Warnings for Symjepi
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Symjepi
Emergency Treatment
SYMJEPI 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, DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, PATIENT INFORMATION].
Injection-Related Complications
SYMJEPI 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 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 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
To minimize the risk of injection related injury when administering SYMJEPI to young children, hold 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 SYMJEPI 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 the 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 metabisulfite, 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 SYMJEPI 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, 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
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION and Instructions for Use).
A healthcare provider should review the patient instructions and operation of SYMJEPI, in detail, with the patient or caregiver.
Epinephrine is essential for the treatment of anaphylaxis. Patients who are at risk of or have 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, should be carefully instructed about the circumstances under which epinephrine should be used.
Administration And Training
Instruct patients and/or caregivers in the appropriate use of SYMJEPI. SYMJEPI should be injected into the middle of the outer thigh (through clothing, if necessary). Each syringe is for a single-use injection. Advise patients to seek immediate medical care in conjunction with administration of SYMJEPI.
Young children may be uncooperative and kick or move during and injection. Instruct caregivers of young children who are prescribed SYMJEPI to hold the leg firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during an injection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Complete patient information, including dosage, directions for proper administration and precautions can be found inside each SYMJEPI carton. A printed label on the surface of the SYMJEPI case shows instructions for use.
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 vasodilatation 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 periodically. SYMJEPI should be replaced if the epinephrine solution appears discolored (pinkish or brown color), cloudy or contains particles. Epinephrine is light sensitive and should be stored in the outer case provided to protect it from light.
Instruct patients that SYMJEPI must be used or properly disposed once the protective cap covering the needle is removed [see HOW SUPPLIED]. Instruct patients to give a used SYMJEPI syringe to their healthcare provider or emergency room personnel for proper disposal, and to return expired or discolored SYMJEPI to their healthcare provider or pharmacy for proper disposal.
Complete patient information, including dosage, directions for proper administration and precautions can be found inside each SYMJEPI case.
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. Epinephrine was positive in the Salmonella bacterial reverse mutation assay, positive in the mouse lymphoma assay, and negative in the in vivo micronucleus assay. Epinephrine is an oxidative mutagen based on the E. coli WP2 Mutoxitest bacterial reverse mutation assay. This should not prevent the use of epinephrine under the conditions noted under INDICATIONS.
The potential for epinephrine to impair reproductive performance has not been evaluated, but epinephrine has been shown to decrease implantation in female rabbits dosed subcutaneously with 1.2 mg/kg/day (40-fold the highest human intramuscular or subcutaneous daily dose) during gestation days 3 to 9.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no adequate and well controlled studies of the acute effect of epinephrine in pregnant women. In animal reproductive studies, epinephrine administered by the subcutaneous route to rabbits, mice and hamsters during the period of organogenesis was teratogenic at doses 7 times and higher than the maximum recommended human intramuscular and subcutaneous dose on a mg/m2 basis. Epinephrine is the first-line medication of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis during pregnancy in humans. Epinephrine should be used for treatment of anaphylaxis during pregnancy in the same manner as it is used in non-pregnant patients.
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Disease-associated maternal and embryo/fetal risk
During pregnancy, anaphylaxis can be catastrophic and can lead to hypoxicischemic encephalopathy and permanent central nervous system damage or death in the mother and, more commonly, in the fetus or neonate. The prevalence of anaphylaxis occurring during pregnancy is reported to be approximately 3 cases per 100,000 deliveries.
Management of anaphylaxis during pregnancy is similar to management in the general population. Epinephrine is the first line-medication of choice for treatment of anaphylaxis; it should be used in the same manner in pregnant and non-pregnant patients. In conjunction with the administration of epinephrine, the patient should seek immediate medical or hospital care.
Data
Animal Data
In an embryofetal development study with rabbits dosed during the period of organogenesis, epinephrine was shown to be teratogenic (including gastroschisis and embryonic lethality) at doses approximately 40 times the maximum recommended intramuscular or subcutaneous dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day for two to three days).
In an embryofetal development study with mice dosed during the period of organogenesis, epinephrine was shown to be teratogenic (including embryonic lethality) at doses approximately 8 times the maximum recommended intramuscular or subcutaneous dose (on a mg/m2 basis at maternal subcutaneous dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days). These effects were not seen in mice at approximately 4 times the maximum recommended daily intramuscular or subcutaneous dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a subcutaneous maternal dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 10 days).
In an embryofetal development study with hamsters dosed during the period of organogenesis from gestation days 7 to 10, epinephrine was shown to be teratogenic at doses approximately 7 times the maximum recommended intramuscular or subcutaneous dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day).
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of epinephrine in human milk, the effects on breastfed infants, or the effects on milk production. Epinephrine is the first line-medication of choice for treatment of anaphylaxis; it should be used in the same manner in breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding patients.
Pediatric Use
SYMJEPI may be given safely 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 SYMJEPI is fixed, consider using other forms of injectable epinephrine if a dose lower than 0.15 mg is 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, SYMJEPI 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, OVERDOSE].