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Akten Gel Prescribing Information

Package insert / product label
Generic name: lidocaine hydrochloride
Dosage form: ophthalmic gel
Drug class: Ophthalmic anesthetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 7, 2023.

Highlights of Prescribing Information

These highlights do not include all the information needed to use AKTEN ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for Akten ®.

AKTEN ® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel), for topical ophthalmic use.

Initial U.S. Approval: 1972

Recent Major Changes

Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3) 5/2022

Indications and Usage for Akten Gel

AKTEN ® is a local anesthetic indicated for ocular surface anesthesia during ophthalmologic procedures. ( 1)

Akten Gel Dosage and Administration

The recommended dose of AKTEN ® is 2 drops applied to the ocular surface in the area of the planned procedure. Additional anesthesia may be reapplied as needed. ( 2)

Dosage Forms and Strengths

AKTEN ® 3.5% (35 mg/mL) Ophthalmic Gel. ( 3)

Contraindications

None. ( 4)

Warnings and Precautions

  • For Topical Ophthalmic Use:
    Not for lnjection. ( 5)
  • Corneal Opacification: Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss. ( 5)
  • For Administration by Healthcare Provider: AKTEN ® is not intended for patient self-administration. ( 5.3)

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Most common adverse reactions are conjunctival hyperemia, corneal epithelial changes, headache, and burning upon instillation. ( 6)


To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Thea Pharma Inc. at 1-833-838-4028 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Revised: 5/2022

Full Prescribing Information

1. Indications and Usage for Akten Gel

AKTEN ® is indicated for ocular surface anesthesia during ophthalmologic procedures.

2. Akten Gel Dosage and Administration

The recommended dose of AKTEN ® is 2 drops applied to the ocular surface in the area of the planned procedure. AKTEN ® may be reapplied to maintain anesthetic effect.

3. Dosage Forms and Strengths

AKTEN ® Ophthalmic Gel, 3.5% contains 35 mg per mL of lidocaine hydrochloride for topical ophthalmic administration.

4. Contraindications

None.

5. Warnings and Precautions

5.1 For Topical Ophthalmic Use

AKTEN ® is indicated for topical ophthalmic use. Not for Injection.

5.2 Corneal Opacification

Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss.

5.3 For Administration by Healthcare Provider

AKTEN ® is indicated for administration under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider. AKTEN ® is not intended for patient self-administration.

6. Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Most common adverse reactions are conjunctival hyperemia, corneal epithelial changes, headache, and burning upon instillation.

8. Use In Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

Reproduction studies for lidocaine have been performed in both rats and rabbits. There was no evidence of harm to the fetus at subcutaneous doses up to 50 mg/kg lidocaine (more than 800 fold greater than the human dose on a body weight basis) in the rat model. There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

Lidocaine is secreted in human milk. The clinical significance of this observation is unknown. Although no systemic exposure is expected with administration of AKTEN ®, caution should be exercised when AKTEN ® is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients have been extrapolated from studies in older subjects and studies in pediatric patients using different formulations of lidocaine.

8.5 Geriatric Use

No overall clinical differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between the elderly and other adult patients.

10. Overdosage

Prolonged use of a topical ocular anesthetic may produce permanent corneal opacification and ulceration with accompanying visual loss.

Acute emergencies from local anesthetics are generally related to high plasma levels encountered during therapeutic use of local anesthetics or to unintended subarachnoid injection of local anesthetic solution. However, topical ocular application of AKTEN ® is not expected to result in systemic exposure.

11. Akten Gel Description

AKTEN ® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel) 3.5% is a sterile, preservative-free, single-patient use ophthalmic gel preparation for topical ocular anesthesia. Lidocaine hydrochloride is designated chemically as acetamide, 2-(diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) monohydrochloride with a molecular formula of C14H22N20 ∙ HCl and molecular weight of 270.8. The structural formula of the active ingredient is:

Chemical Structure

AKTEN ® contains 35 mg of lidocaine hydrochloride per mL as the active ingredient. AKTEN ® also contains Hypromellose, Sodium Chloride, and Water for Injection as inactive ingredients in the 1 mL tube configuration. AKTEN ® contains Hypromellose, Sodium Chloride, and Water for Injection as inactive ingredients in the 5 mL in 10 mL bottle configuration. The pH may be adjusted to 5.5 to 7.5 with Hydrochloric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide.

12. Akten Gel - Clinical Pharmacology

12.1 Mechanism of Action

AKTEN is a local anesthetic agent that stabilizes the neuronal membrane by inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses, thereby effecting local anesthetic action. Anesthesia generally occurs between 20 seconds to 1 minute and persists for 5 to 30 minutes.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Lidocaine may be absorbed following topical administration to mucous membranes. Its rate and extent of absorption depend upon various factors such as concentration, the specific site of application, viscosity of the agent, and duration of exposure. The plasma binding of lidocaine is dependent on drug concentration, and the fraction bound decreases with increasing concentration. At concentrations of 1 to 4 mcg of free base per mL, 60 to 80 percent of lidocaine is protein bound. Binding is also dependent on the plasma concentration of the alpha-1-acid glycoprotein. Lidocaine is metabolized rapidly by the liver, and metabolites and unchanged drug are excreted by the kidneys. Biotransformation includes oxidative N- dealkylation, ring hydroxylation, cleavage of the amide linkage, and conjugation. N-dealkylation, a major pathway of biotransformation, yields the metabolites monoethylglycinexylidide and glycinexylidide. The pharmacologic/toxicologic actions of these metabolites are similar to, but less potent than, those of lidocaine. Approximately 90% of lidocaine administered is excreted in the form of various metabolites, and less than 10% is excreted unchanged. The primary metabolite in urine is a conjugate of 4-hydroxy-2, 6-dimethylaniline.

Studies of lidocaine metabolism following intravenous bolus injections have shown that the elimination half-life of this agent is typically 1.5 to 2 hours. Because of the rate at which lidocaine is metabolized, any condition that affects liver function may alter lidocaine kinetics. The half-life may be prolonged twofold or more in patients with liver dysfunction. Renal dysfunction does not affect lidocaine kinetics but may increase the accumulation of metabolites.

13. Nonclinical Toxicology

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of AKTEN .

14. Clinical Studies

The effect of AKTEN ® on ocular anesthesia was studied in a multi-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind study. A total of 209 subjects were enrolled, with 54, 51, 53, and 51 subjects randomized to the sham, AKTEN ® 1.5%, AKTEN ® 2.5%, and AKTEN ® 3.5% groups, respectively. Ocular anesthesia was achieved within 5 minutes of anesthetic application by 47 of 51 subjects (92%) in the AKTEN ® 3.5% group.

The mean time to anesthesia onset ranged from 20 seconds to 5 minutes and was not affected by AKTEN ® dose. The mean time to anesthesia onset was approximately 60 seconds, with a median onset time of 40 seconds for the AKTEN ® 3.5% group. Among the subjects in the AKTEN ® groups who achieved anesthesia within 5 minutes, approximately 90% had achieved anesthesia within 60 seconds of application. The duration of anesthesia generally ranged from approximately 5 minutes to 30 minutes, with mean anesthesia durations of approximately 15 minutes for the AKTEN ® 3.5% group.

Approximately 84% of the subjects in the AKTEN ® 3.5% group experienced anesthesia for at least 5 minutes, approximately 55% of subjects experienced anesthesia for 10 minutes or longer and 27% experienced anesthesia for 15 minutes or longer. The anesthetic effect of additional applications of AKTEN ® has not been evaluated.

16. How is Akten Gel supplied

AKTEN ® (lidocaine hydrochloride ophthalmic gel) 3.5% is supplied as a clear gel for single-patient use as follows:

*
Made in Switzerland
NDC 82584-792-011 mL fill in a white polyfoil tube *
NDC 82584-792-25Package of 25 units of 1 mL fill in a white polyfoil tube *
(NDC 82584-792-01)

Storage

Store at 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F).

Keep container closed and protected from light in the original carton until use. Discard after use.

Manufactured for: Thea Pharma Inc.
Lexington, MA 02420
Patented [US8759401]
© 2022. Thea Pharma Inc. All rights reserved
Revised: 05/2022

US
23294505

N10230G1USA/0522

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 1 mL Tube Carton

NDC 82584-792-01

Akten ®

(lidocaine
hydrochloride
ophthalmic
gel) 3.5%

For Topical
Ophthalmic
Use Only

Rx only

1mL
Sterile

PRESERVATIVE FREE

For Single-Patient Use Only.
Discard Unused Portion.

Théa

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 1 mL Tube Carton
AKTEN
lidocaine hydrochloride anhydrous gel
Product Information
Product TypeHUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGItem Code (Source)NDC:82584-792
Route of AdministrationOPHTHALMIC
Active Ingredient/Active Moiety
Ingredient NameBasis of StrengthStrength
LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE ANHYDROUS (UNII: EC2CNF7XFP) (LIDOCAINE - UNII:98PI200987) LIDOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE ANHYDROUS35 mg in 1 mL
Inactive Ingredients
Ingredient NameStrength
HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED (UNII: 3NXW29V3WO)
SODIUM CHLORIDE (UNII: 451W47IQ8X)
SODIUM HYDROXIDE (UNII: 55X04QC32I)
HYDROCHLORIC ACID (UNII: QTT17582CB)
WATER (UNII: 059QF0KO0R)
Packaging
#Item CodePackage DescriptionMarketing Start DateMarketing End Date
1NDC:82584-792-011 in 1 CARTON12/01/2022
11 mL in 1 TUBE; Type 0: Not a Combination Product
2NDC:82584-792-2525 in 1 CARTON12/01/2022
21 mL in 1 TUBE; Type 0: Not a Combination Product
Marketing Information
Marketing CategoryApplication Number or Monograph CitationMarketing Start DateMarketing End Date
NDANDA02222112/01/2022
Labeler - Thea Pharma Inc. (117787029)