Norepinephrine Bitartrate

NOREPINEPHRINE BITARTRATE- norepinephrine bitartrate injection, solution, concentrate
Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection is indicated to raise blood pressure in adult patients with severe, acute hypotension.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Important Dosage and Administration Instructions

Correct Hypovolemia

Address hypovolemia before initiation of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection therapy. If the patient does not respond to therapy, suspect occult hypovolemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].

Administration

Dilute Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection prior to use [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ].

Infuse Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection into a large vein. Avoid infusions into the veins of the leg in the elderly or in patients with occlusive vascular disease of the legs [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Avoid using a catheter-tie-in technique.

Discontinuation

When discontinuing the infusion, reduce the flow rate gradually. Avoid abrupt withdrawal.

2.2 Dosage

After an initial dosage of 8 to 12 mcg per minute via intravenous infusion, assess patient response and adjust dosage to maintain desired hemodynamic effect. Monitor blood pressure every two minutes until the desired hemodynamic effect is achieved, and then monitor blood pressure every five minutes for the duration of the infusion.

Typical maintenance intravenous dosage is 2 to 4 mcg per minute.

2.3 Preparation of Diluted Solution

Visually inspect Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration (the solution is colorless). Do not use the solution if its color is pinkish or darker than slightly yellow or if it contains a precipitate. Add the content of one Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection vial (4 mg in 4 mL) to 1,000 mL of 5% Dextrose Injection, USP or Sodium Chloride Injection solutions that contain 5% dextrose to produce a 4 mcg per mL dilution. Dextrose reduces loss of potency due to oxidation. Administration in saline solution alone is not recommended.

Use higher concentration solutions in patients requiring fluid restriction. Prior to use, store the diluted Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection solution for up to 24 hours at room temperature [20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F)] and protect from light.

2.4 Drug Incompatibilities

Avoid contact with iron salts, alkalis, or oxidizing agents.

Whole blood or plasma, if indicated to increase blood volume, should be administered separately.

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Injection: 4 mg/4 mL (1 mg/mL norepinephrine base) sterile, colorless solution in a single-dose amber glass vial.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

None.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Tissue Ischemia

Administration of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection to patients who are hypotensive from hypovolemia can result in severe peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction, decreased renal perfusion and reduced urine output, tissue hypoxia, lactic acidosis, and reduced systemic blood flow despite “normal” blood pressure. Address hypovolemia prior to initiating Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ]. Avoid Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection in patients with mesenteric or peripheral vascular thrombosis, as this may increase ischemia and extend the area of infarction.

Gangrene of the extremities has occurred in patients with occlusive or thrombotic vascular disease or who received prolonged or high dose infusions. Monitor for changes to the skin of the extremities in susceptible patients.

Extravasation of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection may cause necrosis and sloughing of surrounding tissue. To reduce the risk of extravasation, infuse into a large vein, check the infusion site frequently for free flow, and monitor for signs of extravasation [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) ].

Emergency Treatment of Extravasation

To prevent sloughing and necrosis in areas in which extravasation has occurred, infiltrate the ischemic area as soon as possible, using a syringe with a fine hypodermic needle with 5 to 10 mg of phentolamine mesylate in 10 to 15 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection in adults.

Sympathetic blockade with phentolamine causes immediate and conspicuous local hyperemic changes if the area is infiltrated within 12 hours.

5.2 Hypotension after Abrupt Discontinuation

Sudden cessation of the infusion rate may result in marked hypotension. When discontinuing the infusion, gradually reduce the Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection infusion rate while expanding blood volume with intravenous fluids.

5.3 Cardiac Arrhythmias

Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection elevates intracellular calcium concentrations and may cause arrhythmias, particularly in the setting of hypoxia or hypercarbia. Perform continuous cardiac monitoring of patients with arrhythmias.

5.4 Allergic Reactions Associated with Sulfite

Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in non-asthmatic people.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

The following adverse reactions are described in greater detail in other sections:

• Tissue Ischemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
• Cardiac Arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]

The most common adverse reactions are hypertension and bradycardia. The following adverse reactions can occur:

Nervous system disorders: Anxiety, headache

Respiratory disorders: Respiratory difficulty, pulmonary edema

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS

7.1 MAO-Inhibiting Drugs

Co-administration of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or other drugs with MAO-inhibiting properties (e.g., linezolid) can cause severe, prolonged hypertension.

If administration of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection cannot be avoided in patients who recently have received any of these drugs and in whom, after discontinuation, MAO activity has not yet sufficiently recovered, monitor for hypertension.

7.2 Tricyclic Antidepressants

Co-administration of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection with tricyclic antidepressants (including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, protriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine) can cause severe, prolonged hypertension. If administration of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection cannot be avoided in these patients, monitor for hypertension.

7.3 Antidiabetics

Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection can decrease insulin sensitivity and raise blood glucose. Monitor glucose and consider dosage adjustment of antidiabetic drugs.

7.4 Halogenated Anesthetics

Concomitant use of Norepinephrine Bitartrate Injection with halogenated anesthetics (e.g., cyclopropane, desflurane, enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane) may lead to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Monitor cardiac rhythm in patients receiving concomitant halogenated anesthetics.

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Limited published data consisting of a small number of case reports and multiple small trials involving the use of norepinephrine in pregnant women at the time of delivery have not identified an increased risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are risks to the mother and fetus from hypotension associated with septic shock, myocardial infarction and stroke which are medical emergencies in pregnancy and can be fatal if left untreated. (see Clinical Considerations). In animal reproduction studies, using high doses of intravenous norepinephrine resulted in lowered maternal placental blood flow. Clinical relevance to changes in the human fetus is unknown since the average maintenance dose is ten times lower (see Data). Increased fetal reabsorptions were observed in pregnant hamsters after receiving daily injections at approximately 2 times the maximum recommended dose on a mg/m³ basis for four days during organogenesis (see Data).

The estimated background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk

Hypotension associated with septic shock, myocardial infarction, and stroke are medical emergencies in pregnancy which can be fatal if left untreated. Delaying treatment in pregnant women with hypotension associated with septic shock, myocardial infarction and stroke may increase the risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Life-sustaining therapy for the pregnant woman should not be withheld due to potential concerns regarding the effects of norepinephrine on the fetus.

Data

Animal Data

A study in pregnant sheep receiving high doses of intravenous norepinephrine (40 mcg/min, at approximately 10 times the average maintenance dose of 2-4 mcg/min in human, on a mg/kg basis) exhibited a significant decrease in maternal placental blood flow. Decreases in fetal oxygenation, urine and lung liquid flow were also observed.

Norepinephrine administration to pregnant rats on Gestation Day 16 or 17 resulted in cataract production in rat fetuses.

In hamsters, an increased number of resorptions (29.1% in study group vs. 3.4% in control group), fetal microscopic liver abnormalities and delayed skeletal ossification were observed at approximately 2 times the maximum recommended intramuscular or subcutaneous dose (on a mg/m² basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day from Gestation Day 7-10).