What is Giapreza and how does it work?
- Giapreza (angiotensin II) is a vasoconstrictor to increase blood pressure in adults with septic or other distributive shock.
- Angiotensin II is a naturally occurring peptide hormone of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) that causes vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure.
- Giapreza is a sterile, aqueous solution of synthetic human angiotensin II for intravenous administration by infusion.
What are the side effects of Giapreza?
Common side effects of Giapreza include:
- blood clots,
- low platelet count (thrombocytopenia),
- fast heart rate,
- fungal infection,
- delirium,
- high levels of acid on the blood (acidosis),
- high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and
- lack of blood flow to extremities
What is the dosage for Giapreza?
- The recommended starting dosage of Giapreza is 20 nanograms (ng)/kg/min via continuous intravenous infusion.
- Administration through a central venous line is recommended.
- Monitor blood pressure response and titrate Giapreza every 5 minutes by increments of up to 15 ng/kg/min as needed to achieve or maintain target blood pressure.
- Do not exceed 80 ng/kg/min during the first 3 hours of treatment.
- Maintenance doses should not exceed 40 ng/kg/min.
- Doses as low as 1.25 ng/kg/min may be used.
- Once the underlying shock has sufficiently improved, down-titrate every 5 to 15 minutes by increments of up to 15 ng/kg/min based on blood pressure.
What drugs interact with Giapreza?
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors Concomitant use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may increase the response to Giapreza.
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB) Concomitant use of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may decrease the response to Giapreza.
Is Giapreza safe to take when pregnant or breastfeeding?
- The published data on angiotensin II use in pregnant women are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes.
- It is not known whether Giapreza is present in human milk.
- No data are available on the effects of angiotensin II on the breastfed child or the effects on milk production.