Epidiolex Drug Information

EPIDIOLEX is indicated for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome (DS), or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients 1 year of age and older.

Assessments Prior to Initiating EPIDIOLEX Because of the risk of hepatocellular injury, obtain serum transaminases (ALT and AST) and total bilirubin levels in all patients prior to starting treatment with EPIDIOLEX.

Dosing for Seizures Associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome or Dravet Syndrome • The starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg by mouth twice daily (5 mg/kg/day). • After one week, the dosage can be increased to a maintenance dosage of 5 mg/kg twice daily (10 mg/kg/day). • Patients who are tolerating EPIDIOLEX at 5 mg/kg twice daily and require further reduction of seizures may benefit from a dosage increase up to a maximum recommended maintenance dosage of 10 mg/kg twice daily (20 mg/kg/day), in weekly increments of 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (5 mg/kg/day), as tolerated. For patients in whom a more rapid titration from 10 mg/kg/day to 20 mg/kg/day is warranted, the dosage may be increased no more frequently than every other day. Administration of the 20 mg/kg/day dosage resulted in somewhat greater reductions in seizure rates than the recommended maintenance dosage of 10 mg/kg/day, but with an increase in adverse reactions.

Dosing for Seizures Associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex • The starting dosage is 2.5 mg/kg by mouth twice daily (5 mg/kg/day). • Increase the dose in weekly increments of 2.5 mg/kg twice daily (5 mg/kg/day), as tolerated, to a recommended maintenance dosage of 12.5 mg/kg twice daily (25 mg/kg/day). For patients in whom a more rapid titration to 25 mg/kg/day is warranted, the dosage may be increased no more frequently than every other day. • The effectiveness of doses lower than 12.5 mg/kg twice daily has not been studied in patients with TSC.

Administration Instructions Food may affect

EPIDIOLEX levels. Consistent dosing of EPIDIOLEX with respect to meals is recommended to reduce variability in cannabidiol plasma exposure. Calibrated measuring devices (1 mL and 5 mL oral syringes) will be provided and are recommended to measure and deliver the prescribed dose accurately.

A household teaspoon or tablespoon is not an adequate measuring device. Oral administration is recommended. When necessary, EPIDIOLEX can be enterally administered via silicone feeding tubes, such as nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes.

The recommended volume for flushing (with room temperature drinking water) after each dose is approximately 5 times the priming volume of the tube. The flushing volume may need to be modified in patients with fluid restrictions. Do not use with tubes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane and avoid use of silicone nasogastric tubes with short lengths and narrow diameters (e.g., less than 50 cm and less than 5 FR).

Discard any unused EPIDIOLEX remaining 12 weeks after first opening the bottle.

Discontinuation of EPIDIOLEX

When discontinuing EPIDIOLEX, the dose should be decreased gradually. As with most antiepileptic drugs, abrupt discontinuation should be avoided when possible, to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus.

Patients with Hepatic Impairment

Dose adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment or severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment. It may be necessary to have slower dose titration in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment than in patients without hepatic impairment (see Table 1 ). EPIDIOLEX does not require dose adjustment in patients with mild (Child-Pugh A) hepatic impairment.

Table 1: Dose Adjustments in Patients with

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. Adverse reactions are presented below; the duration of treatment in these trials was up to 14 weeks. All patients were taking other AEDs.

The most frequent cause of discontinuations was transaminase elevation. The most common adverse reactions that occurred in EPIDIOLEX-treated patients with LGS or DS (incidence at least 10% and greater than placebo) were somnolence; decreased appetite; diarrhea; transaminase elevations; fatigue, malaise, and asthenia; rash; insomnia, sleep disorder, and poor quality sleep; and infections. Table 3 lists the adverse reactions that were reported in at least 3% of EPIDIOLEX-treated patients, and at a rate greater than those on placebo, in the placebo-controlled trials in LGS and DS.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions in Patients Treated with EPIDIOLEX in Controlled Trials of LGS and DS Studies Adverse reactions were similar across LGS and DS in pediatric and adult patients. Patients with TSC In a placebo-controlled trial of patients with TSC (Study 4), 148 patients received EPIDIOLEX. Adverse reactions are presented below; the duration of treatment in this trial was up to 16 weeks.

All patients but one (25 mg/kg/day group) were taking other AEDs. In the controlled trial in TSC, the rate of discontinuation as a result of any adverse reaction was 11% for patients taking EPIDIOLEX 25 mg/kg/day and 3% for patients on placebo. The most frequent cause of discontinuation was rash (5%).

The most common adverse reactions that occurred in EPIDIOLEX-treated patients with TSC (incidence at least 10% at the recommended dosage and greater than placebo) were diarrhea; transaminase elevations; decreased appetite; somnolence; pyrexia; and vomiting. Table 4: 4 0 Adverse reactions were similar in pediatric and adult patients with TSC. Additional Adverse Reactions in Patients with LGS, DS, or TSC Decreased Weight EPIDIOLEX can cause weight loss.

In the controlled trials of patients with LGS or DS (10 and 20 mg/kg/day), based on measured weights, 16% of EPIDIOLEX-treated patients had a decrease in weight of at least 5% from their baseline weight, compared to 8% of patients on placebo. In the controlled trial of patients with TSC (25 mg/kg/day), 31% of EPIDIOLEX-treated patients had a decrease in weight of at least 5% from their baseline weight, compared to 8% of patients on placebo. In some cases, the decreased weight was reported as an adverse event (see Tables 3 and 4 ).

Hematologic Abnormalities EPIDIOLEX can cause decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit. In controlled trials of patients with LGS or DS, the mean decrease in hemoglobin from baseline to end of treatment was -0.42 g/dL in EPIDIOLEX-treated patients receiving 10 or 20 mg/kg/day and -0.03 g/dL in patients on placebo. A corresponding decrease in hematocrit was also observed, with a mean change of -1.5% in EPIDIOLEX-treated patients, and -0.4% in patients on placebo.

In the trial of patients with TSC, the mean decrease in hemoglobin from baseline to end of treatment was -0.37 g/dL in EPIDIOLEX-treated patients receiving 25 mg/kg/day and 0.07 g/dL in patients on placebo. There was no effect on red blood cell indices. Thirty percent (30%) of EPIDIOLEX-treated patients with LGS and DS and 38% of EPIDIOLEX-treated patients with TSC developed a new laboratory-defined anemia during the course of the study (defined as a normal hemoglobin concentration at baseline, with a reported value less than the lower limit of normal at a subsequent time point), versus 13% of patients with LGS and DS on placebo and 15% of patients with TSC on placebo.

Increases in Creatinine EPIDIOLEX can cause elevations in serum creatinine. In controlled studies in healthy adults and in patients with LGS, DS, and TSC, an increase in serum creatinine of approximately 10% was observed within 2 weeks of starting EPIDIOLEX. The increase was reversible in healthy adults.

Reversibility was not assessed in studies in LGS, DS, or TSC. Results of another study in healthy adults demonstrate that the increases in serum creatinine noted with EPIDIOLEX are not due to a reduction in glomerular filtration rate.

Effect of Other Drugs on EPIDIOLEX Strong CYP3A4 or CYP2C19 Inducers Concomitant use with a strong CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 inducer (rifampin 600 mg once daily) decreased cannabidiol and 7-hydroxy-cannabidiol (7-OH-CBD) plasma concentrations by approximately 32% and 63%. The impact of such changes on efficacy of EPIDIOLEX is not known. Consider an increase in EPIDIOLEX dosage (based on clinical response and tolerability) up to 2-fold, when concomitantly used with a strong CYP3A4 and/or CYP2C19 inducer.

Effect of EPIDIOLEX on Other Drugs Antiepileptic Drugs Clobazam Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX with clobazam increases plasma concentrations of N‑desmethylclobazam, the active metabolite of clobazam, which may increase the risk of clobazam-related adverse reactions. Consider a reduction in dosage of clobazam if adverse reactions known to occur with clobazam are experienced when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX. Stiripentol Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX with stiripentol increases plasma exposures of stiripentol.

Monitor for stiripentol-related adverse reactions when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX. Orally Administered P-gp Substrates Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX with orally administered everolimus results in an approximately 2.5‑fold increase in plasma exposures of everolimus. When initiating EPIDIOLEX in patients taking everolimus, monitor therapeutic drug levels of everolimus and adjust the dosage accordingly.

In patients on a stable dosage of EPIDIOLEX, it is recommended to initiate everolimus at a lower starting dosage and titrate the dose based on therapeutic drug monitoring. Increases in exposure of other orally administered P‑gp substrates (e.g., sirolimus, tacrolimus, digoxin) may be observed when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX. Consider therapeutic drug monitoring and dosage reduction of other P‑gp substrates when given orally with EPIDIOLEX.

CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19, and UGT1A9 Substrates CYP1A2 Substrates Cannabidiol is a weak inhibitor of CYP1A2. Increases in exposure of certain CYP1A2 substrates (e.g., theophylline, tizanidine) may be observed when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX. Consider dosage reduction of CYP1A2 substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious adverse reactions, as clinically appropriate, when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX.

CYP2B6 Substrates Cannabidiol is an inducer and inhibitor of CYP2B6. No clinically significant reduction in exposures of CYP2B6 substrates are observed when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX at 7.5 mg/kg twice daily. Changes in exposures of CYP2B6 substrates are unknown when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX at doses above 7.5 mg/kg twice daily.

Consider dosage modification of CYP2B6 substrates, as clinically appropriate, when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX at doses above 7.5 mg/kg twice daily. CYP2C8 Substrates Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX may cause clinically significant interactions with CYP2C8 substrates. Consider a reduction in dosage of CYP2C8 substrates, as clinically appropriate, if adverse reactions are experienced when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX.

CYP2C19 Substrates Cannabidiol is a moderate inhibitor of CYP2C19. Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX increases plasma concentrations of CYP2C19 substrates and may increase the risk of adverse reactions. For CYP2C19 substrates (e.g., clopidogrel) where efficacy is mainly due to their active metabolite(s), concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX may decrease plasma concentration of the active metabolite(s) and may therefore decrease efficacy.

Consider a dosage increase of such CYP2C19 substrates, as clinically appropriate, when concomitantly used with EPIDIOLEX. UGT1A9 Substrates Cannabidiol is an inhibitor of UGT1A9.

Concomitant Use of EPIDIOLEX and Valproate

Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX and valproate increases the incidence of liver enzyme elevations. If such elevations occur, consider discontinuation or reduction of EPIDIOLEX and/or concomitant valproate. Insufficient data are available to assess the risk of concomitant administration of other hepatotoxic drugs and EPIDIOLEX.

CNS Depressants and Alcohol

Concomitant use of EPIDIOLEX with other CNS depressants (including alcohol) may increase the risk of sedation and somnolence.

• Pregnancy Pregnancy Surveillance Program and Pregnancy Exposure Registry There are two programs, an EPIDIOLEX pregnancy surveillance program and an antiepileptic drug (AED) pregnancy exposure registry, that monitor pregnancy outcomes. Encourage women who are taking EPIDIOLEX during pregnancy to enroll in both, by calling the toll free numbers or visiting the websites below:
• EPIDIOLEX Pregnancy Surveillance Program o 1-855-272-7158 o https://www.epidiolexpregnancystudy.com
• North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry o 1-888-233-2334 o https://www.aedpregnancyregistry.org/ Risk Summary There are no adequate data on the developmental risks associated with the use of EPIDIOLEX in pregnant women. Administration of cannabidiol to pregnant animals produced evidence of developmental toxicity (increased embryofetal mortality in rats and decreased fetal body weights in rabbits; decreased growth, delayed sexual maturation, long-term neurobehavioral changes, and adverse effects on the reproductive system in rat offspring) at maternal plasma exposures similar to (rabbit) or greater than (rat) that in humans at therapeutic doses (see Animal 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 risks of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. Data Animal Data Oral administration of cannabidiol mg/kg/day to pregnant rats throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in embryofetal mortality at the highest dose tested. There were no other drug-related maternal or developmental effects. The highest no-effect dose for embryofetal toxicity in rats was associated with maternal plasma cannabidiol exposures (AUC) approximately 16 and 13 times that in humans at the maximum recommended human doses (MRHD) of 20 and 25 mg/kg/day, respectively. Oral administration of the major human cannabidiol metabolite, 7-COOH-CBD mg/kg/day, to pregnant rats throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in embryofetal malformations and variations at the highest dose tested, which was not maternally toxic. Oral administration of cannabidiol mg/kg/day to pregnant rabbits throughout organogenesis resulted in decreased fetal body weights and increased fetal structural variations at the highest dose tested, which was also associated with maternal toxicity. Maternal plasma cannabidiol exposures at the no-effect level for embryofetal developmental toxicity in rabbits were less than that in humans at both MRHDs. When cannabidiol (75, 150, or 250 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to rats throughout pregnancy and lactation, decreased growth, delayed sexual maturation, neurobehavioral changes (decreased activity), and adverse effects on male reproductive organ development (small testes in adult offspring) and fertility were observed in the offspring at the mid and high dose. These effects occurred in the absence of maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for pre- and post-natal developmental toxicity in rats was associated with maternal plasma cannabidiol exposures approximately 9 and 7 times that in humans at the MRHDs of 20 and 25 mg/kg/day, respectively. Oral administration of 7-COOH-CBD mg/kg/day to rats throughout pregnancy and lactation resulted in adverse effects on neurobehavioral function (locomotor activity) in offspring when tested in adulthood at the mid and high doses, and on reproductive function (increased preimplantation loss) in offspring at all doses. The lowest dose tested, a no-effect dose for pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity in rats (20 mg/kg/day), was associated with maternal plasma 7-COOH-CBD exposures approximately 2 times that in humans at both MRHDs of 20 or 25 mg/kg/day cannabidiol.

Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of EPIDIOLEX for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS, DS, or TSC have been established in patients 1 year of age and older. The use of EPIDIOLEX in these indications is supported by adequate and well-controlled studies in patients 2 years of age and older with LGS and DS and in patients 1 year of age and older with TSC. Safety and effectiveness of EPIDIOLEX in pediatric patients below 1 year of age have not been established.

Juvenile Animal Data Administration of cannabidiol (subcutaneous doses of 0 or 15 mg/kg on Postnatal Days (PNDs) 4-6 followed by oral administration of mg/kg on PNDs 7-77) to juvenile rats for 10 weeks resulted in increased body weight, delayed male sexual maturation, neurobehavioral effects (decreased locomotor activity and auditory startle habituation), increased bone mineral density, and liver hepatocyte vacuolation. A no-effect dose was not established. Administration of the major human cannabidiol metabolite 7-COOH-CBD mg/kg/day to juvenile rats by subcutaneous injection on PNDs 4-6 followed by oral gavage on PNDs 7-77, for a total of 10 weeks, resulted in mortality, ophthalmic abnormalities, and accelerated female sexual maturation at the mid and high doses, and long-term neurobehavioral (increased locomotor activity, decreased auditory startle response habituation and prepulse inhibition, delayed maze learning) and reproductive functional impairment (disrupted estrous cyclicity, decreased sperm concentration and increased abnormal sperm; decreased mating, fertility, and fecundity indices; increased preimplantation loss), decreased brain weight, and decreased bone density at the high dose.

The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in juvenile rats (20 mg/kg/day) was associated with 7-COOH-CBD exposures (AUC) that were approximately equivalent to that in humans at the MRHDs of 20 and 25 mg/kg/day.

EPIDIOLEX is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to cannabidiol or any of the ingredients in the product.