AK-FLUOR

Clinical summary

Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE AK-FLUOR ® 10% (100 mg/mL) is indicated in diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of the retina and iris vasculature. AK-FLUOR is indicated in diagnostic fluorescein angiography or angioscopy of the retina and iris vasculature. ( 1 ) Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The normal adult dose of AK-FLUOR ® 10% is 5 mL (500 mg) via intravenous administration. ( 2.1 ) For children, the dose should be calculated on the basis of 35 mg for each 4.54 kg of body weight. (7.7 mg/kg body weight) ( 2.1 ) Do not mix or dilute with other solutions or drugs. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Dosing Adult Dose The recommended dosage of AK-FLUOR ® 10% (100 mg/mL) is 500 mg via intravenous administration. Pediatric Dose For children, the dose is 7.7 mg/kg (actual body weight) up to a maximum of 500 mg, via intravenous infusion calculated on the basis of 35 mg for each 4.54 kg of body weight. 2.2 Preparation for Administration Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. Do not mix or dilute with other solutions or drugs. Discard unused portion. 2.3 Administration Inject the dose (over 5-10 seconds is normally recommended) into the antecubital vein, after taking precautions to avoid extravasation. A syringe, filled with AK-FLUOR ® , may be attached to transparent tubing and a 23 gauge butterfly needle for injection. Insert the needle and draw the patient's blood to the hub of the syringe so that a small air bubble separates the patient's blood in the tubing from the fluorescein. With the room lights on, slowly inject the blood back into the vein while watching the skin over the needle tip. If the needle has extravasated, the patient's blood will be seen to bulge the skin and the injection should be stopped before any fluorescein is injected. When assured that extravasation has not occurred, the room light may be turned off and the fluorescein injection completed. Luminescence usually appears in the retina and choroidal vessels in 7 to 14 seconds and can be observed by standard viewing equipment. Reduction in dose from 500 mg to 200 mg of AK-FLUOR ® 10% may be appropriate in cases when a highly sensitive imaging system e.g., scanning laser ophthalmoscope is used. Warnings and cautions 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Respiratory reactions ( 5.1 ) Severe local tissue damage ( 5.2 ) 5.1 Respiratory Reactions Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of allergy or bronchial asthma. An emergency tray should always be available. If a potential allergy is suspected, an intradermal skin test may be performed prior to intravenous administration, i.e., 0.05 mL injected intradermally to be evaluated 30 to 60 minutes following injection. Given the sensitivity and specificity of skin testing, a negative skin test is not proof that a patient is not allergic to fluorescein. 5.2 Severe local tissue damage Extravasation during injection can result in severe local tissue damage due to high pH of fluorescein solution. The following complications resulting from extravasation of fluorescein have been noted to occur: Sloughing of the skin, superficial phlebitis, subcutaneous granuloma, and toxic neuritis along the median nerve in the antecubital area. Complications resulting from extravasation can cause severe pain in the arm for up to several hours. When extravasation occurs, the injection should be discontinued and conservative measures to treat damaged tissue and to relieve pain should be implemented. [see Administration ( 2.3 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.6 ) ]. Pregnancy 8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category C. Adequate animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with fluorescein sodium. It is also not known whether fluorescein sodium can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fluorescein sodium should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.