Medication

Tasimelteon

Generic name: tasimelteon · Brand names: Tasimelteon

Melatonin Receptor Agonist [epc]

Information sourced from FDA Structured Product Labeling, updated April 10, 2025.

What is it used for?

Tasimelteon capsules are a melatonin receptor agonist. Tasimelteon capsules are indicated for the treatment of Non ­24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) in adults

Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder

(Non-24) Tasimelteon capsules are indicated for the treatment of Non-24 in adults.

How to take it

Indicated Population Dosage Form Body Weight Recommended Dosage Non-24 Adults Capsules Not applicable 20 mg one hour prior to bedtime Tasimelteon capsules and tasimelteon oral suspension are not substitutable Administer at the same time every night Take without food

Non-Interchangeability

between Tasimelteon Capsules and Tasimelteon Oral Suspension Tasimelteon capsules and tasimelteon oral suspension are not substitutable .

Recommended Dosage for Tasimelteon Capsules for Non-24

Adults The recommended dosage of tasimelteon capsules in adults is 20 mg one hour before bedtime, at the same time every night. Because of individual differences in circadian rhythms, drug effect may not occur for weeks or months.

Important Administration Information Administer

tasimelteon capsules without food . If a patient is unable to take tasimelteon capsules at approximately the same time on a given night, they should skip that dose and take the next dose as scheduled.

Warnings

May cause somnolence: After taking tasimelteon capsules, patients should limit their activity to preparing for going to bed, because tasimelteon capsules can impair the performance of activities requiring complete mental alertness

Somnolence After

taking tasimelteon capsules, patients should limit their activity to preparing for going to bed. Tasimelteon capsules can potentially impair the performance of activities requiring complete mental alertness.

Who should not take it

None. None

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Risk Summary Available

postmarketing case reports with tasimelteon use in pregnant women are not sufficient to evaluate drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In pregnant rats, no embryofetal developmental toxicity was observed at exposures of 50 mg/kg/day, or up to 24 times higher than the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data Animal Data In pregnant rats administered tasimelteon at oral doses of 5, 50, or 500 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis, there were no effects on embryofetal development. The highest dose tested is approximately 240 times the MRHD of 20 mg/day, based on mg/m 2 body surface area. In pregnant rabbits administered tasimelteon at oral doses of 5, 30, or 200 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis, embryolethality and embryofetal toxicity (reduced fetal body weight and delayed ossification) were observed at the highest dose tested.

The highest dose is approximately 200 times the MRHD. Oral administration of tasimelteon at 50, 150, or 450 mg/kg/day to rats throughout organogenesis resulted in persistent reductions in body weight, delayed sexual maturation, and physical development, and neurobehavioral impairment in offspring at the highest dose tested which is approximately 220 times the MRHD based on mg/m 2 body surface area. Reduced body weight in offspring was also observed at the mid-dose. The no effect dose (NOEL), (50 mg/kg/day) is approximately 25 times the MRHD based on mg/m 2 body surface area.

Breastfeeding

Lactation Risk Summary There

are no data on the presence of tasimelteon or its metabolites in human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for tasimelteon and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from tasimelteon or from the underlying maternal condition.

Side effects

The most common adverse reactions (incidence >5% and at least twice as high on tasimelteon than on placebo) were headache, increased alanine aminotransferase, nightmares or unusual dreams, and upper respiratory or urinary tract infection To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Apotex Corp. at 1-800-706-5575 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

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 to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. More than 2080 subjects have been treated with at least one dose of tasimelteon, of which more than 380 have been treated for > 26 weeks and more than 170 have been treated for > 1 year. Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) A 26-week, parallel-arm placebo-controlled study (Study 1) evaluated tasimelteon (n=42) compared to placebo (n=42) in patients with Non-24.

A randomized-withdrawal, placebo-controlled study of 8 weeks duration (Study 2) also evaluated tasimelteon (n=10), compared to placebo (n=10), in patients with Non-24. In placebo-controlled studies, 6% of patients exposed to tasimelteon discontinued treatment due to an adverse event, compared with 4% of patients who received placebo. Table 2 shows the incidence of adverse reactions from Study 1.

Table 2: Adverse Reactions in Study 1 Tasimelteon N=42 Placebo N=42 Headache 17 % 7 % Alanine aminotransferase increased 10 % 5 % Nightmare/abnormal dreams 10 % 0 % Upper respiratory tract infection 7 % 0 % Urinary tract infection 7 % 2 % *Adverse reactions with an incidence > 5% and at least twice as high on tasimelteon than on placebo are displayed.

All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health. Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling.