Applies to terlipressin: intravenous powder for solution.
Warning
Intravenous route (Powder for Solution)
Warning: Serious Or Fatal Respiratory FailureTerlipressin may cause serious or fatal respiratory failure. Patients with volume overload or with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) Grade 3 are at increased risk. Assess oxygenation saturation (eg, SpO2) before initiating terlipressin.Do not initiate terlipressin in patients experiencing hypoxia (eg, SpO2 less than 90%) until oxygenation levels improve. Monitor patients for hypoxia using continuous pulse oximetry during treatment and discontinue terlipressin if SpO2 decreases below 90%.
Serious side effects of Terlipressin
Along with its needed effects, terlipressin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking terlipressin:
More common
- Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- chest pain or discomfort
- chills
- confusion
- decrease in amount of urine
- difficult or trouble breathing
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
- lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting
- slow or irregular heartbeat
- swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
- unusual tiredness
- weight gain
Less common
- Constipation
- diarrhea
- headache
- itching skin
- nausea
- numbness and tingling of the face, fingers, or toes
- pain in the arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in the calves or heels upon exertion
- pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
- pale, bluish-colored, or cold hands or feet
- severe numbness, especially on one side of the face or body
- stomach pain, usually after eating a meal
- sweating
- vomiting
- weak or absent pulses in the legs
Incidence not known
- Blue-green to black skin discoloration
- coma
- decreased urine output
- increased thirst
- muscle pain or cramps
- pain, redness, or sloughing of the skin at the place of injection
- seizures
- sores on the skin, especially on the thighs, breasts, penis, or buttocks
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to terlipressin: intravenous powder for injection.
Cardiovascular
Common (1% to 10%): Bradycardia, hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, ischemia-related events, vasoconstriction, pallor, supra-ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular arrhythmia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Atrial fibrillation, ventricular extrasystoles, tachycardia, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, torsade de pointes, cyanosis, hot flushes, chest pain, fluid overload with pulmonary edema, angina pectoris, peripheral cyanosis
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Ventricular fibrillation
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Myocardial ischemia[Ref]
Ischemia-related events included skin discoloration, cyanosis, ischemia, and intestinal ischemia.[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Paleness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin necrosis unrelated to the site of administration, lymphangitis[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Abdominal pain (19.5%), nausea (16%), diarrhea (13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Transient abdominal cramps
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting, intestinal ischemia[Ref]
General
-The most common adverse reactions with a frequency of 10% or greater were abdominal pain, nausea, respiratory failure, diarrhea, and dyspnea.
-The most common adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation were respiratory failure, abdominal pain, and intestinal ischemia or obstruction.[Ref]
Local
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Local cutaneous necrosis[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Fluid overload (8.5%)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyponatremia
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hyperglycemia[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Headache
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Triggering of a convulsive disorder
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Stroke[Ref]
Other
In a clinical study, 67% of the patients developed acute reduction in serum sodium.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Sepsis (5.5%)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Uterine hypertonus, uterine ischemia
Frequency not reported: Decreased serum sodium, uterine constriction, decreased uterine blood flow
Postmarketing reports: Gangrene[Ref]
Renal
Frequency not reported: Decreased serum creatinine[Ref]
Respiratory
Very common (10% or more): Respiratory failure (15.5%), dyspnea (12.5%)
Common (1% to 10%): Pleural effusion (5.5%)
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, pain in the chest, bronchospasm[Ref]