COSYNTROPIN: 93 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

11 Description Cosyntropin is an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cosyntropin is synthetic beta 1 - 24 corticotropin, a synthetic subunit of ACTH. It is an open chain polypeptide containing, the first 24 of the 39 amino acids of natural ACTH in sequence from N terminal. The sequence of amino acids in the 1 - 24 compound is as follows: The empirical formula is C 136 H 210 N 40 O 31 S with a molecular weight of 2934 g/mol. CORTROSYN (cosyntropin) for Injection is a sterile lyophilized powder in single-dose vials containing 0.25 mg of cosyntropin and 10 mg of mannitol.

Sodium

Hydroxide and Glacial acetic acid may be used to adjust pH. Image2.jpg

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Cosyntropin for Injection is intended for use as a diagnostic agent in the screening of patients presumed to have adrenocortical insufficiency. Because of its rapid effect on the adrenal cortex it may be utilized to perform a 30-minute test of adrenal function (plasma cortisol response) as an office or outpatient procedure, using only 2 venipunctures (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section). Severe hypofunction of the pituitary - adrenal axis is usually associated with subnormal plasma cortisol values but a low basal level is not per se evidence of adrenal insufficiency and does not suffice to make the diagnosis. Many patients with proven insufficiency will have normal basal levels and will develop signs of insufficiency only when stressed. For this reason a criterion which should be used in establishing the diagnosis is the failure to respond to adequate corticotropin stimulation. When presumptive adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed by a subnormal Cosyntropin for Injection test, further studies are indicated to determine if it is primary or secondary. Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is the result of an intrinsic disease process, such as tuberculosis within the gland. The production of adrenocortical hormones is deficient despite high ACTH levels (feedback mechanism). Secondary or relative insufficiency arises as the result of defective production of ACTH leading in turn to disuse atrophy of the adrenal cortex. It is commonly seen, for example, as result of corticosteroid therapy, Sheehan's syndrome and pituitary tumors or ablation. The differentiation of both types is based on the premise that a primarily defective gland cannot be stimulated by ACTH whereas a secondarily defective gland is potentially functional and will respond to adequate stimulation with ACTH. Patients selected for further study as the result of a subnormal Cosyntropin for Injection test should be given a 3 or 4 day course of treatment with Repository Corticotropin Injection USP and then retested. Suggested doses are 40 USP units twice daily for 4 days or 60 USP units twice daily for 3 days. Under these conditions little or no increase in plasma cortisol levels will be seen in Addison's disease whereas higher or even normal levels will be seen in cases with secondary adrenal insufficiency.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Cosyntropin for Injection may be administered intramuscularly or as a direct intravenous injection when used as a rapid screening test of adrenal function. It may also be given as an intravenous infusion over a 4 to 8 hour period to provide a greater stimulus to the adrenal glands. Doses of Cosyntropin for Injection 0.25 to 0.75 mg have been used in clinical studies and a maximal response noted with the smallest dose. A suggested method for a rapid screening test of adrenal function has been described by Wood and Associates (1). A control blood sample of 6 to 7 mL is collected in a heparinized tube.

Reconstitute

0.25 mg of Cosyntropin for Injection with 1mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP and inject intramuscularly. The reconstituted drug product should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to injection.

Reconstituted

Cosyntropin for Injection should not be retained. In the pediatric population, aged 2 years or less, a dose of 0.125 mg will often suffice. A second blood sample is collected exactly 30 minutes later. Both blood samples should be refrigerated until sent to the laboratory for determination of the plasma cortisol response by some appropriate method. If it is not possible to send them to the laboratory or perform the fluorimetric procedure within 12 hours, then the plasma should be separated and refrigerated or frozen according to need. Two alternative methods of administration are intravenous injection and infusion. Cosyntropin for Injection can be injected intravenously in 2 to 5 mL of saline over a 2-minute period. When given as an intravenous infusion: Cosyntropin for Injection, 0.25 mg may be added to glucose or saline solutions and given at the rate of approximately 40 micrograms per hour over a 6-hour period. It should not be added to blood or plasma as it is apt to be inactivated by enzymes. Adrenal response may be measured in the usual manner by determining urinary steroid excretion before and after treatment or by measuring plasma cortisol levels before and at the end of the infusion. The latter is preferable because the urinary steroid excretion does not always accurately reflect the adrenal or plasma cortisol response to ACTH. The usual normal response in most cases is an approximate doubling of the basal level, provided that the basal level does not exceed the normal range. Patients receiving cortisone, hydrocortisone or spironolactone should omit their pre-test doses on the day selected for testing. Patients taking inadvertent doses of cortisone or hydrocortisone on the test day and patients taking spironolactone or women taking drugs which contain estrogen may exhibit abnormally high basal plasma cortisol levels. A paradoxical response may be noted in the cortisone or hydrocortisone group as seen in a decrease in plasma cortisol values following a stimulating dose of Cosyntropin for Injection. In the spironolactone or estrogen group only a normal incremental response is to be expected. Many patients with normal adrenal function, however, do not respond to the expected degree so that the following criteria have been established to denote a normal response: 1. The control plasma cortisol level should exceed 5 micrograms/100 mL. 2.

The

30-minute level should show an increment of at least 7 micrograms/100 mL above the basal level. 3.

The

30-minute level should exceed 18 micrograms/100 mL. Comparable figures have been reported by Greig and co-workers (2). Plasma cortisol levels usually peak about 45 to 60 minutes after an injection of Cosyntropin for Injection and some prefer the 60-minute interval for testing for this reason. While it is true that the 60-minute values are usually higher than the 30-minute values, the difference may not be significant enough in most cases to outweigh the disadvantage of a longer testing period. If the 60-minute test period is used, the criterion for a normal response is an approximate doubling of the basal plasma cortisol value. In patients with a raised plasma bilirubin or in patients where the plasma contains free hemoglobin, falsely high fluorescence measurements will result. The test may be performed at any time during the day but because of the physiological diurnal variation of plasma cortisol the criteria listed by Wood cannot apply. It has been shown that basal plasma cortisol levels and the post Cosyntropin for Injection increment exhibit diurnal changes. However, the 30-minute plasma cortisol level remains unchanged throughout the day so that only this single criterion should be used (3). Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration whenever solution and container permit.

Reconstituted

Cosyntropin for Injection should not be retained.

Cosyntropin for injection is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to cosyntropin or to any excipients of cosyntropin for injection. Reactions have included anaphylaxis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .

• Cosyntropin for injection is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to cosyntropin or to any excipients of cosyntropin for injection. Reactions have included anaphylaxis. ( 4 , 5.1 )

ADVERSE REACTIONS Since Cosyntropin for Injection is intended for diagnostic and not therapeutic use, adverse reactions other than a rare hypersensitivity reaction are not anticipated. A rare hypersensitivity reaction usually associated with a pre-existing allergic disease and/or a previous reaction to natural ACTH is possible. Symptoms may include slight whealing with splotchy erythema at the injection site. There have been rare reports of anaphylactic reaction. The following adverse reactions have been reported in patients after the administration of Cosyntropin for Injection and the association has been neither confirmed nor refuted:

• bradycardia
• tachycardia
• hypertension
• peripheral edema
• rash

AND PRECAUTIONS

• Hypersensitivity : reactions including anaphylaxis have been reported. Monitor patients for hypersensitivity reactions and treat as needed. ( 5.1 )
• Diagnostic Inaccuracies : Cortisol levels and subsequent diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency following cosyntropin for injection administration may be inaccurate if patients are on certain medications because of their effect on cortisol or cortisol binding globulin levels. Any condition that elevates or lowers cortisol binding globulin levels may increase or decrease plasma total cortisol levels, respectively. ( 2.1 , 5.2 , 7 )

5.1 Hypersensitivity to Cosyntropin for Injection Cosyntropin for injection hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis have been reported. Monitor patients for hypersensitivity reactions and treat as needed.

5.2 Diagnostic Inaccuracies Cortisol levels and subsequent diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency following cosyntropin for injection administration may be inaccurate if patients are on certain medications because of their effect on cortisol or cortisol binding globulin levels. Glucocorticoids and spironolactone may result in falsely elevated cortisol levels. Stop these drugs on the day of cosyntropin for injection testing. Long-acting glucocorticoids may need to be stopped for a longer period before cosyntropin for injection testing <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )]</span> . Estrogen-containing drugs increase cortisol binding globulin levels which can increase plasma total cortisol levels. To obtain accurate plasma total cortisol levels, stop estrogen containing drugs four to six weeks before cosyntropin for injection testing to allow cortisol binding globulin levels to return to levels within the reference range <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )]</span> . Alternatively, concomitant measurement of cortisol binding globulin at the time of testing can be done; if cortisol binding globulin levels are elevated, plasma total cortisol levels are considered inaccurate. Any condition that elevates or lowers cortisol binding globulin levels may increase or decrease plasma total cortisol levels, respectively. Cortisol binding globulin levels can be low in cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome. Measure cortisol binding globulin levels as necessary to ensure accuracy of interpretation of plasma total cortisol levels.

5.1 Hypersensitivity to Cosyntropin for Injection Cosyntropin for injection hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis have been reported. Monitor patients for hypersensitivity reactions and treat as needed.

5.2 Diagnostic Inaccuracies Cortisol levels and subsequent diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency following cosyntropin for injection administration may be inaccurate if patients are on certain medications because of their effect on cortisol or cortisol binding globulin levels. Glucocorticoids and spironolactone may result in falsely elevated cortisol levels. Stop these drugs on the day of cosyntropin for injection testing. Long-acting glucocorticoids may need to be stopped for a longer period before cosyntropin for injection testing <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )]</span> . Estrogen-containing drugs increase cortisol binding globulin levels which can increase plasma total cortisol levels. To obtain accurate plasma total cortisol levels, stop estrogen containing drugs four to six weeks before cosyntropin for injection testing to allow cortisol binding globulin levels to return to levels within the reference range <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )]</span> . Alternatively, concomitant measurement of cortisol binding globulin at the time of testing can be done; if cortisol binding globulin levels are elevated, plasma total cortisol levels are considered inaccurate. Any condition that elevates or lowers cortisol binding globulin levels may increase or decrease plasma total cortisol levels, respectively. Cortisol binding globulin levels can be low in cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome. Measure cortisol binding globulin levels as necessary to ensure accuracy of interpretation of plasma total cortisol levels.

PRECAUTIONS General Cosyntropin for Injection exhibits slight immunologic activity, does not contain animal protein and is therefore less risky to use than natural ACTH. Patients known to be sensitized to natural ACTH with markedly positive skin tests will, with few exceptions, react negatively when tested intradermally with Cosyntropin for Injection. Most patients with a history of a previous hypersensitivity reaction to natural ACTH or a pre-existing allergic disease will tolerate Cosyntropin for Injection. Despite this however, Cosyntropin for Injection is not completely devoid of immunologic activity and hypersensitivity reactions including rare anaphylaxis are possible. Therefore, the physician should be prepared, prior to injection, to treat any possible acute hypersensitivity reaction.

Drug Interactions

Corticotropin may accentuate the electrolyte loss associated with diuretic therapy. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Long term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or impairment of fertility. A study in rats noted inhibition of reproductive function like natural ACTH.

Pregnancy Pregnancy

Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Cosyntropin for Injection. It is also not known whether Cosyntropin for Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Cosyntropin for Injection should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Nursing

Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Cosyntropin for Injection is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric

Use (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section.)

INTERACTIONS

• Drug effects on plasma cortisol levels: o Accuracy of the test results can be affected by concomitant medications. o Glucocorticoids and spironolactone: May falsely elevate plasma cortisol levels. Stop these drugs on day of cosyntropin for injection testing. Long-acting glucocorticoids may need to be stopped for a longer period before cosyntropin for injection testing. ( 7 ) o Estrogen: May elevate plasma total cortisol levels. Stop estrogen containing drugs 4 to 6 weeks before cosyntropin for injection testing. ( 7 )

7.1 Drug Effects on Plasma Cortisol Levels

• Accuracy of the test results can be affected by concomitant medications. Plasma cortisol levels and subsequent diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency following cosyntropin for injection administration may be inaccurate if patients are on certain medications because of their effect on cortisol or cortisol binding globulin levels [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .
• Glucocorticoids and spironolactone: May falsely elevate plasma cortisol levels. Stop these drugs on the day of cosyntropin for injection testing. Long-acting glucocorticoids may need to be stopped for a longer period before cosyntropin for injection testing.
• Estrogen: May elevate plasma total cortisol levels. Stop estrogen containing drugs 4 to 6 weeks before cosyntropin for injection testing to allow cortisol binding globulin levels to return to levels within the reference range. Alternatively, concomitant measurement of cortisol binding globulin at the time of testing can be done; if cortisol binding globulin levels are elevated, plasma total cortisol levels are considered inaccurate.

7.1 Drug Effects on Plasma Cortisol Levels

• Accuracy of the test results can be affected by concomitant medications. Plasma cortisol levels and subsequent diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency following cosyntropin for injection administration may be inaccurate if patients are on certain medications because of their effect on cortisol or cortisol binding globulin levels [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] .
• Glucocorticoids and spironolactone: May falsely elevate plasma cortisol levels. Stop these drugs on the day of cosyntropin for injection testing. Long-acting glucocorticoids may need to be stopped for a longer period before cosyntropin for injection testing.
• Estrogen: May elevate plasma total cortisol levels. Stop estrogen containing drugs 4 to 6 weeks before cosyntropin for injection testing to allow cortisol binding globulin levels to return to levels within the reference range. Alternatively, concomitant measurement of cortisol binding globulin at the time of testing can be done; if cortisol binding globulin levels are elevated, plasma total cortisol levels are considered inaccurate.