WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Falling Asleep During Activities Of Daily Living And Somnolence
Patients treated for Parkinson’s disease have reported falling asleep while engaged in activities
of daily living, including the operation of motor vehicles, which sometimes has resulted in
accidents. Patients may not perceive warning signs, such as excessive drowsiness, or they may
report feeling alert immediately prior to the event. In controlled clinical trials, somnolence and
fatigue were reported as adverse reactions in 4% of patient treated with GOCOVRI 274 mg and
1% for placebo.
Before initiating treatment with GOCOVRI, advise patients of the potential to develop
drowsiness and specifically ask about factors that may increase the risk for somnolence with
GOCOVRI, such as concomitant sedating medications or the presence of a sleep disorder. If a
patient develops daytime sleepiness or episodes of falling asleep during activities that require full
attention (e.g., driving a motor vehicle, conversations, eating), GOCOVRI should ordinarily be
discontinued.
If a decision is made to continue GOCOVRI, patients should be advised not to drive and to avoid
other potentially dangerous activities. There is insufficient information to establish that dose
reduction will eliminate episodes of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living or
daytime somnolence.
Suicidality And Depression
In controlled clinical trials, suicidal ideation or suicide attempt was reported in 2% of
GOCOVRI-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients. Depression or depressed mood
was reported in 6% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 1% of placebo-treated patients.
Confusional state was reported in 3% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 2% of placebo-treated
patients. Apathy was reported in 2% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated
patients.
Monitor patients for depression, including suicidal ideation or behavior. Prescribers should
consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment with GOCOVRI in patients with a
history of suicidality or depression.
Hallucinations/Psychotic Behavior
Patients with a major psychotic disorder should ordinarily not be treated with GOCOVRI
because of the risk of exacerbating psychosis. In controlled trials, the incidence of patients who
experienced visual hallucination, auditory hallucination, delusions, illusions, or paranoia was
25% in patients treated with GOCOVRI 274 mg and 3% in placebo-treated patients.
Hallucinations caused discontinuation of treatment in 8% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 0%
of placebo-treated patients.
Observe patients for the occurrence of hallucinations throughout treatment, especially at
initiation and after dose increases.
Dizziness And Orthostatic Hypotension
In controlled clinical trials, 29% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 2% of placebo-treated
patients experienced dizziness, syncope, orthostatic hypotension, presyncope, postural dizziness
or hypotension. In GOCOVRI-treated patients, 3% discontinued study treatment because of
dizziness, postural dizziness, or syncope, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.
Monitor patients for dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, especially after starting GOCOVRI or
increasing the dose. Concomitant use of alcohol when using GOCOVRI is not recommended
[see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia And Confusion
A symptom complex resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (characterized by elevated
temperature, muscular rigidity, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability), with no other
obvious etiology, has been reported in association with rapid dose reduction, withdrawal of, or
changes in drugs that increase central dopaminergic tone.
Abrupt discontinuation of GOCOVRI may cause an increase in the symptoms of Parkinson’s
disease or cause delirium, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, paranoid reaction, stupor, anxiety,
depression, or slurred speech. It is recommended to avoid sudden discontinuation of GOCOVRI
[see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors
Patients can experience intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, intense urges to spend
money, binge eating, and/or other intense urges, and the inability to control these urges while
taking one or more of the medications, including GOCOVRI, that increase central dopaminergic
tone. In some cases, these urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or the
medication was discontinued. Because patients may not recognize these behaviors as abnormal,
it is important for prescribers to specifically ask patients or their caregivers about the
development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, uncontrolled spending, or other
urges while being treated with GOCOVRI. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if
a patient develops such urges while taking GOCOVRI.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Administration
Instruct patients and caregivers that GOCOVRI capsules should be swallowed whole and can be
administered with or without food. Alternatively, GOCOVRI capsules may be opened and the
contents sprinkled on applesauce; the entire contents should be consumed immediately without
chewing [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Advise patients to speak to their healthcare
provider before discontinuation of GOCOVRI.
Falling Asleep During Activities Of Daily Living
Advise patients that sleepiness and fatigue that have been reported with GOCOVRI and patients
treated with Parkinson’s disease medications have reported falling asleep while engaged in
activities of daily living. These adverse reactions may affect some patients’ ability to drive and
operate machinery safely [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Suicidality And Depression
Instruct patients, family members, and caregivers to notify their healthcare provider if depressed
mood, depression, changes in behavior or thinking, and suicidal ideation or behavior develop
during treatment [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Hallucinations/Psychotic Behavior
Inform patients and caregivers that hallucinations and paranoia can occur while taking
GOCOVRI. Tell patients to report unreal visions, sounds, or sensations or other psychotic
behavior to their healthcare provider promptly should they develop [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Dizziness And Orthostatic Hypotension
An increased incidence of dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, and syncope was observed with
administration of GOCOVRI. Caution patients against standing rapidly after sitting or lying
down, especially if they have been doing so for prolonged periods and especially at the initiation
of treatment with GOCOVRI [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia And Confusion
Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider before stopping GOCOVRI. Tell patients to
inform their healthcare provider if they develop withdrawal symptoms such as fever, confusion,
or severe muscle stiffness [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Impulse Control/Compulsive Disorders
Inform patients of the potential for experiencing intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges,
intense urges to spend money, binge eating, and other intense urges and the inability to control
these urges while taking one or more of the medications that increase central dopaminergic tone,
that are generally used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
].
Drug Interactions
Certain medications can cause an interaction with GOCOVRI. Advise patients and/or
caregivers to inform their healthcare provider of all the medicines the patient is taking,
including over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Inform patients
that live influenza vaccines and consumption of alcohol are not recommended during treatment
with GOCOVRI [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
Animal studies designed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of amantadine have not been
conducted.
Mutagenesis
Amantadine was negative for genotoxicity in in vitro (Ames and mammalian cell [Chinese
Hamster ovary and human peripheral blood lymphocytes]) assays in the presence or absence of
metabolic activation and in an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay.
Impairment Of Fertility
The effects of amantadine on fertility have not been adequately tested in a study in animals
conducted according to current standards. In a reproduction study reported in the literature, oral
administration of amantadine to male and female rats at a dose of 32 mg/kg/day resulted in
impaired fertility. The no-effect dose for adverse effects on fertility (10 mg/kg/day) is less than
the recommended human dose of 274 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with use of amantadine in
pregnant women. Animal studies suggest a potential risk for fetal harm with amantadine. In
mice and rats, adverse developmental effects (embryolethality, increased incidence of
malformations, and reduced fetal body weight) were observed when amantadine was
administered to pregnant animals at clinically relevant doses [see Data].
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and
miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. The
background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage in patients with Parkinson’s disease is
unknown.
Data
Animal Data
The effects of amantadine on development have not been tested in studies conducted in animals
using currently recommended methodology; however, developmental toxicity studies of
amantadine have been reported in the published literature.
In mice, oral administration of amantadine (0, 10, or 40 mg/kg/day) to pregnant animals during
organogenesis (gestation days 7-12) resulted in embryolethality and reduced fetal body weight at
the highest dose tested, which was associated with maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for
developmental toxicity in mice (10 mg/kg/day) is less than the recommended human dose (RHD)
of 274 mg/day, based on body surface area (mg/m2).
In rats, oral administration of amantadine (0, 40 or 120 mg/kg/day) to pregnant animals during
organogenesis (gestation days 7-12) resulted in embryolethality and reduced fetal body weight at
the highest dose. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in this study (40 mg/kg/day) is
approximately equal to the RHD on a mg/m2 basis.
In another study in pregnant rats, oral administration of amantadine during organogenesis
(gestation days 7-14) resulted in an increase in visceral and skeletal malformations at oral doses
of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day. The no-effect dose for teratogenicity in this study (37 mg/kg/day) is
approximately equal to the RHD on a mg/m2 basis.
Evaluation of parturition, lactation, and post-natal development in a limited number of litters
from the mouse and rat studies described above revealed reductions in live litter size and pup
weights at birth at 40 mg/kg/day in mice and 120 mg/kg/day in rats.
Lactation
Risk Summary
Amantadine is excreted into human milk, but amounts have not been quantified. There is no
information on the risk to a breastfed infant.
Amantadine may alter breast milk production or excretion [see Data].
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the
mother’s clinical need for GOCOVRI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant
from GOCOVRI or from the underlying maternal condition.
Data
In published studies, amantadine reduced serum prolactin levels and the symptoms of
galactorrhea in patients taking neuroleptic drugs. The effect of amantadine on milk supply has
not been evaluated in nursing mothers.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of GOCOVRI in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
The majority of people with Parkinson’s disease are 65 years and older. In Phase 3 clinical trials,
the mean age of patients at study entry was 65 years. Of the total number of patients in clinical
studies of GOCOVRI, 46% were less than 65 years of age, 39% were 65-74 years of age, and
15% were 75 years of age or older.
Hallucinations and falls occurred more frequently in patients 65 years of age or older, compared
to those less than 65 years of age [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
No dose adjustment is recommended on the basis of age. GOCOVRI is known to be substantially
excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions may be greater in patients with impaired
renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care
should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Renal Impairment
GOCOVRI is contraindicated for use in patients with end-stage renal disease (creatinine
clearance values lower than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2).
For patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 30 and 59
mL/min/1.73 m2), a 50% dose reduction of GOCOVRI dosage to a starting daily dose of 68.5 mg
daily at bedtime for a week, to a maximum dosage of 137 mg daily at bedtime is recommended.
For patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 15 and 29 ml/min/m2), a
daily dose of 68.5 mg at bedtime is the recommended initial and maximum dosage [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION] .
Creatinine clearance values are estimated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD)
method.