
In patients with severe impairment of renal function, a test dose should be utilized (see Dosage and Administration). A second test dose may be tried if there is an inadequate response, but no more than two test doses should be attempted.
The obligatory diuretic response following rapid infusion of 15% or 20% mannitol injection may further aggravate preexisting hemoconcentration. Excessive loss of water and electrolytes may lead to serious imbalances. Serum sodium and potassium should be carefully monitored during mannitol administration.
If urine output continues to decline during mannitol infusion, the patient’s clinical status should be closely reviewed and mannitol infusion suspended if necessary. Accumulation of mannitol may result in overexpansion of the extracellular fluid which may intensify existing or latent congestive heart failure.
Excessive loss of water and electrolytes may lead to serious imbalances. With continued administration of mannitol, loss of water in excess of electrolytes can cause hypernatremia. Electrolyte measurements, including sodium and potassium, are therefore, of vital importance in monitoring the infusion of mannitol.
Osmotic nephrosis, a reversible vacuolization of the tubules of unknown clinical significance, may proceed to severe irreversible nephrosis, so that the renal function must be closely monitored during mannitol infusion.
There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.
OSMITROL Injection (Mannitol Injection, USP) is indicated for:
The promotion of diuresis, in the prevention and/or treatment of the oliguric phase of acute renal failure before irreversible renal failure becomes established;
The reduction of intracranial pressure and treatment of cerebral edema by reducing brain mass;
The reduction of elevated intraocular pressure when the pressure cannot be lowered by other means, and
Promoting the urinary excretion of toxic substances.
OSMITROL Injection (Mannitol Injection, USP) is a sterile, nonpyrogenic solution of Mannitol, USP in a single dose container for intravenous administration. It contains no antimicrobial agents. Mannitol** is a six carbon sugar alcohol prepared commercially by the reduction of dextrose. Although virtually inert metabolically in humans, it occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. Mannitol is an obligatory osmotic diuretic. The pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid. Composition, osmolarity, and pH are shown in Table 1
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|
Table 1 |
Composition |
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|
Size (mL) |
**Mannitol, USP |
*Osmolarity |
pH |
|
|
5% OSMITROL Injection |
1000 |
50 |
274 |
5.0 |
|
10% OSMITROL Injection |
500 |
100 |
549 |
5.0 |
|
15% OSMITROL Injection |
500 |
150 |
823 |
5.0 |
|
20% OSMITROL Injection |
250 |
200 |
1098 |
5.0 |
|
500 |
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The VIAFLEX plastic container is fabricated from a specially formulated polyvinyl chloride (PL 146 Plastic). The amount of water that can permeate from inside the container into the overwrap is insufficient to affect the solution significantly. Solutions in contact with the plastic container can leach out certain of its chemical components in very small amounts within the expiration period, e.g., di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), up to 5 parts per million. However, the safety of the plastic has been confirmed in tests in animals according to USP biological tests for plastic containers as well as by tissue culture toxicity studies.