1.2 Procedural Sedation

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is indicated for sedation of non-intubated patients prior to and/or during surgical and other procedures.

2.1 Dosing Guidelines

• Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection dosing should be individualized and titrated to desired clinical response.
• Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is not indicated for infusions lasting longer than 24 hours.
• Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection should be administered using a controlled infusion device.

2.2 Dosage Information

2.3 Dosage Adjustment

Due to possible pharmacodynamic interactions, a reduction in dosage of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection or other concomitant anesthetics, sedatives, hypnotics or opioids may be required when co-administered [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].

Dosage reductions may need to be considered for adult patients with hepatic impairment, and geriatric patients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

2.4 Preparation of Solution

Strict aseptic technique must always be maintained during handling of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection, 200 mcg/2 mL (100 mcg/mL)

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection must be diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride injection to achieve required concentration (4 mcg/mL) prior to administration. Preparation of solutions is the same, whether for the loading dose or maintenance infusion.

To prepare the infusion, withdraw 2 mL of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection and add to 48 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection to a total of 50 mL. Shake gently to mix well.

2.5 Administration with Other Fluids

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection infusion should not be co-administered through the same intravenous catheter with blood or plasma because physical compatibility has not been established.

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection has been shown to be incompatible when administered with the following drugs: amphotericin B, diazepam.

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection has been shown to be compatible when administered with the following intravenous fluids:

• 0.9% sodium chloride in water
• 5% dextrose in water
• 20% mannitol
• Lactated Ringer's solution
• 100 mg/mL magnesium sulfate solution
• 0.3% potassium chloride solution

2.6 Compatibility with Natural Rubber

Compatibility studies have demonstrated the potential for absorption of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride to some types of natural rubber. Although dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is dosed to effect, it is advisable to use administration components made with synthetic or coated natural rubber gaskets.

5.1 Drug Administration

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection should be administered only by persons skilled in the management of patients in the operating room setting. Due to the known pharmacological effects of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection, patients should be continuously monitored while receiving dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection.

5.2 Hypotension, Bradycardia, and Sinus Arrest

Clinically significant episodes of bradycardia and sinus arrest have been reported with dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection administration in young, healthy adult volunteers with high vagal tone or with different routes of administration including rapid intravenous or bolus administration.

Reports of hypotension and bradycardia have been associated with dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection infusion. Some of these cases have resulted in fatalities. If medical intervention is required, treatment may include decreasing or stopping the infusion of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection, increasing the rate of intravenous fluid administration, elevation of the lower extremities, and use of pressor agents. Because dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection has the potential to augment bradycardia induced by vagal stimuli, clinicians should be prepared to intervene. The intravenous administration of anticholinergic agents (e.g., glycopyrrolate, atropine) should be considered to modify vagal tone. In clinical trials, glycopyrrolate or atropine were effective in the treatment of most episodes of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride-induced bradycardia. However, in some patients with significant cardiovascular dysfunction, more advanced resuscitative measures were required.

Caution should be exercised when administering dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection to patients with advanced heart block and/or severe ventricular dysfunction. Because dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection decreases sympathetic nervous system activity, hypotension and/or bradycardia may be expected to be more pronounced in patients with hypovolemia, diabetes mellitus, or chronic hypertension and in elderly patients.

In clinical trials where other vasodilators or negative chronotropic agents were co-administered with dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection an additive pharmacodynamic effect was not observed. Nonetheless, caution should be used when such agents are administered concomitantly with dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection.

5.3 Transient Hypertension

Transient hypertension has been observed primarily during the loading dose in association with the initial peripheral vasoconstrictive effects of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection. Treatment of the transient hypertension has generally not been necessary, although reduction of the loading infusion rate may be desirable.

5.4 Arousability

Some patients receiving dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection have been observed to be arousable and alert when stimulated. This alone should not be considered as evidence of lack of efficacy in the absence of other clinical signs and symptoms.

5.5 Withdrawal

Procedural Sedation

In adult subjects, withdrawal symptoms were not seen after discontinuation of short term infusions of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection (< 6 hours).

5.6 Tolerance and Tachyphylaxis

Use of dexmedetomidine beyond 24 hours has been associated with tolerance and tachyphylaxis and a dose related increase in adverse reactions [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

5.7 Hepatic Impairment

Since dexmedetomidine clearance decreases with severity of hepatic impairment, dose reduction should be considered in patients with impaired hepatic function [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

6.1 Clinical Studies Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Use of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection has been associated with the following serious adverse reactions:

• Hypotension, bradycardia and sinus arrest [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
• Transient hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]

Most common treatment-emergent adverse reactions, occurring in greater than 2% of patients in procedural sedation studies include hypotension, bradycardia and dry mouth.

Procedural Sedation

Adverse reaction information is derived from the two trials for procedural sedation [see Clinical Studies (14.2)] in which 318 adult patients received dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection. The mean total dose was 1.6 mcg/kg (range: 0.5 to 6.7), mean dose per hour was 1.3 mcg/kg/hr (range: 0.3 to 6.1) and the mean duration of infusion of 1.5 hours (range: 0.1 to 6.2). The population was between 18 to 93 years of age, ASA I-IV, 30% ≥ 65 years of age, 52% male and 61% Caucasian.

Treatment-emergent adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of > 2% are provided in Table 6. The most frequent adverse reactions were hypotension, bradycardia, and dry mouth [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Pre-specified criteria for the vital signs to be reported as adverse reactions are footnoted below the table. The decrease in respiratory rate and hypoxia was similar between dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection and comparator groups in both studies.

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride 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.

Hypotension and bradycardia were the most common adverse reactions associated with the use of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection during post approval use of the drug.

7.1 Anesthetics, Sedatives, Hypnotics, Opioids

Co-administration of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection with anesthetics, sedatives, hypnotics, and opioids is likely to lead to an enhancement of effects. Specific studies have confirmed these effects with sevoflurane, isoflurane, propofol, alfentanil, and midazolam. No pharmacokinetic interactions between dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection and isoflurane, propofol, alfentanil and midazolam have been demonstrated. However, due to possible pharmacodynamic interactions, when co-administered with dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection, a reduction in dosage of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection or the concomitant anesthetic, sedative, hypnotic or opioid may be required.

7.2 Neuromuscular Blockers

In one study of ten healthy adult volunteers, administration of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection for 45 minutes at a plasma concentration of one ng/mL resulted in no clinically meaningful increases in the magnitude of neuromuscular blockade associated with rocuronium administration.

8.1 Pregnancy

8.2 Labor and Delivery

The safety of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection during labor and delivery has not been studied.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether dexmedetomidine hydrochloride is excreted in human milk. Radio-labeled dexmedetomidine administered subcutaneously to lactating female rats was excreted in milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy have not been established for Procedural Sedation in pediatric patients. Additional information describing clinical studies in a different indication in which efficacy was not demonstrated in pediatric patients is approved for Hospira's dexmedetomidine injection. However, due to Hospira's marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information. The use of dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation in pediatric patients has not been evaluated.

8.5 Geriatric Use

8.6 Hepatic Impairment

Since dexmedetomidine clearance decreases with increasing severity of hepatic impairment, dose reduction should be considered in patients with impaired hepatic function [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

9.1 Controlled Substance

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride) is not a controlled substance.

9.3 Dependence

The dependence potential of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection has not been studied in humans. However, since studies in rodents and primates have demonstrated that dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection exhibits pharmacologic actions similar to those of clonidine, it is possible that dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection may produce a clonidine-like withdrawal syndrome upon abrupt discontinuation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection is a relatively selective alpha2-adrenergic agonist with sedative properties. Alpha2 selectivity is observed in animals following slow intravenous infusion of low and medium doses (10 to 300 mcg/kg). Both alpha1 and alpha2 activity is observed following slow intravenous infusion of high doses (≥ 1000 mcg/kg) or with rapid intravenous administration.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

In a study in healthy volunteers (N = 10), respiratory rate and oxygen saturation remained within normal limits and there was no evidence of respiratory depression when dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection was administered by intravenous infusion at doses within the recommended dose range (0.2 to 0.7 mcg/kg/hr).

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Following intravenous administration, dexmedetomidine exhibits the following pharmacokinetic parameters: a rapid distribution phase with a distribution half-life (t1/2) of approximately 6 minutes; a terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) of approximately 2 hours; and steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) of approximately 118 liters. Clearance is estimated to be approximately 39 L/h. The mean body weight associated with this clearance estimate was 72 kg.

Dexmedetomidine exhibits linear pharmacokinetics in the dosage range of 0.2 to 0.7 mcg/kg/hr when administered by intravenous infusion for up to 24 hours. Table 8 shows the main pharmacokinetic parameters when dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection was infused (after appropriate loading doses) at maintenance infusion rates of 0.17 mcg/kg/hr (target plasma concentration of 0.3 ng/mL) for 12 and 24 hours, 0.33 mcg/kg/hr (target plasma concentration of 0.6 ng/mL) for 24 hours, and 0.70 mcg/kg/hr (target plasma concentration of 1.25 ng/mL) for 24 hours.

The loading doses for each of the above indicated groups were 0.5, 0.5, 1 and 2.2 mcg/kg, respectively.

Dexmedetomidine pharmacokinetic parameters after dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection maintenance doses of 0.2 to 1.4 mcg/kg/hr for > 24 hours were similar to the PK parameters after dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection maintenance dosing for < 24 hours in other studies. The values for clearance (CL), volume of distribution (V), and t1/2 were 39.4 L/hr, 152 L, and 2.67 hours, respectively.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Animal carcinogenicity studies have not been performed with dexmedetomidine.

Dexmedetomidine was not mutagenic in vitro, in either the bacterial reverse mutation assay (E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium) or the mammalian cell forward mutation assay (mouse lymphoma). Dexmedetomidine was clastogenic in the in vitro human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test with, but not without, rat S9 metabolic activation. In contrast, dexmedetomidine was not clastogenic in the in vitro human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test with or without human S9 metabolic activation. Although dexmedetomidine was clastogenic in an in vivo mouse micronucleus test in NMRI mice, there was no evidence of clastogenicity in CD-1 mice.

Fertility in male or female rats was not affected after daily subcutaneous injections of dexmedetomidine at doses up to 54 mcg/kg (less than the maximum recommended human intravenous dose on a mcg/m2 basis) administered from 10 weeks prior to mating in males, and 3 weeks prior to mating and during mating in females.

13.2 Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology

There were no differences in the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated cortisol response in dogs following a single dose of dexmedetomidine compared to saline control. However, after continuous subcutaneous infusions of dexmedetomidine at 3 mcg/kg/hr and 10 mcg/kg/hr for one week in dogs (exposures estimated to be within the clinical range), the ACTH-stimulated cortisol response was diminished by approximately 27% and 40%, respectively, compared to saline-treated control animals indicating a dose-dependent adrenal suppression.

14.2 Procedural Sedation

The safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection for sedation of non-intubated patients prior to and/or during surgical and other procedures was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trials. Study 1 evaluated the sedative properties of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection in patients having a variety of elective surgeries/procedures performed under monitored anesthesia care. Study 2 evaluated dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection in patients undergoing awake fiberoptic intubation prior to a surgical or diagnostic procedure.

In Study 1, the sedative properties of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection were evaluated by comparing the percent of patients not requiring rescue midazolam to achieve a specified level of sedation using the standardized Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale (see Table 12).

Patients were randomized to receive a loading infusion of either dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection 1 mcg/kg, dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection 0.5 mcg/kg, or placebo (normal saline) given over 10 minutes and followed by a maintenance infusion started at 0.6 mcg/kg/hr. The maintenance infusion of study drug could be titrated from 0.2 mcg/kg/hr to 1 mcg/kg/hr to achieve the targeted sedation score (Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale ≤ 4). Patients were allowed to receive rescue midazolam as needed to achieve and/or maintain an Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale ≤ 4. After achieving the desired level of sedation, a local or regional anesthetic block was performed. Demographic characteristics were similar between the dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection and comparator groups. Efficacy results showed that dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection was more effective than the comparator group when used to sedate non-intubated patients requiring monitored anesthesia care during surgical and other procedures (see Table 13).

In Study 2, the sedative properties of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection were evaluated by comparing the percent of patients requiring rescue midazolam to achieve or maintain a specified level of sedation using the Ramsay Sedation Scale score ≥ 2 (see Table 9).

Patients were randomized to receive a loading infusion of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection 1 mcg/kg or placebo (normal saline) given over 10 minutes and followed by a fixed maintenance infusion of 0.7 mcg/kg/hr. After achieving the desired level of sedation, topicalization of the airway occurred. Patients were allowed to receive rescue midazolam as needed to achieve and/or maintain a Ramsay Sedation Scale ≥ 2. Demographic characteristics were similar between the dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection and comparator groups. For efficacy results see Table 13.

Storage: Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Discard unused portion.