ORLEPT (SF) LIQUID, SODIUM VALPROATE WOCKHARDT 40 MG / ML ORAL SOLUTION (SUGAR FREE) - summary of medicine characteristics

▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions. See section 4.8 for how to report adverse reactions.

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Orlept (SF) liquid

Sodium Valproate 40mg/ml Oral Solution (sugar free)

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Sodium Valproate: 200mg in 5ml (equivalent to 40mg/ml)

Excipients with known effect

Sodium

Maltitol (E965) solution which includes sorbitol (E420)

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Liquid for oral use

Clear, colourless viscous liquid

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

For oral administration in the treatment of generalised, partial or other epilepsy.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Method of administration

For oral administration.

Daily dosage requirements vary according to age and body weight.

Sodium Valproate Oral Solution may be given twice daily. Sodium Valproate Oral Solution should not be diluted.

Posology

Usual requirements are as follows:

Adults:

Dosage should start at 600mg daily increasing by 200mg at three-day intervals until control is achieved. This is generally within the dosage range 1000mg to 2000mg per day i.e. 20–30mg/kg body weight daily. Where adequate control is not achieved within this range the dose may be further increased to a maximum of 2500mg per day.

Children over 20kg:

Initial dosage should be 400mg/day (irrespective of weight) with spaced increases until control is achieved; this is usually within the range 20–30mg/kg body weight per day. Where adequate control is not achieved within this range the dose may be increased to 35mg/kg body weight per day.

Children under 20kg:

20mg/kg of body weight per day; in severe cases this may be increased but only in patients in whom plasma valproic acid levels can be monitored. Above 40mg/kg/day, clinical chemistry and haematological parameters should be monitored.

Use in the elderly:

Although the pharmacokinetics of sodium valproate are modified in the elderly, they have limited clinical significance and dosage should be determined by seizure control. The volume of distribution is increased in the elderly and because of decreased binding to serum albumin, the proportion of free drug is increased. This will affect the clinical interpretation of plasma valproic acid levels.

In Patients with renal insufficiency

It may be necessary in patients with renal insufficiency to decrease the dosage, or to increase the dosage in patients on haemodialysis. Sodium valproate is dialysable (see section 4.9). Dosing should be modified according to clinical monitoring of the patient (see section 4.4), since monitoring of plasma concentrations may be misleading (see section 5.2).

In patients with hepatic insufficiency

Salicylates should not be used concomitantly with sodium valproate since they employ the same metabolic pathway (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Liver dysfunction, including hepatic failure resulting in fatalities, has occurred in patients whose treatment included valproic acid (see sections 4.3 and 4.4).

Salicylates should not be used in children under 16 years (see aspirin/salicylate product information on Reye's syndrome). In addition in conjunction with sodium valproate concomitant use in children under 3 years can increase the risk of liver toxicity (see section 4.4.1).

Female children and women of childbearing potential

Valproate must be initiated and supervised by a specialist experienced in the management of epilepsy disorder. Valproate should not be used in female children and women of childbearing potential unless other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated (see sections 4.3, 4.4 and 4.6).

Valproate is prescribed and dispensed according to the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme (see sections 4.3 and 4.4). The benefits and risks should be carefully reconsidered at regular treatment reviews (see section 4.4).

Valproate should preferably be prescribed as monotherapy and at the lowest effective dose, if possible as a prolonged release formulation. The daily dose should be divided into at least two single doses (see section 4.6).

Combined Therapy:

When starting sodium valproate in patients already on other anticonvulsants, these should be tapered slowly: initiation of sodium valproate therapy should then be gradual, with target dose being reached after about 2 weeks. In certain cases it may be necessary to raise the dose by 5 to 10mg/kg/day when used in combination with anticonvulsants which induce liver enzyme activity, e.g. phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine. Once known enzyme inducers have been withdrawn it may be possible to maintain seizure control on a reduced dose of sodium valproate. When barbiturates are being administered concomitantly and particularly if sedation is observed (particularly in children) the dosage of barbiturate should be reduced.

NB: In children requiring doses higher than 40mg/kg/day clinical chemistry and haematological parameters should be monitored.

Optimum dosage is mainly determined by seizure control and routine measurement of plasma levels is unnecessary.       However, a method for

measurement of plasma levels is available and may be helpful where there is poor control or side effects are suspected (see section 5.2).

4.3 Contraindi­cations

Sodium Valproate Oral Solution is contraindicated in the following situations:

in pregnancy unless there is no suitable alternative treatment (see section 4.4 and 4.6).

in women of childbearing potential, unless the conditions of the pregnancy prevention programme are fulfilled (see section 4.4and 4.6).

Active liver disease

Personal or family history of severe hepatic dysfunction, especially drug related

Patients with known urea cycle disorders (see section 4.4)

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Porphyria

Valproate is contraindicated in patients known to have mitochondrial disorders caused by mutations in the nuclear gene encoding the mitochondrial enzyme polymerase y (POLG), e.g. Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome and in children under two years of age who are suspected of having a POLG-related disorder (see section 4.4).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Although there is no specific evidence of sudden recurrence of underlying symptoms following withdrawal of valproate, discontinuation should normally only be done under the supervision of a specialist in a gradual manner. This is due to the possibility of sudden alterations in plasma concentrations giving rise to a recurrence of symptoms. NICE has advised that switching between different manufacturer’s val­proate preparations is not normally recommended due to the clinical implications of possible variations in plasma concentrations.

4.4.1 Special warnings

Liver dysfunction:

Conditions of occurrence:

Severe liver damage, including hepatic failure sometimes resulting in fatalities, has been very rarely reported. Experience in epilepsy has indicated that patients most at risk, especially in cases of multiple anti-convulsant therapy, are infants and in particular young children under the age of 3 years and those with severe seizure disorders, organic brain disease, and (or) congenital metabolic or degenerative disease associated with mental retardation.

After the age of 3 years, the incidence of occurrence is significantly reduced and progressively decreases with age.

The concomitant use of salicylates should be avoided in children under 3 years due to the risk of liver toxicity. Additionally, salicylates should not be used in children under 16 years (see aspirin/salicylate product information on Reye’s syndrome).

Monotherapy is recommended in children under the age of 3 years when prescribing sodium valproate, but the potential benefit of sodium valproate should be weighed against the risk of liver damage or pancreatitis in such patients prior to initiation of therapy.

In most cases, such liver damage occurred during the first 6 months of therapy, the period of maximum risk being 2–12 weeks.

Suggestive signs:

Clinical symptoms are essential for early diagnosis. In particular the following conditions, which may precede jaundice, should be taken into consideration, especially in patients at risk (see above: ‘Conditions of occurrence’):

non specific symptoms, usually of sudden onset, such as asthenia, malaise, anorexia, lethargy, oedema and drowsiness which are sometimes associated with repeated vomiting and abdominal pain.

in patients with epilepsy, recurrence of seizures.

These are an indication for immediate withdrawal of the drug.

Patients (or their family for children) should be instructed to report immediately any such signs to a physician should they occur. Investigations including clinical examination and biological assessment of liver function should be undertaken immediately.

Detection:

Liver function should be measured before therapy and then periodically monitored during the first 6 months of therapy, especially in those who seem most at risk, and those with a prior history of liver disease.

Amongst usual investigations, tests which reflect protein synthesis, particularly prothrombin rate, are most relevant.

Confirmation of an abnormally low prothrombin rate, particularly in association with other biological abnormalities (significant decrease in fibrinogen and coagulation factors; increased bilirubin level and raised transaminases) requires cessation of sodium valproate therapy.

As a matter of precaution and in case they are taken concomitantly salicylates should also be discontinued since they employ the same metabolic pathway.

As with most anti-epileptic drugs, increased liver enzymes are common, particularly at the beginning of therapy; they are also transient.

More extensive biological investigations (including prothrombin rate) are recommended in these patients; a reduction in dosage may be considered when appropriate and tests should be repeated as necessary.

Pancreatitis, which may be severe and result in fatalities, has been very rarely reported. Patients experiencing nausea, vomiting or acute abdominal pain should have a prompt medical evaluation (including measurement of serum amylase). Young children are at particular risk; this risk decreases with increasing age. Severe seizures and severe neurological impairment with combination anticonvulsant therapy may be risk factors. Hepatic failure with pancreatitis increases the risk of fatal outcome. In case of pancreatitis, sodium valproate should be discontinued.

Female children, women of childbearing potential and pregnant women:

Pregnancy Prevention Programme

Valproate has a high teratogenic potential and children exposed in utero to valproate have a high risk for congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders (see section 4.6).

Sodium Valproate 40mg/ml Oral Solution (sugar free) is contraindicated in the following situations:

in pregnancy unless there is no suitable alternative treatment (see sections 4.3 and 4.6).

in women of childbearing potential, unless the conditions of the pregnancy prevention programme are fulfilled (see sections 4.3 and 4.6).

Conditions of Pregnancy Prevention Programme:

The prescriber must ensure that

Individual circumstances should be evaluated in each case, involving the patient in the discussion, to guarantee her engagement, discuss therapeutic options and ensure her understanding of the risks and the measures needed to minimise the risks.

the potential for pregnancy is assessed for all female patients.

the patient has understood and acknowledged the risks of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders including the magnitude of these risks for children exposed to valproate in utero.

the patient understands the need to undergo pregnancy testing prior to initiation of treatment and during treatment, as needed.

the patient is counselled regarding contraception, and that the patient is capable of complying with the need to use effective contraception (for further details please refer to subsection contraception of this boxed warning), without interruption during the entire duration of treatment with valproate.

the patient understands the need for regular (at least annual) review of treatment by a specialist experienced in the management of epilepsy.

the patient understands the need to consult her physician as soon as she is planning pregnancy to ensure timely discussion and switching to alternative treatment options prior to conception, and before contraception is discontinued.

the patient understands the need to urgently consult her physician in case of pregnancy.

the patient has received the patient guide.

the patient has acknowledged that she has understood the hazards and necessary precautions associated with valproate use (Annual Risk Acknowledgemen­t Form).

These conditions also concern women who are not currently sexually active unless the prescriber considers that there are compelling reasons to indicate that there is no risk of pregnancy.

Female children

The prescribers must ensure that parents/caregivers of female children understand the need to contact the specialist once the female child using valproate experiences menarche.

The prescriber must ensure that parents/caregivers of female children who have experienced menarche are provided with comprehensive information about the risks of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders including the magnitude of these risks for children exposed to valproate in utero.

In patients who experienced menarche, the prescribing specialist must reassess the need for valproate therapy annually and consider alternative treatment options. If valproate is the only suitable treatment, the need for using effective contraception and all other conditions of pregnancy prevention programme should be discussed. Every effort should be made by the specialist to switch the female children to alternative treatment before they reach adulthood.

Pregnancy test

Pregnancy must be excluded before start of treatment with valproate. Treatment with valproate must not be initiated in women of child bearing potential without a negative pregnancy test (plasma pregnancy test) result, confirmed by a health care provider, to rule out unintended use in pregnancy.

Contraception

Women of childbearing potential who are prescribed valproate must use effective contraception, without interruption during the entire duration of treatment with valproate. These patients must be provided with comprehensive information on pregnancy prevention and should be referred for contraceptive advice if they are not using effective contraception. At least one effective method of contraception (preferably a user independent form such as an intra-uterine device or implant) or two complementary forms of contraception including a barrier method should be used. Individual circumstances should be evaluated in each case, when choosing the contraception method involving the patient in the discussion, to guarantee her engagement and compliance with the chosen measures. Even if she has amenorrhea she must follow all the advice on effective contraception.

Oestrogen-containing products

Concomitant use with oestrogen-containing products, including oestrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives, may potentially result in decreased valproate efficacy (see section 4.5).

Prescribers should monitor clinical response (seizure control) when initiating or discontinuing oestrogen-containing products.

On the opposite, valproate does not reduce efficacy of hormonal contraceptives.

Annual treatment reviews by a specialist

The specialist should review at least annually whether valproate is the most suitable treatment for the patient. The specialist should discuss the annual risk acknowledgement form, at initiation and during each annual review and ensure that the patient has understood its content.

Pregnancy planning.

If a woman is planning to become pregnant, a specialist experienced in the management of epilepsy, must reassess valproate therapy and consider alternative treatment options. Every effort should be made to switch to appropriate alternative treatment prior to conception, and before contraception is discontinued (see section 4.6). If switching is not possible, the woman should receive further counselling regarding the valproate risks for the unborn child to support her informed decision making regarding family planning.

In case of pregnancy

If a woman using valproate becomes pregnant, she must be immediately referred to a specialist to re-evaluate treatment with valproate and consider alternative options. The patients with a valproate exposed pregnancy and their partners should be referred to a specialist experienced in prenatal medicine for evaluation and counselling regarding the exposed pregnancy (see section 4.6).

Pharmacist must ensure that

The patient card is provided with every valproate dispensing and that the patients understand its content.

Patients are advised not to stop valproate medication and to immediately contact a specialist in case of planned or suspected pregnancy.

Educational materials

In order to assist healthcare professionals and patients in avoiding exposure to valproate during pregnancy, the Marketing Authorisation Holder has provided educational materials to reinforce the warnings and provide guidance regarding use of valproate in women of childbearing potential and the details of the pregnancy prevention programme. A patient guide and patient card should be provided to all women of childbearing potential using valproate.

An Annual Risk Acknowledgement Form needs to be used at time of treatment initiation and during each annual review of valproate treatment by the specialist.

Valproate therapy should only be continued after a reassessment of the benefits and risks of the treatment with valproate for the patient by a specialist experienced in the management of epilepsy.

As with other anti-epileptic drugs, some patients may experience, instead of an improvement, a reversible worsening of convulsion frequency and severity (including status epilepticus), or the onset of new types of convulsions with valproate. In case of aggravated convulsions, the patients should be advised to consult their physician immediately (see section 4.8).

Suicidal ideation and behaviour have been reported in patients treated with antiepileptic agents in several indications. A meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials of anti-epileptic drugs has also shown a small increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour. The mechanism of this risk is not known and the available data do not exclude the possibility of an increased risk for sodium valproate.

Therefore patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal ideation and behaviours and appropriate treatment should be considered. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be advised to seek medical advice should signs of suicidal ideation or behaviour emerge.

The concomitant use of valproate and carbapenem agents is not recommended.

Patients with known or suspected mitochondrial disease

Valproate may trigger or worsen clinical signs of underlying mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations of mitochondrial DNA as well as the nuclear encoded POLG gene. In particular, valproate-induced acute liver failure and liver-related deaths have been reported at a higher rate in patients with hereditary neurometabolic syndromes caused by mutations in the gene for the mitochondrial enzyme polymerase y (POLG) e.g. Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome.

POLG-related disorders should be suspected in patients with a family history or suggestive symptoms of a POLG-related disorder, including but not limited to unexplained encephalopathy, refractory epilepsy (focal, myoclonic), status epilepticus    at presentation, developmental delays, psychomotor regression,

axonal sensorimotor neuropathy, myopathy, cerebellar ataxia, ophthalmoplegia or complicated migraine with occipital aura. POLG mutation testing should be performed in accordance with current clinical practice for the diagnostic evaluation of such disorders (see section 4.3).

4.4.2 Precautions

Blood tests (blood cell count, including platelet count, bleeding time and coagulation tests) are recommended prior to initiation of therapy or before surgery, and in case of spontaneous bruising or bleeding (see section 4.8).

In patients with renal insufficiency, it may be necessary to decrease dosage. As monitoring of plasma concentrations may be misleading, dosage should be adjusted according to clinical monitoring (see sections 4.2 and 5.2.).

Although immune disorders have only rarely been noted during the use of sodium valproate, the potential benefit of sodium valproate should be weighed against its potential risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (see section 4.8).

Urea cycle disorders:When a urea cycle enzymatic deficiency is suspected, metabolic investigations should be performed prior to treatment because of the risk of hyperammonaemia with sodium valproate (see section 4.3).

Sodium valproate very commonly causes weight gain, which may be marked and progressive. Patients should be warned of the risk of weight gain at the initiation of therapy and appropriate strategies should be adopted to minimise it (see section 4.8).

Sodium valproate is eliminated mainly through the kidneys, partly in the form of ketone bodies; this may give false positives in the urine testing of possible diabetics.

Patients with an underlying carnitine palmitoyltran­sferase (CPT) type II deficiency should be warned of the greater risk of rhabdomyolysis when taking sodium valproate.

Alcohol intake is not recommended during treatment with valproate.

Anti-epileptics with enzyme inducing effect (including phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine) decrease valproic acid plasma concentrations. Dosages should be adjusted according to clinical response and blood levels in case of combined therapy.

Valproic acid metabolite levels may be increased in the case of concomitant use with phenytoin or phenobarbital. Therefore patients treated with those two drugs should be carefully monitored for signs and symptoms of hyperammonaemia.

On the other hand, combination of felbamate and sodium valproate decreases valproic acid clearance by 22% to 50% and consequently increase the valproic acid plasma concentrations. Sodium valproate dosage should be monitored.

Mefloquine and chloroquine increase valproic acid metabolism and may lower the seizure threshold; therefore epileptic seizures may occur in cases of combined therapy. Accordingly, the dosage of sodium valproate may need adjustment.

In case of concomitant use of sodium valproate and highly protein bound agents (e.g. aspirin), free valproic acid plasma levels may be increased.

The anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants may be increased following displacement from plasma protein binding sites by valproic acid. The prothrombin time should be closely monitored.

Valproic acid plasma levels may be increased (as a result of reduced hepatic metabolism) in case of concomitant use with cimetidine or erythromycin.

Carbapenem antibiotics (such as panipenem, imipenem and meropenem) Decreases in blood levels of valproic acid have been reported when it is coadministered with carbapenem agents resulting in a 60%-100% decrease in valproic acid levels within two days, sometimes associated with convulsions. Due to the rapid onset and the extent of the decrease, co-administration of carbapenem agents in patients stabilised on valproic acid should be avoided (section 4.4). If treatment with these antibiotics cannot be avoided, close monitoring of valproic acid blood levels should be performed.

Rifampicin may decrease the valproic acid blood levels resulting in a lack of therapeutic effect. Therefore, valproate dosage adjustment may be necessary when it is co-administered with rifampicin.

Protease inhibitors such as lopinavir and ritonavir decrease valproate plasma level when co-administered.

Both valproate monotherapy and valproate polytherapy including other antiepileptics are frequently associated with abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Available data suggest that anti-epileptic polytherapy including valproate may be associated with a greater risk of congenital malformations than valproate monotherapy.

Valproate was shown to cross the placental barrier both in animal species and in humans (see section 5.2).

In animals: teratogenic effects have been demonstrated in mice, rats and rabbits (see section 5.3).

Data derived from a meta-analysis (including registries and cohort studies) has shown that 10.73% of children of epileptic women exposed to valproate monotherapy during pregnancy suffer from congenital malformations (95% CI: 8.16 – 13.29). This is a greater risk of major malformations than for the general population, for whom the risk is about 2–3%. The risk is dose dependent but a threshold dose below which no risk exists cannot be established.

Available data show an increased incidence of minor and major malformations. The most common types of malformations include neural tube defects, facial dysmorphism, cleft lip and palate, craniostenosis, cardiac, renal and urogenital defects, limb defects (including bilateral aplasia of the radius), and multiple anomalies involving various body systems.

In utero exposure to valproate may also result in hearing impairment or deafness due to ear and/or nose malformations (secondary effect) and/or direct toxicity on the hearing function. Cases describe both unilateral and bilateral deafness or hearing impairment. Outcomes were not reported for all cases. When outcomes were reported, the majority of the cases did not recover.

In utero exposure to valproate may result in eye malformations (including colobomas, microphthalmos) that have been reported in conjunction with other congenital malformations. These eye malformations may affect vision.

Data have shown that exposure to valproate in utero can have adverse effects on mental and physical development of the exposed children. The risk seems to be dose-dependent but a threshold dose below which no risk exists, cannot be established based on available data. The exact gestational period of risk for these effects is uncertain and the possibility of a risk throughout the entire pregnancy cannot be excluded.

Studies in preschool children exposed in utero to valproate show that up to 3040% experience delays in their early development such as talking and walking later, lower intellectual abilities, poor language skills (speaking and understanding) and memory problems.

Intelligence quotient (IQ) measured in school aged children (age 6) with a history of valproate exposure in utero was on average 7–10 points lower than those children exposed to other anti-epileptics. Although the role of confounding factors cannot be excluded, there is evidence in children exposed to valproate that the risk of intellectual impairment may be independent from maternal IQ.

There are limited data on the long term outcomes.

Available data from a population-based study show that children exposed to valproate in utero are at increased risk of autistic spectrum disorder (approximately three-fold) and childhood autism (approximately five-fold) compared to the unexposed population in the study.

Available data from another population-based study show that children exposed to valproate in utero are at increased risk of developing attention deficit/hyperac­tivity disorder (ADHD) (approximately 1.5-fold) compared to the unexposed population in the study.

Female children and woman of childbearing potential (see above and section 4.4)

Oestrogen-containing products, including oestrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives, may increase the clearance of valproate, which would result in decreased serum concentration of valproate and potentially decreased valproate efficacy (see sections 4.4 and 4.5).

If a woman plans a pregnancy

If a woman is planning to become pregnant, a specialist experienced in the management of epilepsy, must reassess valproate therapy and consider alternative treatment options. Every effort should be made to switch to appropriate alternative treatment prior to conception, and before contraception is discontinued (see section 4.4). If switching is not possible, the woman should receive further counselling regarding the risks of valproate for the unborn child to support her informed decision making regarding family planning.

6   PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Wockhardt UK Limited

Ash Road North

Wrexham

LL13 9UF

UK