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.
Clinical Trials Experience with Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules in Pediatric Patients with ADHD
The safety data in this section is based on data from a 7-week controlled clinical study of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules in 100 (103 randomized) pediatric patients with ADHD ages 6 to 17 years (ages 6 to 12, n = 86; ages 13 to 17, n = 17).
This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the time of onset, duration of efficacy, tolerability, safety of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules 5 mg to 30 mg/day who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Most Common Adverse Reactions (incidence of greater than or equal to 5% and at least twice placebo): dyspepsia, decreased appetite, headache and anxiety.
Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation: 50 of 684 (7.3%) pediatric patients treated with dexmethylphenidate immediate-release tablets experienced an adverse reaction that resulted in discontinuation. The most common reasons for discontinuation were twitching (described as motor or vocal tics), anorexia, insomnia, and tachycardia (approximately 1% each).
Table 1 enumerates adverse reactions for the placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in children and adolescents with ADHD at flexible dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules doses of 5–30 mg/day. The table includes only those events that occurred in 5% or more of patients treated with dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules and for which the incidence in patients treated with dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules was at least twice the incidence in placebo-treated patients.
Table 1: Common Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years of age) with ADHD
| Abbreviation: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. |
System Organ Class Adverse Reaction
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules N=53
| Placebo
N=47
|
Gastrointestinal Disorders
| 38%
| 19%
|
Dyspepsia
| 8%
| 4%
|
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders
| 34%
| 11%
|
Decreased Appetite
| 30%
| 9%
|
Nervous System Disorders
| 30%
| 13%
|
Headache
| 25%
| 11%
|
Psychiatric Disorders
| 26%
| 15%
|
Anxiety
| 6%
| 0%
|
Table 2 below enumerates the incidence of dose-related adverse reactions that occurred during a fixed-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in pediatric patients with ADHD taking dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules up to 30 mg daily versus placebo. The table includes only those reactions that occurred in patients treated with dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules for which the incidence was at least 5% and greater than the incidence among placebo-treated patients.
Table 2: Dose-Related Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years of age) with ADHD
| Abbreviation: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. |
System Organ Class Adverse Reaction
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules
| Placebo
|
10 mg/d N=64
| 20 mg/d N=60
| 30 mg/d N=58
| N=63
|
Gastrointestinal Disorders
| 22%
| 23%
| 29%
| 24%
|
Vomiting
| 2%
| 8%
| 9%
| 0%
|
Metabolism and Nutritional Disorders
| 16%
| 17%
| 22%
| 5%
|
Anorexia
| 5%
| 5%
| 7%
| 0%
|
Psychiatric Disorders
| 19%
| 20%
| 38%
| 8%
|
Insomnia
| 5%
| 8%
| 17%
| 3%
|
Depression
| 0%
| 0%
| 3%
| 0%
|
Mood Swings
| 0%
| 0%
| 3%
| 2%
|
Other Adverse Reactions
|
|
|
|
|
Irritability
| 0%
| 2%
| 5%
| 0%
|
Nasal Congestion
| 0%
| 0%
| 5%
| 0%
|
Pruritus
| 0%
| 0%
| 3%
| 0%
|
Clinical Trials Experience With Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules in Adult Patients With ADHD
The safety data in this section is based on data from a 5-week controlled clinical study of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules in 218 adult patients (221 randomized) with ADHD ages 18 to 60 years. In this study, 101 adult patients were treated for at least 6 months.
This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules 20 mg, 30 mg, or 40 mg daily who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].
Most Common Adverse Reactions (incidence of greater than or equal to 5% and at least twice placebo): dry mouth, dyspepsia, headache, anxiety, and pharyngolaryngeal pain.
Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation: During the double-blind phase of the study, 10.7% of the dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules - treated patients and 7.5% of the placebo-treated patients discontinued due to adverse reactions. Three patients (1.8%) in the dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules discontinued due to insomnia and jittery, respectively and two patients (1.2%) in the dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules discontinued due to anorexia and anxiety, respectively.
Table 3 enumerates adverse reactions for the placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in adults with ADHD at fixed dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules doses of 20, 30, and 40 mg/day. The table includes only those events that occurred in 5% or more of patients in a dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules dose group and for which the incidences in patients treated with dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules appeared to increase with dose.
Table 3: Dose-Related Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients (18 to 60 years of age) with ADHD
System Organ Class Adverse Reaction
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 20 mg N=57
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 30 mg N=54
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 40 mg N=54
| Placebo
N=53
|
Gastrointestinal Disorders
| 28%
| 32%
| 44%
| 19%
|
Dry Mouth
| 7%
| 20%
| 20%
| 4%
|
Dyspepsia
| 5%
| 9%
| 9%
| 2%
|
Nervous System Disorders
| 37%
| 39%
| 50%
| 28%
|
Headache
| 26%
| 30%
| 39%
| 19%
|
Psychiatric Disorders
| 40%
| 43%
| 46%
| 30%
|
Anxiety
| 5%
| 11%
| 11%
| 2%
|
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
|
|
|
|
|
16%
| 9%
| 15%
| 8%
|
Pharyngolaryngeal Pain
| 4%
| 4%
| 7%
| 2%
|
Two other adverse reactions occurring in clinical trials with dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules at a frequency greater than placebo, but which were not dose related were: feeling jittery (12% and 2%, respectively) and dizziness (6% and 2%, respectively).
Table 4 summarizes changes in vital signs and weight that were recorded in the adult study (N = 218) of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules in the treatment of ADHD.
Table 4: Changes (Mean ± SD) in Vital Signs and Weight by Randomized Dose During Double-Blind Treatment – Adults
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 20 mg (N= 57)
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 30 mg (N= 54)
| Dexmethylphenidate HCl ER Capsules 40 mg (N= 54)
| Placebo
(N= 53)
|
Pulse (bpm)
| 3.1 ± 11.1
| 4.3 ± 11.7
| 6.0 ± 10.1
| -1.4 ± 9.3
|
Diastolic BP (mmHg)
| -0.2 ± 8.2
| 1.2 ± 8.9
| 2.1 ± 8.0
| 0.3 ± 7.8
|
Weight (kg)
| -1.4 ± 2.0
| -1.2 ± 1.9
| -1.7 ± 2.3
| -0.1 ± 3.9
|