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Quetiapine 150 Mg Film-Coated Tablet

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SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Quetiapine 150 mg film-coated tablets

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each film-coated tablet contains 150 mg quetiapine (as quetiapine fumarate) Excipient(s) with known effect: 32.56 mg lactose (as lactose monohydrate)/film-coated tablet

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Film-coated tablet

Cream coloured, round (10.5 mm diameter) film-coated tablets with score line on one side.

The tablet can be divided into two equal doses.

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Quetiapine is indicated for the treatment of:

• schizophrenia

• bipolar disorder:

- treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar disorder

- treatment of major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder

- prevention of recurrence in patients with bipolar disorder, in patients whose manic or depressive episode has responded to quetiapine treatment.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Different dosing schedules exist for each indication. It must therefore be ensured that patients receive clear information on the appropriate dosage for their condition

Quetiapine can be administered with or without food.

Adults

For the treatment of schizophrenia:

Quetiapine should be administered twice daily.

The total daily dose for the first 4 days of therapy is 50 mg quetiapine (day 1), 100 mg quetiapine (day 2), 200 mg quetiapine (day 3) and 300 mg quetiapine (day 4).

From day 4 onwards, the dose should be titrated to the usual effective dose range of 300 to 450 mg quetiapine per day. Depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient, the dose may be adjusted within the range of 150 to 750 mg quetiapine per day.

For the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar disorder: Quetiapine should be administered twice daily.

The total daily dose for the first four days of therapy is 100 mg quetiapine (day 1), 200 mg quetiapine (day 2), 300 mg quetiapine (day 3) and 400 mg quetiapine (day 4). Further dosage adjustments up to 800 mg quetiapine per day by day 6 should be in increments of no greater than 200 mg quetiapine per day.

The dose may be adjusted depending on clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient, within the range of 200 to 800 mg quetiapine per day. The usual effective dose is in the range of 400 to 800 mg quetiapine per day.

For the treatment of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder:

Quetiapine should be administered once daily at bedtime.

The total daily dose for the first four days of therapy is 50 mg quetiapine (day 1), 100 mg quetiapine (day 2), 200 mg quetiapine (day 3) and 300 mg quetiapine (day 4). The recommended daily dose is 300 mg quetiapine.

In clinical trials, no additional benefit was seen in the 600 mg group compared to the 300 mg group (see section 5.1). Individual patients may benefit from a 600 mg dose. Doses greater than 300 mg quetiapine should be initiated by physicians experienced in treating bipolar disorder. In individual patients, in the event of tolerance concerns, clinical trials have indicated that dose reduction to a minimum of 200 mg quetiapine could be considered.

For preventing recurrence in bipolar disorder:

For preventing recurrence of manic, mixed or depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, patients who have responded to quetiapine for acute treatment of bipolar disorder should continue therapy at the same dose. The dose may be adjusted depending on clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient, within the range of 300 to 800 mg quetiapine per day administered twice daily. It is important that the lowest effective dose is used for maintenance therapy.

Elderly patients over 65 years

As with other antipsychotics, quetiapine should be used with caution in the elderly, especially during the initial dosing period. The rate of dose titration may need to be slower, and the daily therapeutic dose lower, than that used in younger patients, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient. The mean plasma clearance of quetiapine was reduced by 30 - 50% in elderly subjects when compared to younger patients.

Efficacy and safety has not been evaluated in patients over 65 years with depressive episodes in the framework of bipolar disorder.

Patients with renal impairment

Dosage adjustment is not necessary in patients with renal impairment.

Patients with hepatic impairment

Quetiapine is extensively metabolised by the liver. Therefore, quetiapine should be used with caution in patients with known hepatic impairment, especially during the initial dosing period. Patients with known hepatic impairment should be started with 25 mg quetiapine per day. The dosage should be increased daily with increments of 25 - 50 mg quetiapine per day until an effective dosage, depending on the clinical response and tolerability of the individual patient.

Paediatric population

Quetiapine is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age, due to a lack of data to support use in this age group. The available evidence from placebo-controlled clinical trials is presented in sections 4.4, 4.8, 5.1 and 5.2.

Note

For doses not realizable/practicable with these medicinal products other quetiapine containing products with lower strengths are available.

4.3 Contraindications

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

Concomitant administration of cytochrome-P-450 3A4- inhibitors such as HIV protease inhibitors, azole-antifungal agents, erythromycin, clarithromycin and nefazodone, is contraindicated (see also section 4.5).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

As quetiapine has several indications, the safety profile should be considered with respect to the individual patient’s diagnosis and the dose being administered.

Paediatric population

Quetiapine is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age, due to a lack of data to support use in this age group. Clinical trials have shown that in addition to the known safety profile identified in adults (see section 4.8), certain adverse events occurred at a higher frequency in children and adolescents compared to adults (increased appetite, elevations in serum prolactin and extrapyramidal symptoms) and one was identified that has not been previously seen in adult studies (increases in blood pressure). Changes in thyroid function tests have also been observed in children and adolescents.

Furthermore, the long-term safety implications of treatment with quetiapine on growth and maturation have not been studied beyond 26 weeks. Long-term implications for cognitive and behavioural development are not known.

In placebo-controlled clinical trials with children and adolescent patients treated with quetiapine, quetiapine was associated with an increased incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) compared to placebo in patients treated for schizophrenia and bipolar mania (see section 4.8).

Suicide/suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening

Depression in bipolar disorder is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide (suicide-related events). This risk persists until significant remission occurs. As improvement may not occur during the first few weeks or more of treatment, patients should be closely monitored until such improvement occurs. It is general clinical experience that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery.

In addition, physicians should consider the potential risk of suicide-related events after abrupt cessation of quetiapine treatment, due to the known risk factors for the disease being treated.

Other psychiatric conditions for which quetiapine is prescribed can also be associated with an increased risk of suicide related events. In addition, these conditions may be co-morbid with major depressive episodes. The same precautions observed when treating patients with major depressive episodes should therefore be observed when treating patients with other psychiatric disorders.

Patients with a history of suicide related events, or those exhibiting a significant degree of suicidal ideation prior to commencement of treatment are known to be at greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, and should receive careful monitoring during treatment. A meta-analysis of placebo controlled clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in adult patients with psychiatric disorders showed an increased risk of suicidal behaviour with antidepressants compared to placebo in patients less than 25 years old.

Close supervision of patients and in particular those at high risk should accompany drug therapy especially in early treatment and following dose changes. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behaviour or thoughts and unusual changes in behaviour and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.

In short-term placebo controlled clinical studies of patients with major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder an increased risk of suicide-related events was observed in young adult patients (younger than 25 years of age) who were treated with quetiapine as compared to those treated with placebo (3.0% vs. 0%, respectively).

Extrapyramidal Symptoms

In placebo controlled clinical trials of adult patients quetiapine was associated with an increased incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) compared to placebo in patients treated for major depressive episodes in bipolar disorder (see section 4.8 and 5.1).

The use of quetiapine has been associated with the development of akathisia, characterised by a subjectively unpleasant or distressing restlessness and need to move often accompanied by an inability to sit or stand still. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. In patients who develop these symptoms, increasing the dose may be detrimental.

Tardive Dyskinesia

If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear, dose reduction or discontinuation of quetiapine should be considered. The symptoms of tardive dyskinesia can worsen or even arise after discontinuation of treatment (see section 4.8).

Somnolence and dizziness

Quetiapine treatment has been associated with somnolence and related symptoms, such as sedation (see section4.8). In clinical trials for treatment of patients with bipolar depression, onset was usually within the first 3 days of treatment and was predominantly of mild to moderate intensity. Bipolar depression patients experiencing somnolence of severe intensity may require more frequent contact for a minimum of 2 weeks from onset of somnolence, or until symptoms improve and treatment discontinuation may need to be considered.

Quetiapine treatment has been associated with orthostatic hypotension and related dizziness (see section 4.8) which, like somnolence has onset usually during the initial dose-titration period. This could increase the occurrence of accidental injury (fall), especially in the elderly population. Therefore, patients should be advised to exercise caution until they are familiar with the potential effects of the medication

Cardiovascular

Quetiapine should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or other conditions predisposing to hypotension. Quetiapine may induce orthostatic hypotension especially during the initial dose-titration period and therefore dose reduction or more gradual titration should be considered if this occurs. A slower titration regimen could be considered in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease.

Seizures

In controlled clinical trials there was no difference in the incidence of seizures in patients treated with quetiapine or placebo. No data is available about the incidence of seizures in patients with a history of seizure disorder. As with other antipsychotics, caution is recommended when treating patients with a history of seizures (see section 4.8 ).

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome has been associated with antipsychotic treatmentjncluding quetiapine (see section 4.8 ). Clinical manifestations include hyperthermia, altered mental status, muscular rigidity, autonomic instability, and increased creatine phosphokinase. In such an event, quetiapine should be discontinued and appropriate medical treatment given.

Severe Neutropenia

Severe neutropenia (neutrophil count <0.5 X 10⁹/L) has been uncommonly reported in quetiapine clinical trials. Most cases of severe neutropenia have occurred within a couple of months of starting therapy with quetiapine. There was no apparent dose relationship^During post-marketing experience, resolution of leucopenia and/or neutropenia has followed cessation of therapy with quetiapine. Possible risk factors for neutropenia include pre-existing low white cell count (WBC) and history of drug induced neutropenia. Quetiapine should be discontinued in patients with a neutrophil count <1.0 X 10⁹/L. Patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of infection and neutrophil counts followed (until they exceed 1.5 X 10⁹/L). (see section 5.1).

Interactions

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Given the primary central nervous system effects of quetiapine, quetiapine should be used with caution in combination with other centrally acting medicinal products and alcohol.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 is the enzyme that is primarily responsible for the cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism of quetiapine. In an interaction study in healthy volunteers, concomitant administration of quetiapine (dosage of 25 mg) with ketoconazole, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, caused a 5- to 8-fold increase in the AUC of quetiapine. On the basis of this, concomitant use of quetiapine with CYP3A4 inhibitors is contraindicated. It is also not recommended to consume grapefruit juice while on quetiapine therapy.

In a multiple dose trial in patients to assess the pharmacokinetics of quetiapine given before and during treatment with carbamazepine (a known hepatic enzyme inducer), co-administration of carbamazepine significantly increased the clearance of quetiapine. This increase in clearance reduced systemic quetiapine exposure (as measured by AUC) to an average of 13% of the exposure during administration of quetiapine alone; although a greater effect was seen in some patients. As a consequence of this interaction, lower plasma concentrations can occur, which could affect the efficacy of quetiapine therapy. Co-administration of quetiapine and phenytoin (another microsomal enzyme inducer) caused a greatly increased clearance of quetiapine by approx. 450%. In patients receiving a hepatic enzyme inducer, initiation of quetiapine treatment should only occur if the physician considers that the benefits of quetiapine outweigh the risks of removing the hepatic enzyme inducer. It is important that any change in the inducer is gradual, and if required, replaced with a non-inducer (e.g. sodium valproate) (see section 4.4).

The pharmacokinetics of quetiapine were not significantly altered by coadministration of the antidepressants imipramine (a known CYP 2D6 inhibitor) or fluoxetine (a known CYP 3A4 and CYP 2D6 inhibitor).

The pharmacokinetics of quetiapine were not significantly altered by coadministration of the antipsychotics risperidone or haloperidol. Concomitant use of quetiapine and thioridazine caused an increased clearance of quetiapine with approx. 70%.

The pharmacokinetics of quetiapine were not altered following coadministration with cimetidine.

The pharmacokinetics of lithium were not altered when co-administered with quetiapine.

The pharmacokinetics of sodium valproate and quetiapine were not altered to a clinically relevant extent when co-administered. A retrospective study of children and adolescents who received valproate, quetiapine, or both, found a higher incidence of leucopenia and neutropenia in the combination group versus the monotherapy groups.

Formal interaction studies with commonly used cardiovascular medicinal products have not been performed.

Caution should be exercised when quetiapine is used concomitantly with medicinal products known to cause electrolyte imbalance or to increase QT interval.

There have been reports of false positive results in enzyme immunoassays for methadone and tricyclic antidepressants in patients who have taken quetiapine.

Confirmation of questionable immunoassay screening results by an appropriate chromatographic technique is recommended.

4.6 Pregnancy and lactation

The safety and efficacy of quetiapine during human pregnancy have not yet been established. Up to now there are no indications for harmfulness in animal tests, possible effects on the foetal eye have not been examined, though. Therefore, quetiapine should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits justify the potential risks. Following pregnancies in which quetiapine was used, neonatal withdrawal symptoms were observed. Neonates exposed to antipsychotics (including quetiapine) during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk of adverse reactions including extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms that may vary in severity and duration following delivery. There have been reports of agitation, hypertonia, hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, or feeding disorder. Consequently, newborns should be monitored carefully.

There have been published reports of quetiapine excretion into human breast milk, however the degree of excretion was not consistent.. Women who are breast-feeding should therefore be advised to avoid breast-feeding while taking quetiapine.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Quetiapine has minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Given its primary central nervous system effects, quetiapine may cause somnolence and dizziness and thus interfere with activities requiring mental alertness. Therefore, patients should be advised not to drive or operate machinery, until individual susceptibility to this is known.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) with quetiapine are somnolence, dizziness, dry mouth, mild asthenia, constipation, tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension and dyspepsia.

As with other antipsychotics, weight gain, syncope, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, leucopenia, neutropenia and peripheral oedema have been associated with quetiapine.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The incidences of ADRs associated with quetiapine therapy, are listed below according to the format recommended by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS III Working Group 1995).

The following frequency estimates are used in assessing adverse events: Very common: (>1/10)

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

Uncommon: (>1/1,000 to <1/100)

Rare: (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000)

Very rare: (<1/10,000)

Not known: (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) by System Organ Class and Frequency
MedDRA System Organ Class	Frequency	ADRs
Blood and lymphatic system disorders	Very common	Decreased haemoglobin
	Common	Leucopenia Decreased neutrophil count, Eosinophils increased²⁸
	Uncommon	Thrombocytopenia, Anaemia, Platelet count decreased¹⁴
	Rare	Agranulocytosis²⁷
	Not known	Neutropenia¹
Immune system disorders	Uncommon	Hypersensitivity (including allergic skin reactions)
Immune system disorders	Very rare	Anaphylactic reaction⁶
Endocrine disorders	Common	Hyperprolactinaemia¹⁶ Decreases in total T₄, Decreases in free T₄²⁵, Decreases in total T₃²⁵, Increases in TSH²⁵
	Uncommon	Decreases in free T₃²⁵, hypothyroidism²²
	Very rare	Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
Metabolism and nutrition disorders	Very common	Elevations in serum triglyceride levels^{11, 31}, Elevations in total cholesterol 12, 31 (predominantly LDL cholesterol) ’ , 18, 31 Decreases in HDL cholesterol ^, , Weight _gain^{9, 31}
	Common	Increased appetite, Blood glucose increased 7 31 to hyperglycaemic levels ’
	Uncommon	Hyponatraemia²⁰, Diabetes mellitus^{1, 5 6}
	Rare	Metabolic syndrome³⁰
Psychiatric disorders	Common	Abnormal dreams and nightmares, Suicidal 21 ideation and suicidal behaviour

	Rare	Somnambulism and related reactions such as sleep talking and sleep related eating disorder
Nervous system disorders	Very common	Dizziness^{4, 17}, Somnolence^{2, 17}, Headache
	Common	Syncope^{4, 17} , Extrapyramidal symptoms^{1, 22}, Dysarthria
	Uncommon	Seizure¹, Restless legs syndrome, Tardive dyskinesia^{1, 6}
Eye disorders	Common	Vision blurred
Cardiac disorders	Common	Tachycardia⁴, Palpitations²⁴
Cardiac disorders	Uncommon	QT prolongation^{1, 13, 1y}, Bradycardia³³
Vascular disorders	Common	Orthostatic hypotension^{4, 17}
Vascular disorders	Rare	Venous thromboembolism¹
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders	Common	Rhinitis, Dyspnoea²⁴
Gastrointestinal disorders	Very common	Dry mouth
	Common	Constipation, Dyspepsia, Vomiting²⁶
	Uncommon	Dysphagia⁸
	Rare	Pancreatitis¹
Hepatobiliary disorders	Common	Elevations in serum transaminases (ALT, AST)³, Elevations in gamma-GT levels³
Hepatobiliary disorders	Rare	Jaundice⁶, Hepatitis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders	Very rare	Angioedema⁶, Stevens-Johnson syndrome⁶
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders	Not known	Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Erythema multiforme
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders	Very rare	Rhabdomyolysis
Pregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditions	Not known	Drug withdrawal syndrome neonatal
Reproductive system and breast disorders	Uncommon	Sexual dysfunction
Reproductive system and breast disorders	Rare	Priapism, Galactorrhoea, Breast swelling, Menstrual disorder
General disorders and administration site conditions	Very common	Withdrawal (discontinuation) symptoms^{1, 10}
General disorders and administration site conditions	Common	Mild asthenia, Peripheral oedema, Irritability,

		Pyrexia
	Rare	Neuroleptic malignant syndrome¹, hypothermia
Investigations	Rare	Elevations in blood creatine phosphokinase¹⁵

(1) See section 4.4

(2) Somnolence may occur, usually during the first two weeks of treatment and generally resolves with the continued administration of quetiapine.

(3) Asymptomatic elevations (shift from normal to > 3X ULN at any time) in serum transaminase (ALT, AST) or gamma-GT-levels have been observed in some patients administered quetiapine. These elevations were usually reversible on continued quetiapine treatment.

(4) As with other antipsychotics with alpha1 adrenergic blocking activity, quetiapine may commonly induce orthostatic hypotension, associated with dizziness, tachycardia and, in some patients, syncope, especially during the initial dose-titration period. (see section 4.4 ).

(5) Exacerbation of pre-existing diabetes has been reported in very rare cases.

(6) Calculation of frequency for these adverse drug reactions has been taken from postmarketing data only.

(7) Fasting blood glucose >126mg/dL (>7.0 mmol/L) or a non fasting blood glucose >200mg/dL (>11.1 mmol/L) on at least one occasion.

(8) An increase in the rate of dysphagia with quetiapine vs. placebo was only observed in the clinical trials in bipolar depression.

(9) Based on >7% increase in body weight from baseline. Occurs predominantly during the early weeks of treatment in adults.

(10) The following withdrawal symptoms have been observed most frequently in acute placebo-controlled, monotherapy clinical trials, which evaluated discontinuation symptoms: insomnia, nausea, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability. The incidence of these reactions had decreased significantly after 1 week post-discontinuation.

(11) Triglycerides >200mg/dL (>2.258 mmol/L) (patients >18 years of age) or >150 mg/dL (>1.694 mmol/L) (patients <18 years of age) on at least one occasion.

(12) Cholesterol >240mg/dL (>6.2064 mmol/L) (patients >18 years of age) or >200 mg/dL (>5.172 mmol/L) (patients <18 years of age) on at least one occasion. An increase in LDL cholesterol of >30 mg/dL (>0.769 mmol/L) has been very commonly observed. Mean change among patients who had this increase was 41.7 mg/dL (>1.07 mmol/L).

(13) See text below.

(14) Platelets <100 x 10⁹/L on at least one occasion.

(15) Based on clinical trial adverse event reports of blood creatine phosphokinase increase not associated with neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

(16) Prolactin levels (patients>18 years of age): >20 gg/L (>869.56 pmol/L) males; >30 gg/L (>1304.34 pmol/L) females at any time.

(17) May lead to falls.

(18) HDL cholesterol: <40 mg/dL (1.025 mmol/L) males; <50 mg/dL (1.282 mmol/L) females at any time.

(19) Incidence of patients who have a QTc shift from <450 msec to >450 msec with a >30 msec increase. In placebo-controlled trials with quetiapine the mean change and the incidence of patients who have a shift to a clinically significant level is similar between quetiapine and placebo.

(20) Shift from >132 mmol/L to <132 mmol/L on at least one occasion.

(21) Cases of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviours have been reported during quetiapine therapy or early after treatment discontinuation (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).

(22) See section 5.1

(23) Decreased haemoglobin to <13 g/dL (8.07 mmol/L) males, <12 g/dL (7.45 mmol/L) females on at least one occasion occurred in 11% of quetiapine patients in all trials including open label extensions. For these patients, the mean maximum decrease in hemoglobin at any time was -1.50 g/dL.

(24) These reports often occurred in the setting of tachycardia, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, and/or underlying cardiac/respiratory disease.

(25) Based on shifts from normal baseline to potentially clinically important value at any time post-baseline in all trials. Shifts in total T₄, free T₄, total T₃and free T₃ are defined as <0.8 x LLN (pmol/L) and shift in TSH is >5 mIU/L at any time.

(26) Based upon the increased rate of vomiting in elderly patients (>65 years of age).

(27) Shift in neutrophils from >=1.5 x 10⁹/L at baseline to <0.5 x 10⁹/L at any time during treatment.

(28) Based on shifts from normal baseline to potentially clinically important value at any time post-baseline in all trials. Shifts in eosinophils are defined as >1 x 10⁹ cells/L at any time.

(29) Based on shifts from normal baseline to potentially clinically important value at any time post-baseline in all trials. Shifts in WBCs are defined as < 3 x 10⁹ cells/L at any time.

(30) Based on adverse event reports of metabolic syndrome from all clinical trials with quetiapine.

(31) In some patients, a worsening of more than one of the metabolic factors of weight, blood glucose and lipids was observed in clinical studies (see section 4.4).

(32) See section 4.6.

(33) May occur at or near initiation of treatment and be associated with hypotension and/or syncope. Frequency based on adverse event reports of bradycardia and related events in all clinical trials with quetiapine.

Cases of QT-prolongation, ventricular arrhythmia (VF, VT), sudden unexplained death, cardiac arrest and Torsades de Pointes have been reported with the use of antipsychotics and are considered class effects of antipsychotics.

Paediatric population

The same ADRs described above for adults should be considered for children and adolescents. The following summarises ADRs that occur in a higher frequency category in children and adolescent patients (10-17 years of age) than in the adult population or ADRs that have not been identified in the adult population.

The following frequency estimates are used in assessing adverse events: Very common: (>1/10)

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

Uncommon: (>1/1,000 to <1/100)

Rare: (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000)

Very rare: (<1/10,000)

Not known: (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) by System Organ Class and Frequency
MedDRA System Organ Class	Frequency	ADRs
Metabolism and nutrition disorders	Very common	Increased appetite
Nervous system disorders	Very common	Extrapyramidal symptoms³
General disorders and administration site conditions	Common	Irritability⁴
Investigations	Very common	Elevations in prolactin¹, Increases in blood pressure²

(1) Prolactin levels (patients <18 years of age): >20 ug/L (>869.56 pmol/L) males; >26 ug/L (>1130.428 pmol/L) females at any time. Less than 1% of patients had an increase to a prolactin level >100 ug/L.

(2) Based on shifts above clinically significant thresholds (adapted from the National Institutes of Health criteria) or increases >20 mm Hg for systolic or >10 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure at any time in two acute (3-6 weeks) placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents.

(3) See section 5.1

(4) Note: The frequency is consistent to that observed in adults, but irritability might be associated with different clinical implications in children and adolescents as compared to adults.

4.9 Overdose

In general, reported signs and symptoms were those resulting from an exaggeration of the active substance’s known pharmacological effects, i.e., drowsiness and sedation, tachycardia and hypotension.

Fatal outcome has been reported in clinical trials following an acute overdose at 13.6 grams, and in post-marketing on doses as low as 6 grams of quetiapine alone. However, survival has also been reported following acute overdoses of up to 30 grams. In postmarketing experience, there have been reports of

overdose of quetiapine alone resulting in death or coma. Additionally, the following events have been reported in the setting of monotherapy overdose with quetiapine: QT-prolongation, seizures, status epilepticus, rhabdomyolysis, respiratory depression, urinary retention, confusion, delirium, and/or agitation.

Patients with pre-existing severe cardiovascular disease may be at an increased risk of the effects of overdose. (See section 4.4: Cardiovascular).

Management of overdose

There is no specific antidote to quetiapine. In cases of severe signs, the possibility of multiple drug involvement should be considered, and intensive care procedures are recommended, including establishing and maintaining a patent airway, ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation, and monitoring and support of the cardiovascular system. Whilst the prevention of absorption in overdose has not been investigated, gastric lavage can be indicated in severe poisonings and if possible to perform within one hour of ingestion. The administration of activated charcoal should be considered.

In cases of quetiapine overdose, refractory hypotension should be treated with appropriate measures such as intravenous fluids and/or sympathomimetic agents. Epinephrine and dopamine should be avoided, since beta stimulation may worsen hypotension in the setting of quetiapine-induced alpha blockade.

Close medical supervision and monitoring should be continued until the patient recovers.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antipsychotics, diazepines, oxazepines, and thiazepines

ATC code: N05A H04 Mechanism of action

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent. Quetiapine and the active human plasma metabolite, norquetiapine interact with a broad range of neurotransmitter receptors. Quetiapine and norquetiapine exhibit affinity for brain serotonin (5HT₂) and dopamine D₁- and D₂- receptors. It is this combination of receptor antagonism with a higher selectivity for 5HT₂ relative to D2- receptors, which is believed to contribute to the clinical antipsychotic properties and low extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) liability of quetiapine compared to typical antipsychotics. Additionally, norquetiapine has high affinity for the norepinephrine transporter (NET). Quetiapine and norquetiapine also have high affinity at histaminergic and adrenergic a₁receptors, with a lower affinity at adrenergic a₂ and serotonin 5HT₁A receptors. Quetiapine has no appreciable affinity at muscarinic or benzodiazepine receptors.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Quetiapine is active in tests for antipsychotic activity, such as conditioned avoidance. It also blocks the action of dopamine agonists, measured either behaviourally or electrophysiologically, and elevates dopamine metabolite concentrations, a neurochemical index of D₂-receptor blockade.

In pre-clinical tests predictive of EPS, quetiapine is unlike typical antipsychotics and has an atypical profile. Quetiapine does not produce dopamine D₂-receptor supersensitivity after chronic administration. Quetiapine produces only weak catalepsy at effective dopamine D2-receptor blocking doses. Quetiapine demonstrates selectivity for the limbic system by producing depolarisation blockade of the mesolimbic but not the nigrostriatal dopamine-containing neurones following chronic administration. Quetiapine exhibits minimal dystonic liability in haloperidol-sensitised or drug-naive Cebus monkeys after acute and chronic administration (see section 4.8)

Clinical efficacy Schizophrenia

In three placebo-controlled clinical trials, in patients with schizophrenia, using variable doses of quetiapine, there were no differences between the quetiapine and placebo treatment groups in the incidence of EPS or concomitant use of anticholinergics. A placebo-controlled trial evaluating fixed doses of quetiapine across the range of 75 to 750 mg/day showed no evidence of an increase in EPS or the use of concomitant anticholinergics. The long-term efficacy of quetiapine immediate release in prevention of schizophrenic relapses has not been verified in blinded clinical trials. In open label trials, in patients with schizophrenia, quetiapine was effective in maintaining the clinical improvement during continuation therapy in patients who showed an initial treatment response, suggesting some long-term efficacy.

Bipolar Disorder

In four placebo-controlled clinical trials, evaluating doses of quetiapine up to 800 mg/day for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes, two each in monotherapy and as combination therapy to lithium or divalproex, there were no differences between the quetiapine and placebo treatment groups in the incidence of EPS or concomitant use of anticholinergics.

In the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes, quetiapine demonstrated superior efficacy to placebo in reduction of manic symptoms at 3 and 12 weeks, in two monotherapy trials. There are no data from long-term studies to demonstrate quetiapine’s effectiveness in preventing subsequent manic or depressive episodes. Quetiapine data in combination with divalproex or lithium in acute moderate to severe manic episodes at 3 and 6 weeks is limited; however, combination therapy was well tolerated. The data showed an additive effect at week 3. A second study did not demonstrate an additive effect at week 6.

The mean last week median dose of quetiapine in responders was approximately 600 mg/day and approximately 85% of the responders were in the dose range of 400 to 800 mg/day.

In 4 clinical trials with a duration of 8 weeks in patients with moderate to severe depressive episodes in bipolar I or bipolar II disorder, quetiapine immediate release 300 mg and 600 mg was significantly superior to placebo treated patients for the relevant outcome measures: mean improvement on the MADRS and for response defined as at least a 50% improvement in MADRS total score from baseline. There was no difference in magnitude of effect between the patients who received 300 mg quetiapine immediate release and those who received 600 mg dose.

In the continuation phase in two of these studies, it was demonstrated that long-term treatment, of patients who responded on quetiapine immediate release 300 mg or 600 mg, was efficacious compared to placebo treatment with respect to depressive symptoms, but not with regard to manic symptoms.

In two recurrence prevention studies evaluating quetiapine in combination with mood stabilizers, in patients with manic, depressed or mixed mood episodes, the combination with quetiapine was superior to mood stabilizers monotherapy in increasing the time to recurrence of any mood event ( manic, mixed or depressed). Quetiapine was administered twice-daily totalling 400 mg to 800 mg a day as combination therapy to lithium or valproate.

In one long-term study (up to 2 years treatment) evaluating recurrence prevention in patients with manic, depressed or mixed mood episodes quetiapine was superior to placebo in increasing the time to recurrence of any mood event (manic, mixed or depressed), in patients with bipolar I disorder. The number of patients with a mood event was 91 (22.5%) in the quetiapine group, 208 (51.5%) in the placebo group and 95 (26.1%) in the lithium treatment groups respectively. In patients who responded to quetiapine, when comparing continued treatment with quetiapine to switching to lithium, the results indicated that a switch to lithium treatment does not appear to be associated with an increased time to recurrence of a mood event.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that quetiapine is effective in schizophrenia and mania when given twice a day, although quetiapine has a pharmacokinetic half-life of approximately 7 hours. This is further supported by the data from a positron emission tomography (PET) study, which identified that for quetiapine, 5HT₂- and D₂-receptor occupancy are maintained for up to 12 hours. The safety and efficacy of doses greater than 800 mg/day have not been evaluated.

Clinical safety

In short-term, placebo-controlled clinical trials in schizophrenia and bipolar mania the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was similar to placebo (schizophrenia: 7.8% for quetiapine and 8.0% for placebo; bipolar mania: 11.2% for quetiapine and 11.4% for placebo). Higher rates of extrapyramidal symptoms were seen in quetiapine treated patients compared to those treated with placebo in short-term, placebo-controlled clinical trials in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression. In short-term, placebo-controlled bipolar depression trials the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 8.9% for quetiapine compared to 3.8% for placebo. In short-term, placebo-controlled monotherapy clinical trials in major depressive disorder the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 5.4% for quetiapine prolonged release and 3.2% for placebo. In a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in elderly patients with major depressive disorder, the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 9.0% for quetiapine prolonged release and 2.3% for placebo. In both bipolar depression and MDD, the incidence of the individual adverse events (e.g. akathisia, extrapyramidal disorder, tremor, dyskinesia, dystonia, restlessness, muscle contractions involuntary, psychomotor hyperactivity and muscle rigidity) did not exceed 4% in any treatment group.

In short term, fixed dose (50mg/d to 800 mg/d), placebo-controlled studies (ranging from 3 to 8 weeks), the mean weight gain for quetiapine-treated patients ranged from 0.8 kg for the 50 mg daily dose to 1.4 kg for the 600 mg daily dose (with lower gain for the 800 mg daily dose), compared to 0.2 kg for the placebo treated patients. The percentage of quetiapine treated patients who gained >7% of body weight ranged from 5.3% for the 50 mg daily dose to 15.5% for the 400 mg daily dose (with lower gain for the 600 and 800 mg daily doses), compared to 3.7% for placebo treated patients.

Longer term relapse prevention trials had an open label period (ranging from 4 to 36 weeks) during which patients were treated with quetiapine, followed by a randomized withdrawal period during which patients were randomized to quetiapine or placebo. For patients who were randomized to quetiapine, the mean weight gain during the open label period was 2.56 kg, and by week 48 of the randomized period, the mean weight gain was 3.22 kg, compared to open label baseline. For patients who were randomized to placebo, the mean weight gain during the open label period was 2.39 kg, and by week 48 of the randomized period the mean weight gain was 0.89 kg, compared to open label baseline.

In placebo-controlled studies in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis, the incidence of cerebrovascular adverse events per 100 patient years was not higher in quetiapine-treated patients than in placebo-treated patients.

In all short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trials in patients with a baseline neutrophil count > 1.5 X 10⁹/L, the incidence of at least one occurrence of a shift to neutrophil count < 1.5 X 10⁹/L, was 1.9% in patients treated with quetiapine compared to 1.3% in placebo-treated patients. The incidence of shifts to >0.5-<1.0 X 10⁹/L was the same (0.2%) in patients treated with quetiapine as with placebo-treated patients. In all clinical trials (placebo-controlled, open-label, active comparator) in patients with a baseline neutrophil count >1.5 X 10⁹/L), the incidence of at least one occurrence of a shift to neutrophil count <1.5 X 10⁹/L was 2.9% and to <0.5 X 10⁹/L was 0.21% in patients treated with quetiapine.

Quetiapine treatment was associated with dose-related decreases in thyroid hormone levels. The incidences of shifts in TSH was 3.2 % for quetiapine versus 2.7 % for placebo. The incidence of reciprocal, potentially clinically significant shifts of both T₃ or T₄ and TSH in these trials were rare, and the observed changes in thyroid hormone levels were not associated with clinically symptomatic hypothyroidism.

The reduction in total and free T4 was maximal within the first six weeks of quetiapine treatment, with no further reduction during long-term treatment.

For about 2/3 of all cases, cessation of quetiapine treatment was associated with a reversal of the effects on total and free T₄, irrespective of the duration of treatment.

Cataracts/lens opacities

In a clinical trial to evaluate the cataractogenic potential of quetiapine (200800 mg/day) versus risperidone (2-8 mg) in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the percentage of patients with increased lens opacity grade was not higher in quetiapine (4%) compared with risperidone (10%), for patients with at least 21 months of exposure.

Paediatric population

The efficacy and safety of quetiapine was studied in a 3-week placebo controlled study for the treatment of mania (n= 284 patients from the US, aged 10-17). About 45% of the patient population had an additional diagnosis of ADHD. In addition, a 6-week placebo controlled study for the treatment of schizophrenia (n = 222 patients, aged 13-17) was performed. In both studies, patients with known lack of response to quetiapine were excluded. Treatment with quetiapine was initiated at 50 mg/day and on day 2 increased to 100 mg/day; subsequently the dose was titrated to a target dose (mania 400-600 mg/day; schizophrenia 400-800 mg/day) using increments of 100 mg/day given two or three times daily.

In the mania study, the difference in LS mean change from baseline in YMRS total score (active minus placebo) was -5.21 for quetiapine 400 mg/day and -6.56 for quetiapine 600 mg/day. Responder rates (YMRS improvement >50%) were 64% for quetiapine 400 mg/day, 58% for 600 mg/day and 37% in the placebo arm.

In the schizophrenia study, the difference in LS mean change from baseline in PANSS total score (active minus placebo) was -8.16 for quetiapine 400 mg/day and -9.29 for quetiapine 800 mg/day. Neither low dose (400 mg/day) nor high dose regimen (800 mg/day) quetiapine was superior to placebo with respect to the percentage of patients achieving response, defined as >30% reduction from baseline in PANSS total score. Both in mania and schizophrenia higher doses resulted in numerically lower response rates.

No data are available on maintenance of effect or recurrence prevention in this age group.

A 26-week open-label extension to the acute trials (n= 380 patients), with quetiapine flexibly dosed at 400-800 mg/day, provided additional safety data. Increases in blood pressure were reported in children and adolescents and increased appetite, extrapyramidal symptoms and elevations in serum prolactin were reported with higher frequency in children and adolescents than in adult patients (see sections 4.4 and 4.8).

Extrapyramidal Symptoms

In a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in adolescent patients (13-17 years of age) with schizophrenia, the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 12.9% for quetiapine and 5.3% for placebo, though the incidence of the individual adverse events (e.g. akathisia, tremor, extrapyramidal disorder, hypokinesia, restlessness, psychomotor hyperactivity, muscle rigidity, dyskinesia) did not exceed 4.1% in any treatment group. In a short-term placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in children and adolescent patients (10-17 years of age) with bipolar mania, the aggregated incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms was 3.6% for quetiapine and 1.1% for placebo. In a long-term open label study of schizophrenia and bipolar mania, the aggregated incidence of treatment-emergent EPS was 10%.

Weight Gain

In short-term clinical trials in paediatric patients (10-17 years of age), 17% of quetiapine-treated patients and 2.5% of placebo-treated patients gained >7% of their body weight. When adjusting for normal growth over longer term, an increase of at least 0.5 standard deviation from baseline in Body Mass Index (BMI) was used as a measure of a clinically significant change; 18.3% of patients who were treated with quetiapine for at least 26 weeks met this criterion.

Suicide/Suicidal thoughts or Clinical worsening

In short-term placebo-controlled clinical trials in paediatric patients with schizophrenia, the incidence of suicide related events was 1.4% (2/147) for quetiapine and 1.3% (1/75) for placebo in patients <18 years of age. In shortterm placebo-controlled trials in paediatric patients with bipolar mania, the incidence of suicide related events was 1.0% (2/193) for quetiapine and 0% (0/90) for placebo in patients <18 years of age.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

Quetiapine is well absorbed and extensively metabolised following oral administration. The bioavailability of quetiapine is not significantly affected by administration with food. Steady-state peak molar concentrations of the active metabolite norquetiapine are 35% of that observed for quetiapine.

The pharmacokinetics of quetiapine and norquetiapineare linear across the approved dosing range.

Distribution

Quetiapine is approximately 83% bound to plasma proteins.

Metabolism

Quetiapine is extensively metabolised by the liver, with parent compound accounting for less than 5% of unchanged drug-related material in the urine or faeces, following the administration of radiolabelled quetiapine. In vitro investigations established that CYP3A4 is the primary enzyme responsible for cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism of quetiapine. Norquetiapine is primarily formed and eliminated via CYP3A4.

Approximately 73% of the radioactivity is excreted in the urine and 21% in the faeces.

Quetiapine and several of its metabolites (including norquetiapine) were found to be weak inhibitors of human cytochrome P450 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 activities in vitro. In vitro CYP inhibition is observed only at concentrations approximately 5 to 50 fold higher than those observed at a dose range of 300 to 800 mg/day in humans. Based on these in vitro results, it is unlikely that co-administration of quetiapine with other drugs will result in clinically significant drug inhibition of cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism of the other drug. From animal studies it appears that quetiapine can induce cytochrome P450 enzymes. In a specific interaction study in psychotic patients, however, no increase in the cytochrome P450 activity was found after administration of quetiapine.

Elimination

The elimination half-lives of quetiapine and norquetiapine are approximately 7 and 12 hours, respectively. The average molar dose fraction of free quetiapine and the active human plasma metabolite norquetiapine is <5% excreted in the urine.

Special populations

Gender

The kinetics of quetiapine do not differ between men and women.

Elderly patients

The mean clearance of quetiapine in the elderly is approximately 30 to 50% lower than that seen in adults aged 18 to 65 years.

Patients with renal impairment

The mean plasma clearance of quetiapine was reduced by approximately 25% in subjects with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min/1.73m ), but the individual clearance values are within the range for normal subjects.

Patients with hepatic impairment

The mean quetiapine plasma clearance decreases with approx. 25% in persons with known hepatic impairment (stable alcoholcirrhosis). As quetiapine is extensively metabolised by the liver, elevated plasma levels are expected in the population with hepatic impairment. Dose adjustments may be necessary in these patients (see section 4.2 ).

Paediatric population

Pharmacokinetic data were sampled in 9 children aged 10-12 years old and 12 adolescents, who were on steady-state treatment with 400 mg quetiapine twice daily. At steady-state, the dose-normalised plasma levels of the parent compound, quetiapine, in children and adolescents (10-17 years of age) were in general similar to adults, though Cmax in children was at the higher end of the range observed in adults. The AUC and Cmax for the active metabolite, norquetiapine, were higher, approximately 62% and 49% in children (10-12 years), respectively and 28% and 14% in adolescents (13-17 years), respectively, compared to adults.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

There was no evidence of genotoxicity in a series of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies. In laboratory animals at a clinically relevant exposure level the following deviations were seen, which as yet have not been confirmed in long-term clinical research:

In rats, pigment deposition in the thyroid gland has been observed; in cynomolgus monkeys thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy, a lowering in plasma T₃ levels, decreased haemoglobin concentration and a decrease of red and white blood cell count have been observed; and in dogs lens opacity and cataracts. (For cataracts/lens opacities see section 5.1).

Taking these findings into consideration, the benefits of the treatment with quetiapine need to be balanced against the safety risks for the patient.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Tablet core:

Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate Cellulose, microcrystalline Lactose monohydrate Magnesium stearate Povidone (K 29/32)

Silica colloidal hydrated Sodium starch glycolate, type A

Tablet coat:

Hypromellose Lactose monohydrate Macrogol 4000 Titanium dioxide (E 171) Iron oxide yellow (E 172)

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable

6.3 Shelf life

3 years

6 months after first opening of the HDPE-bottle

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

PVC/COC/PVDC/Aluminium blister containing 6, 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 90, 100, 120 or 180 film-coated tablets

PVC/COC/PVDC/Aluminium perforated unit dose blister containing 1x100 film-coated tablets

HDPE-bottles with PP or PE screw caps with desiccant (silica gel) containing 100, 120, 250 or 500 film-coated tablets

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

No special requirements.

7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Sandoz Limited

Frimley Business Park, Frimley,

Camberley,

Surrey,

GU16 7SR.

United Kingdom

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 04416/0963

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

27/03/2013

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

27/03/2013