine sulfate tablets are not recommended for use in women during and immediately prior to labor, when use of shorter-acting analgesics or other analgesic techniques are more appropriate. opioid analgesics, including morphine sulfate tablets, can prolong labor through actions that temporarily reduce the strength, duration, and frequency of uterine contractions. however, this effect is not consistent and may be offset by an increased rate of cervical dilatation, which tends to shorten labor. monitor neonates exposed to opioid analgesics during labor for signs of excess sedation and respiratory depression. data: human data: the results from a population-based prospective cohort, including 70 women exposed to morphine during the first trimester of pregnancy and 448 women exposed to morphine at any time during pregnancy, indicate no increased risk for congenital malformations. however, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any risk because of methodological limitations, including small sample size and non-randomized study design. animal data: formal reproductive and developmental toxicology studies for morphine have not been conducted. exposure margins for the following published study reports are based on human daily dose of 60 mg morphine using a body surface area comparison (hdd). neural tube defects (exencephaly and cranioschisis) were noted following subcutaneous administration of morphine sulfate (35 to 322 mg/kg) on gestation day 8 to pregnant hamsters (4.7 to 43.5 times the hdd). a no adverse effect level was not defined in this study and the findings cannot be clearly attributed to maternal toxicity. neural tube defects (exencephaly), axial skeletal fusions, and cryptorchidism were reported following a single subcutaneous (sc) injection of morphine sulfate to pregnant mice (100 to 500 mg/kg) on gestation day 8 or 9 at 200 mg/kg or greater (16 times the hdd) and fetal resorption at 400 mg/kg or higher (32 times the hdd). no adverse effects were noted following 100 mg/kg morphine in this model (8 times the hdd). in one study, following continuous subcutaneous infusion of doses greater than or equal to 2.72 mg/kg to mice (0.2 times the hdd), exencephaly, hydronephrosis, intestinal hemorrhage, split supraoccipital, malformed sternebrae, and malformed xiphoid were noted. the effects were reduced with increasing daily dose; possibly due to rapid induction of tolerance under these infusion conditions. the clinical significance of this report is not clear. decreased fetal weights were observed in pregnant rats treated with 20 mg/kg/day morphine sulfate (3.2 times the hdd) from gestation day 7 to 9. there was no evidence of malformations despite maternal toxicity (10% mortality). in a second rat study, decreased fetal weight and increased incidences of growth retardation were noted at 35 mg/kg/day (5.7 times the hdd) and there was a reduced number of fetuses at 70 mg/kg/day (11.4 times the hdd) when pregnant rats were treated with 10, 35, or 70 mg/kg/day morphine sulfate via continuous infusion from gestation day 5 to 20. there was no evidence of fetal malformations or maternal toxicity. an increased incidence of abortion was noted in a study in which pregnant rabbits were treated with 2.5 (0.8 times the hdd) to 10 mg/kg morphine sulfate via subcutaneous injection from gestation day 6 to 10. in a second study, decreased fetal body weights were reported following treatment of pregnant rabbits with increasing doses of morphine (10 to 50 mg/kg/day) during the pre-mating period and 50 mg/kg/day (16 times the hdd) throughout the gestation period. no overt malformations were reported in either publication; although only limited endpoints were evaluated. in published studies in rats, exposure to morphine during gestation and/or lactation periods is associated with: decreased pup viability at 12.5 mg/kg/day or greater (2 times the hdd); decreased pup body weights at 15 mg/kg/day or greater (2.4 times the hdd); decreased litter size, decreased absolute brain and cerebellar weights, cyanosis, and hypothermia at 20 mg/kg/day (3.2 times the hdd); alteration of behavioral responses (play, social-interaction) at 1 mg/kg/day or greater (0.2 times the hdd); alteration of maternal behaviors (e.g., decreased nursing and pup retrievals) in mice at 1 mg/kg or higher (0.08 times the hdd) and rats at 1.5 mg/kg/day or higher (0.2 times the hdd); and a host of behavioral abnormalities in the offspring of rats, including altered responsiveness to opioids at 4 mg/kg/day (0.7 times the hdd) or greater. fetal and/or postnatal exposure to morphine in mice and rats has been shown to result in morphological changes in fetal and neonatal brain and neuronal cell loss, alteration of a number of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems, including opioid and non-opioid systems, and impairment in various learning and memory tests that appear to persist into adulthood. these studies were conducted with morphine treatment usually in the range of 4 to 20 mg/kg/day (0.7 to 3.2 times the hdd). additionally, delayed sexual maturation and decreased sexual behaviors in female offspring at 20 mg/kg/day (3.2 times the hdd), and decreased plasma and testicular levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone, decreased testes weights, seminiferous tubule shrinkage, germinal cell aplasia, and decreased spermatogenesis in male offspring were also observed at 20 mg/kg/day (3.2 times the hdd). decreased litter size and viability were observed in the offspring of male rats that were intraperitoneally administered morphine sulfate for 1 day prior to mating at 25 mg/kg/day (4.1 times the hdd) and mated to untreated females. decreased viability and body weight and/or movement deficits in both first and second generation offspring were reported when male mice were treated for 5 days with escalating doses of 120 to 240 mg/kg/day morphine sulfate (9.7 to 19.5 times the hdd) or when female mice treated with escalating doses of 60 to 240 mg/kg/day (4.9 to 19.5 times the hdd) followed by a 5-day treatment-free recovery period prior to mating. similar multigenerational findings were also seen in female rats pre-gestationally treated with escalating doses of 10 to 22 mg/kg/day morphine (1.6 to 3.6 times the hdd). risk summary: morphine is present in breast milk. published lactation studies report variable concentrations of morphine in breast milk with administration of immediate-release morphine to nursing mothers in the early postpartum period with a milk-to-plasma morphine auc ratio of 2.5:1 measured in one lactation study. however, there is insufficient information to determine the effects of morphine on the breastfed infant and the effects of morphine on milk production. lactation studies have not been conducted with morphine sulfate tablets and no information is available on the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant or the effects of the drug on milk production. the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for morphine sulfate tablets and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from morphine sulfate tablets or from the underlying maternal condition. clinical considerations: monitor infants exposed to morphine sulfate tablets through breast milk for excess sedation and respiratory depression. withdrawal symptoms can occur in breastfed infants when maternal administration of morphine is stopped, or when breastfeeding is stopped. infertility: use of opioids for an extended period of time may cause reduced fertility in females and males of reproductive potential. it is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible [see adverse reactions (6) and clinical pharmacology (12.2)] . in published animal studies, morphine administration adversely effected fertility and reproductive endpoints in male rats and prolonged estrus cycle in female rats [see nonclinical toxicology (13)]. the safety and effectiveness of morphine sulfate tablets have been established for the management of pediatric patients weighing at least 50 kg with acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic when alternative treatments are inadequate. use of morphine sulfate tablets in this age group is supported by clinical evidence in adults and supportive data from an open-label, safety and pharmacokinetic study in pediatric patients 2 through 17 years of age with post-operative acute pain. patients were excluded if they had used opioids for more than 7 days within the previous 30 days prior to surgery or had received opioids in any form in the previous 7 days prior to surgery.  initial dosing was approximately 0.15 mg/kg to 0.3 mg/kg.  pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation indicate that an initial dose of 15 mg morphine sulfate tablets to pediatric patients weighing at least 50 kg is expected to produce a maximum systemic exposure (cmax ) similar to that achieved after single dose administration of 10 mg morphine sulfate oral solution to adults [see clinical pharmacology (12.3)] . safety data were available in 81 patients who received single and multiple doses (63 patients aged 2 to 17 years received the oral solution; 18 patients aged 12 years to 17 years received the tablets). the median duration of treatment was 20 hours (range 4 hours to 36 hours). opioid and non-opioid rescue analgesics were allowed. the safety profile in pediatric patients consisted primarily of opioid-related adverse reactions and is similar to that observed in adults [see adverse reactions (6)]. the safety and effectiveness of morphine sulfate tablets have not been established for the management of pediatric patients weighing less than 50 kg with acute pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic when alternative treatments are inadequate because the recommended dosage cannot be achieved with available tablet strengths. consider use of another morphine sulfate product in patients who cannot swallow oral tablets or who weigh less than 50 kg [see dosage and administration (2.3)] . the safety and effectiveness of morphine sulfate tablets have not been established for the management of pediatric patients with chronic pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic when alternative treatments are inadequate. elderly patients (aged 65 years or older) may have increased sensitivity to morphine. in general, use caution when selecting a dose for an elderly patient, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. respiratory depression is the chief risk for elderly patients treated with opioids and has occurred after large initial doses were administered to patients who were not opioid-tolerant or when opioids were co-administered with other agents that depress respiration. titrate the dosage of morphine sulfate tablets slowly in geriatric patients and frequently reevaluate the patient for signs of central nervous system and respiratory depression [see warnings and precautions (5.7)] . morphine is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to regularly evaluate renal function. morphine pharmacokinetics have been reported to be significantly altered in patients with cirrhosis. start these patients with a lower than usual dosage of morphine sulfate tablets and titrate slowly while regularly evaluating for signs of respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension [see clinical pharmacology (12.3)]. morphine sulfate pharmacokinetics are altered in patients with renal failure. start these patients with a lower than usual dosage of morphine sulfate tablets and titrate slowly while regularly evaluating for signs of respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension [see clinical pharmacology (12.3)]. morphine sulfate tablets contain morphine, a schedule ii controlled substance. morphine sulfate tablets contains morphine, a substance with high potential for misuse and abuse, which can lead to the development of substance use disorder, including addiction [see warnings and precautions (5.1)]. misuse is the intentional use, for therapeutic purposes, of a drug by an individual in a way other than prescribed by a healthcare provider or for whom it was not prescribed. abuse is the intentional, non-therapeutic use of a drug, even once, for its desirable psychological or physiological effects. drug addiction is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that may include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling drug use (e.g., continuing drug use despite harmful consequences, giving a higher priority to drug use than other activities and obligations), and possible tolerance or physical dependence. misuse and abuse of morphine sulfate tablets increases risk of overdose, which may lead to central nervous system and respiratory depression, hypotension, seizures, and death. the risk is increased with concurrent abuse of morphine sulfate tablets with alcohol and other cns depressants. abuse of and addiction to opioids in some individuals may not be accompanied by concurrent tolerance and symptoms of physical dependence. in addition, abuse of opioids can occur in the absence of addiction. all patients treated with opioids require careful and frequent re-evaluation for signs of misuse, abuse, and addiction, because use of opioid analgesic products carries the risk of addiction even under appropriate medical use. patients at high risk of morphine sulfate tablets abuse include those with a history of prolonged use of any opioid, including products containing morphine, those with a history of drug or alcohol abuse, or those who use morphine sulfate tablets in combination with other abused drugs. “drug-seeking” behavior is very common in persons with substance use disorders. drug-seeking tactics include emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing, or referral, repeated “loss” of prescriptions, tampering with prescriptions, and reluctance to provide prior medical records or contact information for other treating healthcare provider(s). “doctor shopping” (visiting multiple prescribers to obtain additional prescriptions) is common among people who abuse drugs and people with substance use disorder. preoccupation with achieving adequate pain relief can be appropriate behavior in a patient with inadequate pain control. morphine sulfate tablets, like other opioids, can be diverted for nonmedical use into illicit channels of distribution. careful record-keeping of prescribing information, including quantity, frequency, and renewal requests, as required by state and federal law, is strongly advised. proper assessment of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic reevaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs. risks specific to abuse of morphine sulfate tablets abuse of morphine sulfate tablets poses a risk of overdose and death. the risk is increased with concurrent use of morphine sulfate tablets with alcohol and/or other cns depressants. morphine sulfate tablets are approved for oral use only. parenteral drug abuse is commonly associated with transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and hiv. both tolerance and physical dependence can develop during use of opioid therapy. tolerance is a physiological state characterized by a reduced response to a drug after repeated administration (i.e., a higher dose of a drug is required to produce the same effect that was once obtained at a lower dose). physical dependence is a state that develops as a result of a physiological adaptation in response to repeated drug use, manifested by withdrawal signs and symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or a significant dose reduction of a drug. withdrawal may be precipitated through the administration of drugs with opioid antagonist activity (e.g., naloxone), mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics (e.g., pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine), or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). physical dependence may not occur to a clinically significant degree until after several days to weeks of continued use. do not abruptly discontinue morphine sulfate tablets in a patient physically dependent on opioids. rapid tapering of morphine sulfate tablets in a patient physically dependent on opioids may lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, and suicide. rapid discontinuation has also been associated with attempts to find other sources of opioid analgesics, which may be confused with drug-seeking for abuse. when discontinuing morphine sulfate tablets gradually taper the dosage using a patient-specific plan that considers the following: the dose of morphine sulfate tablets the patient has been taking, the duration of treatment, and the physical and psychological attributes of the patient. to improve the likelihood of a successful taper and minimize withdrawal symptoms, it is important that the opioid tapering schedule is agreed upon by the patient. in patients taking opioids for an extended period of time at high doses, ensure that a multimodal approach to pain management, including mental health support (if needed), is in place prior to initiating an opioid analgesic taper [see dosage and administration (2.5), and warnings and precautions (5.14)]. infants born to mothers physically dependent on opioids will also be physically dependent and may exhibit respiratory difficulties and withdrawal signs [see use in specific populations (8.1)].

USA - engelsk - NLM (National Library of Medicine)

hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc. - methadone hydrochloride (unii: 229809935b) (methadone - unii:uc6vbe7v1z) - methadone hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the: methadone hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with: risk summary the majority of available data from clinical trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports on methadone use in pregnancy do not indicate an increased risk of major malformations specifically due to methadone. pregnant women involved in methadone maintenance programs have been reported to have improved prenatal care leading to reduced incidence of obstetric and fetal complications and neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared to women using illicit drugs. several factors, including maternal use of illicit drugs, nutrition, infection and psychosocial circumstances, complicate the interpretation of investigations of the children of women who take methadone during pregnancy. information is limited regarding dose and duration of methadone use during pregnancy, and most maternal exposure in these studies appears to occur after the first trimester of pregnancy (see data ). neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (nows) is an expected and treatable outcome of use of opioids for an extended period of time during pregnancy [see warnings and precautions (5.5)]. in published animal reproduction studies, methadone administered subcutaneously during the early gestational period produced neural tube defects (i.e., exencephaly and cranioschisis) in the hamster at doses 2 times the human daily oral dose of 120 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis (hdd) and in mice at doses equivalent to the hdd. administration of methadone to pregnant animals during organogenesis and through lactation resulted decreased litter size, increased pup mortality, decreased pup body weights, developmental delays, and long-term neurochemical changes in the brain of offspring which correlate with altered behavioral responses that persist through adulthood at exposures comparable to and less than the hdd. administration of methadone to male rodents prior to mating with untreated females resulted in increased neonatal mortality and significant differences in behavioral tests in the offspring at exposures comparable to and less than the hdd (see data ). based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. all pregnancies have a background risk 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. clinical considerations disease-associated maternal and embryo-fetal risk: untreated opioid addiction in pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetrical outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal death. in addition, untreated opioid addiction often results in continued or relapsing illicit opioid use. dosage adjustment during pregnancy: dosage adjustment using higher doses or administering the daily dose in divided doses may be necessary in pregnant women treated with methadone hydrochloride tablets. pregnant women appear to have significantly lower trough plasma methadone concentrations, increased plasma methadone clearance, and shorter methadone half-life than after delivery [see dosage and administration (2.9) and clinical pharmacology (12.3)] . withdrawal signs and symptoms should be closely monitored and the dose adjusted as necessary. fetal/neonatal adverse reactions: neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome may occur in newborn infants of mothers who are receiving treatment with methadone hydrochloride tablets. neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome presents as irritability, hyperactivity and abnormal sleep pattern, high pitched cry, tremor, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or failure to gain weight. signs of neonatal withdrawal usually occur in the first days after birth. the duration and severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome may vary. observe newborns for signs of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and manage accordingly [see warnings and precautions (5.5)] . labor or delivery: opioid-dependent women on methadone maintenance therapy may require additional analgesia during labor. monitor neonates exposed to opioid analgesics during labor for signs of excess sedation and respiratory depression. data human data: the majority of available data from clinical trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports on methadone use in pregnancy do not indicate an increased risk of major malformations specifically due to methadone. findings regarding specific major malformations, decreased fetal growth, premature birth and sudden infant death syndrome have been inconsistent. children prenatally exposed to methadone have been reported to demonstrate mild but persistent deficits in performance on psychometric and behavioral tests and visual abnormalities. in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial [maternal opioid treatment: human experimental research (mother)] designed primarily to assess neonatal opioid withdrawal effects, opioid-dependent pregnant women were randomized to buprenorphine (n=86) or methadone (n=89) treatment, with enrollment at an average gestational age of 18.7 weeks in both groups. a total of 28 of the 86 women in the buprenorphine group (33%) and 16 of the 89 women in the methadone group (18%) discontinued treatment before the end of pregnancy. among women who remained in treatment until delivery, there was no difference between methadone-treated and buprenorphine-treated groups in the number of neonates requiring nows treatment or in the peak severity of nows. buprenorphine-exposed neonates required less morphine (mean total dose, 1.1 mg vs. 10.4 mg), had shorter hospital stays (10.0 days vs. 17.5 days), and shorter duration of treatment for nows (4.1 days vs. 9.9 days) compared to the methadone-exposed group. there were no differences between groups in other primary outcomes (neonatal head circumference,) or secondary outcomes (weight and length at birth, preterm birth, gestational age at delivery, and 1-minute and 5-minute apgar scores), or in the rates of maternal or neonatal adverse events. the outcomes among mothers who discontinued treatment before delivery and may have relapsed to illicit opioid use are not known. because of the imbalance in discontinuation rates between the methadone and buprenorphine groups, the study findings are difficult to interpret. animal data: formal reproductive and developmental toxicology studies for methadone have not been conducted. exposure margins for the following published study reports are based on a human daily dose (hdd) of 120 mg methadone using a body surface area comparison. in a published study in pregnant hamsters, a single subcutaneous dose of methadone ranging from 31 mg/kg (2 times the hdd) to 185 mg/kg on gestation day 8 resulted in a decrease in the number of fetuses per litter and an increase in the percentage of fetuses exhibiting neural tube defects including exencephaly, cranioschisis, and “various other lesions.” the majority of the doses tested also resulted in maternal death. in a study in pregnant jbt/jd mice, a single subcutaneous dose of 22 to 24 mg/kg methadone (approximately equivalent to the hdd) administered on gestation day 9 produced exencephaly in 11% of the embryos. in another study in pregnant mice, subcutaneous doses up to 28 mg/kg/day methadone (equivalent to the hdd) administered from gestation day 6 to 15 resulted in no malformations, but there were increased postimplantation loss and decreased live fetuses at 10 mg/kg/day or greater (0.4 times the hdd) and decreased ossification and fetal body weight at 20 mg/kg/day or greater (0.8 times the hdd). in a second study of pregnant mice dosed with subcutaneous doses up to 28 mg/kg/day methadone from gestation day 6 to 15, there was decreased pup viability, delayed onset of development of negative phototaxis and eye opening, increased righting reflexes at 5 mg/kg/day or greater (0.2 times the hdd), and decreased number of live pups at birth and decreased pup weight gain at 20 mg/kg/day or greater (0.8 times the hdd). no effects were reported in a study of pregnant rats and rabbits at oral doses up to 40 mg/kg (3 and 6 times, respectively, the hdd) administered from gestation days 6 to 15 and 6 to 18, respectively. when pregnant rats were treated with intraperitoneal doses of 2.5, 5, or 7.5 mg/kg methadone from one week prior to mating, through gestation until the end of lactation period, 5 mg/kg or greater (0.4 times the hdd) methadone resulted in decreases in litter size and live pups born and 7.5 mg/kg (0.6 times the hdd) resulted in decreased birth weights. furthermore, decreased pup viability and pup body weight gain at 2.5 mg/kg or greater (0.2 times the hdd) were noted during the preweaning period. additional animal data demonstrate evidence for neurochemical changes in the brains of offspring from methadone-treated pregnant rats, including changes to the cholinergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems at doses below the hdd. other animal studies have reported that prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to opioids including methadone alters neuronal development and behavior in the offspring including alterations in learning ability, motor activity, thermal regulation, nociceptive responses, and sensitivity to drugs at doses below the hdd. treatment of pregnant rats subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg methadone from gestation day 14 to 19 (0.4 times the hdd) reduced fetal blood testosterone and androstenedione in males. published animal data have reported increased neonatal mortality in the offspring of male rodents that were treated with methadone at doses comparable to and less than the hdd for 1 to 12 days before and/or during mating (with more pronounced effects in the first 4 days). in these studies, the female rodents were not treated with methadone, indicating paternally-mediated developmental toxicity. specifically, methadone administered to the male rat prior to mating with methadone-naïve females resulted in decreased weight gain in progeny after weaning. the male progeny demonstrated reduced thymus weights, whereas the female progeny demonstrated increased adrenal weights. behavioral testing of these male and female progeny revealed significant differences in behavioral tests compared to control animals, suggesting that paternal methadone exposure can produce physiological and behavioral changes in progeny in this model. examination of uterine contents of methadone-naïve female mice bred to methadone-treated male mice (once a day for three consecutive days) indicated that methadone treatment produced an increase in the rate of preimplantation deaths in all post-meiotic states at 1 mg/kg/day or greater (0.04 times the hdd). chromosome analysis revealed a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities at 1 mg/kg/day or greater. studies demonstrated that methadone treatment of male rats for 21 to 32 days prior to mating with methadone-naïve females did not produce any adverse effects, suggesting that prolonged methadone treatment of the male rat resulted in tolerance to the developmental toxicities noted in the progeny. mechanistic studies in this rat model suggest that the developmental effects of “paternal” methadone on the progeny appear to be due to decreased testosterone production. these animal data mirror the reported clinical findings of decreased testosterone levels in human males on methadone maintenance therapy for opioid addiction and in males receiving chronic intraspinal opioids. risk summary based on two small clinical studies, methadone was present in low levels in human milk, but the exposed infants in these studies did not show adverse reactions. based on an average milk consumption of 150 ml/kg/day, an infant would consume approximately 17.4 mcg/kg/day which is approximately 2 to 3% of the oral maternal dose. there have been rare case reports of sedation and respiratory depression in infants exposed to methadone through breast milk (see data ). monitor infants exposed to methadone through breastmilk for excess sedation and respiratory depression. the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for methadone and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition. data in a study of ten breastfeeding women maintained on oral methadone doses of 10 to 80 mg/day, methadone concentrations from 50 to 570 mcg/l in milk were reported, which, in the majority of samples, were lower than maternal serum drug concentrations at steady state. peak methadone levels in milk occur approximately 4 to 5 hours after an oral dose. in a study of twelve breastfeeding women maintained on oral methadone doses of 20 to 80 mg/day, methadone concentrations from 39 to 232 mcg/l in milk were reported. based on an average milk consumption of 150 ml/kg/day, an infant would consume approximately 17.4 mcg/kg/day, which is approximately 2 to 3% of the oral maternal dose. methadone has been detected in very low plasma concentrations in some infants whose mothers were taking methadone. infertility the effect of methadone on fertility is unknown. use of opioids for an extended period of time may cause reduced fertility in females and males of reproductive potential. it is not known whether these effects on fertility are reversible [see adverse reactions (6), clinical pharmacology (12.2), nonclinical pharmacology (13.1)] . reproductive function in human males may be decreased by methadone treatment. reductions in ejaculate volume and seminal vesicle and prostate secretions have been reported in methadone-treated individuals. in addition, reductions in serum testosterone levels and sperm motility, and abnormalities in sperm morphology have been reported. in published animal studies, methadone produces a significant regression of sex accessory organs and testes of male mice and rats and administration of methadone to pregnant rats reduced fetal blood testosterone and androstenedione in male offspring [see nonclinical toxicology (13)]. the safety, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetics of methadone in pediatric patients below the age of 18 years have not been established. clinical studies of methadone did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently compared to younger subjects. other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between elderly and younger patients. elderly patients (aged 65 years or older) may have increased sensitivity to methadone. in general, use caution when selecting a dosage for an elderly patient, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. respiratory depression is the chief risk for elderly patients treated with opioids, and has occurred after large initial doses were administered to patients who were not opioid-tolerant or when opioids were co-administered with other agents that depress respiration. titrate the dosage of methadone hydrochloride tablets slowly in geriatric patients and frequently reevaluate the patient for signs of central nervous system and respiratory depression [see warnings and precautions (5.10)] . methadone is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function. methadone pharmacokinetics have not been extensively evaluated in patients with hepatic insufficiency. methadone is metabolized by hepatic pathways; therefore, patients with liver impairment may be at risk of increased systemic exposure to methadone after multiple dosing. start these patients on lower doses and titrate slowly while carefully monitoring for signs of respiratory and central nervous system depression. methadone pharmacokinetics have not been extensively evaluated in patients with renal insufficiency. since unmetabolized methadone and its metabolites are excreted in urine to a variable degree, start these patients on lower doses and with longer dosing intervals and titrate slowly while carefully monitoring for signs of respiratory and central nervous system depression. methadone hydrochloride tablets contain methadone, a schedule ii controlled substance. methadone hydrochloride tablets contain methadone, a substance with high potential for misuse and abuse, which can lead to the development of substance use disorder, including addiction [see warnings and precautions ( 5.1 )] . misuse is the intentional use, for therapeutic purposes, of a drug by an individual in a way other than prescribed by a healthcare provider or for whom it was not prescribed. abuse is the intentional, non-therapeutic use of a drug, even once, for its desirable psychological or physiological effects. drug addiction is a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that may include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling drug use (e.g., continuing drug use despite harmful consequences, giving a higher priority to drug use than other activities and obligations), and possible tolerance or physical dependence. misuse and abuse of methadone hydrochloride tablets increase risk of overdose, which may lead to central nervous system and respiratory depression, hypotension, seizures, and death. the risk is increased with concurrent abuse of methadone hydrochloride tablets with alcohol and other cns depressants. abuse of and addiction to opioids in some individuals may not be accompanied by concurrent tolerance and symptoms of physical dependence. in addition, abuse of opioids can occur in the absence of addiction. all patients treated with opioids require careful and frequent reevaluation for signs of misuse, abuse, and addiction, because use of opioid analgesic products carries the risk of addiction even under appropriate medical use. patients at high risk of methadone hydrochloride tablets abuse include those with a history of prolonged use of any opioids, including products containing methadone, those with a history of drug or alcohol abuse, or those who use methadone hydrochloride tablets in combination with other abused drugs. “drug-seeking” behavior is very common in persons with substance use disorders. drug-seeking tactics include emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing, or referral, repeated “loss” of prescriptions, tampering with prescriptions, and reluctance to provide prior medical records or contact information for other treating healthcare provider(s). “doctor shopping” (visiting multiple prescribers to obtain additional prescriptions) is common among people who abuse drugs and people with substance use disorder. preoccupation with achieving adequate pain relief can be appropriate behavior in a patient with inadequate pain control. methadone hydrochloride tablets, like other opioids, can be diverted for nonmedical use into illicit channels of distribution. careful record-keeping of prescribing information, including quantity, frequency, and renewal requests, as required by state and federal law, is strongly advised. proper assessment of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic reevaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs. risks specific to abuse of methadone hydrochloride tablets abuse of methadone hydrochloride tablets poses a risk of overdose and death. the risk is increased with concurrent use of methadone hydrochloride tablets with alcohol and/or other cns depressants. methadone hydrochloride tablets are approved for oral use only. inappropriate intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous use of methadone hydrochloride tablets can result in death, local tissue necrosis, infection, pulmonary granulomas, increased risk of endocarditis, and valvular heart injury, and embolism. parenteral drug abuse is commonly associated with transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and hiv. both tolerance and physical dependence can develop during use of opioid therapy. tolerance is a physiological state characterized by a reduced response to a drug after repeated administration (i.e., a higher dose of a drug is required to produce the same effect that was once obtained at a lower dose). physical dependence is a state that develops as a result of a physiological adaptation in response to repeated drug use, manifested by withdrawal signs and symptoms after abrupt discontinuation or a significant dose reduction of a drug. withdrawal may be precipitated through the administration of drugs with opioid antagonist activity (e.g., naloxone), mixed agonist/antagonist analgesics (e.g., pentazocine, butorphanol, nalbuphine), or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). physical dependence may not occur to a clinically significant degree until after several days to weeks of continued use. do not abruptly discontinue methadone hydrochloride tablets in a patient physically dependent on opioids. rapid tapering of methadone hydrochloride tablets in a patient physically dependent on opioids may lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, and suicide. rapid discontinuation has also been associated with attempts to find other sources of opioid analgesics, which may be confused with drug-seeking for abuse. when discontinuing methadone hydrochloride tablets, gradually taper the dosage using a patient-specific plan that considers the following: the dose of methadone hydrochloride tablets the patient has been taking, the duration of treatment, and the physical and psychological attributes of the patient. to improve the likelihood of a successful taper and minimize withdrawal symptoms, it is important that the opioid tapering schedule is agreed upon by the patient. in patients taking opioids for an extended period of time at high doses, ensure that a multimodal approach to pain management, including mental health support (if needed), is in place prior to initiating an opioid analgesic taper [see dosage and administration ( 2.6 ), and warnings and precautions (5.16)] . infants born to mothers physically dependent on opioids will also be physically dependent and may exhibit respiratory difficulties and withdrawal signs [see use in specific populations (8.1)] .