Nesiritide ( Natrecor ®) |
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The authors make no claims of the accuracy of the information contained herein; and these suggested doses and/or guidelines are not a substitute for clinical judgment. Neither GlobalRPh Inc. nor any other party involved in the preparation of this document shall be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damages resulting in whole or part from any user's use of or reliance upon this material. PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Usual Diluents |
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D5W, NS, D5-1/2NS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standard Dilutions [Amount of drug] [Infusion volume] [Infusion rate] |
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[1.5 mg] [250 ml] [As directed] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stability / Miscellaneous |
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Restrictions: Restricted to Cardiology Consult
Preparation: Reconstitute one 1.5-mg vial of Natrecor by adding 5 mL of diluent removed from a pre-filled 250-mL plastic IV bag containing the diluent of choice. Do not shake the vial. Label: Monitor BP closely. Dosing: IV bolus of 2 µg/kg (over 1 minute) followed by a continuous infusion of 0.01 mcg/kg/min. Withdraw bolus dose from the infusion bag. Higher initial dosages are not recommended. Calculation: Bolus Volume (ml) = 0.33 × Patient Wt (kg). Indications: IV treatment of patients with acutely decompensated CHF who have dyspnea at rest or with minimal activity. Actions: venous and arterial vasodilation (decreased PCWP etc), plus mild diuretic effect. Mechanism of Action In human studies, nesiritide produced dose-dependent reductions in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and systemic arterial pressure in patients with heart failure. In animals, nesiritide had no effects on cardiac contractility or on measures of cardiac electrophysiology such as atrial and ventricular effective refractory times or atrioventricular node conduction. Naturally occurring atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a related peptide, increases vascular permeability in animals and humans and may reduce intravascular volume. The effect of nesiritide on vascular permeability has not been studied. Pharmacokinetics Elimination INDICATIONS AND USAGE CONTRAINDICATIONS WARNINGS OVERDOSAGE DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Natrecor (nesiritide) is for intravenous use only. There is limited experience with administering Natrecor for longer than 48 hours. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during Natrecor administration. If hypotension occurs during the administration of Natrecor, the dose should be reduced or discontinued and other measures to support blood pressure should be started (IV fluids, changes in body position). In the VMAC trial, when symptomatic hypotension occurred, Natrecor was discontinued and subsequently could be restarted at a dose that was reduced by 30% (with no bolus administration) once the patient was stabilized. Because hypotension caused by Natrecor may be prolonged (up to hours), a period of observation may be necessary before restarting the drug. Preparation
Dosing Instructions The recommended dose of Natrecor is an IV bolus of 2 mcg/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 0.01 mcg/kg/min. Natrecor should not be initiated at a dose that is above the recommended dose. Prime the IV tubing with 5 mL of the solution for infusion prior to connecting to the patient's vascular access port and prior to administering the bolus or starting the infusion. The administration of the recommended dose of Natrecor is a two step process: Step 1. Administration of the IV Bolus After preparation of the infusion bag, as described previously, withdraw the bolus volume (see Weight-Adjusted Bolus Volume table) from the Natrecor infusion bag, and administer it over approximately 60 seconds through an IV port in the tubing. Bolus Volume (mL) = Patient Weight (kg) / 3
Step 2. Administration of the Continuous Infusion Immediately following the administration of the bolus, infuse Natrecor at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/kg/hr. This will deliver a Natrecor infusion dose of 0.01 mcg/kg/min. To calculate the infusion flow rate to deliver a 0.01 mcg/kg/min dose, use the following formula (see the following Weight-Adjusted Infusion Flow Rate for Dosing table): Infusion Flow Rate (mL/hr) = Patient Weight (kg) x 0.1
Dose Adjustments: The dose-limiting side effect of Natrecor is hypotension. Do not initiate Natrecor at a dose that is higher than the recommended dose of a 2 mcg/kg bolus followed by an infusion of 0.01 mcg/kg/min. In the VMAC trial there was limited experience with increasing the dose of Natrecor above the recommended dose (23 patients, all of whom had central hemodynamic monitoring). In those patients, the infusion dose of Natrecor was increased by 0.005 mcg/kg/min (preceded by a bolus of 1 mcg/kg), no more frequently than every 3 hours up to a maximum dose of 0.03 mcg/kg/min. Natrecor should not be titrated at frequent intervals as is done with other IV agents that have a shorter half-life. Chemical/Physical Interactions Natrecor binds to heparin and therefore could bind to the heparin lining of a heparin-coated catheter, decreasing the amount of Natrecor delivered to the patient for some period of time. Therefore, Natrecor must not be administered through a central heparin-coated catheter. Concomitant administration of a heparin infusion through a separate catheter is acceptable. Storage HOW SUPPLIED 1 vial/carton (NDC 65847-205-25) US patent No. 5,114,923 and 5,674,710. Revised January 2007 Source: [package insert] |