Atropen Auto-injector

Atropen Auto-injector

Atropen Auto-injector Recall

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Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

CAUTION! PRIMARY PROTECTION AGAINST EXPOSURE TO CHEMICAL NERVE AGENTS AND INSECTICIDE POISONING IS THE WEARING OF PROTECTIVE GARMENTS INCLUDING MASKS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS USE.

INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT RELY SOLELY UPON ANTIDOTES SUCH AS ATROPINE AND PRALIDOXIME TO PROVIDE COMPLETE PROTECTION FROM CHEMICAL NERVE AGENTS AND INSECTICIDE POISONING.

Patients who have had previous anaphylactic reactions to atropine who have mild symptoms of organophosphorous or nerve agent poisoning should not be treated without adequate medical supervision.

While AtroPen® can be administered to all individuals with a life-threatening exposure to organophosphorous nerve agents and insecticides, it should be administered with extreme caution to individuals with the following disorders when the symptoms of nerve agent poisoning are less severe: individuals who are hypersensitive to any component of the product, disorders of heart rhythm such as atrial flutter, severe narrow angle glaucoma, pyloric stenosis, prostatic hypertrophy, significant renal insufficiency, or a recent myocardial infarction.

More than one dose of atropine (AtroPen® Auto-Injector) may be necessary initially, especially when exposure is massive or symptoms are severe. However, no more than three doses should be administered unless under the supervision of trained medical personnel. High doses of atropine may be required for many hours following high-dose exposure to maintain atropinization. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION)

Children and the elderly may be more susceptible to the pharmacologic effects of atropine.

Severe difficulty in breathing requires artificial respiration in addition to the use of atropine since atropine is not dependable in reversing the weakness or paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

The AtroPen® Auto-Injector is indicated for the treatment of poisoning by susceptible organophosphorous nerve agents having cholinesterase activity as well as organophosphorous or carbamate insecticides. The AtroPen®Auto-Injector should be used by persons who have had adequate training in the recognition and treatment of nerve agent or insecticide intoxication. Pralidoxime chloride may serve as an important adjunct to atropine therapy.

The AtroPen®is intended as an initial treatment of the muscarinic symptoms of insecticide or nerve agent poisonings (generally breathing difficulties due to increased secretions); definitive medical care should be sought immediately. The AtroPen® Auto-Injector should be administered as soon as symptoms of organophosphorous or carbamate poisoning appear (usually tearing, excessive oral secretions, wheezing, muscle fasciculations, etc.). In moderate to severe poisoning, the administration of more than one AtroPen® may be required until atropinization is achieved (flushing, mydriasis, tachycardia, dryness of the mouth and nose). (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION) In severe poisonings, it may also be desirable to concurrently administer an anticonvulsant if seizure is suspected in the unconscious individual since the classic tonic-clonic jerking may not be apparent due to the effects of the poison. In poisonings due to organophosphorous nerve agents and insecticides it may also be helpful to concurrently administer a cholinesterase reactivator such as pralidoxime chloride.

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Each prefilled auto-injector provides a dose of the antidote atropine in a self-contained unit, specially designed for self or caregiver administration. Four strengths of AtroPen® are available; they are AtroPen® 0.25 mg, AtroPen® 0.5 mg, AtroPen® 1 mg, and AtroPen® 2 mg.

When activated the AtroPen® 0.25 mg dispenses 0.21 mg atropine base (equivalent to 0.25 mg atropine sulfate). The AtroPen® 0.25 mg delivers 0.3 mL of sterile pyrogen-free solution containing citrate buffer, sodium chloride and Water for Injection. The pH range is 4.0-5.0.

When activated, the AtroPen® 0.5 mg dispenses 0.42 mg atropine base (equivalent to 0.5 mg atropine sulfate), the AtroPen® 1 mg dispenses 0.84 mg atropine base (equivalent to 1 mg atropine sulfate), and the AtroPen® 2 mg dispenses 1.67 mg atropine base (equivalent to 2 mg atropine sulfate). Each 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg AtroPen® delivers atropine in 0.7 mL of sterile pyrogen-free solution containing glycerin, phenol, citrate buffer and Water for Injection. The pH range is 4.0–5.0.

After the AtroPen® Auto-Injector has been activated, the empty container should be disposed of properly (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). It cannot be refilled, nor can the protruding needle be retracted.

Atropine, an anticholinergic agent (muscarinic antagonist), occurs as white crystals, usually needle-like, or as a white, crystalline powder. It is highly soluble in water with a molecular weight of 289.38. Atropine, a naturally occurring belladonna alkaloid, is a racemic mixture of equal parts of d- and l-hyoscyamine, whose activity is due almost entirely to the levo isomer of the drug. Chemically, atropine is designated as 1 H,5 H-Tropan-3 –ol (±) -tropate. Its empirical formula is C17H23NO3 and its structural formula is:

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Atropen Auto-injector Manufacturers


  • Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Atropen Auto-injector (Atropine Sulfate) Injection [Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.]

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