USE
FETZIMA® (levomilnacipran),extended-release capsules, is a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
FETZIMA may cause serious side effects, including:
Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. FETZIMA
and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some people 24 years and
younger,
especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. FETZIMA is not
for use in children.
FETZIMA may cause serious side effects, including:
Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions.
FETZIMA and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some people 24 years and
younger,
especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. FETZIMA is not
for use in children.
-
Depression or other mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
- Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed.
-
Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions.
-
Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled. Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms.
Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you or your family member
has any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
-
Attempts to commit suicide; acting on dangerous impulses; acting aggressive; being angry or violent;
thoughts about suicide or dying; new or worsening depression or anxiety; feeling very agitated or restless; panic
attacks; trouble sleeping; new or worsening irritability; an extreme increase in activity or talking (mania); or
other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
FETZIMA may cause serious side effects, including:
-
Serotonin syndrome. A potentially life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome can
happen when
FETZIMA is taken with certain other medicines. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital
emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome:
agitation, confusion, fast heartbeat, dizziness, flushing, tremors, stiff muscles or muscle twitching,
seizures, seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), coma, blood pressure changes, sweating, high
body temperature (hyperthermia), loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
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High blood pressure (hypertension). Your healthcare provider should check your blood
pressure before you
start and during treatment with FETZIMA. If you have high blood pressure, it should be controlled before you
start treatment with FETZIMA.
-
Increased heart rate. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rate before you
start and during
treatment with FETZIMA. If you have heart problems or problems with an abnormal heartbeat, your problems
should be treated before you start treatment with FETZIMA.
-
Increased risk of bleeding. Taking FETZIMA with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin, or blood thinners may add to this risk. Tell your healthcare provider right away about any unusual
bleeding or bruising.
-
Eye problems (angle-closure glaucoma). FETZIMA may cause a type of eye problem called
angle-closure glaucoma in people with certain eye problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are
at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are. Call your healthcare provider if you have changes in
your vision, eye pain, or swelling or redness in or around the eye.
-
Problems with urination. FETZIMA may cause you to have problems with urination, including
decreased urine flow and being unable to pass any urine. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any problems
with urine flow during treatment with FETZIMA.
-
Manic episodes.
Manic episodes may happen in people with bipolar disorder who take FETZIMA. Symptoms
may include greatly increased energy, racing thoughts, unusually grand ideas, talking more or faster than
usual, severe trouble sleeping, reckless behavior, or excessive happiness or irritability.
-
Seizures (convulsions).
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Discontinuation symptoms.
Suddenly stopping FETZIMA may cause you to have serious side effects. Your
healthcare provider may want to decrease your dose slowly. Symptoms may include changes in your mood,
irritability and agitation, dizziness, electric shock sensation (paresthesia), anxiety, confusion, headache,
tiredness, problems sleeping, hypomania, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), and seizures.
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Low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia).
Low sodium levels in your blood that may be serious and
may cause death can happen during treatment with FETZIMA. Elderly people and people who take certain
medicines may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include headache, difficulty concentrating, memory
changes, confusion, weakness, and unsteadiness on your feet, which can lead to falls.
In more severe or more sudden cases, signs and symptoms include
hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real),
fainting, seizures, coma, and stopping breathing (respiratory arrest).
-
Sexual problems.
Taking FETZIMA may cause sexual problems. Talk to your healthcare provider if you
develop any changes in your sexual function or if you have any questions or concerns about sexual problems
during treatment.
DO NOT take FETZIMA if you:
- are allergic to levomilnacipran, milnacipran HCl, or any of the ingredients in FETZIMA
- are taking, or have taken within the last 14 days, medications called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for a psychiatric illness
- are being treated with other types of MAOIs, including the antibiotic linezolid or intravenous methylene blue
Do not start taking an MAOI for at least 7 days after you stop treatment with FETZIMA.
Before taking FETZIMA, tell your healthcare provider if you:
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have or had a family history of suicide, depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania
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have high blood pressure
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have or had heart problems, including a fast heartbeat, or stroke
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have or had bleeding problems
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have glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
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have or had problems urinating (hesitating) or emptying your bladder (retention)
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have or had seizures (convulsions)
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have low sodium levels in your blood
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have or had kidney problems
-
drink alcohol
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are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. FETZIMA may harm your unborn baby. Taking FETZIMA during your third trimester of pregnancy may cause an increased risk of bleeding after delivery and may cause your baby to be at increased risk for withdrawal symptoms, or breathing, temperature control, feeding, or other problems at birth.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks to you and your baby if you take FETZIMA during pregnancy.
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Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with FETZIMA.
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There is a pregnancy registry for females who are exposed to FETZIMA during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of females exposed to FETZIMA and their babies. If you become pregnant during treatment with FETZIMA,
you are encouraged to register with the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants at 1-844-405-6185 1-844-405-6185 or online at
https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants
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are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FETZIMA passes into your breast milk. Talk to
your
healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with FETZIMA.
-
If you breastfeed during treatment with FETZIMA, call your healthcare provider right away if your
baby
develops sleepiness or fussiness, or is not feeding or gaining weight well.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and
over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
FETZIMA and other medicines may affect each other, causing possible serious side effects.
FETZIMA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way FETZIMA works.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
- MAOIs
- medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as triptans
- tricyclic antidepressants
- lithium
- tramadol, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, or other opioids
- tryptophan
- buspirone
- amphetamines
- St. John's Wort
- medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- medicines that can affect blood clotting, such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and warfarin
- diuretics
Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.
Do not start or stop any other medicines during treatment with FETZIMA without talking to your healthcare provider first. Stopping FETZIMA suddenly may cause you to have serious side effects.
Avoid drinking alcohol during treatment with FETZIMA.
- Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how FETZIMA affects you. FETZIMA can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly.
The most common side effects of FETZIMA include:
-
nausea, vomiting, constipation, sweating, palpitations, fast or increased heart rate, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation disorder
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of FETZIMA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
USE
FETZIMA® (levomilnacipran), extended-release capsules, is a prescription medicine used to treat a
certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.
It is not known if FETZIMA is safe and effective for use in children.
FETZIMA is not for use for the management of fibromyalgia, and its efficacy and safety have not been
established for that use.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit
www.fda.gov/medwatch
or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit
AbbVie.com/myAbbVieAssist
to
learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide or visit https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/fetzima_pi.pdf