Important Administration Instructions

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.

VITRASE should be administered as discussed below, since its effects relative to absorption and dispersion of other drugs are not produced when it is administered intravenously.

Draw the desired amount of VITRASE into the syringe to obtain the target Hyaluronidase Activity (USP Units) according to the table below.

After admixture with drug, store at 15° to 25°C (59° to 77°F) and use within 6 hours.

Dosage for Subcutaneous Fluid Administration (Hypodermoclysis)

Insert needle with aseptic precautions. With tip free and movable between skin and muscle, begin clysis; fluid should start in readily without pain or lump. Then inject VITRASE into rubber tubing close to needle.

An alternate method is to inject VITRASE under skin prior to clysis. 200 Units will facilitate absorption of 1,000 mL or more of solution. As with all parenteral fluid therapy, observe effect closely, with same precautions for restoring fluid and electrolyte balance as in intravenous injections. The dose, the rate of injection, and the type of solution (saline, glucose, Ringer’s, etc.) must be adjusted carefully to the individual patient. When solutions devoid of inorganic electrolytes are given by hypodermoclysis, hypovolemia may occur. This may be prevented by using solutions containing adequate amounts of inorganic electrolytes and/or controlling the volume and speed of administration.

VITRASE may be added to small volumes of solution (up to 200 mL), such as small clysis for infants or solutions of drugs for subcutaneous injection. For infants and children less than 3 years old, the volume of a single clysis should be limited to 200 mL; and in premature infants or during the neonatal period, the daily dosage should not exceed 25 mL/kg of body weight; the rate of administration should not be greater than 2 mL per minute. For older patients, the rate and volume of administration should not exceed those employed for intravenous infusion.

Dosage for Absorption and Dispersion of Injected Drugs

Absorption and dispersion of other injected drugs may be enhanced by adding 50–300 Units, most typically 150 Units of VITRASE to the injection solution.

Dosage for Subcutaneous Urography

The subcutaneous route of administration of urographic contrast media is indicated when intravenous administration cannot be successfully accomplished, particularly in infants and small children. With the patient prone, 75 Units of VITRASE are injected subcutaneously over each scapula, followed by injection of the contrast medium at the same sites.