Clomipramine Hydrochloride 50 mg Capsule, 100-count — NDC 59651-382-01 (Billing 59651-0382-01)

WARNINGS Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide.

There has been a long-standing concern, however, that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients during the early phases of treatment. Pooled analyses of short- term placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and others) showed that these drugs increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 18 to 24) with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders.

Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in children and adolescents with MDD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 24 short-term trials of 9 antidepressant drugs in over 4400 patients. The pooled analyses of placebo-controlled trials in adults with MDD or other psychiatric disorders included a total of 295 short-term trials (median duration of 2 months) of 11 antidepressant drugs in over 77,000 patients.

There was considerable variation in risk of suicidality among drugs, but a tendency toward an increase in the younger patients for almost all drugs studied. There were differences in absolute risk of suicidality across the different indications, with the highest incidence in MDD. The risk differences (drug vs placebo), however, were relatively stable within age strata and across indications.

These risk differences (drug-placebo difference in the number of cases of suicidality per 1000 patients treated) are provided in Table 1 . Table 1 Age Range Drug-Placebo Difference in Number of Cases of Suicidality per 1000 Patients Treated Increases Compared to Placebo <18 18 to 24 14 additional cases 5 additional cases Decreases Compared to Placebo 25 to 64 ≥65 1 fewer case 6 fewer cases No suicides occurred in any of the pediatric trials. There were suicides in the adult trials, but the number was not sufficient to reach any conclusion about drug effect on suicide.

It is unknown whether the suicidality risk extends to longer-term use, i.e., beyond several months. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance trials in adults with depression that the use of antidepressants can delay the recurrence of depression. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases.

The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established, there is concern that such symptoms may represent precursors to emerging suicidality.

Consideration should be given to chang… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

ADVERSE REACTIONS Commonly Observed The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of clomipramine hydrochloride and not seen at an equivalent incidence among placebo-treated patients were gastrointestinal complaints, including dry mouth, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, and anorexia; nervous system complaints, including somnolence, tremor, dizziness, nervousness, and myoclonus; genitourinary complaints, including changed libido, ejaculatory failure, impotence, and micturition disorder; and other miscellaneous complaints, including fatigue, sweating, increased appetite, weight gain, and visual changes.

Leading to Discontinuation of Treatment Approximately 20% of 3616 patients who received clomipramine hydrochloride in U.S. premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. Approximately one-half of the patients who discontinued (9% of the total) had multiple complaints, none of which could be classified as primary. Where a primary reason for discontinuation could be identified, most patients discontinued because of nervous system complaints (5.4%), primarily somnolence.

The second-most-frequent reason for discontinuation was digestive system complaints (1.3%), primarily vomiting and nausea. There was no apparent relationship between the adverse events and elevated plasma drug concentrations. Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials The following table enumerates adverse events that occurred at an incidence of 1% or greater among patients with OCD who received clomipramine hydrochloride in adult or pediatric placebo-controlled clinical trials.

The frequencies were obtained from pooled data of clinical trials involving either adults receiving clomipramine hydrochloride (N=322) or placebo (N=319) or children treated with clomipramine hydrochloride (N=46) or placebo (N=44). 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 the clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses, and investigators.

The cited figures, however, provide the physician with a basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the incidence of side effects in the populations studied. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Experience in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials (Percentage of Patients Reporting Event) Body System/ Adverse Event* Adults Children and Adolescents Clomipramine hydrochloride (N=322) Placebo (N=319) Clomipramine hydrochloride (N=46) Placebo (N=44) *Events reported by at least 1% of clomipramine hydrochloride patients are included.

Nervous System Somnolence 54 16 46 11 Tremor 54 2 33 2 Dizziness 54 14 41 14 Headache 52 41 28 34 Insomnia 25 15 11 7 Libido change 21 3 - - Nervousness 18 2 4 2 Myoclonus 13 - 2 - Increased appetite 11 2 - 2 Paresthesia 9 3 2 2 Memory impairment 9 1 7 2 Anxiety 9 4 2 - Twitching 7 1 4 5 Impaired concentration 5 2 - - Depression 5 1 - - Hypertonia 4 1 2 - Sleep disorder 4 - 9 5 Psychosomatic disorder 3 - - - Yawning 3 - - - Confusion 3 - 2 - Speech disorder 3 - - - Abnormal dreaming 3 - - 2 Agitation 3 - - - Migraine 3 - - - Depersonalization 2 - 2 - Irritability 2 2 2 - Emotional lability 2 - - 2 Panic reaction 1 - 2 - Aggressive reaction - - 2 - Paresis - - 2 - Skin and Appendages Increased sweating 29 3 9 - Rash 8 1 4 2 Pruritus 6 - 2 2 Dermatitis 2 - - 2 Acne 2 2 - 5 Dry skin 2 - - 5 Urticaria 1 - - - Abnormal skin odor - - 2 - Digestive System Dry mouth 84 17 63 16 Constipation 47 11 22 9 Nausea 33 14 9 11 Dyspepsia 22 10 13 2 Diarrhea 13 9 7 5 Anorexia 12 - 22 2 Abdominal pain 11 9 13 16 Vomiting 7 2 7 - Flatulence 6 3 - 2 Tooth disorder 5 - - - Gastrointestinal disorder 2 - - 2 Dysphagia 2 - - - Esophagitis 1 - - - Eructation - - 2 2 Ulc… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

Drug Interactions The risks of using clomipramine hydrochloride in combination with other drugs have not been systematically evaluated. Given the primary CNS effects of clomipramine hydrochloride, caution is advised in using it concomitantly with other CNS-active drugs ( see Information for Patients ). Clomipramine hydrochloride should not be used with MAO inhibitors ( see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).

Close supervision and careful adjustment of dosage are required when clomipramine hydrochloride is administered with anticholinergic or sympathomimetic drugs. Several tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to block the pharmacologic effects of guanethidine, clonidine, or similar agents, and such an effect may be anticipated with CMI because of its structural similarity to other tricyclic antidepressants. The plasma concentration of CMI has been reported to be increased by the concomitant administration of haloperidol; plasma levels of several closely related tricyclic antidepressants have been reported to be increased by the concomitant administration of methylphenidate or hepatic enzyme inhibitors (e.g., cimetidine, fluoxetine) and decreased by the concomitant administration of hepatic enzyme inducers (e.g., barbiturates, phenytoin), and such an effect may be anticipated with CMI as well.

Administration of CMI has been reported to increase the plasma levels of phenobarbital, if given concomitantly ( see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Interactions ). Drugs Metabolized by P450 2D6 – The biochemical activity of the drug metabolizing isozyme cytochrome P450 2D6 (debrisoquin hydroxylase) is reduced in a subset of the Caucasian population (about 7% to 10% of Caucasians are so-called “poor metabolizers”); reliable estimates of the prevalence of reduced P450 2D6 isozyme activity among Asian, African and other populations are not yet available.

Poor metabolizers have higher than expected plasma concentrations of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) when given usual doses. Depending on the fraction of drug metabolized by P450 2D6, the increase in plasma concentration may be small, or quite large (8 fold increase in plasma AUC of the TCA). In addition, certain drugs inhibit the activity of this isozyme and make normal metabolizers resemble poor metabolizers.

An individual who is stable on a given dose of TCA may become abruptly toxic when given one of these inhibiting drugs as concomitant therapy. The drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 include some that are not metabolized by the enzyme (quinidine; cimetidine) and many that are substrates for P450 2D6 (many other antidepressants, phenothiazines, and the Type 1C antiarrhythmics propafenone and flecainide). While all the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, and fluvoxamine, inhibit P450 2D6, they may vary in the extent of inhibition.

Fluvoxamine has also been shown to inhibit P450 1A2, an isoform also involved in TCA metabolism. The extent to which SSRI-TCA interactions may pose clinical problems will depend on the degree of inhibition and the pharmacokinetics of the SSRI involved. Nevertheless, caution is indicated in the co-administration of TCAs with any of the SSRIs and also in switching from one class to the other.

Of particular importance, sufficient time must elapse before initiating TCA treatment in a patient being withdrawn from fluoxetine, given the long half-life of the parent and active metabolite (at least 5 weeks may be necessary). Concomitant use of agents in the tricyclic antidepressant class (which includes clomipramine hydrochloride) with drugs that can inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 may require lower doses than usually prescribed for either the tricyclic antidepressant agent or the other drug. Furthermore, whenever one of these drugs is withdrawn from co-therapy, an increased dose of tricyclic antidepressant agent may be required.

It is desirable to monitor TCA plasma levels whenever an agent of the tricyclic antidepressant class in… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

PRECAUTIONS General Suicide – Since depression is a commonly associated feature of OCD, the risk of suicide must be considered. Prescriptions for clomipramine hydrochloride should be written for the smallest quantity of capsules consistent with good patient management, in order to reduce the risk of overdose. Cardiovascular Effects – Modest orthostatic decreases in blood pressure and modest tachycardia were each seen in approximately 20% of patients taking clomipramine hydrochloride in clinical trials; but patients were frequently asymptomatic.

Among approximately 1400 patients treated with CMI in the premarketing experience who had ECGs, 1.5% developed abnormalities during treatment, compared with 3.1% of patients receiving active control drugs and 0.7% of patients receiving placebo. The most common ECG changes were PVCs, ST-T wave changes, and intraventricular conduction abnormalities. These changes were rarely associated with significant clinical symptoms.

Nevertheless, caution is necessary in treating patients with known cardiovascular disease, and gradual dose titration is recommended. Psychosis, Confusion, and Other Neuropsychiatric Phenomena – Patients treated with clomipramine hydrochloride have been reported to show a variety of neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, psychotic episodes, confusion, and paranoia. Because of the uncontrolled nature of many of the studies, it is impossible to provide a precise estimate of the extent of risk imposed by treatment with clomipramine hydrochloride.

As with tricyclic antidepressants to which it is closely related, clomipramine hydrochloride may precipitate an acute psychotic episode in patients with unrecognized schizophrenia. Mania/Hypomania – During premarketing testing of clomipramine hydrochloride in patients with affective disorder, hypomania or mania was precipitated in several patients. Activation of mania or hypomania has also been reported in a small proportion of patients with affective disorder treated with marketed tricyclic antidepressants, which are closely related to clomipramine hydrochloride.

Hepatic Changes – During premarketing testing, clomipramine hydrochloride was occasionally associated with elevations in SGOT and SGPT (pooled incidence of approximately 1% and 3%, respectively) of potential clinical importance (i.e., values greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal). In the vast majority of instances, these enzyme increases were not associated with other clinical findings suggestive of hepatic injury; moreover, none were jaundiced. Rare reports of more severe liver injury, some fatal, have been recorded in foreign postmarketing experience.

Caution is indicated in treating patients with known liver disease, and periodic monitoring of hepatic enzyme levels is recommended in such patients. Hematologic Changes – Although no instances of severe hematologic toxicity were seen in the premarketing experience with clomipramine hydrochloride, there have been postmarketing reports of leukopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and pancytopenia in association with clomipramine hydrochloride use. As is the case with tricyclic antidepressants to which clomipramine hydrochloride is closely related, leukocyte and differential blood counts should be obtained in patients who develop fever and sore throat during treatment with clomipramine hydrochloride.

Central Nervous System – More than 30 cases of hyperthermia have been recorded by nondomestic postmarketing surveillance systems. Most cases occurred when clomipramine hydrochloride was used in combination with other drugs. When clomipramine hydrochloride and a neuroleptic were used concomitantly, the cases were sometimes considered to be examples of a neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Sexual Dysfunction – The rate of sexual dysfunction in male patients with OCD who were treated with clomipramine hydrochloride in the premarketing experience was markedly increased compared with… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE Clomipramine hydrochloride has not been systematically studied in animals or humans for its potential for abuse, tolerance, or physical dependence. While a variety of withdrawal symptoms have been described in association with clomipramine hydrochloride discontinuation ( see PRECAUTIONS, Withdrawal Symptoms ), there is no evidence for drug-seeking behavior, except for a single report of potential clomipramine hydrochloride abuse by a patient with a history of dependence on codeine, benzodiazepines, and multiple psychoactive drugs.

The patient received clomipramine hydrochloride for depression and panic attacks and appeared to become dependent after hospital discharge. Despite the lack of evidence suggesting an abuse liability for clomipramine hydrochloride in foreign marketing, it is not possible to predict the extent to which clomipramine hydrochloride might be misused or abused once marketed in the U.S. Consequently, physicians should carefully evaluate patients for a history of drug abuse and follow such patients closely.