SIDE EFFECTS
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in
other sections of the labeling:
- Serious anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Abnormal thinking, behavior changes, and complex behaviors [see WARNINGS
AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Withdrawal effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- CNS-depressant effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Clinical trials experience
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 practice. The adverse reaction information from clinical
trials does, however, provide a basis for identifying the adverse events that
appear to be related to drug use and for approximating incidence rates.
Associated with discontinuation of treatment
Approximately 4% of 1,701 patients who received zolpidem tartrate at all doses
(1.25 to 90 mg) in U.S. premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment
because of an adverse reaction. Reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation
from U.S. trials were daytime drowsiness (0.5%), dizziness (0.4%), headache
(0.5%), nausea (0.6%), and vomiting (0.5%).
Approximately 4% of 1,959 patients who received zolpidem at all doses (1 to
50 mg) in similar foreign trials discontinued treatment because of an adverse
reaction. Reactions most commonly associated with discontinuation from these
trials were daytime drowsiness (1.1%), dizziness/vertigo (0.8%), amnesia (0.5%),
nausea (0.5%), headache (0.4%), and falls (0.4%).
Data from a clinical study in which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI)-treated patients were given zolpidem revealed that four of the seven
discontinuations during double-blind treatment with zolpidem (n=95) were associated
with impaired concentration, continuing or aggravated depression, and manic
reaction; one patient treated with placebo (n=97) was discontinued after an
attempted suicide.
Most commonly observed adverse reactions in controlled trials
During short-term treatment (up to 10 nights) with zolpidem tartrate at doses
up to 10 mg, the most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the
use of zolpidem and seen at statistically significant differences from placebo-treated
patients were drowsiness (reported by 2% of zolpidem patients), dizziness (1%),
and diarrhea (1%). During longer-term treatment (28 to 35 nights) with zolpidem
tartrate at doses up to 10 mg, the most commonly observed adverse reactions
associated with the use of zolpidem and seen at statistically significant differences
from placebo-treated patients were dizziness (5%) and drugged feelings (3%).
Adverse reactions observed at an incidence of ≥ 1% in controlled trials
The following tables enumerate treatment-emergent adverse reactions frequencies
that were observed at an incidence equal to 1% or greater among patients with
insomnia who received zolpidem tartrate and at a greater incidence than placebo
in U.S. placebo-controlled trials. Events reported by investigators were classified
utilizing a modified World Health Organization (WHO) dictionary of preferred
terms for the purpose of establishing event frequencies. The prescriber should
be aware that these figures cannot be used to predict the incidence of side
effects in the course of usual medical practice, in which patient characteristics
and other factors differ from those that prevailed in these clinical trials.
Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from
other clinical investigators involving related drug products and uses, since
each group of drug trials is conducted under a different set of conditions.
However, the cited figures provide the physician with a basis for estimating
the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the incidence of side
effects in the population studied.
The following table was derived from results of 11 placebo-controlled short-term
U.S. efficacy trials involving zolpidem in doses ranging from 1.25 to 20 mg.
The table is limited to data from doses up to and including 10 mg, the highest
dose recommended for use.
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions in Placebo-Controlled
Clinical Trials Lasting up to 10 Nights (Percentage of patients reporting)
Body System/Adverse Reaction* |
Zolpidem
( ≤ 10mg)
(n=685) |
Placebo
(n=473) |
Central and Peripheral Nervous System |
Headache |
7 |
6 |
Drowsiness |
2 |
– |
Dizziness |
1 |
– |
Gastrointestinal System |
Diarrhea |
1 |
– |
*Reactions reported by at least 1% of patients
treated with zolpidem tartrate and at a greater frequency than placebo.
|
The following table was derived from results of three placebo-controlled long-term
efficacy trials involving zolpidem tartrate. These trials involved patients
with chronic insomnia who were treated for 28 to 35 nights with zolpidem tartrate
at doses of 5, 10, or 15 mg. The table is limited to data from doses up to and
including 10 mg, the highest dose recommended for use. The table includes only
adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of at least 1% for zolpidem tartrate
patients.
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions in Placebo-Controlled
Clinical Trials Lasting up to 35 Nights (Percentage of patients reporting)
Body System/Adverse Reaction* |
Zolpidem
( ≤ 10mg)
(n=152) |
Placebo
(n=161) |
Autonomic Nervous System |
Dry mouth |
3 |
1 |
Body as a Whole |
Allergy |
4 |
1 |
Back pain |
3 |
2 |
Influenza-like symptoms |
2 |
- |
Chest pain |
1 |
- |
Cardiovascular System |
Palpitation |
2 |
- |
Central and Peripheral Nervous System |
Drowsiness |
8 |
5 |
Dizziness |
5 |
1 |
Lethargy |
3 |
1 |
Drugged feeling |
3 |
- |
Lightheadedness |
2 |
1 |
Depression |
2 |
1 |
Abnormal dreams |
1 |
- |
Amnesia |
1 |
- |
Sleep disorder |
1 |
- |
Gastrointestinal System |
Diarrhea |
3 |
2 |
Abdominal pain |
2 |
2 |
Constipation |
2 |
1 |
Respiratory System |
Sinusitis |
4 |
2 |
Pharyngitis |
3 |
1 |
Skin and Appendages |
Rash |
2 |
1 |
*Reactions reported by at least 1% of patients
treated with zolpidem tartrate and at a greater frequency than placebo.
|
Dose relationship for adverse reactions
There is evidence from dose comparison trials suggesting a dose relationship
for many of the adverse reactions associated with zolpidem tartrate use, particularly
for certain CNS and gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
Oral tissue-related adverse reactions in Zolpimist (zolpidem tartrate oral spray) pharmacokinetics studies
The effect of chronic daily administrations of Zolpimist (zolpidem tartrate oral spray) on oral tissue has
not been evaluated. In pharmacokinetic studies conducted with Zolpimist (zolpidem tartrate oral spray) in healthy
subjects, an oral soft tissue exam was performed and no signs of oral irritation
were noted following administration of single doses of Zolpimist (zolpidem tartrate oral spray) .
Adverse event incidence across the entire preapproval database
Zolpidem tartrate was administered to 3,660 subjects in clinical trials throughout
the United States, Canada, and Europe. Treatment-emergent adverse event associated
with clinical trial participation were recorded by clinical investigators using
terminology of their own choosing. To provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion
of individuals experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events, similar types
of untoward events were grouped into a smaller number of standardized event
categories and classified utilizing a modified WHO dictionary of preferred terms.
The frequencies presented, therefore, represent the proportions of the 3,660
individuals exposed to zolpidem tartrate, at all doses, who experienced an event
of the type cited on at least one occasion while receiving zolpidem tartrate.
All reported treatment-emergent adverse events are included, except those already
listed in the table above of adverse events in placebo-controlled studies, those
coding terms that are so general as to be uninformative, and those events where
a drug cause was remote. It is important to emphasize that, although the events
reported did occur during treatment with zolpidem tartrate, they were not necessarily
caused by it.
Adverse events are further classified within body system categories and enumerated
in order of decreasing frequency using the following definitions: frequent adverse
events are defined as those occurring in greater than 1/100 subjects; infrequent
adverse events are those occurring in 1/100 to 1/1,000 patients; rare events
are those occurring in less than 1/1,000 patients.
Autonomic nervous system: Infrequent: increased sweating, pallor,
postural hypotension, syncope. Rare: abnormal accommodation, altered saliva,
flushing, glaucoma, hypotension, impotence, increased saliva, tenesmus.
Body as a whole: Frequent: asthenia. Infrequent: edema, falling,
fatigue, fever, malaise, trauma. Rare: allergic reaction, allergy aggravated,
anaphylactic shock, face edema, hot flashes, increased ESR, pain, restless legs,
rigors, tolerance increased, weight decrease.
Cardiovascular system: Infrequent: cerebrovascular disorder,
hypertension, tachycardia. Rare: angina pectoris, arrhythmia, arteritis, circulatory
failure, extrasystoles, hypertension aggravated, myocardial infarction, phlebitis,
pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema, varicose veins, ventricular tachycardia.
Central and peripheral nervous system: Frequent: ataxia, confusion,
euphoria, headache, insomnia, vertigo. Infrequent: agitation, anxiety, decreased
cognition, detached, difficulty concentrating, dysarthria, emotional lability,
hallucination, hypoesthesia, illusion, leg cramps, migraine, nervousness, paresthesia,
sleeping (after daytime dosing), speech disorder, stupor, tremor. Rare: abnormal
gait, abnormal thinking, aggressive reaction, apathy, appetite increased, decreased
libido, delusion, dementia, depersonalization, dysphasia, feeling strange, hypokinesia,
hypotonia, hysteria, intoxicated feeling, manic reaction, neuralgia, neuritis,
neuropathy, neurosis, panic attacks, paresis, personality disorder, somnambulism,
suicide attempts, tetany, yawning.
Gastrointestinal system: Frequent: dyspepsia, hiccup, nausea.
Infrequent: anorexia, constipation, dysphagia, flatulence, gastroenteritis,
vomiting. Rare: enteritis, eructation, esophagospasm, gastritis, hemorrhoids,
intestinal obstruction, rectal hemorrhage, tooth caries.
Hematologic and lymphatic system: Rare: anemia, hyperhemoglobinemia,
leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, macrocytic anemia, purpura, thrombosis.
Immunologic system: Infrequent: infection. Rare: abscess, herpes
simplex, herpes zoster, otitis externa, otitis media.
Liver and biliary system: Infrequent: abnormal hepatic function,
increased SGPT. Rare: bilirubinemia, increased SGOT.
Metabolic and nutritional: Infrequent: hyperglycemia, thirst.
Rare: gout, hypercholesteremia, hyperlipidemia, increased alkaline phosphatase,
increased BUN, periorbital edema.
Musculoskeletal system: Frequent: arthralgia, myalgia. Infrequent:
arthritis. Rare: arthrosis, muscle weakness, sciatica, tendonitis.
Reproductive system: Infrequent: menstrual disorder, vaginitis.
Rare: breast fibroadenosis, breast neoplasm, breast pain.
Respiratory system: Frequent: upper respiratory infection. Infrequent:
bronchitis, coughing, dyspnea, rhinitis. Rare: bronchospasm, epistaxis, hypoxia,
laryngitis, pneumonia.
Skin and appendages:Infrequent: pruritus. Rare: acne, bullous
eruption, dermatitis, furunculosis, injection-site inflammation, photosensitivity
reaction, urticaria.
Special senses: Frequent: diplopia, vision abnormal. Infrequent:
eye irritation, eye pain, scleritis, taste perversion, tinnitus. Rare: conjunctivitis,
corneal ulceration, lacrimation abnormal, parosmia, photopsia.
Urogenital system: Frequent: urinary tract infection. Infrequent:
cystitis, urinary incontinence. Rare: acute renal failure, dysuria, micturition
frequency, nocturia, polyuria, pyelonephritis, renal pain, urinary retention.