Due to a recent court decision, the FDA has changed Libervant's status to "tentative approval." This means that we are legally required to stop marketing the product in the United States until certain legal matters are resolved. This decision was not based on any safety or effectiveness concerns, but rather on technical legal matters.
Aquestive has received tentative approval of Libervant from the FDA as the first and only oral, non-device diazepam-based medication for the treatment of seizure clusters (also known as “acute repetitive seizures”) in patients between 2 and 5 years of age and for patients 12 years and older. Aquestive recognizes the need for an oral formulation of diazepam and leveraged its proprietary PharmFilm® technology to develop this treatment. Libervant is administered buccally, or inside of the cheek. For product information, please contact Aquestive at info@aquestive.com. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Do not give Libervant® to your child if your child is allergic to diazepam or any of the ingredients in Libervant or has an eye problem called acute narrow angle glaucoma.
What is the most important information I should know about Libervant?
Libervant is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma, and death. Get emergency help right away if any of the following happens:
Do not allow your child to drive a motor vehicle, operate heavy machinery, or ride a bicycle until you know how taking Libervant with opioids affects your child.
Physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. Libervant is intended for use if needed in order to treat higher than usual seizure activity. Benzodiazepines, including Libervant, can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions, especially if used daily. Libervant is not intended for daily use.
Libervant can make your child sleepy or dizzy and can slow your child’s thinking and motor skills.
Like other antiepileptic medicines, Libervant may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Call a healthcare provider right away if your child has any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Keep all follow-up visits with your child’s healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your child’s healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms. Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If your child has suicidal thoughts or actions, your child’s healthcare provider may check for other causes.
What are the possible side effects of Libervant?
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.