Arginine Hydrochloride (1 brand name, 1 dosage form, 1 route)
Available dosage forms: INJECTABLE.
Routes of administration: INJECTION.
Brand Names
- R-GENE 10
Indications and Usage
R-Gene® 10 is indicated as an intravenous stimulant to the pituitary for the release of human growth hormone in patients where the measurement of pituitary reserve for HGH can be of diagnostic usefulness. It can be used as a diagnostic aid in such conditions as panhypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, chromophobe adenoma, postsurgical craniopharyngioma, hypophysectomy, pituitary trauma, acromegaly, gigantism and problems of growth and stature. If the insulin hypoglycemia test has indicated a deficiency of pituitary reserve for HGH, a test with R-Gene® 10 is advisable to confirm the negative response. This can be done after a waiting period of one day. As patients may not respond to R-Gene® 10 (Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP) during the first test, the unresponsive patient should be tested again to confirm the negative result. A second test can be performed after a waiting period of one day. Some patients who respond to R-Gene® 10 do not respond to insulin and vice versa. The rate of false positive responses for R-Gene® 10 is approximately 32%, and the rate of false negatives is approximately 27%.
Contraindications
The administration of R-Gene® 10 is contraindicated in persons having known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in this product.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse reactions associated with 1670 infusions in premarketing studies were as follows: Non-specific side effects consisting of nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing, numbness and local venous irritation were reported in approximately 3% of the patients. One patient had an allergic reaction which was manifested as a confluent macular rash with reddening and swelling of the hands and face. The rash subsided rapidly after the infusion was terminated and 50 mg of diphenhydramine were administered. One patient had an apparent decrease in platelet count from 150,000 to 60,000. One patient with a history of acrocyanosis had an exacerbation of this condition following infusion of R-Gene® 10.
Overdosage
An overdosage may cause a transient metabolic acidosis with hyperventilation, which could lead to death (see “WARNINGS”). In most cases the acidosis will self-compensate and the base deficit will return to normal following completion of the infusion. If the condition persists, the deficit should be determined and corrected by a calculated dose of an alkalizing agent.