Gastrocrom Drug Information

is indicated in the management of patients with mastocytosis. Use of this product has been associated with improvement in diarrhea, flushing, headaches, vomiting, urticaria, abdominal pain, nausea, and itching in some patients.

INJECTION. SEE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. The usual starting dose is as follows: Adults and Adolescents (13 Years and Older) Two ampules four times daily, taken one-half hour before meals and at bedtime. Children 2-12 Years One ampule four times daily, taken one-half hour before meals and at bedtime. Pediatric Patients Under 2 Years Not recommended.

If satisfactory control of symptoms is not achieved within two to three weeks, the dosage may be increased but should not exceed 40 mg/kg/day. Patients should be advised that the effect of GASTROCROM therapy is dependent upon its administration at regular intervals, as directed. Maintenance Dose Once a therapeutic response has been achieved, the dose may be reduced to the minimum required to maintain the patient with a lower degree of symptomatology.

To prevent relapses, the dosage should be maintained. Administration GASTROCROM should be administered as a solution at least 1/2 hour before meals and at bedtime after preparation according to the following directions: 1. Break open ampule(s) and squeeze liquid contents of ampule(s) into a glass of water. 2. Stir solution. 3. Drink all of the liquid.

Most of the adverse events reported in mastocytosis patients have been transient and could represent symptoms of the disease. The most frequently reported adverse events in mastocytosis patients who have received GASTROCROM during clinical studies were headache and diarrhea, each of which occurred in 4 of the 87 patients. Pruritus, nausea, and myalgia were each reported in 3 patients and abdominal pain, rash, and irritability in 2 patients each.

One report of malaise was also recorded. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-877-999-8406 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. Other Adverse Events: Additional adverse events have been reported during studies in other clinical conditions and from worldwide postmarketing experience.

In most cases the available information is incomplete and attribution to the drug cannot be determined. The majority of these reports involve the gastrointestinal system and include: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, glossitis, stomatitis, vomiting, dysphagia, esophagospasm. Other less commonly reported events (the majority representing only a single report) include the following: Skin: pruritus, rash, urticaria/angioedema, erythema/ burning, photosensitivity Musculoskeletal: arthralgia, myalgia, stiffness/weakness of legs Neurologic: headache, dizziness, hypoesthesia, paresthesia, migraine, convulsions, flushing Psychiatric: psychosis, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, behavior change, insomnia, nervousness Heart Rate: tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), palpitations Respiratory: pharyngitis, dyspnea Miscellaneous: fatigue, edema, unpleasant taste, chest pain, postprandial lightheadedness and lethargy, dysuria, urinary frequency, purpura, hepatic function test abnormal, polycythemia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, tinnitus, lupus erythematosus (LE) syndrome

Drug Interaction During Pregnancy In pregnant mice, cromolyn sodium alone did not cause significant increases in resorptions or major malformations at subcutaneous doses up to 540 mg/kg (approximately equal to the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis). Isoproterenol alone increased both resorptions and major malformations (primarily cleft palate) at a subcutaneous dose of 2.7 mg/kg (approximately 7 times the maximum recommended daily inhalation dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis). The incidence of major malformations increased further when cromolyn sodium at a subcutaneous dose of 540 mg/kg was added to isoproterenol at a subcutaneous dose of 2.7 mg/kg. No such interaction was observed in rats or rabbits.

Pregnancy In reproductive studies in pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, cromolyn sodium produced no evidence of fetal malformations at subcutaneous doses up to 540 mg/kg in mice (approximately equal to the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis) and 164 mg/kg in rats (less than the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis) or at intravenous doses up to 485 mg/kg in rabbits (approximately 4 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis). There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Pediatric Use In adult rats no adverse effects of cromolyn sodium were observed at oral doses up to 6144 mg/kg (approximately 25 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in adults on a mg/m 2 basis). In neonatal rats, cromolyn sodium increased mortality at oral doses of 1000 mg/kg or greater (approximately 9 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in infants on a mg/m 2 basis) but not at doses of 300 mg/kg or less (approximately 3 times the maximum recommended daily oral dose in infants on a mg/m 2 basis). Plasma and kidney concentrations of cromolyn after oral administration to neonatal rats were up to 20 times greater than those in older rats. In term infants up to six months of age, available clinical data suggest that the dose should not exceed 20 mg/kg/day. The use of this product in pediatric patients less than two years of age should be reserved for patients with severe disease in which the potential benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

is contraindicated in those patients who have shown hypersensitivity to cromolyn sodium.