INTRODUCTION
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION contains Terlipressin which belongs to the group of medicines called Vasopressin Analogues. It is used for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices (bleeding from dilated veins in the food pipe leading to your stomach).
Bleeding oesophageal varices occur when swollen veins (varices) in your lower food pipe rupture and bleed. During VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION treatment, your doctor may want you to take several blood tests to monitor side effects.
Before receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION, inform your doctor if you have any heart or kidney problems, septic shock or poor circulation to your brain or limbs. VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used in pregnant women only if your doctor finds it necessary and should be used in breastfeeding women only after discussing the potential risk to your baby.
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION is not recommended for use in children and adolescents due to lack of experience. The most common side effects of receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION are headache, temporary stomach pain or diarrhea, pale face or skin, stomach cramps in women, etc. Contact your doctor if any of the symptoms get worse over time.
USES OF VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION
- Treats bleeding oesophageal varices
HOW VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION WORKS
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION reduces bleeding by releasing substance called lysine vasopressin that acts on the walls of the blood vessels and constricts them, thus decreasing the blood flow to the affected veins.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into a vein as an intravenous infusion. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of treatment depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
SIDE EFFECTS OF VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION
COMMON
- very slow heart rate, high or low blood pressure
- signs in ECG showing insufficient blood supply in the heart vessels
- insufficient blood supply in arms, legs and skin
- paleness of face or skin
- headache
- temporary stomach cramps or diarrhoea
- abdominal cramps in women
UNCOMMON
- chest pain, rapid rise in blood pressure, heart attack, throbbing sensation
- skin or lips becoming bluish
- hot flushes, heart failure
- excess fluid on the lungs, breathlessness due to spasm in the bronchial muscles
- temporary nausea or vomiting
- inflammation of the lymph vessels
- reduced blood supply to the intestines
- uterine cramps, reduced blood flow to the uterus
- too little sodium in the blood if not monitored
RARE
- breathlessness
Stop receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- severe breathlessness due to an asthma attack
- severe trouble with or stopping breathing
- severe pain in the chest, severe and persistent irregular heartbeats
- locally dead skin (necrosis)
- convulsions (fits)
- kidney failure
HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Diarrhea:
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juice for hydration. Do not consume any medicine on your own without asking your doctor. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Stomach pain:
Try to rest and relax. Try to have smaller and frequent meals. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Headache:
Try to take rest in a quiet dark room. Don’t involve yourself in exertive activities. Apply a pain-relieving balm on your forehead. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used in pregnant women only if considered clearly necessary. Consult your doctor for advice.
BREASTFEEDING
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used in breastfeeding women only after discussing the potential risk to your baby. Consult your doctor for advice.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
It is not studied whether VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION affects the ability to drive and use machines. Consult your doctor if you feel any side effect during treatment with VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION that may stop you from driving or using machines.
KIDNEY
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be taken with caution in patients with impaired kidney function. Consult your doctor for advice.
LIVER
No dose adjustment of VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION is required in patients with liver failure. Consult your doctor for advice.
ALLERGY
Do not receive VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION if you are allergic to Terlipressin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
LUNGS
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used with caution in patients having bronchial asthma or other conditions that affect your breathing. Consult your doctor for advice.
HEART DISEASE
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used in caution in patients having uncontrolled high blood pressure, insufficient blood circulation in the heart vessels (Ex. angina), arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), irregular heartbeats or in those who previously had a heart attack. Consult your doctor for advice.
OTHERS
Before receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION, inform your doctor if you have:
- a severe infection called septic shock
- poor blood circulation to your brain (Ex. stroke) or to your legs (peripheral vascular disease)
- disturbances in electrolyte levels in your blood
- decreased amount of fluid in your circulation or have already lost a large amount of blood
Use in Paediatrics:
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION is not recommended for use in children and adolescents due to lack of experience. Consult your child’s doctor for advice.
Use in Geriatrics:
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged above 70 years). Consult your doctor for advice.
INTERACTIONS
A. Drug - Drug interactions:
Before receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- medicines used to lower high blood pressure (Ex. atenolol, sotalol, furosemide, spironolactone)
- medicines used to induce anaesthesia (Ex. sufentanil, propofol)
- medicines used to treat irregular beating of the heart (Ex. quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, amiodarone, ibutilide, dofetilide)
- erythromycin (used to treat bacterial infections)
- medicines used to treat allergies (Ex. chlorphenamine, promethazine)
- certain medicines used to treat depression (Ex. nortriptyline, amitriptyline)
Overdosage:
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. However, consult your doctor or nurse if you experience any unusual symptoms.
SYNOPSIS
| Drug | : | Terlipressin |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Vasopressin Analogue |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | Bleeding oesophageal varices |
| Dosage Forms | : | Injection |
MORE INFORMATION
- Keep VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION out of reach of children
- Store in a refrigerator at 2-8°C
FAQs ABOUT VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION
Is VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION safe for use during pregnancy?
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION should only be used during pregnancy if it is necessary to treat your condition. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning for a baby, contact your doctor before receiving it.
What if I miss a dose of VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION?
Please stick to the prescribed schedule as agreed with your doctor for optimal efficacy of VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION treatment. Tell your doctor whenever you forget to receive any dose.
Is VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION suitable for children?
VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION is not recommended for use in children and adolescents due to lack of experience. Consult your child’s doctor for advice. The doctor will advise a proper dose or select a suitable alternative treatment for your child.
Can VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION be stopped?
Continue receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION until your doctor tells you to stop, unless you experience any unwanted effects, worsening of your condition or any new symptoms. Contact your doctor in such case.
Can I take other medicines with VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION?
Before receiving VARIPRES 1MG INJECTION, inform your doctor if you are taking, have taken or are going to take any other medicine, including prescription, over the counter or any herbal product, as these might lead to serious side effects by interacting with each other.
REFERENCES
1. KD. Tripathi. Antidiuretics. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Eighth edition. 2019. Page – 643.
2. Loannou GN, Doust J, Rockey DC. Terlipressin for acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. Pubmed Central. January 2003. [Accessed on 6th December 2022]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7017851/
3. Aga Khan University. Short course Terlipressin for Control of Acute Variceal Bleeding. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised in September 2008] [Accessed on 6th December 2022]. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00369694
4. Altan Pharmaceuticals, S.A. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in May 2022] [Accessed on 6th December 2022]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9336.pdf
5. Ferring GmbH. Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). [Revised in April 2020] [Accessed on 6th December 2022]. http://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/187421c9-f05f-4a75-9049-3506d3adc33a.pdf
USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
- GI endoscopy
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