SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Espranor 2 mg oral lyophilisate.

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each oral lyophilisate contains 2 mg of buprenorphine (as hydrochloride).

Each oral lyophilisate contains 0.50 mg aspartame.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3    PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Oral lyophilisate.

White to off-white circular oral lyophilisate with a diameter of 10.3 mm, debossed with ‘M2’ on one side.

4    CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Substitution treatment for opioid drug dependence, within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment.

Treatment with Espranor oral lyophilisate is intended for use in adults and adolescents aged 15 years or over who have agreed to be treated for addiction.

Posology and method of administration

Treatment should be under the supervision of a clinician experienced in the management of opiate dependence/addiction.

Administration is oromucosal. The oral lyophilisate should be taken from the blister unit with dry fingers, and placed whole on the tongue until dispersed, which usually occurs within 15 seconds, and then absorbed through the oromucosa. Swallowing should be avoided for 2 minutes. The oral lyophilisate should be taken immediately after opening the blister. Patients should not consume food or drink for 5 minutes after administration.

Physicians must advise patients that the oromucosal route of administration is the only effective and safe route of administration for this medicinal product. If the oral lyophilisate, or saliva containing buprenorphine are swallowed, the buprenorphine will be metabolised and excreted and have minimal effect.

Adults

Precautions to be taken before induction:

Prior to treatment initiation, consideration should be given to the type of opioid dependence (i.e. long- or short-acting opioid), the time since last opioid use and the degree of opioid dependence. To avoid precipitating withdrawal, induction with buprenorphine should be undertaken when objective and clear signs of withdrawal are evident (demonstrated e.g. by a score indicating mild to moderate withdrawal on the validated Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale, COWS).

Opioid-dependent drug addicts who have not undergone withdrawal: When treatment starts, the first dose of Espranor should be taken when signs of withdrawal appear, but not less than 6 hours after the patient last used opioids (e.g. heroin; short acting opioids).

Patients receiving methadone: Before beginning Espranor therapy, the dose of methadone must be reduced to a maximum of 30 mg/day. The long half-life of methadone should be considered when starting buprenorphine therapy. The first dose of Espranor should be taken when signs of withdrawal appear, but not less than 24 hours after the patient last used methadone. Buprenorphine may precipitate symptoms of withdrawal in patients dependent upon methadone.

Because of the partial agonist profile of buprenorphine, the patient should be warned that the first 24 hours of buprenorphine substitution therapy may feel uncomfortable with some mild opiate withdrawal symptoms.

Initiation therapy (induction):

The recommended starting dose is 2 mg of Espranor (1 Espranor 2 mg oral lyophilisate). An additional one to two Espranor 2 mg oral lyophilisates may be administered on day one depending on the individual patient's requirement.

During the initiation of treatment, daily supervision of dosing is recommended to ensure proper placement of the dose on the tongue and to observe patient response to treatment as a guide to effective dose titration according to clinical effect.

Dosage adjustment and maintenance: The dose of Espranor should then be adjusted according to clinical effect with the aim of quickly stabilising the patient. The dosage can be titrated up or down according to assessment of the clinical and psychological status of the patient in steps of 2-6 mg, but should not exceed a maximum single daily dose of 18 mg. During the initiation of treatment, daily dispensing of buprenorphine is recommended. After stabilisation, a reliable patient may be given a supply of Espranor sufficient for several days of treatment. It is recommended that the amount of Espranor be limited to 7 days or according to local requirements.

Less than daily dosing: After satisfactory stabilisation has been achieved the frequency of Espranor dosing may be decreased to dosing every other day at twice the individually titrated daily dose. For example, a patient stabilised to receive a daily dose of 8 mg may be given 16 mg on alternate days, with no dose on the intervening days. In some patients, after a satisfactory stabilisation has been achieved, the frequency of Espranor dosing may be decreased to 3 times a week (for example on Monday, Wednesday and Friday). The dose on Monday and Wednesday should be twice the individually titrated daily dose, and the dose on Friday should be three times the individually titrated daily dose, with no dose on the intervening days. However, the dose given on any one day should not exceed 18 mg. Patients requiring a titrated daily dose > 8 mg/day may not find this regimen adequate.

Dosage reduction and termination of treatment: After a satisfactory stabilisation has been achieved, if the patient agrees, the dosage may be reduced gradually to a lower maintenance dose; in some favourable cases, treatment may be discontinued. The availability of Espranor in doses of 2 mg and 8 mg allows for a downward titration of dosage. For patients who may require a lower buprenorphine dose, buprenorphine 1 mg or 0.4 mg sublingual tablets may be used. Patients should be monitored following termination of treatment because of the potential for relapse.

Elderly

The safety and efficacy of buprenorphine in the elderly over 65 years of age have not been established. No recommendation on posology can be made.

Paediatrics

The safety and efficacy of buprenorphine in children below the age of 15 years have not been established. No data are available.

Patients with impaired hepatic function

Baseline liver function tests and documentation of viral hepatitis status is recommended prior to commencing therapy. Patients who are positive for viral hepatitis, on concomitant medication (see section 4.5) and/or have existing liver dysfunction are at risk of accelerated liver injury. Regular monitoring of liver function is recommended (see section 4.4).

The effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine is unknown. Since buprenorphine is extensively metabolised in the liver, the plasma levels will be expected to be higher in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.

As Espranor pharmacokinetics may be altered in patients with hepatic impairment, lower initial doses and careful dose titration in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment are recommended (see section 5.2). Buprenorphine is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency (see section 4.3).

Patients with impaired renal function

Modification of the Espranor dose is not generally required in patients with renal impairment. Caution is recommended when dosing patients with severe renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance < 30 ml/min) (see section 4.4 and 5.2).

Method of administration

Physicians must warn patients that the route of administration is the only effective and safe route for this medicinal product (see section 4.4). The oral lyophilisate is to be placed on the tongue until completely dissolved. Patients should not swallow or consume food or drink until the lyophilisate is completely dissolved. For further information, see the national guidelines for buprenorphine treatment.

4.3 Contraindications

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

Severe respiratory insufficiency

Severe hepatic impairment

Acute alcoholism or delirium tremens

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Warnings

Espranor oral lyophilisate is recommended only for the treatment of opioid drug dependence. It is also recommended that the treatment is prescribed by a physician who ensures comprehensive management of the drug addicted patient(s).

The clinician should consider the risk of abuse and misuse (e.g. IV administration) particularly at the beginning of the treatment.

Diversion:

Buprenorphine can be misused or abused in a manner similar to other opioids, legal or illicit. Some risks of misuse and abuse include overdose, spread of blood borne viral or localised and systemic infections, respiratory depression and hepatic injury. Buprenorphine misused by someone other than the intended patient poses the additional risk of new drug dependent individuals using buprenorphine as the primary drug of abuse, and may occur if the medicine is distributed for illicit use directly by the intended patient or if the medicine is not safeguarded against theft.

Sub-optimal treatment with buprenorphine may prompt medication misuse by the patient, leading to overdose or treatment dropout. A patient who is under-dosed with buprenorphine may continue responding to uncontrolled withdrawal symptoms by self-medicating with opioids, alcohol or other sedative-hypnotics such as benzodiazepines.

To minimise the risk of misuse, abuse and diversion, physicians should take appropriate precautions when prescribing and dispensing buprenorphine, such as to avoid take-home dosing early in treatment, and to conduct patient follow-up visits with clinical monitoring that is appropriate to the patient’s need.

Removal of Espranor from the mouth following supervised administration is virtually impossible due to its rapid dispersal on the tongue.

Precipitated Withdrawal:

When initiating treatment with buprenorphine the physician must be aware of the partial agonist profile of buprenorphine and that it can precipitate withdrawal in opioid-dependent patients particularly if administered less than 6 hours after the last use of heroin or other short-acting opioids, or if administered less than 24 hours after the last dose of methadone. To avoid precipitating withdrawal, induction with buprenorphine should be undertaken when objective signs of withdrawal are evident (see section 4.2). Conversely, withdrawal symptoms may also be associated with suboptimal dosing.

The risk of serious adverse events such as overdose or treatment dropout is greater if a patient is under-treated with Espranor and continues to self-medicate against withdrawal with opioids, alcohol or other sedative-hypnotics, in particular benzodiazepines.

Respiratory Depression: A number of cases of death due to respiratory depression have been reported in patients taking buprenorphine, particularly when used in combination with benzodiazepines (see section 4.5) or when buprenorphine was not used according to prescribing information. Deaths have also been reported in association with concomitant administration of buprenorphine and other depressants such as alcohol or other opioids. If buprenorphine is administered to some non-opioid dependent individuals, who are not tolerant to the effects of opioids, potentially fatal respiratory depression may occur.

This product should be used with care in patients with asthma or respiratory insufficiency (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cor pulmonale, decreased respiratory reserve, hypoxia, hypercapnia, pre-existing respiratory depression or kyphoscoliosis (curvature of spine leading to potential shortness of breath).

Buprenorphine may cause severe, possibly fatal, respiratory depression in children and non-dependent persons in case of accidental or deliberate ingestion. Patients must be warned to store the blister safely, to never open the blister in advance, to keep them out of the reach of children and other household members, and not to take this medicine in front of children. An emergency unit should be contacted immediately in case of accidental ingestion or suspicion of ingestion.

Hepatitis and hepatic events: Cases of acute hepatic injury have been reported in opioid-dependent addicts both in clinical trials and in post-marketing adverse event reports. The spectrum of abnormalities ranges from transient asymptomatic elevations in hepatic transaminases to case reports of hepatic failure. In many cases the presence of pre-existing liver enzyme abnormalities, infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, concomitant use of other potentially hepatotoxic drugs and ongoing injecting drug use may have a causative or contributory role. These underlying factors must be taken into consideration before prescribing Espranor, and during treatment. When a hepatic event is suspected further biological and etiological evaluation is required. Depending upon the findings, the medicinal product may be discontinued cautiously so as to prevent withdrawal symptoms and to prevent a return to illicit drug use. If the treatment is continued, hepatic function should be monitored closely.

Hepatic impairment

Hepatic metabolism of buprenorphine may be altered in patients with hepatic impairment, which may give rise to increased plasma concentrations of buprenorphine. A reduction of the buprenorphine dose may be needed (see section 4.2).

Renal impairment

Renal elimination may be prolonged since 30% of the administered dose is eliminated by the renal route. Metabolites of buprenorphine accumulate in patients with renal failure. Caution is recommended with dosing patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min) (see section 4.2 and 5.2).

CNS depression

This product can cause drowsiness, which may be exacerbated by other centrally acting agents, such as alcohol, tranquillisers, sedatives and hypnotics (see section 4.5).

Athletes should be aware that this medicine may cause a positive reaction to “antidoping tests”.

This product contains aspartame (see Section 2 for the quantitative composition). Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine which may be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.

Paediatric population

Espranor is not recommended for use in children below age 15 years due to lack of data on safety and efficacy.

Due to the lack of data in adolescents (aged 15- 18), Espranor should be used only with caution in this age group and more closely monitored during treatment.

CYP 3A inhibitors

Medicines that inhibit the enzyme CYP3A4 may give rise to increased concentrations of buprenorphine. A reduction of the buprenorphine dose may be needed. Patients already treated with CYP3A4 inhibitors should have their dose of buprenorphine titrated carefully since a reduced dose may be sufficient in these patients (see section 4.5).

Precautions for Use

This product can cause orthostatic hypotension.

Opioids may elevate cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which may cause seizures, so opioids should be used with caution in patients with head injury, intracranial lesions, other circumstances where cerebrospinal pressure may be increased or history of seizure.

As with other opioids, caution is advised when using buprenorphine in patients with head injury, increased intracranial pressure, hypotension, prostatic hypertrophy or urethral stenosis.

Opioid-induced miosis, changes in the level of consciousness, or changes in the perception of pain as a symptom of disease may interfere with patient evaluation or obscure the diagnosis or clinical course of concomitant disease.

Opioids should be used with caution in patients with myxoedema, hypothyroidism, or adrenal cortical insufficiency (e.g., Addison's disease).

Opioids have been shown to increase intracholedochal pressure, and should be used with caution in patients with dysfunction of the biliary tract.

Opioids should be administered with caution to elderly or debilitated patients.

The concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) might produce an exaggeration of the effects of opioids, based on experience with morphine (see section 4.5).

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Espranor should not be taken together with alcoholic drinks or medications containing alcohol. Alcohol increases the sedative effect of buprenorphine (see section 4.7).

Espranor should be used cautiously when co-administered with:

-    Benzodiazepines: This combination may result in death due to respiratory depression of central origin. Therefore, dosages must be limited and this combination must be avoided in cases where there is a risk of misuse. Patients should be warned that it is extremely dangerous to self-administer non-prescribed benzodiazepines while taking this product, and should also be cautioned to use benzodiazepines concurrently with this product only as directed by their physician (see section 4.4).

-    Other central nervous system depressants; other opioid derivatives (e.g. methadone, analgesics and antitussives); certain antidepressants, sedative H1-receptor antagonists, barbiturates, anxiolytics other than benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, clonidine and related substances. This combination increases central nervous system depression. The reduced level of alertness can make driving and using machines hazardous.

-    Furthermore, adequate analgesia may be difficult to achieve when administering a full opioid agonist in patients receiving buprenorphine. Therefore the potential to overdose with a full agonist exists, especially when attempting to overcome buprenorphine partial agonist effects, or when buprenorphine plasma levels are declining.

-    Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that can block the pharmacological effects of buprenorphine. Co-administration during buprenorphine treatment should be strongly avoided, due to the potentially dangerous interaction that may precipitate a sudden onset of prolonged and intense opioid withdrawal symptoms.

-    CYP3A4 inhibitors: an interaction study of buprenorphine with ketoconazole (a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4) resulted in increased Cmax and AUC (area under the curve) of buprenorphine (approximately 50 % and 70 % respectively) and, to a lesser extent, of norbuprenorphine. Patients receiving Espranor should be closely monitored, and may require dose-reduction if combined with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. protease inhibitors like ritonavir, nelfinavir or indinavir or azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics, or itraconazole).

-    CYP3A4 inducers: Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inducers with buprenorphine may decrease buprenorphine plasma concentrations, potentially resulting in sub-optimal treatment of opioid dependence with buprenorphine. It is recommended that patients receiving buprenorphine should be closely monitored if inducers (e.g. phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin) are co-administered. The dose of buprenorphine or the CYP3A4 inducer may need to be adjusted accordingly.

-    Concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI): Possible exaggeration of the effects of opioids, based on experience with morphine.

-    To date, no notable interaction has been observed with cocaine, the agent most frequently used by multi-drug abusers in association with opioids.

A suspected interaction between buprenorphine injection and phenprocoumon, resulting in purpura, has been reported.

Buprenorphine is a CYP3A4 inhibitor in vitro. The risk of inhibition in vivo at therapeutic concentrations seems low, although it cannot be excluded. When buprenorphine is combined with CYP3A4 substrates the plasma levels of these substrates may increase and dose-dependent side effects may appear. Buprenorphine does not inhibit CYP2C19 in vitro. The inhibitory effect of buprenorphine on other enzymes capable of metabolising substrates in medicinal products has not been studied.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no adequate data from the use of buprenorphine in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown.

Towards the end of pregnancy, high doses, even for a short duration of time, may induce respiratory depression in neonates. During the last three months of pregnancy, chronic use of buprenorphine may be responsible for a withdrawal syndrome in neonates (e.g. hypertonia, neonatal tremor, neonatal agitation, myoclonus or convulsions). The syndrome is generally delayed for several hours to several days after birth.

Due to the long half-life of buprenorphine, neonatal monitoring for several days should be considered at the end of pregnancy, to prevent the risk of respiratory depression or withdrawal syndrome in neonates.

Furthermore, the use of buprenorphine during pregnancy should be assessed by the physician. Buprenorphine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.

Breastfeeding

Buprenorphine and its metabolites are excreted in human milk. As evidenced in rats, buprenorphine has the potential to inhibit lactation. Therefore, breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment with Espranor.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of buprenorphine on human fertility. Animal studies have shown a reduction in female fertility at high doses (see section 5.3).

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Buprenorphine has minor to moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines when administered to opioid dependent patients. This may cause drowsiness, dizziness or impaired thinking, especially during treatment induction and dose adjustment. When taken together with alcohol or central nervous system depressants, the effect is likely to be more pronounced (see section 4.4 and 4.5). Therefore, caution is advised when driving or operating hazardous machinery in case buprenorphine may affect their ability to engage in such activities.

This medicine can affect your ability to drive.

Do not drive whilst taking this medicine until you know how this medicine affects you.

It may be an offence to drive if your ability to drive safely is affected.

Details regarding a new driving offence concerning driving after drugs have been taken in the UK may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported treatment related adverse reaction reported during the pivotal clinical trials were constipation and symptoms commonly associated with opioid withdrawal (i.e. insomnia, headache, nausea, hyperhidrosis and pain). Some reports of seizure, vomiting, diarrhoea, and elevated liver function tests were considered serious.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The onset of undesirable effects depends on the patient's tolerance threshold, which is higher in drug addicts than in the general population. The frequency of possible side-effects listed below is defined using the following convention.

Very common (>1/10)

Common (>1/100 to <1/10)

Uncommon (>1/1000 to <1/100)

Rare: (>1/10000 to <1/1000)

Very rare: (<1/10000)

Table 1: List of adverse reactions reported on the use of buprenorphine

Table	Undesirable effects observed in clinical studies and observation studies
System Organ Class	Frequency	Adverse Event
Immune system disorders	Uncommon:	Hypersensitivity
Psychiatric disorders	Very common:	Insomnia
	Common:	Anxiety, Depression, Libido decreased, Nervousness, Thinking abnormal
	Uncommon:	Abnormal dreams, Agitation, Apathy, Depersonalisation, Drug dependence, Euphoric mood, Hostility
Nervous system disorders	Very common:	Headache

Table	Undesirable effects observed in clinical studies and observation studies
System Organ Class	Frequency	Adverse Event
	Common:	Migraine, Dizziness, Hypertonia, Paraesthesia, Somnolence
	Uncommon:	Amnesia, Convulsion, Hyperkinesia, Speech disorder, Tremor
Eye disorders	Common:	Amblyopia, Lacrimation
	Uncommon:	Conjunctivitis, Miosis
Vascular disorders	Common:	Hypertension, Vasodilatation
	Uncommon:	Hypotension
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders	Common:	Cough
	Uncommon:	Asthma, Dyspnoea, Yawning
Gastrointestinal disorders	Very common:	Constipation, Nausea
	Common:	Abdominal Pain, Diarrhoea, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Vomiting, Oral hypoaesthesia
	Uncommon:	Mouth ulceration, Tongue discolouration
Renal and Urinary disorders	Common:	Urine Abnormality

Table	Undesirable effects observed in clinical studies and observation studies
System Organ Class	Frequency	Adverse Event
	Uncommon:	Albuminuria, Dysuria, Haematuria, Nephrolithiasis, Urinary retention
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders	Very common:	Hyperhidrosis (Sweating)
	Common:	Pruritus, Rash, Urticaria
	Uncommon:	Acne, Alopecia, Dermatitis exfoliative, Dry skin, Skin mass
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders	Common:	Back Pain Arthralgia Muscle spasms Myalgia
	Uncommon:	Arthritis
Infections and Infestations	Common:	Influenza, Infection, Pharyngitis, Rhinitis
	Uncommon:	Urinary tract infection, Vaginal infection
Blood and Lymphatic system disorders	Uncommon:	Anaemia, Leukocytosis, Leukopenia, Lymphadenopathy, Thrombocytopenia
Metabolism and nutrition disorders	Uncommon:	Decreased appetite, Hyperglycaemia, Hyperlipidaemia, Hypoglycaemia

Table	Undesirable effects observed in clinical studies and observation studies
System Organ Class	Frequency	Adverse Event
Cardiac disorders	Common:	Palpitations
	Uncommon:	Angina Pectoris, Bradycardia, Myocardial infarction, Tachycardia
Reproductive system and breast disorders	Common:	Erectile dysfunction
	Uncommon:	Amenorrhoea, Ejaculation disorder, Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia
General disorders	Very common:	Drug withdrawal syndrome
	Common:	Asthenia, Chest Pain, Chills, Pyrexia, Malaise, Pain,Oedema peripheral
	Uncommon:	Hypothermia
Investigations	Common:	Liver function test abnormal, Weight decreased
	Uncommon:	Blood creatinine increased
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications	Common:	Injury
	Uncommon:	Heat Stroke

The most common adverse drug reactions reported during post-marketing surveillance are captured in Table 1.

Description of other selected adverse reactions observed post-marketing

The following is a summary of other post-marketing adverse event reports that are considered serious or otherwise noteworthy, some of which may have only been observed with buprenorphine alone in the treatment of opioid dependence:

• In cases of intravenous drug misuse, local reactions, sometimes septic (abscess, cellulitis), and potentially serious acute hepatitis, and other acute infections such as pneumonia, endocarditis have been reported (see section 4.4).

•    In patients presenting with marked drug dependence, initial administration of buprenorphine can produce a drug withdrawal syndrome similar to that associated with naloxone.

•    The most common signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity include rashes, urticaria and pruritus. Cases of bronchospasm, respiratory depression, angioedema and anaphylactic shock have been reported (see section 4.8).

•    Hepatic transaminase increase, hepatitis, acute hepatitis, cytolytic hepatitis, jaundice, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic necrosis have occurred (see section 4.4).

•    A neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome has been reported among newborns of women who have received buprenorphine during pregnancy. The syndrome may be milder and more protracted than that from short acting full p-opioid agonists. The nature of the syndrome may vary depending upon the mother's drug use history (see section 4.6).

•    Hallucination, orthostatic hypotension, syncope and vertigo have been reported.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

4.9 Overdose

Symptoms: Respiratory depression as a result of central nervous system depression is the primary symptom requiring intervention in the case of overdose because it may lead to respiratory arrest and death. Signs of overdose may also include somnolence, amblyopia, miosis, hypotension, nausea, vomiting and/or speech disorders.

Treatment: general supportive measures should be instituted, including close monitoring of respiratory and cardiac status of the patient. Symptomatic treatment of respiratory depression, following standard intensive care measures, should be instituted. A patent airway and assisted or controlled ventilation must be assured. The patient should be transferred to an environment within which full resuscitation facilities are available.

If the patient vomits, care must be taken to prevent aspiration of the vomitus.

Use of an opioid antagonist (e.g. naloxone) is recommended, despite the modest effect it may have in reversing the respiratory symptoms of buprenorphine compared with its effects on full agonist opioid agents. The long duration of action of Espranor should be taken into consideration when determining length of treatment needed to reverse the effects of an overdose. Naloxone can be cleared more rapidly than buprenorphine, allowing for a return of previously controlled buprenorphine overdose symptoms, so a continuing infusion may be necessary. If infusion is not possible, repeat dosing with naloxone may be required. The naloxone dose may range up to 2 mg and be repeated every 2-3 minutes until a satisfactory response is achieved, but should not exceed a 10 mg starting dose. Ongoing IV infusion rates should be titrated to patient response.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drugs used in opioid dependence, ATC code: N07BC01

The Espranor oral lyophilisate dosage form is designed to rapidly disperse on the tongue usually in less than 15 seconds.

Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist/antagonist which attaches itself to the p (mu) and k (kappa) receptors of the brain. Its activity in opioid maintenance treatment is attributed to its slowly reversible link with the p receptors which, over a prolonged period, minimises the need of the addicted patient for drugs.

During clinical pharmacological studies in opiate-dependent subjects, buprenorphine demonstrated a ceiling effect on a number of parameters, including positive mood, “good effect”, and respiratory depression.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

When taken orally, buprenorphine undergoes first-pass hepatic metabolism with N-dealkylation and glucuroconjugation in the small intestine and liver. The use of this medication by the oral route is therefore inappropriate.

Peak plasma concentrations are achieved around 70 minutes after oromucosal administration and the maximal dose-concentration relationship is linear, between 2 mg and 8 mg.

Distribution

The absorption of buprenorphine is followed by a rapid distribution phase and a distribution half-life of 2 to 5 hours.

Biotransformation and elimination

Buprenorphine is metabolised by 14-N-dealkylation and glucuroconjugation of the parent molecule and the dealkylated metabolite. Clinical data confirm that CYP3A4 is responsible for the N-dealkylation of buprenorphine. N-dealkylbuprenorphine (also known as norbuprenorphine) is a p (mu) agonist with weak intrinsic activity.

Elimination of buprenorphine is bi- or tri- exponential, and has a mean half-life from plasma of 32 hours.

Buprenorphine is eliminated in the faeces by biliary excretion of the glucuroconjugated metabolites (70%), the rest being eliminated in the urine.

Preclinical safety data

Pre-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeat dose toxicity, genotoxicity or carcinogenicity.

From teratology studies in rats and rabbits, it was concluded that buprenorphine is not embryotoxic or teratogenic, and it does not have any marked effects on weaning potential. There were no adverse effects on fertility or general reproductive function in rats, although at the highest intramuscular dose (5 mg/kg/day) the mothers experienced some difficulty in parturition and there was a high neonatal mortality.

Minimal to moderate hyperplasia of the bile duct with associated peribiliary fibrosis occurred in dogs following 52 weeks of oral dosing of 75 mg/kg/day.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Gelatin

Mannitol

Aspartame (E951)

Mint flavour Anhydrous citric acid

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable

6.3 Shelf life

3 years

6.4    Special    precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage conditions. Store in the original package (blister) to protect from light and moisture.

6.5    Nature    and contents of container

Unit dose blisters composed of PVC/OPA/Al/OPA/PVC film with Al/PET/paper lidding with 7 or 28 oral lyophilisates, in a cardboard carton.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6    Special    precautions for disposal

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Trading as Martindale Pharma)

Bampton Road Romford Essex RM3 8UG United Kingdom

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL00156/0364

9    DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

22/06/2015

10    DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

22/06/2015