ARIPIPRAZOLE ACCORD 30mg tablets medication leaflet

N05AX12 aripiprazole • Nervous system | Antipsychotics | Other antipsychotics

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and, in some cases, treatment-resistant major depression. It acts as a partial agonist of dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, as well as an antagonist of 5-HT2A receptors, helping to balance neurotransmitters in the brain.

Aripiprazole is available in tablet form, oral solutions, and long-acting injectable formulations. It is commonly used to reduce psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions and to stabilize mood in affective disorders.

Common side effects include nausea, dizziness, insomnia, and weight gain. In rare cases, severe adverse reactions such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome or tardive dyskinesia may occur.

Aripiprazole is an essential medication for managing psychiatric disorders, helping to improve patients' quality of life by reducing symptoms and preventing relapses.

General data about ARIPIPRAZOLE ACCORD 30mg

Substance: aripiprazole

Date of last drug list: 01-06-2019

Commercial code: W65663001

Concentration: 30mg

Pharmaceutical form: tablets

Quantity: 28

Product type: generic

Prescription restrictions: P-RF - Medicines prescription that is retained in the pharmacy (not renewable).

Marketing authorisation

Manufacturer: ACCORD HEALTHCARE LTD. - MAREA BRITANIE

Holder: ACCORD HEALTHCARE S.L.U. - SPANIA

Number: 1045/2015/20

Shelf life: 2 years

Concentrations available for aripiprazole

10mg, 15mg, 1mg/ml, 20mg, 30mg, 400mg, 5mg, 7.5mg/ml, 960mg

Contents of the package leaflet for the medicine ARIPIPRAZOLE ACCORD 30mg tablets

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Aripiprazole Accord 5 mg tablets

Aripiprazole Accord 10 mg tablets

Aripiprazole Accord 15 mg tablets

Aripiprazole Accord 30 mg tablets

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Aripiprazole Accord 5 mg tablets

Each tablet contains 5 mg of aripiprazole.

Excipient with known effect

Each 5 mg tablet contains 63 mg lactose (as monohydrate).

Aripiprazole Accord 10 mg tablets

Each tablet contains 10 mg of aripiprazole.

Excipient with known effect

Each 10 mg tablet contains 59 mg lactose (as monohydrate).

Aripiprazole Accord 15 mg tablets

Each tablet contains 15 mg of aripiprazole.

Excipient with known effect

Each 15 mg tablet contains 88 mg lactose (as monohydrate).

Aripiprazole Accord 30 mg tablets

Each tablet contains 30 mg of aripiprazole.

Excipient with known effect

Each 30 mg tablet contains 177 mg lactose (as monohydrate).

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Tablet

Aripiprazole Accord 5 mg tablets

Blue colored, approximately 8.1 mm in length, pct. 4.6 mm in width, modified rectangle shaped, biconvex,uncoated tablets, debossed with “A5” on one side and another side is plain.

Aripiprazole Accord 10 mg tablets

Pink colored, approximately 8.1 mm in length, pct. 4.6 mm in width, modified rectangle shaped, biconvex,uncoated tablets, debossed with “A10” on one side and another side is plain.

Aripiprazole Accord 15 mg tablets

Yellow colored, approximately 7.14 mm in diameter, round shaped, bevelled edge, biconvex, uncoatedtablets, debossed with “A15” on one side and another side is plain.

Aripiprazole Accord 30 mg tablets

Pink colored, approximately 9.1 mm in diameter, round shaped, bevelled edge, biconvex, uncoatedtablets, debossed with “A30” on one side and another side is plain.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Aripiprazole Accord is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults and in adolescents aged15 years and older.

Aripiprazole Accord is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in Bipolar I

Disorder and for the prevention of a new manic episode in adults who experienced predominantlymanic episodes and whose manic episodes responded to aripiprazole treatment (see section 5.1).

Aripiprazole Accord is indicated for the treatment up to 12 weeks of moderate to severe manicepisodes in Bipolar I Disorder in adolescents aged 13 years and older (see section 5.1).

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology
Adults

Schizophrenia: the recommended starting dose for Aripiprazole Accord is 10 mg/day or 15 mg/daywith a maintenance dose of 15 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals.

Aripiprazole Accord is effective in a dose range of 10 mg/day to 30 mg/day. Enhanced efficacy atdoses higher than a daily dose of 15 mg has not been demonstrated although individual patients maybenefit from a higher dose. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 30 mg.

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder: the recommended starting dose for Aripiprazole Accord is15 mg administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals as monotherapy or combinationtherapy (see section 5.1). Some patients may benefit from a higher dose. The maximum daily doseshould not exceed 30 mg.

Recurrence prevention of manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder: for preventing recurrence of manicepisodes in patients, who have been receiving aripiprazole as monotherapy or combination therapy,continue therapy at the same dose. Adjustments of daily dosage, including dose reduction should beconsidered on the basis of clinical status.

Paediatric population

Schizophrenia in adolescents aged 15 years and older: the recommended dose for Aripiprazole

Accord is 10 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals. Treatmentshould be initiated at 2 mg (using aripiprazole oral solution 1 mg/mL) for 2 days, titrated to 5 mg for2 additional days to reach the recommended daily dose of 10 mg. When appropriate, subsequent doseincreases should be administered in 5 mg increments without exceeding the maximum daily dose of30 mg (see section 5.1).

Aripiprazole Accord is effective in a dose range of 10 mg/day to 30 mg/day. Enhanced efficacy atdoses higher than a daily dose of 10 mg has not been demonstrated although individual patients maybenefit from a higher dose.

Aripiprazole Accord is not recommended for use in patients with schizophrenia below 15 years of agedue to insufficient data on safety and efficacy (see sections 4.8 and 5.1).

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder in adolescents aged 13 years and older: the recommended dosefor Aripiprazole Accord is 10 mg/day administered on a once-a-day schedule without regard to meals.

Treatment should be initiated at 2 mg (using aripiprazole oral solution 1 mg/mL) for 2 days, titrated to5 mg for 2 additional days to reach the recommended daily dose of 10 mg.

The treatment duration should be the minimum necessary for symptom control and must not exceed12 weeks. Enhanced efficacy at doses higher than a daily dose of 10 mg has not been demonstrated,and a daily dose of 30 mg is associated with a substantially higher incidence of significant adversereactions including EPS related events, somnolence, fatigue and weight gain (see section 4.8). Doseshigher than 10 mg/day should therefore only be used in exceptional cases and with close clinicalmonitoring (see sections 4.4, pct. 4.8 and 5.1).

Younger patients are at increased risk of experiencing adverse events associated with aripiprazole.

Therefore, Aripiprazole Accord is not recommended for use in patients below 13 years of age (seesections 4.8 and 5.1).

Irritability associated with autistic disorder: the safety and efficacy of Aripiprazole Accord inchildren and adolescents aged below 18 years have not yet been established. Currently available dataare described in section 5.1 but no recommendation on a posology can be made.

Tics associated with Tourette’s disorder: the safety and efficacy of Aripiprazole Accord in childrenand adolescents 6 to 18 years of age have not yet been established. Currently available data aredescribed in section 5.1 but no recommendation on a posology can be made.

Special population

Hepatic impairment

No dosage adjustment is required for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. In patientswith severe hepatic impairment, the data available are insufficient to establish recommendations. Inthese patients dosing should be managed cautiously. However, the maximum daily dose of 30 mgshould be used with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section 5.2).

Renal impairment

No dosage adjustment is required in patients with renal impairment.

Elderly

The safety and efficacy of Aripiprazole Accord in the treatment of schizophrenia or manic episodes in

Bipolar I Disorder in patients aged 65 years and older has not been established. Owing to the greatersensitivity of this population, a lower starting dose should be considered when clinical factors warrant(see section 4.4).

Gender

No dosage adjustment is required for female patients as compared to male patients (see section 5.2).

Smoking status

According to the metabolic pathway of aripiprazole no dosage adjustment is required for smokers (seesection 4.5).

Dose adjustments due to interactions

When concomitant administration of strong CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitors with aripiprazole occurs,the aripiprazole dose should be reduced. When the CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 inhibitor is withdrawn fromthe combination therapy, aripiprazole dose should then be increased (see section 4.5).

When concomitant administration of strong CYP3A4 inducers with aripiprazole occurs, thearipiprazole dose should be increased. When the CYP3A4 inducer is withdrawn from the combinationtherapy, the aripiprazole dose should then be reduced to the recommended dose (see section 4.5).

Method of administration

Aripiprazole Accord is for oral use.

Orodispersible tablets or oral solution may be used as an alternative to Aripiprazole Accord tablets forpatients who have difficulty swallowing Aripiprazole Accord tablets (see section 5.2).

4.3 Contraindications

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

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

During antipsychotic treatment, improvement in the patient's clinical condition may take several daysto some weeks. Patients should be closely monitored throughout this period.

Suicidality

The occurrence of suicidal behaviour is inherent in psychotic illnesses and mood disorders and insome cases has been reported early after initiation or switch of antipsychotic treatment, includingtreatment with aripiprazole (see section 4.8). Close supervision of high-risk patients shouldaccompany antipsychotic treatment.

Cardiovascular disorders

Aripiprazole should be used with caution in patients with known cardiovascular disease (history ofmyocardial infarction or ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, or conduction abnormalities),cerebrovascular disease, conditions which would predispose patients to hypotension (dehydration,hypovolemia, and treatment with antihypertensive medicinal products) or hypertension, includingaccelerated or malignant. Cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been reported withantipsychotic medicinal products. Since patients treated with antipsychotics often present withacquired risk factors for VTE, all possible risk factors for VTE should be identified before and duringtreatment with aripiprazole and preventive measures undertaken.

QT prolongation

In clinical trials of aripiprazole, the incidence of QT prolongation was comparable to placebo. A,aripiprazole should be used with caution in patients with a family history of QT prolongation (seesection 4.8).

Tardive dyskinesia

In clinical trials of one year or less duration, there were uncommon reports of treatment emergentdyskinesia during treatment with aripiprazole. If signs and symptoms of tardive dyskinesia appear in apatient on aripiprazole, dose reduction or discontinuation should be considered (see section 4.8). Thesesymptoms can temporally deteriorate or can even arise after discontinuation of treatment.

Other extrapyramidal symptoms

In paediatric clinical trials of aripiprazole akathisia and Parkinsonism were observed. If signs andsymptoms of other EPS appear in a patient taking aripiprazole, dose reduction and close clinicalmonitoring should be considered.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

NMS is a potentially fatal symptom complex associated with antipsychotics. In clinical trials, rarecases of NMS were reported during treatment with aripiprazole. Clinical manifestations of NMS arehyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status and evidence of autonomic instability (irregularpulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs mayinclude elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure.

However, elevated creatine phosphokinase and rhabdomyolysis, not necessarily in association with

NMS, have also been reported. If a patient develops signs and symptoms indicative of NMS, orpresents with unexplained high fever without additional clinical manifestations of NMS, allantipsychotics, including aripiprazole, must be discontinued.

Seizure

In clinical trials, uncommon cases of seizure were reported during treatment with aripiprazole.

Therefore, aripiprazole should be used with caution in patients who have a history of seizure disorderor have conditions associated with seizures (see section 4.8).

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis

Increased mortality

In three placebo-controlled trials (n = 938; mean age: 82.4 years; range: 56 to 99 years) of aripiprazolein elderly patients with psychosis associated with Alzheimer's disease, patients treated witharipiprazole were at increased risk of death compared to placebo. The rate of death in aripiprazole-treated patients was 3.5 % compared to 1.7 % in the placebo group. Although the causes of deathswere varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g. heart failure, sudden death)or infectious (e.g. pneumonia) in nature (see section 4.8).

Cerebrovascular adverse reactions

In the same trials, cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g. stroke, transient ischaemic attack), includingfatalities, were reported in patients (mean age: 84 years; range: 78 to 88 years). Overall, 1.3 % ofaripiprazole-treated patients reported cerebrovascular adverse reactions compared with 0.6 % ofplacebo-treated patients in these trials. This difference was not statistically significant. However, inone of these trials, a fixed-dose trial, there was a significant dose response relationship forcerebrovascular adverse reactions in patients treated with aripiprazole (see section 4.8).

Aripiprazole is not indicated for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus

Hyperglycaemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma ordeath, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, including aripiprazole. Riskfactors that may predispose patients to severe complications include obesity and family history ofdiabetes. In clinical trials with aripiprazole, there were no significant differences in the incidence ratesof hyperglycaemia-related adverse reactions (including diabetes) or in abnormal glycaemia laboratoryvalues compared to placebo. Precise risk estimates for hyperglycaemia-related adverse reactions inpatients treated with aripiprazole and with other atypical antipsychotics are not available to allowdirect comparisons. Patients treated with any antipsychotics, including aripiprazole, should beobserved for signs and symptoms of hyperglycaemia (such as polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia andweakness) and patients with diabetes mellitus or with risk factors for diabetes mellitus should bemonitored regularly for worsening of glucose control (see section 4.8).

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions, characterised by allergic symptoms, may occur with aripiprazole (seesection 4.8).

Weight gain

Weight gain is commonly seen in schizophrenic and bipolar mania patients due to co-morbidities, useof antipsychotics known to cause weight gain, poorly managed life-style, and might lead to severecomplications. Weight gain has been reported post-marketing among patients prescribed aripiprazole.

When seen, it is usually in those with significant risk factors such as history of diabetes, thyroiddisorder or pituitary adenoma. In clinical trials aripiprazole has not been shown to induce clinicallyrelevant weight gain in adults (see section 5.1). In clinical trials of adolescent patients with bipolarmania, aripiprazole has been shown to be associated with weight gain after 4 weeks of treatment.

Weight gain should be monitored in adolescent patients with bipolar mania. If weight gain is clinicallysignificant, dose reduction should be considered (see section 4.8).

Dysphagia

Oesophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with the use of antipsychotics, includingaripiprazole. Aripiprazole should be used cautiously in patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia.

Pathological gambling and other impulse control disorders

Patients can experience increased urges, particularly for gambling, and the inability to control theseurges while taking aripiprazole. Other urges, reported, include: increased sexual urges, compulsiveshopping, binge or compulsive eating, and other impulsive and compulsive behaviours. It is importantfor prescribers to ask patients or their caregivers specifically about the development of new orincreased gambling urges, sexual urges, compulsive shopping, binge or compulsive eating, or otherurges while being treated with aripiprazole. It should be noted that impulse-control symptoms can beassociated with the underlying disorder; however, in some cases, urges were reported to have stoppedwhen the dose was reduced or the medication was discontinued. Impulse control disorders may resultin harm to the patient and others if not recognised. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medicationif a patient develops such urges while taking aripiprazole (see section 4.8).

Lactose

Aripiprazole Accord contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance,total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.

Patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidity

Despite the high comorbidity frequency of Bipolar I Disorder and ADHD, very limited safety data areavailable on concomitant use of aripiprazole and stimulants; therefore, extreme caution should betaken when these medicinal products are co-administered.

Falls

Aripiprazole may cause somnolence, postural hypotension, motor and sensory instability, which maylead to falls. Caution should be taken when treating patients at higher risk, and a lower starting doseshould be considered (e.g., elderly or debilitated patients; see section 4.2).

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Due to its α1-adrenergic receptor antagonism, aripiprazole has the potential to enhance the effect ofcertain antihypertensive medicinal products.

Given the primary CNS effects of aripiprazole, caution should be used when aripiprazole isadministered in combination with alcohol or other CNS medicinal products with overlapping adversereactions such as sedation (see section 4.8).

If aripiprazole is administered concomitantly with medicinal products known to cause QTprolongation or electrolyte imbalance, caution should be used.

Potential for other medicinal products to affect aripiprazole

A gastric acid blocker, the H2 antagonist famotidine, reduces aripiprazole rate of absorption but thiseffect is deemed not clinically relevant. Aripiprazole is metabolised by multiple pathways involvingthe CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 enzymes but not CYP1A enzymes. Thus, no dosage adjustment is requiredfor smokers.

Quinidine and other CYP2D6 inhibitors

In a clinical trial in healthy subjects, a strong inhibitor of CYP2D6 (quinidine) increased aripiprazole

AUC by 107 %, while Cmax was unchanged. The AUC and Cmax of dehydro-aripiprazole, the activemetabolite, decreased by 32 % and 47 %, respectively. Aripiprazole dose should be reduced toapproximately one-half of its prescribed dose when concomitant administration of aripiprazole withquinidine occurs. Other strong inhibitors of CYP2D6, such as fluoxetine and paroxetine, may beexpected to have similar effects and similar dose reductions should therefore be applied.

Ketoconazole and other CYP3A4 inhibitors

In a clinical trial in healthy subjects, a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4 (ketoconazole) increasedaripiprazole AUC and Cmax by 63 % and 37 %, respectively. The AUC and Cmax ofdehydro-aripiprazole increased by 77 % and 43 %, respectively. In CYP2D6 poor metabolisers,concomitant use of potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 may result in higher plasma concentrations ofaripiprazole compared to that in CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers.When considering concomitantadministration of ketoconazole or other strong CYP3A4 inhibitors with aripiprazole, potential benefitsshould outweigh the potential risks to the patient. When concomitant administration of ketoconozolewith aripiprazole occurs, aripiprazole dose should be reduced to approximately one-half of itsprescribed dose. Other strong inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as itraconazole and HIV protease inhibitors,may be expected to have similar effects and similar dose reductions should therefore be applied (seesection 4.2).Upon discontinuation of the CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 inhibitor, the dosage of aripiprazoleshould be increased to the level prior to the initiation of the concomitant therapy.When weak inhibitorsof CYP3A4 (e.g. diltiazem) or CYP2D6 (e.g. escitalopram) are used concomitantly with aripiprazole,modest increases in plasma aripiprazole concentrations may be expected.

Carbamazepine and other CYP3A4 inducers

Following concomitant administration of carbamazepine, a strong inducer of CYP3A4, and oralaripiprazole to patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the geometric means of Cmaxand AUC for aripiprazole were 68 % and 73 % lower, respectively, compared to when aripiprazole(30 mg) was administered alone. Similarly, for dehydro-aripiprazole the geometric means of Cmax and

AUC after carbamazepine co-administration were 69 % and 71 % lower, respectively, than thosefollowing treatment with aripiprazole alone. Aripiprazole dose should be doubled when concomitantadministration of aripiprazole occurs with carbamazepine. Concomitant administration of aripiprazoleand other stronginducers of CYP3A4 (such as rifampicin, rifabutin, phenytoin, phenobarbital,primidone, efavirenz, nevirapine and St. John's Wort) may be expected to have similar effects andsimilar dose increases should therefore be applied. Upon discontinuation of strong CYP3A4 inducers,the dosage of aripiprazole should be reduced to the recommended dose.

Valproate and lithium

When either valproate or lithium was administered concomitantly with aripiprazole, there was noclinically significant change in aripiprazole concentrations and therefore no dose adjustment isnecessary when either valproate or lithium is administered with aripiprazole.

Potential for aripiprazole to affect other medicinal products

In clinical studies, 10 mg/day to 30 mg/day doses of aripiprazole had no significant effect on themetabolism of substrates of CYP2D6 (dextromethorphan/3-methoxymorphinan ratio),

CYP2C9 (warfarin), CYP2C19 (omeprazole), and CYP3A4 (dextromethorphan). Additionally,aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole did not show potential for altering CYP1A2-mediatedmetabolism in vitro. Thus, aripiprazole is unlikely to cause clinically important medicinal productinteractions mediated by these enzymes.

When aripiprazole was administered concomitantly with either valproate, lithium or lamotrigine, therewas no clinically important change in valproate, lithium or lamotrigine concentrations.

Serotonin syndrome

Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported in patients taking aripiprazole, and possible signs andsymptoms for this condition can occur especially in cases of concomitant use with other serotonergicmedicinal products, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/selective serotonin noradrenalinereuptake inhibitor (SSRI/SNRI), or with medicinal products that are known to increase aripiprazoleconcentrations (see section 4.8).

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no adequate and well-controlled trials of aripiprazole in pregnant women. Congenitalanomalies have been reported; however, causal relationship with aripiprazole could not be established.

Animal studies could not exclude potential developmental toxicity (see section 5.3). Patients must beadvised to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant duringtreatment with aripiprazole. Due to insufficient safety information in humans and concerns raised byanimal reproductive studies, this medicinal product should not be used in pregnancy unless theexpected benefit clearly justifies the potential risk to the foetus.

Newborn infants exposed to antipsychotics (including aripiprazole) during the third trimester ofpregnancy are at risk of adverse reactions including extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms thatmay vary in severity and duration following delivery. There have been reports of agitation, hypertonia,hypotonia, tremor, somnolence, respiratory distress, or feeding disorder. Consequently, newborninfants should be monitored carefully (see section 4.8).

Breast-feeding

Aripiprazole/metabolites are excreted in human milk. A decision must be made whether to discontinuebreast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from aripiprazole therapy taking into account the benefit ofbreast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility

Aripiprazole did not impair fertility based on data from reproductive toxicity studies.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Aripiprazole has minor to moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines due to potentialnervous system and visual effects, such as sedation, somnolence, syncope, vision blurred, diplopia (seesection 4.8).

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions in placebo-controlled trials are akathisia and nauseaeach occurring in more than 3% of patients treated with oral aripiprazole.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The incidences of the Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) associated with aripiprazole therapy aretabulated below. The table is based on adverse events reported during clinical trials and/or post-marketing use.

All ADRs are listed by system organ class and frequency; 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) andnot known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adversereactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

The frequency of adverse reactions reported during post-marketing use cannot be determined as theyare derived from spontaneous reports. Consequently, the frequency of these adverse events is qualifiedas “not known”.

Common Uncommon Not known

Blood and Leukopenialymphatic system Neutropeniadisorders Thrombocytopenia

Immune system Allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylacticdisorders reaction, angioedema includingswollen tongue, tongue oedema,face oedema, pruritus allergic, orurticaria)

Endocrine Hyperprolactinaemia Diabetic hyperosmolar comadisorders Blood prolactin Diabetic ketoacidosisdecreased

Metabolism and Diabetes mellitus Hyperglycaemia Hyponatremianutrition disorders Anorexia

Psychiatric Insomnia Depression, Suicide attempt, suicidal ideationdisorders Anxiety Hypersexuality and completed suicide (see

Restlessness section 4.4)

Pathological gambling

Impulse-control disorder

Binge eating

Compulsive shopping

Poriomania

Aggression

Agitation

Nervousness

Nervous system Akathisia Tardive dyskinesia Neuroleptic Malignant Syndromedisorders Extrapyramidal Dystonia Grand mal convulsiondisorder Restless legs Serotonin syndrome

Tremor syndrome Speech disorder

Headache

Sedation

Somnolence

Dizziness

Eye disorders Vision blurred Diplopia Oculogyric crisis

Photophobia

Cardiac disorders Tachycardia Sudden death unexplained

Torsades de pointes

Ventricular arrhythmia

Cardiac arrest

Common Uncommon Not known

Bradycardia

Vascular disorders Orthostatic Venous thromboembolismhypotension (including pulmonary embolismand deep vein thrombosis)

Hypertension
Syncope

Respiratory, Hiccups Aspiration pneumoniathoracic and Laryngospasmmediastinal Oropharyngeal spasmdisorders

Gastrointestinal Constipation Pancreatitisdisorders Dyspepsia Dysphagia

Nausea Diarrhoea

Salivary Abdominal discomforthypersecretion Stomach discomfort

Vomiting

Hepatobiliary Hepatic failuredisorders Hepatitis

Jaundice

Skin and Rashsubcutaneous tissue Photosensitivity reactiondisorders Alopecia

Hyperhidrosis

Drug Reaction with Eosinophiliaand Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)

Musculoskeletal Rhabdomyolysisand connective Myalgiatissue disorders Stiffness

Renal and urinary Urinary incontinencedisorders Urinary retention

Pregnancy, Drug withdrawal syndromepuerperium and neonatal (see section 4.6)perinatal conditions

Reproductive Priapismsystem and breastdisorders

General disorders Fatigue Temperature regulation disorderand administration (e.g. hypothermia, pyrexia)site conditions Chest pain

Peripheral oedema

Investigations Weight decreased

Weight gain

Alanine Aminotransferaseincreased

Aspartate Aminotransferaseincreased

Gamma-glutamyltransferaseincreased

Alkaline phosphatase increased

QT prolonged

Blood glucose increased

Glycosylated haemoglobinincreased

Blood glucose fluctuation

Creatine phosphokinase increased

Description of selected adverse reactions
Adults
Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

Schizophrenia: in a long term 52-week controlled trial, aripiprazole-treated patients had an overall-lower incidence (25.8 %) of EPS including Parkinsonism, akathisia, dystonia and dyskinesia comparedwith those treated with haloperidol (57.3 %). In a long term 26-week placebo-controlled trial, theincidence of EPS was 19 % for aripiprazole-treated patients and 13.1 % for placebo-treated patients. Inanother long-term 26-week controlled trial, the incidence of EPS was 14.8 % for aripiprazole-treatedpatients and 15.1 % for olanzapine-treated patients.

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder: in a 12-week controlled trial, the incidence of EPS was 23.5 %for aripiprazole-treated patients and 53.3 % for haloperidol-treated patients. In another 12-week trial,the incidence of EPS was 26.6 % for patients treated with aripiprazole and 17.6 % for those treatedwith lithium. In the long-term 26-week maintenance phase of a placebo-controlled trial, the incidenceof EPS was 18.2 % for aripiprazole-treated patients and 15.7 % for placebo-treated patients.

Akathisia

In placebo-controlled trials, the incidence of akathisia in bipolar patients was 12.1 % with aripiprazoleand 3.2 % with placebo. In schizophrenia patients the incidence of akathisia was 6.2 % witharipiprazole and 3.0 % with placebo.

Dystonia

Class effect: Symptoms of dystonia, prolonged abnormal contractions of muscle groups, may occur insusceptible individuals during the first few days of treatment. Dystonic symptoms include: spasm ofthe neck muscles, sometimes progressing to tightness of the throat, swallowing difficulty, difficultybreathing, and/or protrusion of the tongue. While these symptoms can occur at low doses, they occurmore frequently and with greater severity with high potency and at higher doses of first generationantipsychotic medicinal products. An elevated risk of acute dystonia is observed in males and youngerage groups.

Prolactin

In clinical trials for the approved indications and post-marketing, both increase and decrease in serumprolactin as compared to baseline was observed with aripiprazole (section 5.1).

Laboratory parameters

Comparisons between aripiprazole and placebo in the proportions of patients experiencing potentiallyclinically significant changes in routine laboratory and lipid parameters (see section 5.1) revealed nomedically important differences. Elevations of CPK (Creatine Phosphokinase), generally transient andasymptomatic, were observed in 3.5 % of aripiprazole treated patients as compared to 2.0 % ofpatients who received placebo.

Paediatric population

Schizophrenia in adolescents aged 15 years and older

In a short-term placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 302 adolescents (13 to 17 years) withschizophrenia, the frequency and type of adverse reactions were similar to those in adults except forthe following reactions that were reported more frequently in adolescents receiving aripiprazole thanin adults receiving aripiprazole (and more frequently than placebo):

Somnolence/sedation and extrapyramidal disorder were reported very commonly (≥ 1/10), and drymouth, increased appetite, and orthostatic hypotension were reported commonly (≥ 1/100, < 1/10).

The safety profile in a 26-week open-label extension trial was similar to that observed in the short-term, placebo-controlled trial.

The safety profile of a long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was also similar except for thefollowing reactions that were reported more frequently than paediatric patients taking placebo: weightdecreased, blood insulin increased, arrhythmia, and leukopenia were reported commonly (≥ 1/100,< 1/10).

In the pooled adolescent schizophrenia population (13 to 17 years) with exposure up to 2 years,incidence of low serum prolactin levels in females (<3 ng/mL) and males (< 2 ng/mL) was 29.5 % and48.3 %, respectively. In the adolescent (13 to 17 years) schizophrenia population with aripiprazoleexposure of 5 mg to 30 mg up to 72 months, incidence of low serum prolactin levels in females(<3 ng/mL) and males (< 2 ng/mL) was 25.6 % and 45.0 %, respectively.

In two long term trials with adolescent (13 to 17 years) schizophrenia and bipolar patients treated witharipiprazole, incidence of low serum prolactin levels in females (<3 ng/mL) and males (<2 ng/mL)was 37.0 % and 59.4 %, respectively.

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder in adolescents aged 13 years and older

The frequency and type of adverse reactions in adolescents with Bipolar I Disorder were similar tothose in adults except for the following reactions: very commonly (≥ 1/10) somnolence (23.0 %),extrapyramidal disorder (18.4 %), akathisia (16.0 %), and fatigue (11.8 %); and commonly (≥ 1/100,< 1/10) abdominal pain upper, heart rate increased, weight increased, increased appetite, muscletwitching, and dyskinesia.

The following adverse reactions had a possible dose response relationship; extrapyramidal disorder(incidences were 10 mg, 9.1 %; 30 mg, 28.8 %; placebo, 1.7 %,); and akathisia (incidences were10 mg, 12.1 %; 30 mg, 20.3 %; placebo, 1.7 %).

Mean changes in body weight in adolescents with Bipolar I Disorder at 12 and 30 weeks foraripiprazole were 2.4 kg and 5.8 kg, and for placebo 0.2 kg and 2.3 kg, respectively.

In the paediatric population somnolence and fatigue were observed more frequently in patients withbipolar disorder compared to patients with schizophrenia.

In the paediatric bipolar population (10 to 17 years) with exposure up to 30 weeks, incidence of lowserum prolactin levels in females (< 3 ng/mL) and males (< 2 ng/mL) was 28.0 % and 53.3 %,respectively.

Pathological gambling and other impulse control disorders

Pathological gambling, hypersexuality, compulsive shopping and binge or compulsive eating canoccur in patients treated with aripiprazole (see section 4.4).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. Itallows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcareprofessionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting systemlisted in Appendix V.

4.9 Overdose

Signs and symptoms

In clinical trials and post-marketing experience, accidental or intentional acute overdose ofaripiprazole alone was identified in adult patients with reported estimated doses up to 1,260 mg withno fatalities. The potentially medically important signs and symptoms observed included lethargy,increased blood pressure, somnolence, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In addition,reports of accidental overdose with aripiprazole alone (up to 195 mg) in children have been receivedwith no fatalities. The potentially medically serious signs and symptoms reported includedsomnolence, transient loss of consciousness and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Management of overdose

Management of overdose should concentrate on supportive therapy, maintaining an adequate airway,oxygenation and ventilation, and management of symptoms. The possibility of multiple medicinalproduct involvement should be considered. Therefore cardiovascular monitoring should be startedimmediately and should include continuous electrocardiographic monitoring to detect possiblearrhythmias. Following any confirmed or suspected overdose with aripiprazole, close medicalsupervision and monitoring should continue until the patient recovers.

Activated charcoal (50 g), administered one hour after aripiprazole, decreased aripiprazole Cmax byabout 41 % and AUC by about 51 %, suggesting that charcoal may be effective in the treatment ofoverdose.

Haemodialysis

Although there is no information on the effect of haemodialysis in treating an overdose witharipiprazole, haemodialysis is unlikely to be useful in overdose management since aripiprazole ishighly bound to plasma proteins.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Psycholeptics, other antipsychotics, ATC code: N05AX12

Mechanism of action

It has been proposed that aripiprazole’s efficacy in schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder is mediatedthrough a combination of partial agonism at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT1a receptors andantagonism of serotonin 5HT2a receptors. Aripiprazole exhibited antagonist properties in animalmodels of dopaminergic hyperactivity and agonist properties in animal models of dopaminergichypoactivity. Aripiprazole exhibited high binding affinity in vitro for dopamine D2 and D3, serotonin5HT1a and 5HT2a receptors and moderate affinity for dopamine D4, serotonin 5HT2c and 5HT7, alpha-1adrenergic and histamine H1 receptors. Aripiprazole also exhibited moderate binding affinity for theserotonin reuptake site and no appreciable affinity for muscarinic receptors. Interaction with receptorsother than dopamine and serotonin subtypes may explain some of the other clinical effects ofaripiprazole.

Aripiprazole doses ranging from 0.5 mg to 30 mg administered once a day to healthy subjects for2 weeks produced a dose-dependent reduction in the binding of 11C-raclopride, a D2/D3 receptorligand, to the caudate and putamen detected by positron emission tomography.

Clinical efficacy and safety
Adults

Schizophrenia

In three short-term (4 to 6 weeks) placebo-controlled trials involving 1,228 schizophrenic adultpatients, presenting with positive or negative symptoms, aripiprazole was associated with statisticallysignificantly greater improvements in psychotic symptoms compared to placebo.

Aripiprazole is effective in maintaining the clinical improvement during continuation therapy in adultpatients who have shown an initial treatment response. In a haloperidol-controlled trial, the proportionof responder patients maintaining response to medicinal product at 52-weeks was similar in bothgroups (aripiprazole 77 % and haloperidol 73 %). The overall completion rate was significantly higherfor patients on aripiprazole (43 %) than for haloperidol (30 %). Actual scores in rating scales used assecondary endpoints, including PANSS and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale(MADRS) showed a significant improvement over haloperidol.

In a 26-week, placebo-controlled trial in adult stabilised patients with chronic schizophrenia,aripiprazole had significantly greater reduction in relapse rate, 34 % in aripiprazole group and 57 % inplacebo.

Weight gain

In clinical trials aripiprazole has not been shown to induce clinically relevant weight gain. In a26-week, olanzapine-controlled, double-blind, multi-national study of schizophrenia which included314 adult patients and where the primary endpoint was weight gain, significantly less patients had atleast 7 % weight gain over baseline (i.e. a gain of at least 5.6 kg for a mean baseline weight of~80.5 kg) on aripiprazole (n = 18, or 13 % of evaluable patients), compared to olanzapine (n = 45, or33 % of evaluable patients).

Lipid parameters

In a pooled analysis on lipid parameters from placebo controlled clinical trials in adults, aripiprazolehas not been shown to induce clinically relevant alterations in levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides,

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL).

Prolactin

Prolactin levels were evaluated in all trials of all doses of aripiprazole (n = 28,242). The incidence ofhyperprolactinaemia or increased serum prolactin in patients treated with aripiprazole (0.3 %) wassimilar to that of placebo (0.2 %). For patients receiving aripiprazole, the median time to onset was42 days and median duration was 34 days.

The incidence of hypoprolactinaemia or decreased serum prolactin in patients treated with aripiprazolewas 0.4 %, compared with 0.02 % for patients treated with placebo. For patients receivingaripiprazole, the median time to onset was 30 days and median duration was 194 days.

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder

In two 3-week, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled monotherapy trials involving patients with a manic ormixed episode of Bipolar I Disorder, aripiprazole demonstrated superior efficacy to placebo inreduction of manic symptoms over 3 weeks. These trials included patients with or without psychoticfeatures and with or without a rapid-cycling course.

In one 3-week, fixed-dose, placebo-controlled monotherapy trial involving patients with a manic ormixed episode of Bipolar I Disorder, aripiprazole failed to demonstrate superior efficacy to placebo.

In two 12-week, placebo- and active-controlled monotherapy trials in patients with a manic or mixedepisode of Bipolar I Disorder, with or without psychotic features, aripiprazole demonstrated superiorefficacy to placebo at week 3 and a maintenance of effect comparable to lithium or haloperidol atweek 12. Aripiprazole also demonstrated a comparable proportion of patients in symptomaticremission from mania as lithium or haloperidol at week 12.

In a 6-week, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with a manic or mixed episode of Bipolar I

Disorder, with or without psychotic features, who were partially non-responsive to lithium orvalproate monotherapy for 2 weeks at therapeutic serum levels, the addition of aripiprazole asadjunctive therapy resulted in superior efficacy in reduction of manic symptoms than lithium orvalproate monotherapy.

In a 26-week, placebo-controlled trial, followed by a 74-week extension, in manic patients whoachieved remission on aripiprazole during a stabilization phase prior to randomisation, aripiprazoledemonstrated superiority over placebo in preventing bipolar recurrence, primarily in preventingrecurrence into mania but failed to demonstrate superiority over placebo in preventing recurrence intodepression.

In a 52-week, placebo-controlled trial, in patients with a current manic or mixed episode of Bipolar I

Disorder who achieved sustained remission (Young Mania Rating Scale [Y-MRS] and MADRS withtotal scores ≤ 12) on aripiprazole (10 mg/day to 30 mg/day) adjunctive to lithium or valproate for12 consecutive weeks, adjunctive aripiprazole demonstrated superiority over placebo with a 46 %decreased risk (hazard ratio of 0.54) in preventing bipolar recurrence and a 65 % decreased risk(hazard ratio of 0.35) in preventing recurrence into mania over adjunctive placebo but failed todemonstrate superiority over placebo in preventing recurrence into depression. Adjunctive aripiprazoledemonstrated superiority over placebo on the secondary outcome measure, in Clinical Global

Impression - Bipolar version (CGI-BP) Severity of Illness (SOI; mania) scores. In this trial, patientswere assigned by investigators with either open-label lithium or valproate monotherapy to determinepartial non-response. Patients were stabilised for at least 12 consecutive weeks with the combinationof aripiprazole and the same mood stabilizer. Stabilized patients were then randomised to continue thesame mood stabilizer with double-blind aripiprazole or placebo. Four mood stabilizer subgroups wereassessed in the randomised phase: aripiprazole + lithium; aripiprazole + valproate; placebo + lithium;placebo + valproate. The Kaplan-Meier rates for recurrence to any mood episode for the adjunctivetreatment arm were 16 % in aripiprazole + lithium and 18 % in aripiprazole + valproate compared to45 % in placebo + lithium and 19 % in placebo + valproate.

Paediatric population

Schizophrenia in adolescents

In a 6-week placebo-controlled trial involving 302 schizophrenic adolescent patients (13 to 17 years),presenting with positive or negative symptoms, aripiprazole was associated with statisticallysignificantly greater improvements in psychotic symptoms compared to placebo. In a sub-analysis ofthe adolescent patients between the ages of 15 to 17 years, representing 74 % of the total enrolledpopulation, maintenance of effect was observed over the 26-week open-label extension trial.

In a 60- to 89-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adolescent subjects (n =146; ages 13 to 17 years) with schizophrenia, there was a statistically significant difference in the rateof relapse of psychotic symptoms between the aripiprazole (19.39%) and placebo (37.50%) groups.

The point estimate of the hazard ratio (HR) was 0.461 (95% confidence interval, 0.242 to 0.879) in thefull population. In sub-group analyses the point estimate of the HR was 0.495 for subjects 13 to 14years of age compared to 0.454 for subjects 15 to 17 years of age. However, the estimation of the HRfor the younger (13 to 14 years) group was not precise, reflecting the smaller number of subjects inthat group (aripiprazole, n = 29; placebo, n = 12), and the confidence interval for this estimation(ranging from 0.151 to 1.628) did not allow conclusions to be drawn on the presence of a treatmenteffect. In contrast the 95% confidence interval for the HR in the older subgroup (aripiprazole, n = 69;placebo, n = 36) was 0.242 to 0.879 and hence a treatment effect could be concluded in the olderpatients.

Manic episodes in Bipolar I Disorder in children and adolescents

Aripiprazole was studied in a 30-week placebo-controlled trial involving 296 children and adolescents(10 to 17 years), who met DSM-IV criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)for Bipolar I Disorder with manic or mixed episodes with or without psychotic features and had a

YMRS score  20 at baseline. Among the patients included in the primary efficacy analysis,139 patients had a current co-morbid diagnosis of ADHD.

Aripiprazole was superior to placebo in change from baseline at week 4 and at week 12 on the Y-MRStotal score. In a post-hoc analysis, the improvement over placebo was more pronounced in the patientswith associated co-morbidity of ADHD compared to the group without ADHD, where there was nodifference from placebo. Recurrence prevention was not established.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events among patients receiving 30 mg wereextrapyramidal disorder (28.3 %), somnolence (27.3 %), headache (23.2 %), and nausea (14.1 %).

Mean weight gain in the 30 weeks treatment-interval was 2.9 kg as compared to 0.98 kg in patientstreated with placebo.

Irritability associated with autistic disorder in paediatric patients (see section 4.2)

Aripiprazole was studied in patients aged 6 to 17 years in two 8-week, placebo-controlled trials [oneflexible-dose (2 mg/day to 15 mg/day) and one fixed-dose (5 mg/day, 10 mg/day or 15 mg/day)] andin one 52-week open-label trial. Dosing in these trials was initiated at 2 mg/day, increased to 5 mg/dayafter one week, and increased by 5 mg/day in weekly increments to the target dose. Over 75 % ofpatients were less than 13 years of age. Aripiprazole demonstrated statistically superior efficacycompared to placebo on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist Irritability subscale. However, the clinicalrelevance of this finding has not been established. The safety profile included weight gain and changesin prolactin levels. The duration of the long-term safety study was limited to 52 weeks. In the pooledtrials, the incidence of low serum prolactin levels in females (< 3 ng/mL) and males (< 2 ng/mL) inaripiprazole-treated patients was 27/46 (58.7 %) and 258/298 (86.6 %), respectively. In the placebo-controlled trials, the mean weight gain was 0.4 kg for placebo and 1.6 kg for aripiprazole.

Aripiprazole was also studied in a placebo-controlled, long-term maintenance trial. After a 13 to26 week stabilisation on aripiprazole (2 mg/day to 15 mg/day) patients with a stable response wereeither maintained on aripiprazole or substituted to placebo for further 16 weeks. Kaplan-Meier relapserates at week 16 were 35 % for aripiprazole and 52 % for placebo; the hazard ratio for relapse within16 weeks (aripiprazole/placebo) was 0.57 (non-statistically significant difference). The mean weightgain over the stabilisation phase (up to 26 weeks) on aripiprazole was 3.2 kg, and a further meanincrease of 2.2 kg for aripiprazole as compared to 0.6 kg for placebo was observed in the second phase(16 weeks) of the trial. Extrapyramidal symptoms were mainly reported during the stabilisation phasein 17 % of patients, with tremor accounting for 6.5 %.

Tics associated with Tourette’s disorder in paediatric patients (see section 4.2)

The efficacy of aripiprazole was studied in paediatric subjects with Tourette’s disorder (aripiprazole:

n = 99, placebo: n = 44) in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8 week study using a fixeddose weight-based treatment group design over the dose range of 5 mg/day to 20 mg/day and a startingdose of 2 mg. Patients were 7 to 17 years of age and presented an average score of 30 on Total Tic

Score on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (TTS-YGTSS) at baseline. Aripiprazole showed animprovement on TTS-YGTSS change from baseline to week 8 of 13.35,for the low dose group (5 mgor 10 mg) and 16.94 for the high dose group (10 mg or 20 mg) as compared with an improvement of7.09 in the placebo group.

The efficacy of aripiprazole in paediatric subjects with Tourette’s syndrome (aripiprazole: n = 32,placebo: n = 29) was also evaluated over a flexible dose range of 2 mg/day to 20 mg/day and a startingdose of 2 mg, in a 10 week, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in South-

Korea. Patients were 6 to 18 years and presented an average score of 29 on TTS-YGTSS at baseline.

Aripiprazole group showed an improvement of 14.97 on TTS-YGTSS change from baseline toweek 10 as compared with an improvement of 9.62 in the placebo group.

In both of these short-term trials, the clinical relevance of the efficacy findings has not beenestablished, considering the magnitude of treatment effect compared to the large placebo effect and theunclear effects regarding psycho-social functioning. No long term data are available with regard to theefficacy and the safety of aripiprazole in this fluctuating disorder.

The European Medicines Agency has deferred the obligation to submit the results of studies witharipiprazole in one or more subsets of the paediatric population in the treatment of schizophrenia andin the treatment of bipolar affective disorder (see section 4.2 for information on paediatric use).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

Aripiprazole is well absorbed, with peak plasma concentrations occurring within 3 to 5 hours afterdosing. Aripiprazole undergoes minimal pre-systemic metabolism. The absolute oral bioavailability ofthe tablet formulation is 87 %. There is no effect of a high fat meal on the pharmacokinetics ofaripiprazole.

Distribution

Aripiprazole is widely distributed throughout the body with an apparent volume of distribution of4.9 L/kg, indicating extensive extravascular distribution. At therapeutic concentrations, aripiprazoleand dehydro-aripiprazole are greater than 99 % bound to serum proteins, binding primarily to albumin.

Biotransformation

Aripiprazole is extensively metabolised by the liver primarily by three biotransformation pathways:

dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and N-dealkylation. Based on in vitro studies, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6enzymes are responsible for dehydrogenation and hydroxylation of aripiprazole, and N-dealkylation iscatalysed by CYP3A4. Aripiprazole is the predominant medicinal product moiety in systemiccirculation. At steady state, dehydro-aripiprazole, the active metabolite, represents about 40 % ofaripiprazole AUC in plasma.

Elimination

The mean elimination half-lives for aripiprazole are approximately 75 hours in extensive metabolisersof CYP2D6 and approximately 146 hours in poor metabolisers of CYP2D6.

The total body clearance of aripiprazole is 0.7 mL/min/kg, which is primarily hepatic.

Following a single oral dose of [14C]-labelled aripiprazole, approximately 27 % of the administeredradioactivity was recovered in the urine and approximately 60 % in the faeces. Less than 1 % ofunchanged aripiprazole was excreted in the urine and approximately 18 % was recovered unchangedin the faeces.

Paediatric population

The pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole in paediatric patients 10 to 17 years ofage were similar to those in adults after correcting for the differences in body weights.

Pharmacokinetics in special patient groups
Elderly

There are no differences in the pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole between healthy elderly and youngeradult subjects, nor is there any detectable effect of age in a population pharmacokinetic analysis inschizophrenic patients.

Gender

There are no differences in the pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole between healthy male and femalesubjects nor is there any detectable effect of gender in a population pharmacokinetic analysis inschizophrenic patients.

Smoking

Population pharmacokinetic evaluation has revealed no evidence of clinically significant effects fromsmoking on the pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole.

Race

Population pharmacokinetic evaluation showed no evidence of race-related differences on thepharmacokinetics of aripiprazole.

Renal impairment

The pharmacokinetic characteristics of aripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole were found to be similarin patients with severe renal disease compared to young healthy subjects.

Hepatic impairment

A single-dose study in subjects with varying degrees of liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Classes A, B,and C) did not reveal a significant effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics ofaripiprazole and dehydro-aripiprazole, but the study included only 3 patients with Class C livercirrhosis, which is insufficient to draw conclusions on their metabolic capacity.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safetypharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproductionand development.

Toxicologically significant effects were observed only at doses or exposures that were sufficiently inexcess of the maximum human dose or exposure, indicating that these effects were limited or of norelevance to clinical use. These included: dose-dependent adrenocortical toxicity (lipofuscin pigmentaccumulation and/or parenchymal cell loss) in rats after 104 weeks at 20 mg/kg/day to 60 mg/kg/day(3 to 10 times the mean steady-state AUC at the maximum recommended human dose) and increasedadrenocortical carcinomas and combined adrenocortical adenomas/carcinomas in female rats at60 mg/kg/day (10 times the mean steady-state AUC at the maximum recommended human dose). Thehighest nontumorigenic exposure in female rats was 7 times the human exposure at the recommendeddose.

An additional finding was cholelithiasis as a consequence of precipitation of sulphate conjugates ofhydroxy metabolites of aripiprazole in the bile of monkeys after repeated oral dosing at 25 mg/kg/dayto 125 mg/kg/day (1 to 3 times the mean steady-state AUC at the maximum recommended clinicaldose or 16 to 81 times the maximum recommended human dose based on mg/m2). However, theconcentrations of the sulphate conjugates of hydroxy aripiprazole in human bile at the highest doseproposed, 30 mg per day, were no more than 6 % of the bile concentrations found in the monkeys inthe 39-week study and are well below (6 %) their limits of in vitro solubility.

In repeat-dose studies in juvenile rats and dogs, the toxicity profile of aripiprazole was comparable tothat observed in adult animals, and there was no evidence of neurotoxicity or adverse reactions ondevelopment.

Based on results of a full range of standard genotoxicity tests, aripiprazole was considered non-genotoxic. Aripiprazole did not impair fertility in reproductive toxicity studies. Developmentaltoxicity, including dose-dependent delayed foetal ossification and possible teratogenic effects, wereobserved in rats at doses resulting in subtherapeutic exposures (based on AUC) and in rabbits at dosesresulting in exposures 3 and 11 times the mean steady-state AUC at the maximum recommendedclinical dose. Maternal toxicity occurred at doses similar to those eliciting developmental toxicity.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Aripiprazole Accord 5 mg tablets

Lactose monohydrate

Cellulose, microcrystalline

Maize starch

Hydroxypropylcellulose

Magnesium stearate

Indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132)

Aripiprazole Accord 10 mg/ 30 mg tablets

Lactose monohydrate

Cellulose, microcrystalline

Maize starch

Hydroxypropylcellulose

Magnesium stearate

Iron oxide red (E172)

Aripiprazole Accord 15 mg tablets

Lactose monohydrate

Cellulose, microcrystalline

Maize starch

Hydroxypropylcellulose

Magnesium stearate

Iron oxide yellow (E172)

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf life

3 years

In-use shelf life after 1st opening:

- 30 day (for HDPE 30’s count)

- 100 day (for HDPE 100’s count)

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Aripiprazole Accord 5/10/15/30 mg tablets are available in Aluminium/Aluminium perforated unitdose blister in pack-sizes of 14x1, 28x1, 49x1, 56x1 or 98x1 tablet.

Aripiprazole Accord 5/10/15 mg tablets are available in HDPE bottle with PPCRC closure containing30 or 100 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Any unused medicinal product or waste material must be disposed of in accordance with localrequirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Accord Healthcare S.L.U.

World Trade Center, Moll de Barcelona,s/n, Edifici Est 6ª planta,08039 Barcelona,

Spain

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/15/1045/001- 006, EU/1/15/1045/023 (5 mg)

EU/1/15/1045/007- 012, EU/1/15/1045/024 (10 mg)

EU/1/15/1045/013- 018, EU/1/15/1045/025 (15 mg)

EU/1/15/1045/019- 022, EU/1/15/1045/026 (30 mg)

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 16 November 2015

Date of latest renewal: 30 September 2020

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

Detailed information on this product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agencyhttp://www.ema.europa.eu.