Monday, 30 April 2012

Edluar


Pronunciation: zole-PI-dem
Generic Name: Zolpidem
Brand Name: Edluar


Edluar is used for:

Short-term treatment of insomnia (trouble falling asleep).


Edluar is a sedative-hypnotic, or sleep medicine. It works by helping to increase certain natural chemicals in the brain that cause sleep.


Do NOT use Edluar if:


  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Edluar

  • you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.



Before using Edluar:


Some medical conditions may interact with Edluar. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:


  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

  • if you have kidney or liver problems, lung or breathing problems (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], sleep apnea), myasthenia gravis, metabolism problems, heart or blood pressure problems, or very poor health

  • if you have a history of mood or mental problems (eg, depression), suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or alcohol or substance abuse or addiction

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Edluar. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:


  • HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), ketoconazole, or sodium oxybate (GHB) because they may increase the risk of Edluar's side effects

  • Rifampin because it may decrease Edluar's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Edluar may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


How to use Edluar:


Use Edluar as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.


  • Edluar comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Edluar refilled.

  • Take Edluar by mouth. Do not take it with or right after a meal because it may not work as well.

  • Edluar works very quickly; use it right before going to sleep.

  • Wash and completely dry your hands before you take Edluar. Do not handle the tablet with wet or damp hands.

  • Do not remove the tablet from the pack until you are ready to take Edluar. Use the tablet immediately after opening the blister pack. Do not store the removed tablet for future use.

  • To remove Edluar from the blister pack, separate the individual blisters at the perforations. Peel off the top layer of paper, and push the tablet through the foil.

  • Place the tablet under your tongue and allow it to slowly dissolve. Do not swallow, crush, or chew Edluar.

  • Do not take Edluar with water. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while the tablet is dissolving.

  • Use Edluar only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours).

  • If you miss a dose of Edluar, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once, and do not take more than your total daily dose in any 24-hour period.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Edluar.



Important safety information:


  • Edluar may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Edluar with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

  • Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Edluar; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.

  • Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.

  • When you first start taking Edluar, it may have a "carryover" effect on you the next day. Use extreme care while doing anything that requires complete alertness (eg, driving a car).

  • Edluar is usually used only for a short period of time. If your symptoms do not get better within 7 to 10 days or if they get worse, check with your doctor.

  • Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss or amnesia. To prevent memory problems, be sure to use Edluar only when you are able to get a full night's sleep (7 to 8 hours) before you need to be active again. Be sure to talk to your health care provider if you think you are having memory problems.

  • Some patients taking Edluar have performed certain activities while they were not fully awake. These have included sleep driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, and having sex. Patients often do not remember these events after they happen. Such an event may be more likely to occur if you use a high dose of Edluar. It may also be more likely if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that may cause drowsiness while you use Edluar. Tell your doctor right away if such an event happens to you.

  • Use Edluar with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness.

  • Edluar should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. Children may be more sensitive to Edluar's side effects, especially dizziness, headache, and hallucinations.

  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Edluar while you are pregnant. Edluar may cause prolonged sleep or severe breathing problems in the newborn if you take it during the last weeks of pregnancy, especially if you take it with certain other medicines. Edluar is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Edluar, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few weeks, they may lose their effectiveness to help you sleep. This is known as TOLERANCE. Sleep medicines should usually be used only for short periods of time, such as a few days and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks. If your sleep problems continue, contact your doctor.


When used for longer than a few weeks or at high doses, some people develop a need to continue taking Edluar. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs in the past.


If you stop taking Edluar suddenly, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. This may include unpleasant feelings. In more severe cases, you may have stomach and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, and shakiness. Seizures may rarely occur. If you take Edluar for more than 1 to 2 weeks, do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor.



Possible side effects of Edluar:


All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:



Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness (including daytime drowsiness); "drugged" feeling; dry mouth; headache; nausea; nose or throat irritation; sluggishness; stomach upset; tiredness; weakness.



Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the hands, legs, mouth, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; throat closing; unusual hoarseness); abnormal thinking; behavior changes; chest pain; confusion; decreased coordination; difficulty swallowing or breathing; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; memory problems (eg, memory loss); mental or mood changes (eg, aggression, agitation, anxiety); new or worsening depression; severe dizziness; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or actions; vision changes.



This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.


See also: Edluar side effects (in more detail)


If OVERDOSE is suspected:


Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include coma; severe drowsiness.


Proper storage of Edluar:

Store Edluar at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Edluar out of the reach of children and away from pets.


General information:


  • If you have any questions about Edluar, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

  • Edluar is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

  • If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

  • Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is summary only. It does not contain all information about Edluar. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.



Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Edluar resources


  • Edluar Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Edluar Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Edluar Drug Interactions
  • Edluar Support Group
  • 5 Reviews for Edluar - Add your own review/rating


  • Edluar Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Edluar Consumer Overview

  • Edluar Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Zolpidem Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Ambien Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Ambien Monograph (AHFS DI)

  • Ambien Consumer Overview

  • Ambien CR Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Intermezzo Consumer Overview

  • ZolpiMist Consumer Overview

  • Zolpimist Prescribing Information (FDA)



Compare Edluar with other medications


  • Insomnia

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Inapsine



droperidol

Dosage Form: injection

FOR INTRAVENOUS OR INTRAMUSCULAR USE ONLY


Rx only



Warning

Cases of QT prolongation and/or torsade de pointes have been reported in patients receiving Inapsine at doses at or below recommended doses. Some cases have occurred in patients with no known risk factors for QT prolongation and some cases have been fatal.


Due to its potential for serious proarrhythmic effects and death, Inapsine should be reserved for use in the treatment of patients who fail to show an acceptable response to other adequate treatments, either because of insufficient effectiveness or the inability to achieve an effective dose due to intolerable adverse effects from those drugs (see Warnings, Adverse Reactions, Contraindications, and Precautions).


Cases of QT prolongation and serious arrhythmias (e.g., torsade de pointes) have been reported in patients treated with Inapsine. Based on these reports, all patients should undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration of Inapsine to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec for males or 450 msec for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, Inapsine should NOT be administered. For patients in whom the potential benefit of Inapsine treatment is felt to outweigh the risks of potentially serious arrhythmias, ECG monitoring should be performed prior to treatment and continued for 2 to 3 hours after completing treatment to monitor for arrhythmias.


Inapsine is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected QT prolongation, including patients with congenital long QT syndrome.


Inapsine should be administered with extreme caution to patients who may be at risk for development of prolonged QT syndrome (e.g., congestive heart failure, bradycardia, use of a diuretic, cardiac hypertrophy, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or administration of other drugs known to increase the QT interval). Other risk factors may include age over 65 years, alcohol abuse, and use of agents such as benzodiazepines, volatile anesthetics, and IV opiates. Droperidol should be initiated at a low dose and adjusted upward, with caution, as needed to achieve the desired effect.




Inapsine Description


Inapsine contains droperidol, a neuroleptic (tranquilizer) agent. Inapsine® (droperidol) Injection is available in ampules and vials. Each milliliter contains 2.5 mg of droperidol in an aqueous solution adjusted to pH 3.4 ± 0.4 with lactic acid. Droperidol is chemically identified as 1-(1-[3-(p-fluorobenzoyl) propyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridyl)-2-benzimidazolinone with a molecular weight of 379.43. The structural formula of droperidol is:



Molecular formula: C22H22FN3O2, partition coefficient in n-octanol: water: 3.46, pKa: 7.46


Inapsine is a sterile, non-pyrogenic, aqueous solution for intravenous or intramuscular injection.



Inapsine - Clinical Pharmacology


Inapsine (droperidol) produces marked tranquilization and sedation. It allays apprehension and provides a state of mental detachment and indifference while maintaining a state of reflex alertness.


Inapsine produces an antiemetic effect as evidenced by the antagonism of apomorphine in dogs. It lowers the incidence of nausea and vomiting during surgical procedures and provides antiemetic protection in the postoperative period.


Inapsine potentiates other CNS depressants. It produces mild alpha-adrenergic blockade, peripheral vascular dilatation and reduction of the pressor effect of epinephrine. It can produce hypotension and decreased peripheral vascular resistance and may decrease pulmonary arterial pressure (particularly if it is abnormally high). It may reduce the incidence of epinephrine-induced arrhythmias, but it does not prevent other cardiac arrhythmias.


The onset of action of single intramuscular and intravenous doses is from three to ten minutes following administration, although the peak effect may not be apparent for up to thirty minutes. The duration of the tranquilizing and sedative effects generally is two to four hours, although alteration of alertness may persist for as long as twelve hours.



Indications and Usage for Inapsine


Inapsine (droperidol) is indicated to reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting associated with surgical and diagnostic procedures.



Contraindications


Inapsine is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected QT prolongation (i.e., QTc interval greater than 440 msec for males or 450 msec for females). This would include patients with congenital long QT syndrome.


Inapsine (droperidol) is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug.


Inapsine is not recommended for any use other than for the treatment of perioperative nausea and vomiting in patients for whom other treatments are ineffective or inappropriate (see WARNINGS).



Warnings


Inapsine should be administered with extreme caution in the presence of risk factors for development of prolonged QT syndrome, such as: 1) clinically significant bradycardia (less than 50 bpm), 2) any clinically significant cardiac disease, 3) treatment with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmics, 4) treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), 5) concomitant treatment with other drug products known to prolong the QT interval (see PRECAUTIONS, Drug Interactions), and 6) electrolyte imbalance, in particular hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, or concomitant treatment with drugs (e.g., diuretics) that may cause electrolyte imbalance.



Effects on Cardiac Conduction


A dose-dependent prolongation of the QT interval was observed within 10 minutes of droperidol administration in a study of 40 patients without known cardiac disease who underwent extracranial head and neck surgery. Significant QT prolongation was observed at all three dose levels evaluated, with 0.1, 0.175, and 0.25 mg/kg associated with prolongation of median QTc by 37, 44, and 59 msec, respectively.


Cases of QT prolongation and serious arrhythmias (e.g. torsade de pointes, ventricular arrythmias, cardiac arrest, and death) have been observed during post-marketing treatment with Inapsine. Some cases have occurred in patients with no known risk factors and at doses at or below recommended doses. There has been at least one case of nonfatal torsade de pointes confirmed by rechallenge.


Based on these reports, all patients should undergo a 12-lead ECG prior to administration of Inapsine to determine if a prolonged QT interval (i.e., QTc greater than 440 msec for males or 450 msec for females) is present. If there is a prolonged QT interval, Inapsine should NOT be administered. For patients in whom the potential benefit of Inapsine treatment is felt to outweigh the risks of potentially serious arrhythmias, ECG monitoring should be performed prior to treatment and continued for 2 to 3 hours after completing treatment to monitor for arrhythmias.


FLUIDS AND OTHER COUNTERMEASURES TO MANAGE HYPOTENSION SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE.


As with other CNS depressant drugs, patients who have received Inapsine (droperidol) should have appropriate surveillance.


It is recommended that opioids, when required, initially be used in reduced doses.


As with other neuroleptic agents, very rare reports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (altered consciousness, muscle rigidity and autonomic instability) have occurred in patients who have received Inapsine (droperidol).


Since it may be difficult to distinguish neuroleptic malignant syndrome from malignant hyperpyrexia in the perioperative period, prompt treatment with dantrolene should be considered if increases in temperature, heart rate or carbon dioxide production occur.



Precautions



General


The initial dose of Inapsine (droperidol) should be appropriately reduced in elderly, debilitated and other poor-risk patients. The effect of the initial dose should be considered in determining incremental doses.


Certain forms of conduction anesthesia, such as spinal anesthesia and some peridural anesthetics, can alter respiration by blocking intercostal nerves and can cause peripheral vasodilatation and hypotension because of sympathetic blockade. Through other mechanisms (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY), Inapsine can also alter circulation. Therefore, when Inapsine is used to supplement these forms of anesthesia, the anesthetist should be familiar with the physiological alterations involved, and be prepared to manage them in the patients elected for these forms of anesthesia.


If hypotension occurs, the possibility of hypovolemia should be considered and managed with appropriate parenteral fluid therapy. Repositioning the patient to improve venous return to the heart should be considered when operative conditions permit. It should be noted that in spinal and peridural anesthesia, tilting the patient into a head-down position may result in a higher level of anesthesia than is desirable, as well as impair venous return to the heart. Care should be exercised in moving and positioning of patients because of a possibility of orthostatic hypotension. If volume expansion with fluids plus these other countermeasures do not correct the hypotension, then the administration of pressor agents other than epinephrine should be considered. Epinephrine may paradoxically decrease the blood pressure in patients treated with Inapsine due to the alpha-adrenergic blocking action of Inapsine.


Since Inapsine may decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, this fact should be considered by those who conduct diagnostic or surgical procedures where interpretation of pulmonary arterial pressure measurements might determine final management of the patient.


Vital signs and ECG should be monitored routinely.


When the EEG is used for postoperative monitoring, it may be found that the EEG pattern returns to normal slowly.


Impaired Hepatic or Renal Function

Inapsine should be administered with caution to patients with liver and kidney dysfunction because of the importance of these organs in the metabolism and excretion of drugs.


Pheochromocytoma

In patients with diagnosed/suspected pheochromocytonia, severe hypertension and tachycardia have been observed after the administration of Inapsine (droperidol).



Drug Interactions


Potentially Arrhythmogenic Agents

Any drug known to have the potential to prolong the QT interval should not be used together with Inapsine. Possible pharmacodynamic interactions can occur between Inapsine and potentially arrhythmogenic agents such as class I or III antiarrhythmics, antihistamines that prolong the QT interval, antimalarials, calcium channel blockers, neuroleptics that prolong the QT interval, and antidepressants.


Caution should be used when patients are taking concomitant drugs known to induce hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia as they may precipitate QT prolongation and interact with Inapsine. These would include diuretics, laxatives and supraphysiological use of steroid hormones with mineralocorticoid potential.


CNS Depressant Drugs

Other CNS depressant drugs (e.g., barbiturates, tranquilizers, opioids and general anesthetics) have additive or potentiating effects with Inapsine. Following the administration of Inapsine, the dose of other CNS depressant drugs should be reduced.



Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility


No carcinogenicity studies have been carried out with Inapsine. The micronucleus test in female rats revealed no mutagenic effects in single oral doses as high as 160 mg/kg. An oral study in rats (Segment I) revealed no impairment of fertility in either male or females at 0.63, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg doses (approximately 2.9 and 36 times maximum recommended human iv/im dosage).



Pregnancy


Category C

Inapsine administered intravenously has been shown to cause a slight increase in mortality of the newborn rat at 4.4 times the upper human dose. At 44 times the upper human dose, mortality rate was comparable to that for control animals. Following intramuscular administration, increased mortality of the offspring at 1.8 times the upper human dose is attributed to CNS depression in the dams who neglected to remove placentae from their offspring. Inapsine has not been shown to be teratogenic in animals. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Inapsine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.



Labor and Delivery


There are insufficient data to support the use of Inapsine in labor and delivery. Therefore, such use is not recommended.



Nursing Mothers


It is not known whether Inapsine is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Inapsine is administered to a nursing mother.



Pediatric Use


The safety of Inapsine in children younger than two years of age has not been established.



Adverse Reactions


QT interval prolongation, torsade de pointes, cardiac arrest, and ventricular tachycardia have been reported in patients treated with Inapsine. Some of these cases were associated with death. Some cases occurred in patients with no known risk factors, and some were associated with droperidol doses at or below recommended doses.


Physicians should be alert to palpitations, syncope, or other symptoms suggestive of episodes of irregular cardiac rhythm in patients taking Inapsine and promptly evaluate such cases (see WARNINGS, Effects on Cardiac Conduction).


The most common somatic adverse reactions reported to occur with Inapsine (droperidol) are mild to moderate hypotension and tachycardia, but these effects usually subside without treatment. If hypotension occurs and is severe or persists, the possibility of hypovolemia should be considered and managed with appropriate parenteral fluid therapy.


The most common behavioral adverse effects of Inapsine (droperidol) include dysphoria, postoperative drowsiness, restlessness, hyperactivity and anxiety, which can either be the result of an inadequate dosage (lack of adequate treatment effect) or of an adverse drug reaction (part of the symptom complex of akathisia).


Care should be taken to search for extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (dystonia, akathisia, oculogyric crisis) to differentiate these different clinical conditions. When extrapyramidal symptoms are the cause, they can usually be controlled with anticholinergic agents.


Postoperative hallucinatory episodes (sometimes associated with transient periods of mental depression) have also been reported.


Other less common reported adverse reactions include anaphylaxis, dizziness, chills and/or shivering, laryngospasm, and bronchospasm.


Elevated blood pressure, with or without pre-existing hypertension, has been reported following administration of Inapsine combined with SUBLIMAZE (fentanyl citrate) or other parenteral analgesics. This might be due to unexplained alterations in sympathetic activity following large doses: however, it is also frequently attributed to anesthetic or surgical stimulation during light anesthesia.



Overdosage



Manifestations


The manifestations of Inapsine (droperidol) overdosage are an extension of its pharmacologic actions and may include QT prolongation and serious arrhythmias (e.g., torsade de pointes) (see BOX WARNING, WARNINGS, and PRECAUTIONS).



Treatment


In the presence of hypoventilation or apnea, oxygen should be administered and respiration should be assisted or controlled as indicated. A patent airway must be maintained; an oropharyngeal airway or endotracheal tube might be indicated. The patient should be carefully observed for 24 hours; body warmth and adequate fluid intake should be maintained. If hypotension occurs and is severe or persists, the possibility of hypovolemia should be considered and managed with appropriate parenteral fluid therapy (see PRECAUTIONS).


If significant extrapyramidal reactions occur in the context of an overdose, an anticholinergic should be administered.


The intravenous Median Lethal Dose of Inapsine is 20 to 43 mg/kg in mice; 30 mg/kg in rats; 25 mg/kg in dogs and 11 to 13 mg/kg in rabbits. The intramuscular Median Lethal Dose of Inapsine is 195 mg/kg in mice; 104 to 110 mg/kg in rats; 97 mg/kg in rabbits and 200 mg/kg in guinea pigs.



Inapsine Dosage and Administration


Dosage should be individualized. Some of the factors to be considered in determining the dose are age, body weight, physical status, underlying pathological condition, use of other drugs, type of anesthesia to be used and the surgical procedure involved.


Vital signs and ECG should be monitored routinely.



Adult dosage


The maximum recommended initial dose of Inapsine is 2.5 mg IM or slow IV. Additional 1.25 mg doses of Inapsine may be administered to achieve the desired effect. However, additional doses should be administered with caution, and only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.



Children's dosage


For children two to 12 years of age, the maximum recommended initial dose is 0.1 mg/kg, taking into account the patient's age and other clinical factors. However, additional doses should be administered with caution, and only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.



See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS for use of Inapsine with other CNS depressants and in patients with altered response.


Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. If such abnormalities are observed, the drug should not be administered.



How is Inapsine Supplied


Inapsine® (droperidol) Injection is available as:


NDC 11098-010-01, 2.5 mg/mL, 1 mL ampules in packages of 10


NDC 11098-010-02, 2.5 mg/mL, 2 mL ampules in packages of 10


NDC 11098-531-01, 2.5 mg/mL, 1 mL vials in packages of 25


NDC 11098-531-02, 2.5 mg/mL, 2 mL vials in packages of 25



STORAGE


Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from light.



REFERENCES


  1. Saarnivarra L, Klemola UM, Lindgren L, et al. QT interval of the ECG, heart rate and arterial pressure using propofal, methohexital or midazolam for induction of anesthesia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1990; 34: 276-81.

  2. Schmeling WT, Warltier DC, McDonald DJ, et al. Prolongation of the QT interval by enflurane, isoflurane and halothane in humans. Anesth Analg 1991; 72: 137-44.

  3. Spath G. Torsade des pointe oder die andere Ursache des plotz-lichen Herztodes. Wien: Ueberreuter, 1998.

  4. Riley DC, Schmeling WT, Al-Wathiqui MH, et al. Prolongation of the QT-interval by volatile anesthetics in chronically instrumented dogs. Anesth Analg 1988; 67: 741-9.

  5. McConachie I, Keaventy JP, Healy TF, et al. Effects of anaesthesia on the QT-interval. Br J Anaesth 1989; 63: 558-60.

  6. Lawrence KR, Nasraway SA. Conduction disturbances associated with administration of butyrophenone antipsychotic in the critically ill: a review of the literature. Pharmacother 1997; 17(3): 531-7.

  7. Lischke V, Behne M, Doelken P, et al. Droperidol causes a dose-dependent prolongation of the QT interval. Anesth Analg 1994; 79: 983-6.



DPA0N Rev. 04/06








Inapsine 
droperidol  injection










Product Information
Product TypeHUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGNDC Product Code (Source)11098-010
Route of AdministrationINTRAVENOUS, INTRAMUSCULARDEA Schedule    











INGREDIENTS
Name (Active Moiety)TypeStrength
droperidol (droperidol)Active2.5 MILLIGRAM  In 1 MILLILITER
lactic acidInactive 


















Product Characteristics
Color    Score    
ShapeSize
FlavorImprint Code
Contains      






















Packaging
#NDCPackage DescriptionMultilevel Packaging
111098-010-0110 AMPULE In 1 PACKAGEcontains a AMPULE
11 mL (MILLILITER) In 1 AMPULEThis package is contained within the PACKAGE (11098-010-01)
211098-010-0210 AMPULE In 1 PACKAGEcontains a AMPULE
22 mL (MILLILITER) In 1 AMPULEThis package is contained within the PACKAGE (11098-010-02)






Inapsine 
droperidol  injection










Product Information
Product TypeHUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGNDC Product Code (Source)11098-531
Route of AdministrationINTRAVENOUS, INTRAMUSCULARDEA Schedule    











INGREDIENTS
Name (Active Moiety)TypeStrength
droperidol (droperidol)Active2.5 MILLIGRAM  In 1 MILLILITER
lactic acidInactive 


















Product Characteristics
Color    Score    
ShapeSize
FlavorImprint Code
Contains      






















Packaging
#NDCPackage DescriptionMultilevel Packaging
111098-531-0125 VIAL In 1 PACKAGEcontains a VIAL
11 mL (MILLILITER) In 1 VIALThis package is contained within the PACKAGE (11098-531-01)
211098-531-0225 VIAL In 1 PACKAGEcontains a VIAL
22 mL (MILLILITER) In 1 VIALThis package is contained within the PACKAGE (11098-531-02)

Revised: 08/2007Taylor Pharmaceuticals

More Inapsine resources


  • Inapsine Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Inapsine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Inapsine Drug Interactions
  • Inapsine Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Inapsine - Add your own review/rating


  • Inapsine Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)

  • Inapsine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Inapsine Monograph (AHFS DI)

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Compare Inapsine with other medications


  • Nausea/Vomiting
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Thursday, 26 April 2012

Dobutamine 5 mg / ml, solution for infusion (hameln)





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Dobutamine 5 mg/ml solution for infusion


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each ampoule/vial Dobutamine contains dobutamine hydrochloride corresponding to 250 mg dobutamine.



50 ml ampoule/vial



1 ml contains 5 mg dobutamine.



For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Solution for infusion



The product is a clear, colourless or almost colourless solution.



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Dobutamine is indicated for patients who require a positive inotropic support in the treatment of cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility.



In cardiogenic shock characterised by heart failure with severe hypotension and in case of septic shock Dobutamine may be useful if added to dopamine in case of disturbed ventricular function, raised filling pressure of the ventricles and raised systemic resistance.



Dobutamine may also be used for detection of myocardial ischaemia and of viable myocardium within the scope of an echocardiographic examination (dobutamine stress echocardiography), if patients cannot undergo a period of exercise or if the exercise yields no information of value.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



Dobutamine doses must be individually adjusted.



The required rate of infusion depends on the patient's response to therapy and the adverse reactions experienced.



Dosage in adults:



According to experience, the majority of patients respond to doses of 2.5-10 µg dobutamine/kg/min. In individual cases, doses up to 40 µg dobutamine/kg/min have been administered.



Dosage in children:



Doses of 1 to 15 µg dobutamine/kg/min have been administered. There is reason to believe that the minimum effective dosage for children is higher than for adults. Caution should be taken in administering high doses, because there is also reason to believe that the maximum tolerated dosage for children is lower than for adults. Most adverse reactions (tachycardia in particular) are observed when the dosage is 7.5 µg dobutamine/kg/min or above.



The required dose for children should be titrated in order to allow for the narrower “therapeutic window” in children.



Tables, showing infusion rates with different initial concentrations for various dosages:



Dosage for infusion delivery systems



One ampoule or vial Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml) diluted to a solution volume of 500 ml (final concentration 0.5 mg/ml)


































Dosage range




Specifications in ml/h*



(drops/min)


   


Patient's weight


    


50 kg




70 kg




90 kg


  


Low



2.5 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(drops/min)




15



(5)




21



(7)




27



(9)




Medium



5 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(drops/min)




30



(10)




42



(14)




54



(18)




High



10 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(drops/min)




60



(20)




84



(28)




108



(36)



* For double concentration, i.e. 500 mg dobutamine added to 500 ml, or 250 mg added to 250 ml solution volume, infusion rates must be halved.



Dosage for syringe pumps



One ampoule or vial Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml) undiluted (final concentration 5 mg/ml)


































Dosage range




Specifications in ml/h



(ml/min)


   


Patient's weight


    


50 kg




70 kg




90 kg


  


Low



2.5 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(ml/min)




1.5



(0.025)




2.1



(0.035)




2.7



(0.045)




Medium



5 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(ml/min)




3.0



(0.05)




4.2



(0.07)




5.4



(0.09)




High



10 µg/kg/min




ml/h



(ml/min)




6.0



(0.10)




8.4



(0.14)




10.8



(0.18)



The chosen syringe pump must be suitable for the volume and rate of administration.



For detailed information about suitable solutions for dilution please see section 6.6.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



Administration in stress echocardiography is undertaken by gradually increasing dobutamine infusion.



The most frequently applied dosage scheme starts with 5 µg/kg/min Dobutamine increased every 3 minutes to 10, 20, 30, 40 µg/kg/min until a diagnostic endpoint (see method and duration of application) is reached.



If no endpoint is reached atropine sulphate may be administered at 0.5 to 2 mg in divided doses of 0.25-0.5 mg at 1 minute intervals to increase the heart rate. Alternatively the infusion rate of dobutamine may be increased to 50 µg/kg/min.



The experience in children and adolescents is limited to the treatment of patients requiring positive inotropic support.



Method and duration of administration



Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml) ampoule or vial



Only for intravenous infusion (syringe pump). Dilution is not required.



Intravenous infusion of dobutamine is also possible after dilution with compatible infusion solutions such as: 5% glucose solution, 0.9% sodium chloride or 0.45% sodium chloride in 5% glucose solution. (For detailed information for dilution please see section 6.6.) Infusion solutions should be prepared immediately before use. (For information on shelf life, see section 6.3.)



Due to its short half-life, dobutamine must be administered as a continuous intravenous infusion.



The dose of dobutamine should be gradually reduced when discontinuing therapy.



The duration of treatment depends on the clinical requirements and is to be determined by the physician and should be as short as possible.



If dobutamine is administered continuously for more than 72 hours, tolerance may occur, requiring an increase in the dose.



During the course of dobutamine administration, heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, diuresis and infusion rate should be closely monitored. Cardiac output, central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) should be monitored if possible.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



For detection of myocardial ischaemia and of viable myocardium dobutamine may only be administered by a physician with sufficient experience in conducting cardiology stress tests. Continuous monitoring of all wall areas via echocardiography, and ECG as well as control of blood pressure is necessary.



Monitoring devices as well as emergency medicines must be available (e.g. defibrillator, I.V. beta-blockers, nitrates, etc.) and staff trained in the resuscitation procedure must be present.



4.3 Contraindications



Dobutamine must not be used in the case of:



- known hypersensitivity to dobutamine or to any of the excipients,



- mechanical obstruction of ventricular filling and/or of outflow, such as pericardial tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis,



- hypovolaemic conditions.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



Dobutamine must not be used for detection of myocardial ischaemia and of viable myocardium in case of:



- recent myocardial infarction (within the last 30 days),



- unstable angina pectoris,



- stenosis of the main left coronary artery,



- haemodynamically significant outflow obstruction of the left ventricle including hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy,



- haemodynamically significant cardiac valvular defect,



- severe heart failure (NYHA III or IV),



- predisposition for or documented medical history of clinically significant or chronic arrhythmia, particularly recurrent persistent ventricular tachycardia,



- significant disturbance in conduction,



- acute pericarditis, myocarditis or endocarditis,



- aortic dissection,



- aortic aneurysm,



- poor sonographic imaging conditions,



- inadequately treated / controlled arterial hypertension,



- obstruction of ventricular filling (constrictive pericarditis, pericardial tamponade),



- hypovolaemia,



- previous experience of hypersensitivity to dobutamine.



Note:



If administering atropine, the respective contraindications have to be observed.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Dobutamine must not be used for the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma who are hypersensitive to sulphites.



A local increase or decrease of coronary blood flow, which may have an impact on the myocardial oxygen demand, has been observed with dobutamine therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients with severe coronary heart disease may deteriorate, in particular if dobutamine therapy is accompanied by a considerable increase in the heart rate and/or blood pressure. Therefore, as with all positive inotropes, the decision to use dobutamine to treat patients with cardiac ischaemia must be made for each case individually.



Due to the risk of arrhythmias and the uncertainty about long term effects on myocardial dysfunction, inotropic agents, such as dobutamine, should be used with caution in the treatment of Acute Heart Failure (AHF).



As alterations in serum potassium level may occur, the potassium level should be monitored.



If dobutamine is administered continuously for more than 72 hours, tolerance phenomena (tachyphylaxis) may occur, requiring dosage increase.



Precipitous decreases in blood pressure (hypotension) have occasionally been described in association with dobutamine therapy. Decreasing the dose or discontinuing the infusion, typically results in rapid return of blood pressure to baseline values, but rarely intervention may be required and reversibility may not be immediate.



Dobutamine may interfere with HPLC determination of chloramphenicol.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



Because of possible life-threatening complications, the administration of dobutamine for stress echocardiography should only be undertaken by a physician with sufficient personal experience of the use of dobutamine for this indication.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography must be discontinued if one of the following diagnostic endpoints occurs:



- reaching the age-predicted maximal heart rate [(220-age in years)x0.85],



- systolic blood pressure decrease greater than 20 mmHg,



- blood pressure increase above 220/120 mmHg,



- progressive symptoms (angina pectoris, dyspnoea, dizziness, ataxia),



- progressive arrhythmia (e.g. coupling, ventricular salvos),



- progressive conduction disturbances,



- recently developed wall motility disorders in more than 1 wall segment (16-segment model),



- increase of endsystolic volume,



- development of repolarisation abnormality (due to ischaemia horizontal or down sloping ST segment depression more than 0.2 mV at an interval of 80 (60) ms after the J point compared to baseline, progressive or monophasic ST segment elevation above 0.1 mV in patients without a previous myocardial infarction,



- reaching peak dose.



In the event of serious complications (see section 4.8) dobutamine stress echocardiography must be stopped immediately.



Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml)



This medicinal product contains 3.05 mg sodium per 1 ml of Dobutamine 5 mg/ml. This should be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.



Dobutamine contains sodium metabisulphite (E 223), which may rarely cause allergic reactions (hypersensitivity) and asthma-like symptoms (bronchospasm).



After termination of infusion, patients must be monitored until stabilised.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Via competitive receptor inhibition, the sympathomimetic effect of dobutamine can be reduced by simultaneous administration of a beta receptor blocker. In addition, the alpha agonistic effects may cause peripheral vasoconstriction with a consequent increase in blood pressure.



With simultaneous alpha-receptor blockade, the predominating beta-mimetic effects may cause tachycardia and peripheral vasodilatation.



Simultaneous administration of dobutamine and primarily venous acting vasodilators (e.g. nitrates, sodium nitroprusside) may cause a greater increase of cardiac output as well as a more pronounced decrease of peripheral resistance and ventricular filling pressure than administration of one of the individual substances alone.



Administering dobutamine to diabetic patients may cause increased insulin demand. In diabetic patients insulin levels should be checked when starting dobutamine therapy changing the rate of infusion and discontinuing the infusion. If necessary the insulin dose must be adjusted as required.



Simultaneous administration of high doses of dobutamine with ACE inhibitors (e.g. captopril) may cause an increase in cardiac output, accompanied by increased myocardial oxygen consumption. Chest pain and rhythm disturbances have been reported in this context.



Dobutamine combined with dopamine causes – depending on the dopamine dosage and in contrast to its sole administration – a more distinct increase of blood pressure as well as a decrease or no change of ventricular filling pressure.



Sodium metabisulphite is a very reactive compound. It must therefore be assumed that thiamine (vitamin B1) co-administered with the preparation is catabolised.



Caution should be exercised when administering dobutamine with inhaled anaesthetics, since concomitant use may increase the excitability of the myocardium and the risk of ventricular extrasystoles.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



In the case of anti-anginal therapy, in particular heart rate lowering agents like beta-blockers, the ischaemic reaction to stress is less pronounced or may be nonexistent.



Therefore anti-anginal therapy may need to be withheld for 12 hours prior to dobutamine stress echocardiography.



When adding atropine at the highest titration level of dobutamine:



Due to the prolonged duration of the stress echocardiography protocol, the higher total dose of dobutamine and the simultaneous administration of atropine, there is an increased risk of adverse reactions.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



As there is no adequate data on the safety of dobutamine in human pregnancy and it is not known whether dobutamine crosses the placenta, dobutamine should not be used during pregnancy unless potential benefits outweigh the potential risks to the foetus and there are no safer therapeutic alternatives.



It is not known, whether dobutamine is excreted in breast milk, so caution should be exercised. If treatment with dobutamine is required for the mother during lactation, breast feeding should be discontinued for the duration of treatment.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



Not relevant.



4.8 Undesirable Effects

















Evaluation of undesirable effects is based on the following frequency scale:
 


Very common:







Common:







Uncommon:







Rare:







Very rare:




< 1/10,000




Not known:




cannot be estimated from the data available









































































Blood and lymphatic system disorders
 


Common:




Eosinophilia, inhibition of thrombocyte aggregation (only when continuing infusion over a number of days).




Metabolism and nutrition disorders


 


Very rare:




Hypokalaemia.



Nervous system disorders
 


Common:




Headache.



Cardiac disorders / vascular disorders
 


Very common:




Increase of the heart rate by




Common:




Blood pressure increase of



Blood pressure decrease, ventricular dysrhythmia, dose-dependent ventricular extrasystoles.



Increased ventricular frequency in patients with atrial fibrillation.



These patients should be digitalised prior to dobutamine infusion.



Vasoconstriction in particular in patients who have previously been treated with beta blockers.



Anginal pain, palpitations.




Uncommon:




Ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation.




Very rare:




Bradycardia, myocardial ischaemia, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest.




Not known:




Decrease in pulmonary capillary pressure.



Children: pronounced increase of heart rate and/or blood pressure as well as a lower decrease of the pulmonary capillary pressure than adults. Increase of pulmonary capillary pressure in children under 1.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography
 

Cardiac disorders / vascular disorders
 


Very common:




Pectoral anginal discomfort, ventricular extra-systoles with a frequency of > 6/min.




Common:




Supraventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia.




Uncommon:




Ventricular fibrillation, myocardial infarction.




Very rare:




Occurrence of second degree atrioventricular block, coronary vasospasms.



Hypertensive/hypotensive blood pressure decompensation, occurrence of intracavitary pressure gradients, palpitations.




Not known:




Stress cardiomyopathy.



Respiratory system, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
 


Common:




Bronchospasm, shortness of breath.



Gastrointestinal disorders
 


Common:




Nausea.



Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
 


Common:




Exanthema.




Very rare:




Petechial bleeding.



Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
 


Common:




Chest pain.



Renal and urinary disorders
 


Common:




Increased urgency at high dosages of infusion.



General disorders and administration site conditions
 


Common:




Fever, phlebitis at the injection site.



In case of accidental paravenous infiltration, local inflammation may develop.




Very rare:




Cutaneous necrosis.



Further undesirable effects
 

Restlessness, nausea, headache, paraesthesia, tremor, urinary urgency, feeling of heat and anxiety, myoclonic spasm.
 


4.9 Overdose



Symptoms of overdose



Symptoms are generally caused by excessive stimulation of beta-receptors. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, tremor, anxiety, palpitations, headache, anginal pain and unspecific chest pain. The positive inotropic and chronotropic cardiac effects may cause hypertension, supraventricular/ventricular arrhythmia and even ventricular fibrillation as well as myocardial ischaemia. Hypotension may occur due to peripheral vasodilatation.



Treatment of overdose



Dobutamine is metabolised rapidly and has a short duration of effect (half-life 2 - 3 minutes).



In case of overdose, administration of dobutamine should be terminated. If necessary, resuscitation procedures must be carried out immediately. Under conditions of intensive care, vital parameters must be monitored and corrected if necessary. Balanced levels of blood gases and serum electrolytes must be maintained.



Severe ventricular arrhythmias can be treated with administration of lidocaine or a beta blocker (e. g. propranolol).



Angina pectoris should be treated with a sublingually administrated nitrate or possibly a short-acting, I.V. beta blocker (e.g. esmolol).



In case of a hypertensive reaction, dose reduction or termination of the infusion is usually sufficient.



With oral administration, the quantity absorbed from the mouth or gastrointestinal tract is unpredictable. In case of accidental oral administration, resorption may be reduced by administration of activated charcoal, which is often more effective than administration of emetics or performing gastric lavage.



The benefit of forced diuresis, peritoneal dialysis, haemodialysis or haemoperfusion via activated charcoal has not been demonstrated for cases of dobutamine overdosage.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



If applying one of the common dosage schemes, toxic doses are not reached, not even cumulatively. In case of severe complications during diagnostic administration of dobutamine, the infusion must be terminated at once and sufficient oxygen supply and ventilation must be guaranteed. Treatment of angina pectoris should be performed with an intravenous beta-blocker with a very short-acting effect. Angina pectoris may also be treated with a sublingually administered nitrate, if necessary. Class I and III antiarrhythmics must not be administrated.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Pharmacotherapeutic group: Adrenergic and dopaminergic agents



ATC Code: C01CA07



Dobutamine is a synthetic, sympathomimetic amine, structurally related to isoproterenol and dopamine, and is administered as racemate. The positive inotropic effect is primarily based on the agonistic effect on cardiac beta1-receptors but also on cardiac alpha1-receptors; which leads to increased contractility with an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output. Dobutamine also has an agonistic effect on peripheral beta2- receptors and to a smaller extent on peripheral alpha2-receptors. In accordance with the pharmacological profile, positive chronotropic effects occur as well as effects on the peripheral vascular system. These however, are less pronounced than the effects of other catecholamines. The haemodynamic effects are dose-dependent. The cardiac output increases primarily due to an increase in the stroke volume; an increase in the heart rate is observed particularly with higher dosages. There is a reduction in left ventricular filling pressure and systemic vascular resistance. With higher doses, there is also a reduction in the pulmonary resistance. Occasionally an insignificant increase of the systemic vascular resistance can be observed. The volume increase due to an increase of the cardiac output is thought to be the reason for the blood pressure elevation. Dobutamine acts directly, independent from synaptic catecholamine concentrations, does not act at the dopamine receptor site, and – unlike dopamine – has no impact on the release of endogenous noradrenaline (norepinephrine).



There is a decrease of recovery time of sinus node and the A-V conduction time. Dobutamine may cause a tendency towards arrhythmia. When administered non-stop for more than 72 hours, tolerance phenomena were observed. Dobutamine impacts the functions of thrombocytes. Like all other inotropic substances, dobutamine increases myocardial oxygen demand. Via reduction of the pulmonary vascular resistance and the hyperperfusion even of hypoventilated alveolar areas (formation of a pulmonary “Shunt”) a relatively reduced oxygen supply may occur in some cases. The increase in cardiac output and the resulting increase in coronary blood flow usually compensate these effects and cause – compared with other positive inotropic substances – a favourable oxygen supply/demand ratio.



Dobutamine is indicated for patients who require positive inotropic support in the treatment of cardiac decompensation due to depressed contractility resulting either from organic heart disease or from cardiac surgical procedures, especially when a low cardiac output is associated with raised pulmonary capillary pressure.



In cases of heart failure accompanied by acute or chronic myocardial ischaemia, administration should be performed in a manner to prevent considerable increase in heart rate or blood pressure; otherwise, particularly in patients with a relatively good ventricular function, increase of ischaemia cannot be excluded.



There are only limited data with regard to clinical outcome including long-term morbidity and mortality. So far, no data exists to support a beneficial long-term effect on morbidity and mortality.



Dobutamine has no direct dopaminergic effect on renal perfusion.



Dobutamine stress echocardiography



Ischaemic diagnostic: Due to the positive inotropic testing and in particular due to the positive chronotropic effects under dobutamine stress, the myocardial oxygen (and substrate) demand increases. With a pre-existing coronary artery stenosis, an insufficient increase of coronary blood flow leads to local hypoperfusion, which can be demonstrated on the echocardiogram in the form of a newly developed myocardial wall motility disorder in the respective segment.



Viability diagnostic: Viable myocardium, which is hypokinetic or akinetic (due to stunning, hibernation) on the echocardiogram, has a contractile functional reserve. This contractile functional reserve is particularly stimulated by the positive inotropic effects during dobutamine stress testing at lower doses (5-20 µg/kg/min). An improvement of the systolic contractility, i.e. increase of wall motility in the respective segment, can be shown on the echocardiogram.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Onset of action is 1 - 2 minutes after the start of infusion; during continuing infusion, steady-state plasma levels are only reached after 10 - 12 minutes. Steady-state plasma levels increase dose-dependently linearly to the infusion rate. Half-life is 2 - 3 minutes, distribution volume is 0.2 l/kg, plasma clearance is not dependent on cardiac output and is 2.4 l/min/m2. Dobutamine is mainly metabolised in the tissue and liver. It is mainly metabolised to conjugated glucuronides as well as the pharmacologically inactive 3-O-methyldobutamine. The metabolites are mainly excreted in urine (more than 2/3 of the dose), and to a lesser extent in bile.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology and repeated dose toxicity. There are no studies concerning the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of dobutamine. In view of the vital indications and the short duration of treatment these studies appear of minor relevance. Studies in rats and rabbits revealed no evidence of a teratogenic effect. An impairment of implantation and pre- and postnatal growth retardations were observed in rats at doses toxic to mothers. No influence on fertility was seen in rats.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Sodium metabisulphite (E 223)



Sodium chloride



Hydrochloric acid



Water for injections



6.2 Incompatibilities



Dobutamine solutions have proven to be incompatible with:



- alkaline solutions (e. g. sodium hydrogen carbonate),



- solutions containing both sodium metabisulphite and ethanol,



- aciclovir,



- alteplase,



- aminophylline,



- bretylium,



- calcium chloride,



- calcium gluconate,



- cefamandol formiate,



- cephalotine sodium,



- cephazolin sodium,



- diazepam,



- digoxin,



- etacrynic acid (sodium salt),



- furosemide,



- heparin sodium,



- hydrogen cortisone sodium succinate,



- insulin,



- potassium chloride,



- magnesium sulphate,



- penicillin,



- phenytoin,



- streptokinase,



- verapamil.



Furthermore known incompatibilities for sodium metabisulphite are:



- chloramphenicol,



- cisplatin.



This medicinal product should not be mixed with other medicinal products except with those for which compatibility is proven.



6.3 Shelf Life



In an un-opened container:



3 years.



Once opened or following dilution:



Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 25°C.



From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2°C to 8°C unless preparation has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 25°C. Keep the ampoules/vials in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Do not refrigerate or freeze.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml) ampoules made of colourless, neutral glass, type I Ph.Eur.



1,5 and 10 ampoules with 50 ml solution for infusion.



Dobutamine 5 mg/ml (250 mg in 50 ml) vials made of colourless, neutral glass, type I Ph.Eur, with rubber stopper, Ph.Eur.



1, 5, 10 and 20 vials with 50 ml solution for infusion.



Not all pack sizes may be marketed.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



In case of dilution the solution for infusion should be diluted immediately before use.



For dilution, a compatible infusion solution should be used. Chemical and physical compatibility have been demonstrated with 5% glucose solution, 0.9% sodium chloride solution and 0.45% sodium chloride in 5% glucose solution.



Any unused solution should be discarded.



Note:



Solutions containing Dobutamine may have a pink colouration, which may become darker over time. This is due to a slight oxidation of the active substance. If storage instructions are observed (see also section 6.4 for Special storage instructions), there will not be a considerable loss in activity.



Immediately after opening the ampoule, there may be a sulphuric odour lasting for a short period. The quality of the medicinal product however is not impaired.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



hameln pharma plus gmbh



Langes Feld 13



31789 Hameln, Germany



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



PL 25215/0004



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



13/02/2011



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



13/02/2011




Wednesday, 25 April 2012

NeoMercazole 5 and NeoMercazole 20





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



NeoMercazole® 5 and NeoMercazole® 20


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each NeoMercazole 5 tablet contains carbimazole Ph. Eur. 5mg and each



NeoMercazole 20 tablet contains carbimazole Ph.Eur. 20mg.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



5 mg Tablet: Pink, circular biconvex tablet, imprinted with 'Neo 5' on the obverse and plain on the reverse.



20 mg Tablet: Pink, circular biconvex tablet, imprinted with 'Neo 20' on the obverse and plain on the reverse.



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



NeoMercazole is an anti-thyroid agent. It is indicated in all conditions where reduction of thyroid function is required.



1. Hyperthyroidism.



2. Preparation for thyroidectomy in hyperthyroidism.



[1]3. Therapy prior to and post radio-iodine treatment.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



[2]NeoMercazole should only be administered if hyperthyroidism has been confirmed by laboratory tests.



Adults



The initial dose is in the range 20 - 60mg, and should be titrated against thyroid function until the patient is euthyroid in order to reduce the risk of over-treatment and resultant hypothyroidism. Subsequent therapy may then be administered in one of two ways.



Maintenance regimen: Final dosage is usually in the range 5 - 15mg per day, which may be taken as a single daily dose. Therapy should be continued for at least six, and up to 18 months.



Serial thyroid function monitoring is recommended, together with appropriate dosage modification in order to maintain a euthyroid state.



Blocking-replacement regimen: Dosage is maintained at the initial level, i.e. 20 – 60 mg per day, and supplemental l-thyroxine, 50 – 150 mcg per day, is administered concomitantly, in order to prevent hypothyroidism. Therapy should be continued for at least six months, and up to eighteen months.



Where a single dosage of less than 20mg is recommended, it is intended that NeoMercazole 5 should be taken.



Elderly



No special dosage regimen is required, but care should be taken to observe the contraindications and warnings as it has been reported that the risk of a fatal outcome to neutrophil dyscrasia may be greater in the elderly (aged 65 or over).



Children



The usual initial daily dose is 15mg per day.



4.3 Contraindications



NeoMercazole is contraindicated in patients with a previous history of adverse reactions to carbimazole or to any of the excipients in the composition. Serious, pre-existing haematological conditions, [3]severe hepatic insufficiency.



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



As fatal cases of agranulocytosis with carbimazole have been reported and early treatment of agranulocytosis is essential, it is important that patients should always be warned about the onset of sore throats, bruising or bleeding, mouth ulcers, fever, malaise and should be instructed to stop the drug and to seek medical advice immediately. In such patients, blood cell counts should be performed immediately, particularly where there is any clinical evidence of infection.



Following the onset of any signs and symptoms of hepatic disorder (pain in the upper abdomen, anorexia, general pruritus) in patients, the drug should be stopped and liver function tests performed immediately.



Early withdrawal of the drug will increase the chance of complete recovery.



NeoMercazole should be used with caution in patients with [4]mild-moderate hepatic insufficiency. If abnormal liver function is discovered, the treatment should be stopped. The half-life may be prolonged due to the liver disorder.



NeoMercazole should be stopped temporarily at the time of administration of radio-iodine.



Patients unable to comply with the instructions for use or who cannot be monitored regularly should not be treated with NeoMercazole.



Regular full blood count checks should be carried out in patients who may be confused or have a poor memory.



Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.



Precaution should be taken in patients with intrathoracic goitre, which may worsen during initial treatment with NeoMercazole. Tracheal obstruction may occur due to intrathoracic goitre.



The use of carbimazole in non-pregnant women of childbearing potential should be based on individual risk/benefit assessment (see section 4.6).



There is a risk of cross-allergy between carbimazole, thiamazole and propylthiouracil.



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Little is known about interactions.



Particular care is required in case of concurrent administration of medication capable of inducing agranulocytosis. Since carbimazole is a vitamin K antagonist, the effect of anticoagulants could be intensified.



[5]The serum levels of theophylline can increase and toxicity may develop if hyperthyroidic patients are treated with antithyroid medications without reducing the theophylline dosage.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



Carbimazole crosses the placenta but, provided the mother's dose is within the standard range, and her thyroid status is monitored; there is no evidence of neonatal thyroid abnormalities.



Studies have shown that the incidence of congenital malformations is greater in the children of mothers whose hyperthyroidism has remained untreated than in those to whom treatment with carbimazole has been given.



However, very rare cases of congenital malformations have been observed following the use of carbimazole or its active metabolite methimazole during pregnancy. A causal relationship of these malformations, especially choanal atresia and aplasia cutis congenita, to transplacental exposure to carbimazole and methimazole cannot be excluded. Therefore, the use of carbimazole in non-pregnant women of childbearing potential should be based on individual risk/benefit assessment (see section 4.4).



Cases of renal, skull, cardiovascular congenital defects, exomphalos, gastrointestinal malformation, umbilical malformation and duodenal atresia have also been reported.



[6]Therefore, carbimazole should be used in pregnancy only when propylthiouracil is not suitable. If NeoMercazole is used in pregnancy the dose of NeoMercazole must be regulated by the patient's clinical condition. The lowest dose possible should be used, and this can often be discontinued three to four weeks before term, in order to reduce the risk of neonatal complications.The blocking-replacement regimen should not be used during pregnancy since very little thyroxine crosses the placenta in the last trimester.



NeoMercazole is secreted in breast milk and, if treatment is continued during lactation, the patient should not continue to breastfeed her baby.



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



[7]The effect on the ability to drive and use machines is not known.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



Adverse reactions usually occur in the first eight weeks of treatment. The most frequently occurring reactions are nausea, headache, arthralgia, mild gastric distress, skin rashes and pruritus. These reactions are usually self-limiting and may not require withdrawal of the drug.



[8]Blood and lymphatic system disorders



Bone marrow depression including neutropenia, eosinophilia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis has been reported. Fatalities with carbimazole-induced agranulocytosis have been reported. Rare cases of pancytopenia/aplastic anaemia and isolated thrombocytopenia have also been reported. Additionally, very rare cases of haemolytic anaemia have been reported.



Patients should always be warned about the onset of sore throats, bruising or bleeding, mouth ulcers, fever, malaise and should be instructed to stop the drug and to seek medical advice immediately. In such patients, blood cell counts should be performed immediately, particularly where there is any clinical evidence of infection.



Nervous system disorders



Headache.



Gastrointestinal system disorders



Nausea, mild gastric distress.Loss of sense of taste has been observed.



General disorders and administration site conditions



Fever, Malaise



Hepatobiliary system disorders



Hepatic disorders, including abnormal liver function tests, hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice and most commonly jaundice, have been reported; in these cases carbimazole should be withdrawn.



Injury, poisoning and procedural complications



Bruising



Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders



Skin rashes, pruritus, urticaria. Hair loss has been occasionally reported.



Musculoskeletal system disorders



Isolated cases of myopathy have been reported. Patients experiencing myalgia after the intake of NeoMercazole should have their creatine phosphokinase levels monitored.



Hypersensitivity and allergic reaction



Angioedema and multi-system hypersensitivity reactions such as cutaneous vasculitis, liver, lung and renal effects occur.



Vascular Disorders



Bleeding



4.9 Overdose



No symptoms are likely from a single large dose and so no specific treatment is indicated.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Carbimazole is a thyroid reducing agent.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



Carbimazole is rapidly metabolised to methimazole. The mean peak plasma concentration of methimazole is reported to occur one hour after a single dose of carbimazole. The apparent plasma half-life of methimazole is reported as 6.4 hours.



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Not relevant.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Lactose, Starch Maize, Gelatin, Magnesium Stearate, Sucrose, Acacia, Talc, Red Iron Oxide (E172). Microcrystalline Cellulose (NeoMercazole 20 only).



6.2 Incompatibilities



None known.



6.3 Shelf Life



[9]NeoMercazole 5: 3 years



NeoMercazole 20: 5 years



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



NeoMercazole tablets are available in HDPE bottles with a low density polyethylene tamper evident snap-fit closure. Each bottle contains 100 tablets.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



No special requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



Amdipharm Plc



Regency House



Miles Gray Road



Basildon



Essex



SS14 3AF



United Kingdom



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



NeoMercazole 5: PL 20072/0013



NeoMercazole 20: PL 20072/0014



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



NeoMercazole 5: 31 May 2004



NeoMercazole 20: 31 May 2004



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



December 2007



NeoMercazole is a registered trade mark



[1] PL20072/0013-0012 & PL20072/0014-0017;13/12/2007



[2] PL20072/0013-0013 & PL20072/0014-0010;13/12/2007



[3] PL20072/0013-0014 & PL20072/0014-0011; 19/12/2007



[4] PL20072/0013-0015 & PL20072/0014-0012; 19/12/2007



[5] PL20072/0013-0016 & PL20072/0014-0013; 20/12/2007



[6] PL20072/0013-0017 & PL20072/0014-0015; 20/12/2007



[7] PL20072/0013-0018 & PL20072/0014-0015; 13/12/2007



[8] PL20072/0013-0019 & PL20072/0014-0016; 20/12/2007



[9] PL 20072/0013-0025; 21/04/2009