Zembrace Drug Information
Generic name: SUMATRIPTAN SUCCINATE
Uses of Zembrace
SymTouch is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. ZEMBRACE SymTouch is a serotonin (5-HT 1B/1D ) receptor agonist (triptan) indicated for: Acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Limitations of Use : Use only if a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established.
Not indicated for the prophylactic therapy of migraine. Limitations of Use : Use only if a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. If a patient has no response to the first migraine attack treated with ZEMBRACE SymTouch, reconsider the diagnosis before ZEMBRACE SymTouch is administered to treat any subsequent attacks.
ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is not indicated for the prevention of migraine attacks.
Dosage & Administration of Zembrace
Dosing Information
The recommended dose of ZEMBRACE SymTouch is 3 mg injected subcutaneously. The maximum cumulative injected dose that may be given in 24 hours is 12 mg, with doses of ZEMBRACE SymTouch separated by at least 1 hour. ZEMBRACE SymTouch may also be given at least 1 hour following a dose of another sumatriptan product.
Administration Using
ZEMBRACE SymTouch ZEMBRACE SymTouch is available as a prefilled, ready-to-use, single dose, disposable auto-injector containing 3 mg sumatriptan. With ZEMBRACE SymTouch, the needle penetrates approximately ¼ inch (6 mm). The injection is intended to be given subcutaneously. Do not administer by any other route.
Instruct patients on the proper use of ZEMBRACE SymTouch and direct them to use injection sites with an adequate skin and subcutaneous thickness to accommodate the length of the needle.
Side Effects of Zembrace
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 with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Placebo-Controlled Trials with Sumatriptan Injection Migraine Headache: Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2 US placebo-controlled clinical trials in migraine subjects (Studies 2 and 3), following either a single 6-mg dose of sumatriptan injection or placebo. Only reactions that occurred at a frequency of 2% or more in groups treated with sumatriptan injection 6 mg and that occurred at a frequency greater than the placebo group are included in Table 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions in Pooled Placebo-Controlled Trials in Patients with Migraine (Studies 2 and 3) Adverse Reaction Percent of Subjects Reporting Sumatriptan Injection 6 mg Subcutaneous (n = 547) Placebo (n = 370) Atypical sensations 42 9 Tingling 14 3 Warm/hot sensation 11 4 Burning sensation 7 <1 Feeling of heaviness 7 1 Pressure sensation 7 2 Feeling of tightness 5 <1 Numbness 5 2 Feeling strange 2 <1 Tight feeling in head 2 <1 Cardiovascular Flushing 7 2 Chest discomfort 5 1 Tightness in chest 3 <1 Pressure in chest 2 <1 Ear, nose, and throat Throat discomfort 3 <1 Discomfort: nasal cavity/sinuses 2 <1 Injection site reaction Includes injection site pain, stinging/burning, swelling, erythema, bruising, bleeding. 59 24 Miscellaneous Jaw discomfort 2 0 Musculoskeletal Weakness 5 <1 Neck pain/stiffness 5 <1 Myalgia 2 <1 Neurological Dizziness/vertigo 12 4 Drowsiness/sedation 3 2 Headache 2 <1 Skin Sweating 2 1 The incidence of adverse reactions in controlled clinical trials was not affected by gender or age of the patients.
There were insufficient data to assess the impact of race on the incidence of adverse reactions. Adverse Reactions in a Study with ZEMBRACE SymTouch The most common adverse reactions in a placebo-controlled trial with ZEMBRACE SymTouch were injection site reactions (including injection site bruising, erythema, hemorrhage, induration, irritation, pain, paresthesia, pruritis, swelling, and urticaria), occurring in 30% of ZEMBRACE SymTouch-treated patients compared to 13% of placebo-treated patients. Adverse reactions with ZEMRACE SymTouch are expected to be similar to those observed with sumatriptan injection.
Post-marketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of sumatriptan tablets, sumatriptan nasal spray, and sumatriptan injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Cardiovascular Hypotension, palpitations Neurological Dystonia, tremor
Warnings & Cautions for Zembrace
Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Infarction, and Prinzmetal's Angina
The use of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with ischemic or vasospastic CAD. There have been rare reports of serious cardiac adverse reactions, including acute myocardial infarction, occurring within a few hours following administration of sumatriptan injection. Some of these reactions occurred in patients without known CAD. 5-HT 1 agonists, including ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection, may cause coronary artery vasospasm (Prinzmetal's angina), even in patients without a history of CAD. Perform a cardiovascular evaluation in triptan-naive patients who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., increased age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, strong family history of CAD) prior to receiving ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection. If there is evidence of CAD or coronary artery vasospasm, ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated.
For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who have a negative cardiovascular evaluation, consider administering the first dose of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection in a medically supervised setting and performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) immediately following ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection. For such patients, consider periodic cardiovascular evaluation in intermittent long-term users of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection.
Arrhythmias Life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation
leading to death, have been reported within a few hours following the administration of 5-HT 1 agonists. Discontinue ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection if these disturbances occur. ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders.
Chest, Throat, Neck, and/or Jaw Pain/Tightness/Pressure Sensations of tightness, pain, pressure, and
heaviness in the precordium, throat, neck, and jaw commonly occur after treatment with sumatriptan injection and are usually non-cardiac in origin. However, perform a cardiac evaluation if these patients are at high cardiac risk. The use of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with CAD and those with Prinzmetal's variant angina.
Cerebrovascular Events Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke have occurred in patients
treated with 5-HT 1 agonists, and some have resulted in fatalities. In a number of cases, it appears possible that the cerebrovascular events were primary, the 5-HT 1 agonist having been administered in the incorrect belief that the symptoms experienced were a consequence of migraine when they were not. Also, patients with migraine may be at increased risk of certain cerebrovascular events (e.g., stroke, hemorrhage, TIA). Discontinue ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection if a cerebrovascular event occurs.
Before treating headaches in patients not previously diagnosed with migraine or in patients who present with atypical symptoms, exclude other potentially serious neurological conditions. ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with a history of stroke or TIA.
Other Vasospasm Reactions
ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection may cause non-coronary vasospastic reactions, such as peripheral vascular ischemia, gastrointestinal vascular ischemia and infarction (presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea), splenic infarction, and Raynaud's syndrome. In patients who experience symptoms or signs suggestive of non-coronary vasospasm reaction following the use of any 5-HT 1 agonist, rule out a vasospastic reaction before receiving additional ZEMBRACE SymTouch injections. Reports of transient and permanent blindness and significant partial vision loss have been reported with the use of 5-HT 1 agonists.
Since visual disorders may be part of a migraine attack, a causal relationship between these events and the use of 5-HT 1 agonists have not been clearly established.
Medication Overuse Headache Overuse of acute migraine drugs (e.g., ergotamine, triptans, opioids
combination of these drugs for 10 or more days per month) may lead to exacerbation of headache (medication overuse headache). Medication overuse headache may present as migraine-like daily headaches, or as a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks. Detoxification of patients, including withdrawal of the overused drugs, and treatment of withdrawal symptoms (which often includes a transient worsening of headache) may be necessary.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome may occur with ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection, particularly during co-administration with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and MAO inhibitors . Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). The onset of symptoms usually occurs within minutes to hours of receiving a new or a greater dose of a serotonergic medication. Discontinue ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection if serotonin syndrome is suspected.
Increase in Blood Pressure Significant elevation in blood pressure, including hypertensive crisis
with acute impairment of organ systems, has been reported on rare occasions in patients treated with 5-HT 1 agonists, including patients without a history of hypertension. Monitor blood pressure in patients treated with ZEMBRACE SymTouch. ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and anaphylaxis, have occurred in patients
receiving sumatriptan. Such reactions can be life-threatening or fatal. In general, anaphylactic reactions to drugs are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens.
ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to sumatriptan. 5.10 Seizures Seizures have been reported following administration of sumatriptan. Some have occurred in patients with either a history of seizures or concurrent conditions predisposing to seizures. There are also reports in patients where no such predisposing factors are apparent.
ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection should be used with caution in patients with a history of epilepsy or conditions associated with a lowered seizure threshold.
Drug Interactions with Zembrace
Ergot-Containing Drugs Ergot-containing drugs have been reported to cause prolonged vasospastic reactions.
Because these effects may be additive, use of ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medications (like dihydroergotamine or methysergide) and ZEMBRACE SymTouch within 24 hours of each other is contraindicated.
Monoamine Oxidase-A Inhibitors
MAO-A inhibitors increase systemic exposure by 2-fold. Therefore, the use of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection in patients receiving MAO-A inhibitors is contraindicated .
Other 5-HT 1 Agonists
Because their vasospastic effects may be additive, coadministration of ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection and other 5-HT 1 agonists (e.g., triptans) within 24 hours of each other is contraindicated.
Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin Syndrome Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported during coadministration of triptans and SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAO inhibitors .
Pregnancy Safety for Zembrace
Pregnancy Risk Summary Data from a prospective pregnancy exposure registry and epidemiological studies of pregnant women have not detected an increased frequency of birth defects or a consistent pattern of birth defects among women exposed to sumatriptan compared with the general population (see Data ). In developmental toxicity studies in rats and rabbits, oral administration of sumatriptan to pregnant animals was associated with embryo lethality, fetal abnormalities, and pup mortality. When administered by the intravenous route to pregnant rabbits, sumatriptan was embryo lethal (see Data ). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and of miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. The reported rate of major birth defects among deliveries to women with migraine ranged from 2.2% to 2.9% and the reported rate of miscarriage was 17%, which were similar to rates reported in women without migraine.
Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk: Several studies have suggested that women with migraine may be at increased risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Data Human Data The Sumatriptan/Naratriptan/Treximet (sumatriptan and naproxen sodium) Pregnancy Registry, a population-based international prospective study, collected data for sumatriptan from January 1996 to September 2012. The Registry documented outcomes of 626 infants and fetuses exposed to sumatriptan during pregnancy (528 with earliest exposure during the first trimester, 78 during the second trimester, 16 during the third trimester, and 4 unknown). The occurrence of major birth defects (excluding fetal deaths and induced abortions without reported defects and all spontaneous pregnancy losses) during first-trimester exposure to sumatriptan was 4.2% (20/478 ) and during any trimester of exposure was 4.2% (24/576 ). The sample size in this study had 80% power to detect at least a 1.73 to 1.91-fold increase in the rate of major malformations. The number of exposed pregnancy outcomes accumulated during the registry was insufficient to support definitive conclusions about overall malformation risk or for making comparisons of the frequencies of specific birth defects.
Of the 20 infants with reported birth defects after exposure to sumatriptan in the first trimester, 4 infants had ventricular septal defects, including one infant who was exposed to both sumatriptan and naratriptan and 3 infants had pyloric stenosis. No other birth defect was reported for more than 2 infants in this group. In a study using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, live births to women who reported using triptans or ergots during pregnancy were compared with those of women who did not.
Of the 2,257 births with first-trimester exposure to sumatriptan, 107 infants were born with malformations (relative risk 0.99 ). A study using linked data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway to the Norwegian Prescription Database compared pregnancy outcomes in women who redeemed prescriptions for triptans during pregnancy, as well as a migraine disease comparison group who redeemed prescriptions for sumatriptan before pregnancy only, compared with a population control group. Of the 415 women who redeemed prescriptions for sumatriptan during the first trimester, 15 had infants with major congenital malformations (OR 1.16 ) while for the 364 women who redeemed prescriptions for sumatriptan before, but not during, pregnancy, 20 had infants with major congenital malformations (OR 1.83 ), each compared with the population comparison group. Additional smaller observational studies evaluating use of sumatriptan during pregnancy have not suggested an increased risk of teratogenicity.
Animal Data Oral administration of sumatriptan to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis resulted in an increased incidence of fetal blood vessel (cervicothoracic and umbilical) abnormalities. The highest no-effect dose for embryofetal developmental toxicity in rats was 60 mg/kg/day. Oral administration of sumatriptan to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in increased incidences of embryo lethality and fetal cervicothoracic vascular and skeletal abnormalities.
Intravenous administration of sumatriptan to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in an increased incidence of embryo lethality. The highest oral and intravenous no-effect doses for developmental toxicity in rabbits were 15 and 0.75 mg/kg/day, respectively. Oral administration of sumatriptan to rats prior to and throughout gestation resulted in embryofetal toxicity (decreased body weight, decreased ossification, increased incidence of skeletal abnormalities). The highest no-effect dose was 50 mg/kg/day.
In offspring of pregnant rats treated orally with sumatriptan during organogenesis, there was a decrease in pup survival. The highest no-effect dose for this effect was 60 mg/kg/day. Oral treatment of pregnant rats with sumatriptan during the latter part of gestation and throughout lactation resulted in a decrease in pup survival.
The highest no-effect dose for this finding was 100 mg/kg/day.
Pediatric Use of Zembrace
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection is not recommended for use in patients younger than 18 years of age. Two controlled clinical trials evaluated sumatriptan nasal spray (5 to 20 mg) in 1,248 pediatric migraineurs 12 to 17 years of age who treated a single attack.
The trials did not establish the efficacy of sumatriptan nasal spray compared with placebo in the treatment of migraine in pediatric patients. Adverse reactions observed in these clinical trials were similar in nature to those reported in clinical trials in adults. Five controlled clinical trials (2 single-attack trials, 3 multiple-attack trials) evaluating oral sumatriptan (25 to 100 mg) in pediatric subjects 12 to 17 years of age enrolled a total of 701 pediatric migraineurs.
These trials did not establish the efficacy of oral sumatriptan compared with placebo in the treatment of migraine in pediatric patients. Adverse reactions observed in these clinical trials were similar in nature to those reported in clinical trials in adults. The frequency of all adverse reactions in these patients appeared to be both dose- and age-dependent, with younger patients reporting reactions more commonly than older pediatric patients.
Post-marketing experience documents that serious adverse reactions have occurred in the pediatric population after use of subcutaneous, oral, and/or intranasal sumatriptan. These reports include reactions similar in nature to those reported rarely in adults, including stroke, visual loss, and death. A myocardial infarction has been reported in a 14-year-old male following the use of oral sumatriptan; clinical signs occurred within 1 day of drug administration.
Clinical data to determine the frequency of serious adverse reactions in pediatric patients who might receive subcutaneous, oral, or intranasal sumatriptan are not presently available.
Contraindications for Zembrace
SymTouch injection is contraindicated in patients with: Ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) (angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, or documented silent ischemia) or coronary artery vasospasm, including Prinzmetal's angina . Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders . History of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) or history of hemiplegic or basilar migraine because these patients are at a higher risk of stroke . Peripheral vascular disease . Ischemic bowel disease . Uncontrolled hypertension . Recent (i.e., within 24 hours) use of ergotamine-containing medication, ergot-type medication (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide), or another 5-hydroxytryptamine1 (5-HT 1 ) agonist . Concurrent administration of an MAO-A inhibitor or recent (within 2 weeks) use of an MAO-A inhibitor . Known hypersensitivity to sumatriptan (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen) . Severe hepatic impairment . History of coronary artery disease or coronary vasospasm Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders History of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or hemiplegic or basilar migraine Peripheral vascular disease Ischemic bowel disease Uncontrolled hypertension Recent (within 24 hours) use of another 5-HT 1 agonist (e.g., another triptan) or of an ergotamine-containing medication Concurrent or recent (past 2 weeks) use of monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor Hypersensitivity to sumatriptan (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen) Severe hepatic impairment
Overdosage Information for Zembrace
Coronary vasospasm was observed after intravenous administration of sumatriptan injection . Overdoses would be expected from animal data (dogs at 0.1 g/kg, rats at 2 g/kg) to possibly cause convulsions, tremor, inactivity, erythema of the extremities, reduced respiratory rate, cyanosis, ataxia, mydriasis, injection site reactions (desquamation, hair loss, and scab formation), and paralysis. The elimination half-life of sumatriptan is about 2 hours , and therefore monitoring of patients after overdose with ZEMBRACE SymTouch injection should continue for at least 10 hours or while symptoms or signs persist. It is unknown what effect hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis has on the serum concentrations of sumatriptan.
Clinical Studies of Zembrace
Clinical Studies with Sumatriptan Injection In controlled clinical trials enrolling more than 1,000 patients during migraine attacks who were experiencing moderate or severe pain and 1 or more of the symptoms enumerated in Table 3, onset of relief began as early as 10 minutes following a 6-mg sumatriptan injection. Lower doses of sumatriptan injection may also prove effective, although the proportion of patients obtaining adequate relief was decreased and the latency to that relief is greater with lower doses. In Study 1, 6 different doses of sumatriptan injection (n = 30 each group) were compared with placebo (n = 62), in a single-attack, parallel-group design, the dose response relationship was found to be as shown in Table 2. Table 2: Proportion of Patients with Migraine Relief and Incidence of Adverse Reactions by Time and by Sumatriptan Dose in Study 1 Dose of Sumatriptan Injection Percent Patients With Relief Relief is defined as the reduction of moderate or severe pain to no or mild pain after dosing without use of rescue medication Adverse Reactions Incidence (%) at 10 Minutes at 30 Minutes at 1 Hour at 2 Hours Placebo 5 15 24 21 55 1 mg 10 40 43 40 63 2 mg 7 23 57 43 63 3 mg 17 47 57 60 77 4 mg 13 37 50 57 80 6 mg 10 63 73 70 83 8 mg 23 57 80 83 93 In 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials of sumatriptan injection 6 mg in 1,104 patients with moderate or severe migraine pain (Studies 2 and 3), the onset of relief was less than 10 minutes.
Headache relief, as defined by a reduction in pain from severe or moderately severe to mild or no headache, was achieved in 70% of the patients within 1 hour of a single 6-mg subcutaneous dose of sumatriptan injection. Approximately 82% and 65% of patients treated with sumatriptan 6 mg had headache relief and were pain free within 2 hours, respectively. Table 3 shows the 1- and 2-hour efficacy results for sumatriptan injection 6 mg in Studies 2 and 3. Table 3: Proportion of Patients with Pain Relief and Relief of Migraine Symptoms After 1 and 2 Hours of Treatment in Studies 2 and 3 1-Hour Data Study 2 Study 3 Placebo (n = 190) Sumatriptan 6 mg (n = 384) Placebo (n = 180) Sumatriptan 6 mg (n = 350) Subjects with pain relief (grade 0/1) 18% 70% P <0.05 versus placebo. 26% 70% Subjects with no pain 5% 48% 13% 49% Subjects without nausea 48% 73% 50% 73% Subjects without photophobia 23% 56% 25% 58% Subjects with little or no clinical disability A successful outcome in terms of clinical disability was defined prospectively as ability to work mildly impaired or ability to work and function normally. 34% 76% 34% 76% 2-Hour Data Study 2 Study 3 Placebo Includes patients that may have received an additional placebo injection 1 hour after the initial injection.
Sumatriptan 6 mg Includes patients that may have received an additional 6 mg of sumatriptan injection 1 hour after the initial injection. Placebo Sumatriptan 6 mg Subjects with pain relief (grade 0/1) 31% 81% 39% 82% Subjects with no pain 11% 63% 19% 65% Subjects without nausea 56% 82% 63% 81% Subjects without photophobia 31% 72% 35% 71% Subjects with little or no clinical disability 42% 85% 49% 84% Sumatriptan injection also relieved photophobia, phonophobia (sound sensitivity), nausea, and vomiting associated with migraine attacks. The efficacy of sumatriptan injections was unaffected by whether or not the migraine was associated with aura, duration of attack, gender or age of the subject, or concomitant use of common migraine prophylactic drugs (e.g., beta-blockers). Clinical Study with ZEMBRACE SymTouch In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of ZEMBRACE SymTouch, 230 patients with migraine with or without aura received either ZEMBRACE SymTouch (N=111) or placebo (N=119) for a single migraine attack.
The patients had a mean age of 41 years (range 18 to 65 years); approximately 76% were White and 85% were female. The study excluded patients with medication overuse headache, treatment with onabotulinumtoxin A within 180 days, and patients with a history of cluster headache. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who were pain-free (defined as a reduction from pre-dose moderate or severe pain to none ) 2 hours after the first dose.
Of the ZEMBRACE SymTouch-treated patients, 46% were pain free at 2 hours after treatment compared to 27% of the placebo-treated patients.
Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.
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