2.1 General Dosing Information

The recommended starting dose of APTENSIO XR for patients 6 years and above is 10 mg once daily in the morning with or without food. Advise patients to establish a routine pattern with regard to meals. The dose should be individualized according to the needs and response of the patient.

The dose may be titrated weekly in increments of 10 mg. Daily doses above 60 mg have not been studied and are not recommended.

APTENSIO XR may be taken whole or the capsule may be opened and the entire contents sprinkled onto applesauce. If the patient is using the sprinkled administration method, the sprinkled applesauce should be consumed immediately; it should not be stored. Patients should take the applesauce with sprinkled beads in its entirety without chewing. The dose of a single capsule should not be divided. The contents of the entire capsule should be taken, and patients should not take anything less than one capsule per day.

Pharmacological treatment of ADHD may be needed for extended periods. Healthcare providers should periodically re-eva luate the long-term use of APTENSIO XR, and adjust dosage as needed.

2.2 Dose Reduction and Discontinuation

If paradoxical aggravation of symptoms or other adverse reactions occur; the dosage should be reduced, or, if necessary, the drug should be discontinued.

If improvement is not observed after appropriate dosage adjustment over a one-month period, the drug should be discontinued.

2.3 Important Information Prior to Initiating Treatment

Prior to treating pediatric patients and adults with CNS stimulants including APTENSIO XR, assess for the presence of cardiac disease (i.e., perform a careful history, family history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmia, and physical exam) [see Warnings and Precautions 5.2].

Assess the risk of abuse prior to prescribing, and monitor for signs of abuse and dependence while on therapy. Maintain careful prescription records, educate patients about abuse, monitor for signs of abuse and overdose, and periodically re-eva luate the need for APTENSIO XR use [see Boxed Warning, Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Drug Abuse and Dependence (9)].

• Hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or other components of the product. Hypersensitivity reactions such as angioedema and anaphylactic reactions have been reported in patients treated with methylphenidate products [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
• Concomitant treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and also within 14 days following discontinuation of treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, because of the risk of hypertensive crisis [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].

5.1 Potential for Abuse and Dependence

CNS stimulants, including APTENSIO XR, other methylphenidate-containing products, and amphetamines, have a high potential for abuse and dependence. Assess the risk of abuse prior to prescribing, and monitor for signs of abuse and dependence while on therapy [see Boxed Warning and Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.2, 9.3)].

5.2 Serious Cardiovascular Events

Sudden death, stroke and myocardial infarction have been reported in adults with CNS stimulant treatment at recommended doses. Sudden death has been reported in pediatric patients with structural cardiac abnormalities and other serious heart problems taking CNS stimulants at recommended doses for ADHD. Avoid use in patients with known structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious heart arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and other serious heart problems. Further eva luate patients who develop exertional chest pain, unexplained syncope, or arrhythmias during APTENSIO XR treatment. 

5.3 Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Increases

CNS stimulants cause an increase in blood pressure (mean increase approximately 2 to 4 mmHg) and heart rate (mean increase approximately 3 to 6 bpm). Individuals may have larger increases. Monitor all patients for hypertension and tachycardia.

5.4 Psychiatric Adverse Reactions

Exacerbation of Pre-Existing Psychosis
CNS stimulants may exacerbate symptoms of behavior disturbance and thought disorder in patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder.

Induction of a Manic Episode in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
CNS stimulants may induce a manic or mixed episode in patients. Prior to initiating treatment, screen patients for risk factors for developing a manic episode (e.g., comorbid or history of depressive symptoms or a family history of suicide, bipolar disorder, or depression).

New Psychotic or Manic Symptoms
CNS stimulants, at recommended doses, may cause psychotic or manic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusional thinking, or mania) in patients without a prior history of psychotic illness or mania. If such symptoms occur, consider discontinuing APTENSIO XR. In a pooled analysis of multiple short-term, placebo-controlled studies of CNS stimulants, psychotic or manic symptoms occurred in approximately 0.1% of CNS stimulant-treated patients, compared to 0 in placebo-treated patients.

5.5 Priapism

Prolonged and painful erections, sometimes requiring surgical intervention, have been reported with methylphenidate products, in both pediatric and adult patients. Priapism was not reported with drug initiation but developed after some time on the drug, often subsequent to an increase in dose. Priapism has also appeared during a period of drug withdrawal (drug holidays or during discontinuation). Patients who develop abnormally sustained or frequent and painful erections should seek immediate medical attention.

5.6 Peripheral Vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Stimulants, including APTENSIO XR, used to treat ADHD are associated with peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon. Signs and symptoms are usually intermittent and mild; however, very rare sequelae include digital ulceration and/or soft tissue breakdown. Effects of peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon, were observed in post-marketing reports at different times and at therapeutic doses in all age groups throughout the course of treatment. Signs and symptoms generally improve after reduction in dose or discontinuation of drug. Careful observation for digital changes is necessary during treatment with ADHD stimulants. Further clinical eva luation (e.g., rheumatology referral) may be appropriate for certain patients.

5.7 Long-Term Suppression of Growth

CNS stimulants have been associated with weight loss and slowing of growth rate in pediatric patients. Closely monitor growth (weight and height) in pediatric patients treated with CNS stimulants, including APTENSIO XR.

Careful follow-up of weight and height in pediatric patients ages 7 to 10 years who were randomized to either methylphenidate or non-medication treatment groups over 14 months, as well as in naturalistic subgroups of newly methylphenidate-treated and non-medication treated pediatric patients over 36 months (to the ages of 10 to 13 years), suggests that consistently medicated pediatric patients (i.e., treatment for 7 days per week throughout the year) have a temporary slowing in growth rate (on average, a total of about 2 cm less growth in height and 2.7 kg less growth in weight over 3 years), without evidence of growth rebound during this period of development.

Published data are inadequate to determine whether chronic use of amphetamines may cause a similar suppression of growth, however, it is anticipated that they likely have this effect as well. Therefore, growth should be monitored during treatment with stimulants, and patients who are not growing or gaining height or weight as expected may need to have their treatment interrupted.

6.1 Clinical Trial 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 clinical practice.

Clinical Trials Experience with Other Methylphenidate Products in Children, Adolescents, and Adults with ADHD

Commonly reported (≥2% of the methylphenidate group and at least twice the rate of the placebo group) adverse reactions from placebo-controlled trials of methylphenidate products include: decreased appetite, decreased weight, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, dry mouth, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, affect lability, agitation, irritability, dizziness, vertigo, tremor, blurred vision, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, tachycardia, palpitations, hyperhidrosis, and pyrexia.

Clinical Trials Experience with APTENSIO XR in Pediatric Patients with ADHD

The safety data in this section is based on data from two one-week controlled clinical studies of APTENSIO XR in pediatric patients with ADHD, one in children ages 6 to 12 years (RP-BP-EF001, hereafter "Study 1"), and one in children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years (RP-BP-EF002, hereafter "Study 2").

Two APTENSIO XR clinical studies eva luated a total of 256 patients with ADHD. Two hundred and forty-three (243) patients participated in the double-blind phase of these two clinical studies.

Study 1 was a randomized, double-blind, single center, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose, cross-over study to eva luate the time of onset, duration of efficacy, tolerability and safety of APTENSIO XR 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, or 40 mg administered for one week in 26 pediatric patients aged 6 to 12 years who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Most Common Adverse Reactions (incidence of  ≥ 5% and at a rate at least twice placebo): abdominal pain, pyrexia and headache.

Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation: No subjects discontinued due to adverse reactions during the double-blind phase of this study.

Study 2 was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel group, fixed-dose study of 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg of APTENSIO XR administered for one week in 221 pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Most Common Adverse Reactions (incidence of  ≥ 5% and at a rate of at least twice placebo): abdominal pain, decreased appetite, headache and insomnia.

Adverse Reactions Leading to Discontinuation: Two patients (4.4%) in the APTENSIO XR 40 mg group discontinued due to insomnia, nausea and rapid heart rate, respectively during the double-blind phase of the study.

Table 1: Common Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 2% of Pediatric Patients (6 to 17 years of age) with ADHD Taking APTENSIO XR and at a Rate Greater than Placebo (Study 2)

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of methylphenidate products. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. These adverse reactions are as follows:

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Pancytopenia, Thrombocytopenia, Thrombocytopenic purpura
Cardiac Disorders: Angina pectoris, Bradycardia, Extrasystole, Supraventricular tachycardia, Ventricular extrasystole
Eye Disorders: Diplopia, Mydriasis, Visual impairment
General Disorders: Chest pain, Chest discomfort, Hyperpyrexia
Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions such as Angioedema, Anaphylactic reactions, Auricular swelling, Bullous conditions, Exfoliative conditions, Urticarias, Pruritus NEC, Rashes, Eruptions, and Exanthemas NEC
Investigations: Alkaline phosphatase increased, Bilirubin increased, Hepatic enzyme increased, Platelet count decreased, White blood cell count abnormal
Musculoskeletal, Connective Tissue and Bone Disorders: Arthralgia, Myalgia, Muscle twitching, Rhabdomyolysis
Nervous System Disorders: Convulsion, Grand mal convulsion, Dyskinesia
Psychiatric Disorders: Disorientation, Libido changes
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Alopecia, Erythema 

7.1 Clinically Important Interactions with APTENSIO XR

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Do not administer APTENSIO XR concomitantly or within 14 days after discontinuing MAOI treatment. Concomitant use of MAOIs and CNS stimulants can cause hypertensive crisis. Potential outcomes include death, stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, ophthalmological complications, eclampsia, pulmonary edema, and renal failure [see Contraindications (4)].