What is Lymphazurin and how is it used?
Lymphazurin is a prescription medicine used as a contrast agent for Lymphography. Lymphazurin may be used alone or with other medications.
Lymphazurin belongs to a class of drugs called Diagnostic Imaging Agents.
It is not known if Lymphazurin is safe and effective in children.
What are the possible side effects of Lymphazurin?
Lymphazurin may cause serious side effects including:
- hives,
- difficulty breathing,
- swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
- cold or clammy skin,
- confusion,
- cough,
- difficulty swallowing,
- dizziness,
- fast heartbeat,
- itching,
- lightheadedness,
- redness,
- shortness of breath,
- sweating,
- chest pain or pressure,
- tiredness,
- weakness, and
- wheezing
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
The most common side effects of Lymphazurin include:
- blue discoloration of the skin, and
- irritation where the medicine was injected
Tell the doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Lymphazurin. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
DESCRIPTION
The chemical name of Lymphazurin 1% (isosulfan blue) is N-[4-[[4-(diethylamino)phenyl] (2,5- disulfophenyl) methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-N-ethylehananamunium hydroxide, inner salt, sodium salt. Its structural formula is:
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Lymphazurin 1% is a sterile aqueous solution for subcutaneous administration. Phosphate buffer in sterile, pyrogen free water is added in sufficient quantity to yield a final pH of 6.8-7.4. Each ml of solution contains 10 mg Isosulfan blue, 6.6 mg sodium monohydrogen phosphate and 2.7 mg potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The solution contains no preservative. Lymphazurin 1% is a contrast agent for the delineation of lymphatic vessels.
INDICATIONS
Lymphatic Vessel Delineation
Lymphazuirn™ 1% (isosulfan blue) upon subcutaneous administration, delineates lymphatic vessels draining the region of injection. It is an adjunct to lymphography in: primary and secondary lymphedema of the extremities; chyluria, chylous ascites or chylothorax; lymph node involvement by primary or secondary neoplasm; and lymph node response to therapeutic modalities.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Subcutaneous Administration
Lymphazurin™ 1% is to be administered subcutaneously, one-half (1/2) ml into three (3) interdigital spaces of each extremity per study. A maximum dose of 3 ml (30 mg) isosulfan blue is, therefore, injected.
HOW SUPPLIED
Dosage Forms And Strengths
1% aqueous solution (isosulfan blue)
Storage And Handling
Lymphazurin 1% is supplied as a 5 ml single dose vial, 1% aqueous solution in a phosphate buffer prepared by appropriate manufacturing to be sterile and pyrogen-free.
Distributed by: Tyco Healthcare Montreal, Quebec Canada, H9R 5H8. Revised: Jan 2012
SLIDESHOW
Digestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
Postmarketing Experience
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Case series report an overall incidence of hypersensitivity reactions in approximately 2% of patients. Life-threatening anaphylactic reactions have occurred. Manifestations include respiratory distress, shock, angioedema, urticaria, pruritus. A death has been reported following administration of a similar compound employed to estimate the depth of a severe burn. Reactions are more likely to occur in patients with a personal or family history of bronchial asthma, significant allergies, drug reactions or previous reactions to triphenylmethane dyes [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Laboratory tests: Lymphazurin 1% interferes with measurements of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry and of methemoglobin by gas analyzer [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Skin: transient or long-term (tattooing) blue coloration.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
No Drug Interactions have been identified with Lymphazurin 1%.
WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Life-threatening anaphylactic reactions (respiratory distress, shock, angioedema) have occurred after Lymphazurin 1% administration. Reactions are more likely to occur in patients with a history of bronchial asthma, allergies, drug reactions or previous reactions to triphenylmethane dyes. Monitor patients closely for at least 60 minutes after administration of Lymphazurin 1%. Trained personnel should be available to administer emergency care including resuscitation.
Precipitation Of Lymphazurin 1% By Lidocaine
The admixture of Lymphazurin 1% (with local anesthetics (i.e. lidocaine)) in the same syringe results in an immediate precipitation of 4 – 9% drug complex. Use a separate syringe to administer a local anesthetic.
Interference With Oxygen Saturation And Methemoglobin Measurements
Lymphazurin 1% interferes with measurements of oxygen saturation in peripheral blood by pulse oximetry and can cause falsely low readings. The interference effect is maximal at 30 minutes and minimal generally by four hours after administration. Arterial blood gas analysis may be needed to verify decreased arterial partial pressure of oxygen.
Lymphazurin 1% may also cause falsely elevated readings of methemoglobin by arterial blood gas analyzer. Therefore, co-oximetry may be needed to verify methemoglobin level.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of Lymphazurin 1%. Reproduction studies in animals have not been conducted and, therefore, it is unknown if a problem concerning mutagenesis or impairment of fertility in either males or females exists.
Teratogenic Effects
Pregnancy Category C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Lymphazurin 1%. It is not known whether Lymphazurin 1% can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Lymphazurin 1% should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Use In Specific Populations
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Lymphazurin™ 1% (isosulfan blue) is administered to a nursing mother.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness of Lymphazurin™ 1% (isosulfan blue) in children have not been established.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacodynamics
Following subcutaneous administration, Lymphazurin 1% binds to serum proteins and is picked up by the lymphatic vessels. Thus, the lymphatic vessels are delineated by the blue dye.
Pharmacokinetics
Up to 10% of the subcutaneously administered dose of Lymphazurin 1% is excreted unchanged in the urine in 24 hours in human.
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