Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
The safety of UZEDY for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults is based on adequate and well-controlled studies of oral risperidone in studies of patients with schizophrenia and other indications. The results of those adequate and well-controlled studies are presented below.
The data described in this section are derived from a clinical trial database consisting of 9,803 patients exposed to one or more doses of oral risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Of these 9,803 patients, 2,687 were patients who received oral risperidone while participating in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. The conditions and duration of treatment with oral risperidone varied greatly and included (in overlapping categories) double-blind, fixed- and flexible-dose, placebo- or active-controlled studies and open-label phases of studies, inpatients and outpatients, and short-term (up to 12 weeks) and longer-term (up to 3 years) exposures. Safety was assessed by collecting adverse reactions and performing physical examinations, vital signs, body weights, laboratory analyses, and ECGs.
Injection site reactions for UZEDY presented in this section (see “Injection Site Reactions with UZEDY” below) are based on a randomized withdrawal study in patients with schizophrenia consisting of a 12-week open-label oral risperidone (2 mg to 5 mg) stabilization phase, followed by a placebo-controlled phase in which patients were randomized to UZEDY (once monthly or once every 2 months) or placebo for a variable time until impending relapse or study completion [see Clinical Studies (14)].
The safety of UZEDY was evaluated in a total of 740 adult patients with schizophrenia who received at least 1 dose of UZEDY during the clinical development program. A total of 351 patients were exposed to UZEDY for at least 6 months, of which 221 patients were exposed to UZEDY for at least 12 months, which included 112 patients exposed to once monthly and 109 patients to once every 2 months dosing regimens. In addition, 32 patients were exposed to UZEDY for at least 24 months.
Adverse Reactions in Studies with Oral Risperidone
The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials of oral risperidone (>5% and twice placebo) were parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, tremor, sedation, dizziness, anxiety, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, dyspepsia, diarrhea, salivary hypersecretion, constipation, dry mouth, increased appetite, increased weight, fatigue, rash, nasal congestion, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.
Commonly-Observed Adverse Reactions in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials – Adult Patients with Schizophrenia Treated with Oral Risperidone
Table 5 lists the adverse reactions reported in 2% or more of oral risperidone-treated adult patients with schizophrenia in three 4- to 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions in ≥2% of Oral Risperidone-Treated Adult Patients (and greater than placebo) with Schizophrenia in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials| | Percentage of Patients Reporting Reaction |
| | Oral Risperidone | |
System/Organ Class Adverse Reaction | 2 mg to 8 mg per day (N=366) | >8 mg to 16 mg per day (N=198) | Placebo (N=225) |
| Cardiac Disorders |
| Tachycardia | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Eye Disorders |
| Vision blurred | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders |
| Nausea | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| Constipation | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Dyspepsia | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Dry mouth | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Abdominal discomfort | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Salivary hypersecretion | 2 | 1 | <1 |
| Diarrhea | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| General Disorders |
| Fatigue | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest pain | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Asthenia | 2 | 1 | <1 |
| Infections and Infestations |
| Nasopharyngitis | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Sinusitis | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Urinary tract infection | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Investigations |
| Blood creatine phosphokinase increased | 1 | 2 | <1 |
| Heart rate increased | <1 | 2 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders |
| Back pain | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Arthralgia | 2 | 3 | <1 |
| Pain in extremity | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Nervous System Disorders |
| Parkinsonism* | 14 | 17 | 8 |
| Akathisia* | 10 | 10 | 3 |
| Sedation | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Dizziness | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Dystonia* | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Tremor* | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Dizziness postural | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Psychiatric Disorders |
| Insomnia | 32 | 25 | 27 |
| Anxiety | 16 | 11 | 11 |
| Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders |
| Nasal congestion | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Dyspnea | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Epistaxis | <1 | 2 | 0 |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders |
| Rash | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Dry skin | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Vascular Disorders |
| Orthostatic hypotension | 2 | 1 | 0 |
* Parkinsonism includes extrapyramidal disorder, musculoskeletal stiffness, parkinsonism, cogwheel rigidity, akinesia, bradykinesia, hypokinesia, masked facies, muscle rigidity, and Parkinson’s disease. Akathisia includes akathisia and restlessness. Dystonia includes dystonia, muscle spasms, muscle contractions involuntary, muscle contracture, oculogyration, tongue paralysis. Tremor includes tremor and parkinsonian rest tremor.
Other Adverse Reactions Observed During the Clinical Trial Evaluations of Oral Risperidone
The following is a list of additional adverse drug reactions that have been reported during the clinical trial evaluation of oral risperidone:
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: anemia, granulocytopenia, neutropenia
Cardiac Disorders: sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, atrioventricular block first degree, bundle branch block left, bundle branch block right, atrioventricular block
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders: ear pain, tinnitus
Endocrine Disorders: hyperprolactinemia
Eye Disorders: ocular hyperemia, eye discharge, conjunctivitis, eye rolling, eyelid edema, eye swelling, eyelid margin crusting, dry eye, lacrimation increased, photophobia, glaucoma, visual acuity reduced
Gastrointestinal Disorders: dysphagia, fecaloma, fecal incontinence, gastritis, lip swelling, cheilitis, aptyalism
General Disorders: edema peripheral, thirst, gait disturbance, chest discomfort, chest pain, influenza-like illness, pitting edema, edema, chills, sluggishness, malaise, face edema, discomfort, generalized edema, drug withdrawal syndrome, peripheral coldness, feeling abnormal
Immune System Disorders: drug hypersensitivity
Infections and Infestations: pneumonia, influenza, ear infection, viral infection, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, eye infection, localized infection, cystitis, cellulitis, otitis media, onychomycosis, acarodermatitis, bronchopneumonia, respiratory tract infection, tracheobronchitis, otitis media chronic
Investigations: body temperature increased, blood prolactin increased, alanine aminotransferase increased, electrocardiogram abnormal, eosinophil count increased, white blood cell count decreased, blood glucose increased, hemoglobin decreased, hematocrit decreased, body temperature decreased, blood pressure decreased, transaminases increased
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: decreased appetite, polydipsia, anorexia
Musculoskeletal, Connective Tissue, and Bone Disorders: joint swelling, joint stiffness, musculoskeletal chest pain, posture abnormal, myalgia, neck pain, muscular weakness, muscle rigidity, rhabdomyolysis
Nervous System Disorders: balance disorder, disturbance in attention, dysarthria, unresponsive to stimuli, depressed level of consciousness, movement disorder, transient ischemic attack, coordination abnormal, cerebrovascular accident, speech disorder, syncope, loss of consciousness, hypoesthesia, tardive dyskinesia, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular disorder, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, diabetic coma, head titubation
Psychiatric Disorders: agitation, blunted affect, confusional state, middle insomnia, nervousness, sleep disorder, listlessness, libido decreased, anorgasmia
Renal and Urinary Disorders: enuresis, dysuria, pollakiuria, urinary incontinence
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: menstruation irregular, amenorrhea, gynecomastia, galactorrhea, vaginal discharge, menstrual disorder, erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, ejaculation disorder, sexual dysfunction, breast enlargement
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: wheezing, pneumonia aspiration, sinus congestion, dysphonia, productive cough, pulmonary congestion, respiratory tract congestion, rales, respiratory disorder, hyperventilation, nasal edema
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: erythema, skin discoloration, skin lesion, pruritus, skin disorder, rash erythematous, rash papular, acne, hyperkeratosis, seborrheic dermatitis, rash generalized, rash maculopapular
Vascular Disorders: hypotension, flushing
Discontinuations Due to Adverse Drug Reactions with Oral Risperidone
Approximately 7% (39/564) of oral risperidone-treated patients in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction, compared with 4% (10/225) who were receiving placebo. The adverse reactions associated with discontinuation in 2 or more oral risperidone-treated patients were:
Table 6: Adverse Reactions Associated with Discontinuation in ≥2% of Oral Risperidone-Treated Adult Patients in Schizophrenia Trials| | Oral Risperidone | |
Adverse Reaction | 2 mg to 8 mg per day (N=366) | >8 mg to 16 mg per day (N=198) | Placebo (N=225) |
| Dizziness | 1.4% | 1% | 0% |
| Nausea | 1.4% | 0% | 0% |
| Vomiting | 0.8% | 0% | 0% |
| Parkinsonism | 0.8% | 0% | 0% |
| Somnolence | 0.8% | 0% | 0% |
| Dystonia | 0.5% | 0% | 0% |
| Agitation | 0.5% | 0% | 0% |
| Abdominal pain | 0.5% | 0% | 0% |
| Orthostatic hypotension | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0% |
| Akathisia | 0.3% | 2% | 0% |
Discontinuation for extrapyramidal symptoms (including Parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia, and tardive dyskinesia) was 1% in placebo-treated patients, and 3.4% in active control-treated patients in a double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial.
Dose Dependency of Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials of Oral Risperidone
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
Data from two fixed-dose trials in adults with schizophrenia provided evidence of dose-relatedness for extrapyramidal symptoms associated with oral risperidone treatment. Two methods were used to measure extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in an 8-week trial comparing 4 fixed doses of oral risperidone (2, 6, 10, and 16 mg/day), including (1) a Parkinsonism score (mean change from baseline) from the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale, and (2) incidence of spontaneous complaints of EPS:
Table 7: Extrapyramidal Symptoms Associated with Oral Risperidone-Treated Adult Patients in an 8-Week Fixed Dose Schizophrenia Trial Dose Groups | Placebo | Oral Risperidone 2 mg | Oral Risperidone 6 mg | Oral Risperidone 10 mg | Oral Risperidone 16 mg |
| Parkinsonism | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| EPS Incidence | 13% | 17% | 21% | 21% | 35% |
Similar methods were used to measure extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in an 8-week trial comparing 5 fixed doses of oral risperidone (1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/day):
Table 8: Extrapyramidal Symptoms Associated with Oral Risperidone-Treated Adult Patients in an 8-Week Fixed Dose Schizophrenia Trial| Dose Groups | Oral Risperidone 1 mg | Oral Risperidone 4 mg | Oral Risperidone 8 mg | Oral Risperidone 12 mg | Oral Risperidone 16 mg |
| Parkinsonism | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
| EPS Incidence | 7% | 12% | 17% | 18% | 20% |
Changes in Body Weight
Weight gain was observed in short-term, controlled trials and longer-term uncontrolled studies in adults [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) and Adverse Reactions (6)].
Dystonia
Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur in susceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm of the neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficulty breathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occur more frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generation antipsychotic drugs. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and younger age groups.
Other Adverse Reactions
Adverse reaction data elicited by a checklist for side effects from a large study comparing 5 fixed doses of oral risperidone (1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/day) were explored for dose-relatedness of adverse events. A Cochran-Armitage Test for trend in these data revealed a positive trend (p<0.05) for the following adverse reactions: somnolence, vision abnormal, dizziness, palpitations, weight increase, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, sexual function abnormal, fatigue, and skin discoloration.
Changes in ECG
Between-group comparisons for pooled placebo-controlled trials of oral risperidone in adults revealed no statistically significant differences between oral risperidone and placebo in mean changes from baseline in ECG parameters, including QT, QTc, and PR intervals, and heart rate. When all oral risperidone doses were pooled from randomized controlled trials in several indications, there was a mean increase in heart rate of 1 beat per minute compared to no change for placebo patients. In short-term schizophrenia trials, higher doses of oral risperidone were associated with a higher mean increase in heart rate compared to placebo (4 to 6 beats per minute).
Injection Site Reactions with UZEDY
Local tolerability assessments were administered to patients who reported injection site adverse reactions in a randomized withdrawal study with UZEDY in adult patients with schizophrenia. The injection site was assessed by appropriately trained personnel throughout the clinical development program.
All injection site reactions (nodule, pruritus, erythema, mass, and swelling) were mild to moderate in severity with the exception of 1 case of severe pruritus which resolved after 6 days. Injection site reactions were reported in 22 patients (13%) in the placebo group, 36 patients (20%) in the UZEDY once monthly group, and 37 patients (21%) in the UZEDY once every 2 months group. The most common injection site reactions were: nodule (7% in each UZEDY-treated group and 3% in the placebo group) and pruritus (5% and 3% in the UZEDY-treated once monthly and once every 2 months groups, respectively, and 2% in the placebo group).