WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Emergency Treatment
Adrenaclick is intended for immediate administration as
emergency supportive therapy and is not intended as a substitute for immediate
medical care. In conjunction with the administration of epinephrine, the
patient should seek immediate medical or hospital care. More than two
sequential doses of epinephrine should only be administered under direct
medical supervision [see INDICATIONS AND USAGE, DOSAGE AND
ADMINISTRATION and PATIENT INFORMATION].
Injection-Related Complications
Adrenaclick should only be injected into the
anterolateral aspect of the thigh [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and PATIENT INFORMATION].
Do not inject intravenously.
- Large doses or accidental intravenous injection of
epinephrine may result in cerebral hemorrhage due to a sharp rise in blood
pressure. Rapidly acting vasodilators can counteract the marked pressor effects
of epinephrine if there is such inadvertent administration.
Do not inject into buttock.
- Injection into the buttock may not provide effective
treatment of anaphylaxis. Advise the patient to go immediately to the nearest
emergency room for further treatment of anaphylaxis. Additionally, injection
into the buttock has been associated with the development of Clostridial
infections (gas gangrene). Cleansing with alcohol does not kill bacterial
spores, and therefore, does not lower the risk.
Do not inject into digits, hands or feet.
- Since epinephrine is a strong vasoconstrictor, accidental
injection into the digits, hands or feet may result in loss of blood flow to
the affected area. Advise the patient to go immediately to the nearest
emergency room and to inform the healthcare provider in the emergency room of
the location of the accidental injection. Treatment of such inadvertent
administration should consist of vasodilation, in addition to further
appropriate treatment of anaphylaxis [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Hold leg firmly during injection.
- Lacerations, bent needles, and embedded needles have been
reported when epinephrine has been injected into the thigh of young children
who are uncooperative and kick or move during an injection. To minimize the
risk of injection related injury when administering Adrenaclick to young
children, instruct caregivers to hold the child's leg firmly in place and limit
movement prior to and during injection.
Serious Infections At The Injection Site
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections,
including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas
gangrene), have been reported at the injection site following epinephrine
injection for anaphylaxis. Clostridium spores can be present on the skin
and introduced into the deep tissue with subcutaneous or intramuscular
injection. While cleansing with alcohol may reduce presence of bacteria on the
skin, alcohol cleansing does not kill Clostridium spores. To decrease
the risk of Clostridium infection, do not inject Adrenaclick into the
buttock [see Injection-Related Complications]. Advise patients to seek medical
care if they develop signs or symptoms of infection, such as persistent
redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness, at the epinephrine injection site.
Allergic Reactions Associated With Sulfite
The presence of a sulfite in this product should not
deter administration of the drug for treatment of serious allergic or other
emergency situations even if the patient is sulfite-sensitive.
Epinephrine is the preferred treatment for serious
allergic reactions or other emergency situations even though this product
contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may, in other products, cause
allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms or life-threatening or
less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible persons.
The alternatives to using epinephrine in a
life-threatening situation may not be satisfactory.
Disease Interactions
Some patients may be at greater risk for developing
adverse reactions after epinephrine administration. Despite these concerns, it
should be recognized that the presence of these conditions is not a
contraindication to epinephrine administration in an acute, life-threatening
situation. Therefore, patients with these conditions, and/or any other person
who might be in a position to administer Adrenaclick to a patient experiencing
anaphylaxis should be carefully instructed in regard to the circumstances under
which epinephrine should be used.
- Patients with Heart Disease
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients who have heart
disease, including patients with cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery or
organic heart disease, or hypertension. In such patients, or in patients who
are on drugs that may sensitize the heart to arrhythmias, epinephrine may
precipitate or aggravate angina pectoris as well as produce ventricular
arrhythmias [see DRUG INTERACTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
- Other Patients and Diseases
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients with
hyperthyroidism, diabetes, elderly individuals, and pregnant women. Patients
with Parkinson's disease may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms.
Patient Counseling Information
[see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION and Instructions for Use)]
A healthcare provider should review the patient
instructions and operation of Adrenaclick, in detail, with the patient or
caregiver.
Epinephrine is essential for the treatment of
anaphylaxis. Carefully instruct patients who are at risk of or with a history
of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods,
drugs, and other allergens, as well as idiopathic and exercise-induced
anaphylaxis, about the circumstances under which epinephrine should be used.
Administration And Training
Instruct patients and/or caregivers in the appropriate
use of Adrenaclick. Adrenaclick should be injected into the middle of the outer
thigh (through clothing if necessary).
Instruct caregivers to hold the leg of young children
firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during injection. Lacerations,
bent needles, and embedded needles have been reported when Adrenaclick has been
injected into the thigh of young children who are uncooperative and kick during
an injection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Each Adrenaclick is a single-use injection. Advise
patients to seek immediate medical care in conjunction with administration of
Adrenaclick.
Complete patient information, including dosage,
directions for proper administration and precautions can be found inside each
Adrenaclick carton. A printed label on the surface of Adrenaclick shows
instructions for use and a diagram depicting the injection process.
Instruct patients and/or caregivers to use the Trainer to
familiarize themselves with the use of Adrenaclick in an allergic emergency.
The Trainer may be used multiple times.
Adverse Reactions
Epinephrine may produce symptoms and signs that include
an increase in heart rate, the sensation of a more forceful heartbeat,
palpitations, sweating, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, pallor,
dizziness, weakness or shakiness, headache, apprehension, nervousness, or
anxiety. These signs and symptoms usually subside rapidly, especially with
rest, quiet, and recumbency. Patients with hypertension or hyperthyroidism may
develop more severe or persistent effects, and patients with coronary artery
disease could experience angina. Patients with diabetes may develop increased
blood glucose levels following epinephrine administration. Patients with
Parkinson's disease may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms [see WARNINGS
AND PRECAUTIONS].
Accidental Injection
Advise patients to seek immediate medical care in the
case of accidental injection. Since epinephrine is a strong vasoconstrictor
when injected into the digits, hands or feet, treatment should be directed at
vasodilation if there is such an accidental injection to these areas [see WARNINGS
AND PRECAUTIONS].
Serious Infections At The Injection Site
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections,
including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas
gangrene), have been reported at the injection site following epinephrine
injection for anaphylaxis. Advise patients to seek medical care if they develop
signs or symptoms of infection, such as persistent redness, warmth, swelling,
or tenderness, at the epinephrine injection site [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS].
Storage And Handling
Instruct patients to inspect the epinephrine solution
visually through the viewing window periodically. Replace Adrenaclick if the epinephrine
solution appears discolored (pinkish or brown), cloudy, or contains particles.
Epinephrine is light sensitive, store in the outer case provided to protect it
from light. Instruct patients that Adrenaclick must be properly disposed of
once the blue caps have been removed or after use [see HOW SUPPLIED/Storage
and Handling].
Complete patient information, including dosage,
directions for proper administration and precautions are provided inside each
Adrenaclick auto-injector carton.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential
of epinephrine have not been conducted.
Epinephrine and other catecholamines have been shown to
have mutagenic potential in vitro and to be an oxidative mutagen in a WP2
bacterial reverse mutation assay.
Epinephrine was positive in the DNA Repair test with B.
subtilis (REC) assay, but was not mutagenic in the Salmonella bacterial
reverse mutation assay.
The potential for epinephrine to impair fertility has not
been evaluated.
This should not prevent the use of epinephrine under the
conditions noted under Indications and Usage (1).
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects
Pregnancy Category C.
There are no adequate and well controlled studies of the
acute effect of epinephrine in pregnant women.
Epinephrine was teratogenic in rabbits, mice and
hamsters. Epinephrine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential
benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus (fetal anoxia, spontaneous
abortion, or both).
Epinephrine has been shown to have teratogenic effects
when administered subcutaneously in rabbits at approximately 30 times the
maximum recommended daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m² basis
at a maternal dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day for two to three days), in mice at
approximately 7 times the maximum daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on
a mg/m² basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days), and
in hamsters at approximately 5 times the maximum recommended daily subcutaneous
or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m² basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 0.5
mg/kg/day for 4 days).
These effects were not seen in mice at approximately 3
times the maximum recommended daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a
mg/m² basis at a subcutaneous maternal dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 10 days).
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether epinephrine is excreted in human
milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be
exercised when Adrenaclick is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Adrenaclick may be administered to pediatric patients at
a dosage appropriate to body weight [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Clinical experience with the use of epinephrine suggests that the adverse
reactions seen in children are similar in nature and extent to those both
expected and reported in adults. Since the dose of epinephrine delivered from
Adrenaclick is fixed, consider using other forms of injectable epinephrine if
doses lower than 0.15 mg are deemed necessary.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies for the treatment of anaphylaxis have
not been performed in subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they
respond differently from younger subjects. However, other reported clinical
experience with use of epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis has
identified that geriatric patients may be particularly sensitive to the effects
of epinephrine. Therefore, Adrenaclick should be administered with caution in
elderly individuals, who may be at greater risk for developing adverse
reactions after epinephrine administration [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
and OVERDOSAGE].