Summary of medicine characteristics - ATROPINE SULFATE 3 MG / 10 ML SOLUTION FOR INJECTION IN PRE-FILLED SYRINGE
Atropine sulfate 3 mg/10 ml, solution for injection in pre-filled syringe.
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each ml of solution for injection contains 0.3 mg atropine sulfate monohydrate, equivalent to 0.25 mg atropine.
Each 10 ml syringe contains 3 mg atropine sulfate monohydrate, equivalent to 2.50 mg atropine.
Excipient with known effect: sodium
Each ml of solution for injection contains 3.54 mg equivalent to 0.154 mmol of
sodium.
Each 10 ml syringe contains 35.4 mg equivalent to 1.540 mmol of sodium.
For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Solution for injection in pre-filled syringe.
Clear and colourless solution.
pH 3.2 – 4.0.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Atropine sulfate 3 mg/10 ml, solution for injection in pre-filled syringe is indicated in adults only.
– As a pre-anaesthetic medication: to prevent vagal reactions associated with tracheal intubation and surgical manipulation.
– To limit the muscarinic effects of neostigmine, when given postsurgically to counteract non-depolarising muscle relaxants
– Treatment of hemodynamically compromising bradycardia and/ or atrioventricular block due to excessive vagal tone in emergency situation
– Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: to treat symptomatic bradycardia and AV block.
– As antidote following overdosage or poisoning with acetylcholinesterase-inhibitors e.g. anticholinesterases, organophosphorus, carbamates and muscarinic mushrooms.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Atropine sulfate 3 mg/10 ml, solution for injection in pre-filled syringe must be administered under medical supervision.
Posology:
Pre-anaesthetic medication:
Intravenous administration immediately before surgery.
– Adults:
– 0.3–0.6 mg IV.
In combination with neostigmine to limit its muscarinic effects:
Adults:
0.6–1.2 mg IV
Treatment of hemodynamically compromising bradycardia, atrioventricular block, cardiopulmonary resuscitation:
Adults:
– Sinus bradycardia: 0.5 mg IV, every 2–5 minutes until the desired heart rate is achieved.
– AV block: 0.5 mg IV, every 3–5 minutes (maximum 3 mg)
As an antidote to organophosphates (pesticides, nerve gases), to cholinesterase inhibitors and in muscarinic mushroom poisoning:
Intravenous use.
Adults:
0.5 – 2 mg atropine sulfate depending on the patient's features and response, can be repeated after 5 minutes and subsequently as required, until signs and symptoms disappear (this dose may be exceeded many times).
Dose adjustments
In general, dosage should be adjusted according to patient’s response and tolerance.
Dosage to a total maximum dose of 3 mg in adults is usually increased until adverse effects become intolerable; then a slight reduction in dosage generally yields the maximum dosage tolerated by the patient.
Special populations
Caution is advised for patients with renal or hepatic impairment and in elderly (see section 4.4).
Method of administration
Atropine is administered by intravenous injection
Paediatric population
Atropine Sulfate 3 mg/10 ml, solution for injection in pre-filled syringe is not in a presentation suitable for paediatric use, as the graduation scale of the syringe does not permit accurate measurement of the doses for children.
4.3 Contraindications
– Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients
– Closed-angle glaucoma
– Risk of urinary retention because of prostatic or urethral disease
– Achalasia of the esophagus, paralytic ileus, and toxic megacolon.
All these contra-indications are however not relevant in life-threatening emergencies (such as bradyarrhythmia, poisoning).
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Use with caution in case of:
– Prostatic enlargement
– Renal or hepatic insufficiency
– Cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism
– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as a reduction in bronchial secretions may lead to the formation of bronchial plugs
– Intestinal atonia in elderly
– Pyloric stenosis
– Fever, or when ambient temperature is high
– In the elderly, more susceptible to adverse effects.
– In reflux oesophagitis, as atropine may delay gastric emptying, decrease gastric motility and relax oesophageal sphincter
Atropine should not be given to patients with myasthenia gravis unless given in conjunction with anticholinesterase.
Atropine administration should not delay implementation of external pacing for unstable patients, particularly those with high-degree (Mobitz type II second-degree or third-degree) block.
Antimuscarinics block vagal inhibition of the SA nodal pacemaker and should thus be used with caution in patients with tachyarrhythmias, congestive heart failure or coronary heart disease.
This medicinal product contains 35.4 mg sodium per 10 ml syringe, equivalent to 1.77% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Combinations to be taken into account
Other drugs with anticholinergic activity such as tricyclic antidepressants, some H1-antihistamines, antiparkinsonian drugs (MAOI’s), disopyramide, mequitazine, phenothiazine neuroleptic drugs, antispasmodics and quinidine, because of the increased risk of atropinic adverse effects (urinary retention, constipation, dry mouth).
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Data on a limited number of exposed pregnancies indicate no adverse effects of atropine on pregnancy or on the health of the foetus/new-born child.
Animal studies did not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).
Studies of the pharmacokinetics of atropine in mother and fetus in late pregnancy indicated that atropine rapidly crosses the placental barrier. Intravenous administration of atropine during pregnancy or at term may cause tachycardia in the fetus and the mother.
Atropine should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
Breast feeding
Small amounts of atropine may pass into human breast milk. Infants have an increased sensitivity to the anticholinergic effects of atropine. Atropine may inhibit the production of milk, particularly upon repeated use. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from treatment taking into account the benefit of breast feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman. If it is decided during treatment to continue breastfeeding, the child should be monitored for anticholinergic effects.
Fertility
There are no data on effects of this atropine sulfate on fertility in humans. Atropine sulfate reduced fertility in male rats, presumably as a consequence of an inhibitory effect on the transport of sperm and semen during the process of emission.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Atropine may cause drowsiness or blurred vision and patients should be advised of it.
4.8 Undesirable effects
The pattern of adverse effects seen with atropine can mostly be related to their pharmacological actions at muscarinic and, at high doses, nicotinic receptors. Adverse effects are dose-related and usually reversible when therapy is discontinued. The most common effects occurring with relatively small doses are visual disturbances, reduced bronchial secretion, dry mouth, constipation, reflux, flushing, difficulty in micturition and dryness of the skin. Transient bradycardia may develop followed by tachycardia, with palpitations and arrhythmias.
The evaluation of adverse reactions is based on the following definition of frequency:
Very Common: >1/10;
Common: >1/100 to <1/10;
Uncommon: >1/1,000 to <1/100;
Rare: >1/10,000 to <1/1,000;
Very rare: <1/10,000;
Not known: cannot be estimated from the available data
Frequency System \ Organ \ Class \ | Very Common (>1/10) | Common (>1/100 to <1/10) | Uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100) | Rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000) | Very Rare (<1/10,000) | Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data) |
Immune system disorders | Allergic reactions | Anaphylaxi s | ||||
Nervous system disorders | Excitement, incoordinati on, mental confusion, and/or hallucinatio ns (especially with higher dosages), hypertherm ia | Psychotic reactions | Seizure, drowsiness | Headache, restlessness , ataxia, insomnia | ||
Eye disorders | Visual disturbance s (mydriasis, inhibition of accommoda tion, blurred vision, photophobi a) | |||||
Cardiac disorders | Tachycardi a (arrhythmia s, transient exacerbatio n of bradycardia ) | Atrial arrhythmias , ventricular fibrillation, angina, hypertensiv e crisis | ||||
Vascular disorders | Flushing | |||||
Respiratory , thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Reduced bronchial secretion |
Frequency System \ Organ \ Class \ | Very Common (>1/10) | Common (>1/100 to <1/10) | Uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100) | Rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000) | Very Rare (<1/10,000) | Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data) |
Gastrointest inal disorders | Dryness of the mouth (difficulty in swallowing and talking, thirst), parasympat hetic inhibition of gastrointest inal tract (constipatio n and reflux), inhibition of gastric secretion, loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, bloated feeling | |||||
Skin and subcutaneo us tissue disorders | Anhidrosis, urticaria, rash | |||||
Renal and urinary disorders | Inhibition of the parasympat hetic control of the urinary bladder, urinary retention |
Special populations
Atropine may cause excitement, incoordination, confusion and/or hallucinations especially in the elderly. An epidemiological study similarly reported lower cognitive performance in elderly patients receiving antimuscarinics.
Patients with Down syndrome may be more susceptible to antimuscarinic effects.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via:
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9 Overdose
4.9 OverdoseSymptoms:
Flushing and dryness of the skin, dilated pupils with photophobia, dry mouth and tongue accompanied by a burning sensation, difficulty in swallowing, tachycardia, rapid respiration, hyperpyrexia, nausea, vomiting, hypertension, rash and excitement. Symptoms of CNS stimulation include restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoid and psychotic reactions, incoordination, delirium and occasionally convulsions. In sever overdose, drowsiness, stupor and CNS depression may occur with coma, circulatory and respiratory failure and death.
Treatment:
Treatment should be supportive. An adequate airway should be maintained.
Diazepam may be administered to control excitement and convulsions but the risk of CNS depression should be considered.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Belladonna alkaloids, tertiary amines.
ATC code: A03BA01.
Atropine is an antimuscarinic agent which competitively antagonises acetylcholine at postganglionic nerve endings, thus affecting receptors in the exocrine glands, smooth muscle, cardiac muscle and the central nervous system.
Peripheral effects include decreased production of saliva, sweat, nasal, lachrymal and gastric secretions, decreased intestinal motility and inhibition of micturition.
Atropine increases sinus rate and sinoatrial and AV conduction. Usually heart rate is increased, but there may be an initial bradycardia.
Atropine inhibits secretions throughout the respiratory tract and relaxes bronchial smooth muscle producing bronchodilation.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Absorption
Following intravenous administration, the peak increase in heart rate occurs within 2 to 4 minutes.
Distribution
Atropine is distributed widely throughout the body and crosses the blood brain barrier and the placenta barrier.
Biotransformation
Atropine is incompletely metabolised in the liver and is excreted in the urine as unchanged drug and metabolites. About 50% of the dose is excreted within 4 hours and 90% in 24 hours.
Elimination
The elimination half-life is about 2 to 5 hours. Up to 50% of the dose is protein bound.
Paediatric Population
Children, particularly those younger than two years, may be more susceptible to the actions of atropine. The elimination half-life is more than doubled in children less than two years compared to adults.
The pre-filled syringe is not adapted to the administration in paediatric population; the graduation does not permit accurate measurement (see section 4.2).
Elderly
The elimination half-life of atropine is more than doubled in the elderly (>65 years old) compared to adults.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
5.3 Preclinical safety dataEffects in non-clinical studies were observed only at exposures considered sufficiently in excess of the maximum human exposure indicating little relevance to clinical use.
Atropine sulfate reduced fertility in male rats, presumably as a consequence of an inhibitory effect on the transport of sperm and semen during the process of emission.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Sodium chloride
Concentrated hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)
Water for injection
6.2 Incompatibilities
This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
6.3 Shelf life
36 months
6.4 Special precautions for storage
This medicine does not require any special conditions.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
6.5 Nature and contents of container10 ml solution in a pre-filled syringe (polypropylene) with plunger stopper (chlorobutyl rubber) labelled with a polypropylene label in a sterile polypropylene/tyvek blister without needle in pack size of 1, 5, 10, 12, 20, 25, 50 or 100.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Instructions for use:
Please prepare the syringe carefully as follows
The pre-filled syringe is for single patient only. Discard syringe after use. DO NOT REUSE.
The content of unopened and undamaged blister is sterile, and must not be opened until use.
The product should be inspected visually for particles and discoloration prior to administration. Only clear colourless solution free from particles or precipitates should be used.
The product should not be used if the tamper evident seal on syringe (plastic cover to the end cap) is broken.
The external surface of syringe is sterile until blister is opened.
1) Withdraw the pre-filled syringe from the sterile blister.
2) Push on the plunger to free the bung.
3) Twist off the end cap to break the seal.
4) Check the syringe seal (plastic cover to the end cap and seal under end cap) has been completely removed. If not, replace the cap and twist again.
5) Expel the air by gently pushing the plunger.
6) Connect syringe to vascular access device or to needle. Push the plunger to inject the required volume.
The needle gauges appropriate for use with the syringe are 23 to 20 gauges for IV administration.
Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
LABORATOIRE AGUETTANT
1, rue Alexander Fleming
FR – 69007 Lyon, France