Dexmedetomidine sublingual film for agitation

Efficacy

The efficacy and tolerability of 120 mcg and 180 mcg doses of dexmedetomidine sublingual film was evaluated in 2 similarly designed, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trials in the treatment of acute agitation associated with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or schizophreniform disorder⁹ and bipolar I or II disorder.¹⁰ These studies included a total of 758 adult patients age range 18 to 71 (mean age approximately 46.5), with about 59% male participants.² In contrast to other agents approved by the FDA for treatment of agitation associated with bipolar disorder, dexmedetomidine sublingual film was assessed in patients regardless of polarity (manic, mixed features, or depressed).⁵ The primary efficacy measure for the dexmedetomidine sublingual film studies was the investigator-administered Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Excited Component (PANSS-EC), consisting of the following 5 items: excitement, tension, hostility, uncooperativeness, and poor impulse control.¹¹ The items from the PANSS-EC are rated from 1 (not present) to 7 (extremely severe) and thus the total scores range from 5 to 35. For enrollment in the studies, patients had to be judged to be clinically agitated with a total PANSS-EC score ≥14, with at least 1 individual item score ≥4.²

After study medication administration, the PANSS-EC was assessed from 10 minutes through 24 hours, with the primary endpoint being at 2 hours post-dose. Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who were treated with dexmedetomidine sublingual film 120 mcg or 180 mcg had superior symptomatic improvements from baseline to 2 hours post-dose compared to placebo, with treatment effects beginning as early as 20 to 30 minutes post-dose (for patients with schizophrenia, dexmedetomidine was statistically significantly superior to placebo beginning at 20 minutes following dosing with the 180 mcg dose and 30 minutes after the 120 mcg dose; for patients with bipolar disorder, differences from placebo were statistically significant beginning at 20 minutes after treatment with both the 120 mcg and 180 mcg doses).² Evaluation of effect size for dexmedetomidine vs placebo for PANSS-EC response at 2 hours (defined as ≥40% improvement from baseline) resulted in a number needed to treat (NNT) of 3 when combining both studies and both doses,¹² comparing favorably with the NNT values observed for IM formulations of aripiprazole, haloperidol, lorazepam, olanzapine, and ziprasidone,¹³ and inhaled loxapine.¹⁴

Overall tolerability and safety

The highlights of the prescribing information contain warnings and precautions regarding hypotension/orthostatic hypotension/bradycardia, QT interval prolongation, and somnolence.² Advice is provided to ensure that patients are alert and not experiencing orthostatic or symptomatic hypotension prior to resuming ambulation, a concern commonly raised when assessing potential treatments for agitation.¹⁵ Dexmedetomidine sublingual film should be avoided in patients with risk factors for prolonged QT interval, a precaution that was evident for the use of ziprasidone¹⁶ and where an effect is also noted with haloperidol.⁶ As per the prescribing information, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and at least twice the rate of placebo) are somnolence, oral paresthesia or oral hypoesthesia, dizziness, dry mouth, hypotension, and orthostatic hypotension. Rates of adverse reactions of somnolence (including fatigue and sluggishness) with dexmedetomidine 120 mcg or 180 mcg are almost the same (22% and 23%, respectively), and higher than the 6% observed with placebo.² Other adverse reactions are substantially lower in frequency. These include oral paresthesia or oral hypoesthesia (6%, 7%, and 1%, for dexmedetomidine 120 mcg, 180 mcg, or placebo, respectively), dizziness (4%, 6%, 1%), hypotension (5%, 5%, 0%), orthostatic hypotension (3%, 5%, <1%), dry mouth (7%, 4%, 1%), nausea (2%, 3%, 2%), bradycardia (2%, 2%, 0%), and abdominal discomfort (0%, 2%, 1%).²

Regarding dose-dependent changes in blood pressure during the studies, 16%, 18%, and 9% of patients treated with 120 mcg, 180 mcg, and placebo, respectively, experienced orthostatic hypotension at 2 hours post dose. However, at 24 hours, none of the patients in the 180-mcg group experienced a systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg with a decrease ≥20 mm Hg, compared with one patient (<1%) in the 120-mcg group and none in the placebo group.²

The prescribing information advises that concomitant use of dexmedetomidine sublingual film with anesthetics, sedatives, hypnotics, or opioids is likely to lead to enhanced CNS depressant effects, and that the prescriber should consider a reduction in dosage of dexmedetomidine or the concomitant anesthetic, sedative, hypnotic, or opioid.²

Summary

Dexmedetomidine sublingual film is an oral medication indicated in adults for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder. The recommended dose depends on severity of agitation, age, and the presence of hepatic impairment. A dose of 180 mcg is recommended for severe agitation and a dose of 120 mcg is recommended for mild or moderate agitation, with doses adjusted lower in the presence of hepatic impairment. There are no contraindications but there are warnings and precautions regarding hypotension/orthostatic hypotension/bradycardia, QT interval prolongation, and somnolence. Clinicians should monitor vital signs and alertness after administration to prevent falls and syncope; however, there is no FDA REMS required for use. The clinical trial evidence supporting the use of dexmedetomidine is robust, with evidence of a treatment effect as early as 20 minutes after administration. Noninvasive formulations, although requiring cooperation from patients, have the potential to improve overall patient experience, thereby improving future cooperation between patients and health care professionals.

Bottom Line

Dexmedetomidine sublingual film provides an opportunity to rethink the approach to the management of agitation and avoid the potentially unnecessary use of IM injections. Dexmedetomidine sublingual film acts rapidly and is simple to use.

Related Resources

• Dexmedetomidine sublingual film (Iglami) prescribing information. https://www.igalmihcp.com/igalmi-pi.pdf

Drug Brand Names

Aripiprazole • Abilify
Dexmedetomidine • Igalmi, Precedex
Haloperidol • Haldol
Lorazepam • Ativan
Loxapine inhaled • Adasuve
Olanzapine • Zyprexa
Ziprasidone • Geodon