Anticholinergic effects
Anticholinergic effects such as urinary retention, constipation and overheating due to inhibition of sweating may be dose-dependent and difficult to assess in a disabled patient. Monitoring by physicians and caregivers is required with adherence to the management instructions below:
Management of important anticholinergic side effects
The carer should stop treatment and seek advice from the prescriber in the event of:
- constipation
- urinary retention
- pneumonia
- allergic reaction
- pyrexia
- very hot weather
- changes in behaviour
After evaluating the event, the prescriber will decide if treatment should remain stopped or if this should continue at a lower dose.
Lack of long-term safety data
Published safety data are not available beyond 24 weeks of treatment duration. Given the limited long-term safety data available and the uncertainties around the potential risk for carcinogenicity, total treatment duration should be kept as short as possible. If continuous treatment is needed (e.g. in a palliative setting) or the treatment is repeated intermittently (e.g. in the non-palliative setting treating chronic disease) benefits and risks should be carefully considered on a case by case basis and treatment should be closely monitored.
Mild to moderate sialorrhoea
Due to the low potential benefit and the known adverse effect profile, glycopyrronium bromide should not be given to patients with mild to moderate sialorrhoea.
Cardiac disorders
Glycopyrronium should be used with caution in patients with acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias and conditions characterised by tachycardia (including thyrotoxicosis, cardiac insufficiency, cardiac surgery) due to the potential increase in heart rate, blood pressure and rhythm disorders produced by its administration. The carer should be advised to measure the pulse rate if the child seems unwell and report a very fast or very slow heart rate.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Antimuscarinics such as glycopyrronium should be used with caution in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, pre-existing constipation and diarrhoea.
Dental
Since reduced salivation can increase the risk of oral cavities and periodontal diseases, it is important that patients receive adequate daily dental hygiene and regular dental health checks.
Respiratory
Glycopyrronium can cause thickening of secretions, which may increase the risk of respiratory infection and pneumonia. Glycopyrronium should be discontinued if pneumonia is present.
CNS adverse events
Increased central nervous system effects have been reported in clinical trials including irritability; drowsiness; restlessness; overactivity; short attention span; frustration; mood changes; temper outbursts or explosive behaviour; excessive sensitivity; seriousness or sadness; frequent crying episodes; fearfulness. Behavioural changes should be monitored.
As a consequence of its quaternary charge glycopyrronium has limited ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, although the extent of penetration is unknown. Caution should be exercised in patients with compromised blood-brain barrier e.g. Intraventricular shunt, brain tumour, encephalitis.
Children below the age of 3 years
Glycopyrronium bromide is not recommended in children below the age of 3 years since there is very limited data on the efficacy and safety of glycopyrronium in this age group.
Growth and development
The effects of glycopyrronium on the reproductive system have not been investigated. Whilst clinical studies do not report any short or long-term effect of glycopyrronium on neurodevelopment or growth, no studies have been conducted to specifically address these issues.
This medicinal product contains the following:
- Sorbitol; this medicine contains 3750mg sorbitol in each 5ml dose. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HF1), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
- Methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218) and Propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216); which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
- Propylene glycol; this medicine contains 150mg propylene glycol in each 5ml dose.
- Sodium; this medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5ml dose, which is to say essentially 'sodium-free.
- Ethanol (present in the cherry flavour); this medicine contains 0.000011mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 5ml dose. The small amounts of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.