Diamorphine Hydrochloride 500mg for Injection

Each ampoule contains 500mg of diamorphine hydrochloride

For full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

A white to off-white, sterile, freeze dried powder of Diamorphine Hydrochloride BP for reconstitution for injection.

Diamorphine may be used in the treatment of severe pain associated with surgical procedures, myocardial infarction or pain in the terminally ill and for the relief of dyspnoea in acute pulmonary oedema.

Diamorphine may be given by the intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous routes. Glucose intravenous infusion is the preferred diluent, particularly when the drug is administered by a continuous infusion pump over 24 to 48 hours, although it is also compatible with sodium chloride intravenous infusion.

The dose should be suited to the individual patient.

Adults:

Acute pain, 5mg repeated every four hours if necessary (up to 10mg for heavier, well muscled patients) by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. By slow intravenous injection, one quarter to one half the corresponding intramuscular dose.

Chronic pain, 5-10mg regularly every four hours by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. The dose may be increased according to individual needs.

Myocardial infarction, 5mg by slow intravenous injection (1mg/minute) followed by a further 2.5mg to 5mg if necessary.

Acute pulmonary oedema, 2.5mg to 5mg by slow intravenous injection (1mg/minute).

Children and Elderly:

As diamorphine has a respiratory depressant effect, care should be taken when giving the drug to the very young and the elderly and a lower starting dose than normal is recommended.

Hepatic impairment:

A reduction in dosage should be considered in hepatic impairment.

Renal impairment:

The dosage should be reduced in moderate to severe renal impairment.

Debilitated patients:

A reduction in dosage should be considered in debilitated patients.

For concomitant illnesses/conditions where dose reduction may be appropriate see 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use.

Acute respiratory depression.

Known hypersensitivity to diamorphine or morphine.

Phaeochromocytoma (endogenous release of histamine may stimulate catecholamine release).

Biliary colic (see also biliary tract disorders, 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions).

Coma. Raised intracranial pressure. Head injuries, as there is an increased risk of respiratory depression that may lead to elevation of CSF pressure. The sedation and pupillary changes produced may interfere with accurate monitoring of the patient

Acute alcoholism.

Diamorphine is also contra-indicated where there is a risk of paralytic ileus, or in acute diarrhoeal conditions associated with antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis or diarrhoea caused by poisoning (until the toxic material has been eliminated).

Repeated administration of diamorphine may lead to dependence and tolerance developing. Abrupt withdrawal in patients who have developed dependence may precipitate a withdrawal syndrome. Great caution should be exercised in patients with a known tendency or history of drug abuse.

Morphine-like opioids should either be avoided in patients with biliary tract disorders or they should be given with an antispasmodic (use in biliary colic is a contraindication see 4.3 Contraindications).

Diamorphine should be given in reduced doses or with caution to patients with asthma or decreased respiratory reserve (including kyphoscoliosis, emphysema, severe obesity, cor pulmonale). Avoid use during an acute asthma attack (see 4.3 Contraindications).

Use with caution or in reduced doses in patients with toxic psychosis, CNS depression, myxoedema, prostatic hypertrophy or urethral stricture, severe inflammatory or obstructive bowel disorders, hypotension, shock, convulsive disorders, adrenal insufficiency or debilitated patients.

Care should be exercised in treating the elderly, children or debilitated patients and those with hepatic or renal impairment (see 4.2 Posology for dosage recommendations).

Palliative care - in the control of pain in terminal illness, these conditions should not necessarily be a deterrent to use.

Alcohol: Alcohol may enhance the sedative and hypotensive effects of diamorphine.

Anti-arrhythmics: Diamorphine may delay the absorption of mexiletine.

Antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics: Severe CNS excitation or depression (hypertension or hypotension) has been reported with the concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and pethidine. It is therefore possible that a similar interaction may occur with other opioid analgesics - avoid concomitant use and for two weeks after stopping MAOIs.

The depressant effects of diamorphine may be exaggerated and prolonged by tricyclic antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics.

Antivirals: Plasma concentration of opioid analgesics (except methadone) is possibly increased by ritinovir.

Opioids potentiate the effects of CNS depressants including tricyclic antidepressants, anxiolytics and hypnotics.

Antipsychotics: enhanced sedative and hypotensive effect.

Antidiarrhoeal and antiperistaltic agents (such as loperamide and kaolin): concurrent use may increase the risk of severe constipation.

Antimuscarinics: The risk of severe constipation and/or urinary retention is increased by administration of antimuscarinic drugs (e.g. atropine).

Motility stimulants: There may be antagonism of the gastrointestinal effects of domperidone and metoclopramide.

Cimetidine inhibits metabolism of opioid analgesics.

Safety has not been established in pregnancy.

Administration during labour may cause respiratory depression in the neonate and gastric stasis during labour, increasing the risk of inhalation pneumonia. Babies born to diamorphine-dependant mothers have been reported to suffer withdrawal symptoms.

Diamorphine should not be given to women who are breast-feeding as there is limited information available on diamorphine in breast milk.

Diamorphine causes drowsiness and mental clouding. If affected patients should not drive or use machines.

The most serious hazard of therapy is respiratory (see also 4.9 Overdose).

The most common side effects are sedation, nausea and vomiting, constipation and sweating. Tolerance generally develops with long-term use, but not to constipation. Other side effects include the following:

Anaphylaxis: Anaphylactic reactions following intravenous injection have been reported rarely.

Cardiovascular: orthostatic hypotension, facial flushing, palpitations, tachycardia, bradycardia.

Central Nervous System: dizziness, vertigo, mental clouding, confusion (with large doses), hallucinations, headache, mood changes including dysphoria and euphoria.

Gastrointestinal: dry mouth, biliary spasm.

Disorders of the eye: blurred or double vision or other changes in vision, miosis.

Sexual dysfunction: long term use may lead to a reversible decrease in libido or potency.

Skin: rash, pruritus, urticaria.

Urinary: urinary retention, difficulty with micturition, ureteric spasm, antidiuretic effect. Tolerance develops to the effects of opioids on the bladder.

The euphoric activity of diamorphine has led to its abuse and physical and psychological dependence may occur (see also 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for use).

a) Symptoms

The triad of respiratory depression, coma and constricted pupils is considered indicative of opioid overdosage with dilatation of the pupils occurring as hypoxia develops.

Pulmonary oedema after overdosage is a common cause of fatalities among diamorphine addicts.

Other opioid overdose symptoms include cold, clammy skin, hypotension, bradycardia, circulatory failure, muscle flaccidity, severe weakness, severe nervousness or restlessness, confusion, severe dizziness, severe drowsiness, hallucinations, convulsions (especially in infants and children), rhabdomyolysis progressing to renal failure.

b) Treatment

Respiration and circulation should be maintained and the specific opioid antagonist, naloxone is indicated if coma or bradypnoea are present, using one of the recommended dosage regimens. Oxygen and assisted ventilation should be administered if necessary.

Diamorphine is a narcotic analgesic which acts primarily on the central nervous system and smooth muscle. It is predominantly a central nervous system depressant but it has stimulant actions resulting in nausea, vomiting and miosis.

Diamorphine is a potent opiate analgesic which has a more rapid onset of activity than morphine as the first metabolite, monoacetylmorphine, more readily crosses the blood brain barrier. In man, diamorphine has a half life of two to three minutes. Its first metabolite, monoacetylmorphine, is more slowly hydrolysed in the blood to be concentrated mainly in skeletal muscle, kidney, lung, liver and spleen. Monoacetylmorphine is metabolised to morphine. Morphine forms conjugates with glucuronic acid. The majority of the drug is excreted via the kidney as glucuronides and to a much lesser extent as morphine. About 7-10% is eliminated via the biliary system into the faeces.

Diamorphine does not bind to protein. However, morphine is about 35% bound to human plasma proteins, mainly to albumin. The analgesic effect lasts approximately three to four hours.

There are no additional pre-cliical data of relevance to the prescriber.

Water for Injections (Not detectable in the finished product).

Physical incompatibility has been reported with mineral acids and alkalis and with chlorocresol. Mixtures of diamorphine with cyclizine, haloperidol or dexamethasone may result in precipitation. Mixtures of diamorphine and metoclopramide may become discoloured and should be discarded. Specialised references should be consulted for specific compatibility information.

Three years from date of manufacture

Do not store above 25°C.

Keep container in the outer carton.

5ml Neutral glass ampoules, PhEur. Type 1. Ampoules are packed into cartons of 5, 10 or 50.

The solution should be used immediately after preparation.

Wockhardt UK Limited

Ash Road North

Wrexham

LL13 9UF

UK

PL 29831/0060

27/04/2007

27/04/2007