WARNINGS
Hypersensitivity/infusion reactions including hypotension, hypertension, peripheral cyanosis, tachycardia, dyspnoea, vomiting, nausea, urticaria, rash, pruritus, erythema, hyperhidrosis, pyrexia, and chills have been reported with CLINIMIX formulations.
Anaphylaxis has been reported with other parenteral nutrition products.
Special clinical monitoring is required at the beginning of any intravenous infusion. Should any abnormal sign or symptom occur, e.g. for hypersensitivity or infusion reaction, the infusion must be stopped immediately.
Solutions containing glucose should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with known allergy to corn or corn products.
Pulmonary vascular precipitates have been reported in patients receiving parenteral nutrition. In some cases, fatal outcomes have occurred. Excessive addition of calcium and phosphate increases the risk of the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates. Precipitates have been reported even in the absence of phosphate salt in the solution. Precipitation distal to the in-line filter and suspected in vivo precipitate formation have also been reported.
If signs of pulmonary distress occur, the infusion should be stopped and medical evaluation initiated.
In addition to inspection of the solution, the infusion set and catheter should also periodically be checked for precipitates.
In patients older than 28 days (including adults), ceftriaxone must not be administered simultaneously with intravenous calcium-containing solutions, including CLINIMIX N14G30E, through the same infusion line (e.g., via a Y-connector). If the same infusion line is used for sequential administration, the line must be thoroughly flushed with a compatible fluid between infusions.
Infection and sepsis may occur as a result of the use of intravenous catheters to administer parenteral formulations, poor maintenance of catheters or contaminated solutions. Immunosuppression and other factors such as hyperglycaemia, malnutrition and/or their underlying disease state may predispose patients to infectious complications.
Careful symptomatic and laboratory monitoring for fever/chills, leukocytosis, technical complications with the access device, and hyperglycaemia can help recognize early infections.
The occurrence of septic complications can be decreased with heightened emphasis on aseptic technique in catheter placement, maintenance, as well as aseptic technique in nutritional formula preparation.
Refeeding severely undernourished patients may result in the refeeding syndrome that is characterized by the shift of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium intracellularly as the patient becomes anabolic. Thiamine deficiency and fluid retention may also develop. Careful monitoring and slowly increasing nutrient intakes while avoiding overfeeding can prevent these complications.
Hypertonic solutions may cause venous irritation if infused into a peripheral vein. The choice of a peripheral or central vein depends on the final osmolarity of the mixture.
The general accepted limit for peripheral infusion is about 800 mOsm/l but it varies considerably with the age and the general condition of the patient and the characteristics of the peripheral veins.
Do not connect bags in series in order to avoid air embolism due to possible residual air contained in the primary bag.
PRECAUTIONS
Severe water and electrolyte equilibration disorders, severe fluid overload states, and severe metabolic disorders should be corrected before starting the infusion.
Metabolic complications may occur if the nutrient intake is not adapted to the patient's requirements, or the metabolic capacity of any given dietary component is not accurately assessed. Adverse metabolic effects may arise from administration of inadequate or excessive nutrients or from inappropriate composition of an admixture for a particular patient's needs.
Frequent clinical evaluation and laboratory determinations are necessary for correct monitoring during administration. These should include ionogram and kidney and liver function tests.
The electrolyte requirements of patients receiving the solutions should be carefully determined and monitored especially for the electrolyte-free solutions. CLINIMIX without electrolytes should not be used in cases of hypokalaemia and hyponatraemia.
Glucose intolerance is a common metabolic complication in severely stressed patients. With the infusion of the products, hyperglycaemia, glycosuria, and hyperosmolar syndrome may occur. Blood and urine glucose should be monitored on a routine basis and for diabetics insulin dosage should be adapted, if necessary.
Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency, particularly if hyperkalaemia is present, because of the risk of developing or worsening metabolic acidosis and hyperazotemia if extra-renal waste removal is not being performed. Fluid and electrolyte status should be closely monitored in these patients. In case of severe kidney failure, specially formulated amino acid solutions should be preferred.
Caution should be exercised in administering CLINIMIX to patients with adrenal insufficiency.
Care should be taken to avoid circulatory overload particularly in patients with pulmonary oedema, cardiac insufficiency and/or failure. Fluid status should be closely monitored.
In patients with pre-existing liver disease or hepatic insufficiency, apart from routine liver function tests, possible symptoms of hyperammonaemia should be controlled.
Hepatobiliary disorders including cholestasis, hepatic steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, possibly leading to hepatic failure, as well as cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are known to develop in some patients on parenteral nutrition. The aetiology of these disorders is thought to be multifactorial and may differ between patients. Patients developing abnormal laboratory parameters or other signs of hepatobiliary disorders should be assessed early by a clinician knowledgeable in liver diseases in order to identify possible causative and contributory factors, and possible therapeutic and prophylactic interventions.
Increase in blood ammonia levels and hyperammonemia may occur in patients receiving amino acid solutions. In some patients this may indicate the presence of a congenital disorder of amino acid metabolism (see section 4.3) or hepatic insufficiency.
Blood ammonia should be measured frequently in newborns and infants to detect hyperammonemia, which may indicate the presence of a congenital abnormality of amino acid metabolism.
Depending on extent and aetiology, hyperammonemia may require immediate intervention.
A too rapid infusion of amino acids may result in nausea, vomiting and chills. In such cases, discontinue the infusion immediately.
In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or drug therapy.
Paediatric population
This medicinal product is not recommended for preterm, and term neonates and for children below 2 years of age.
• There have been no studies performed in the paediatric population.
• See above regarding monitoring for hyperammonemia in paediatric patients.
Light exposure of solutions for intravenous parenteral nutrition, especially after admixture with trace elements and/or vitamins, may have adverse effects on clinical outcome in neonates, due to generation of peroxides and other degradation products. When used in neonates and children below 2 years, CLINIMIX should be protected from ambient light until administration is completed (see sections 4.2, 6.3 and 6.6).