Arginine Hydrochloride

FDA Drug Information • Also known as: R-Gene

Brand Names: R-Gene
Route: INTRAVENOUS
Dosage Form: INJECTION, SOLUTION
Product Type: HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG

Description

DESCRIPTION Each 100 mL of R-Gene ® 10 (Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP) for intravenous use contains 10 g of L-Arginine Hydrochloride, USP in Water for Injection, USP (equivalent to a 10% solution) (0.1 g/mL). L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid. R-Gene ® 10 is hypertonic (950 mOsmol/liter) and contains 47.5 mEq of chloride ion per 100 mL of solution. The pH is adjusted to 5.6 (5.0–6.5) with arginine base or hydrochloric acid.

What Is Arginine Hydrochloride Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE R-Gene ® 10 is indicated as an intravenous stimulant to the pituitary for the release of human growth hormone in patients where the measurement of pituitary reserve for HGH can be of diagnostic usefulness. It can be used as a diagnostic aid in such conditions as panhypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, chromophobe adenoma, postsurgical craniopharyngioma, hypophysectomy, pituitary trauma, acromegaly, gigantism and problems of growth and stature. If the insulin hypoglycemia test has indicated a deficiency of pituitary reserve for HGH, a test with R-Gene ® 10 is advisable to confirm the negative response. This can be done after a waiting period of one day. As patients may not respond to R-Gene ® 10 (Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP) during the first test, the unresponsive patient should be tested again to confirm the negative result. A second test can be performed after a waiting period of one day. Some patients who respond to R-Gene ® 10 do not respond to insulin and vice versa. The rate of false positive responses for R-Gene ® 10 is approximately 32%, and the rate of false negatives is approximately 27%.

Dosage and Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adult Dosage The recommended adult dose is 30 g arginine hydrochloride (300 mL of R-Gene ® 10) administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. The total dose should not exceed 30 g arginine hydrochloride. See Directions for Use for preparation instructions. Pediatric Dosage The recommended pediatric dose is 0.5 g/kg arginine hydrochloride (5 mL/kg of R-Gene ® 10) administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. The total dose should not exceed 30 g arginine hydrochloride.

For patients weighing 59 kg or less , withdraw a weight based dose from a sealed R-Gene ® 10 bottle and place in a separate container for intravenous infusion to avoid the inadvertent delivery and administration of the total volume from the commercially available container. See Directions for Use for preparation instructions.

For patients weighing 60 kg or more , the recommended dose is 30 g arginine hydrochloride (300 mL of R-Gene ® 10). See Directions for Use for preparation instructions Test Procedure The intravenous infusion of R-Gene ® 10 is a part of the test for measurement of pituitary reserve of human growth hormone and, for successful administration of the test, clinical conditions and procedures should be as follows: 1. The test should be scheduled in the morning following a normal night's sleep, and an overnight fast should continue through the test period. 2. Patients must be placed at bed rest for at least 30 minutes before the infusion begins. Care should be taken to minimize apprehension and distress. This is particularly important in children. 3. R-Gene ® 10 (Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP) is a hypertonic solution and should only be infused through an indwelling needle or soft catheter placed in an antecubital vein or other suitable vein (see PRECAUTIONS ). Blood samples should be taken by venipuncture from the contra-lateral arm. 4. A desirable schedule for drawing blood samples is at −30, 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes. 5. R-Gene ® 10 should be infused beginning at zero time at a uniform rate which will permit the recommended dose to be administered over 30 minutes. 6. Blood samples should be promptly centrifuged and the plasma stored at −20°C until assayed by one of the published radioimmunoassay procedures. 7. Diagnostic test results showing a deficiency of pituitary reserve for HGH should be confirmed by a second test with R-Gene ® 10, or one may elect to confirm with the insulin hypoglycemia test. A waiting period of one day is advised between tests. Directions for Use R-Gene ® 10 is provided as a ready-to-use solution for patients weighing 60 kg (132 lbs) or more and should not be further diluted. For pediatric patients weighing 59 kg (130 lbs) or less a dose must be placed in a separate container. Follow the preparation instructions below. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. For...

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse reactions associated with 1670 infusions in premarketing studies were as follows: Non-specific side effects consisting of nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing, numbness and local venous irritation were reported in approximately 3% of the patients. One patient had an allergic reaction which was manifested as a confluent macular rash with reddening and swelling of the hands and face. The rash subsided rapidly after the infusion was terminated and 50 mg of diphenhydramine were administered. One patient had an apparent decrease in platelet count from 150,000 to 60,000. One patient with a history of acrocyanosis had an exacerbation of this condition following infusion of R-Gene ® 10. Post Marketing Experience: The following adverse events have been reported during post-marketing use: extravasation leading to burn-like reaction and/or skin necrosis requiring surgical intervention, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, and hematuria that in some cases occurred 1–2 days after an R-Gene ® 10 administration. Because these adverse events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Warnings and Precautions

WARNINGS There have been reports of overdosage of R-Gene ® 10 in pediatric patients leading to death. EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE EXERCISED WHEN INFUSING R-GENE ® 10 INTO PEDIATRIC PATIENTS. OVERDOSAGE OF R-GENE ® 10 IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS CAN RESULT IN HYPERCHLOREMIC METABOLIC ACIDOSIS, CEREBRAL EDEMA, OR POSSIBLY DEATH. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis have been reported. Appropriate medical support should be available during R-Gene ® 10 administration. If anaphylaxis or other serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, R-Gene ® 10 should be discontinued and appropriate medical treatment initiated. R-Gene ® 10 should always be administered by intravenous infusion because of its hypertonicity. R-Gene ® 10 is a diagnostic aid and is not intended for therapeutic use.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS The administration of R-Gene ® 10 is contraindicated in persons having known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in this product.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in rabbits and mice at doses 12 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to R-Gene ® 10 (10% Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP). There have been no adequate or well controlled studies for the use of R-Gene ® 10 in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should not be used during pregnancy.

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether intravenous administration of R-Gene ® 10 could result in significant quantities of arginine in breast milk. Systemically administered amino acids are secreted into breast milk in quantities not likely to have a deleterious effect on the infant. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when R-Gene ® 10 is to be administered to nursing women.

Overdosage

OVERDOSAGE An overdosage may cause a transient metabolic acidosis with hyperventilation, which could lead to death (see " WARNINGS "). In most cases the acidosis will self-compensate and the base deficit will return to normal following completion of the infusion. If the condition persists, the deficit should be determined and corrected by a calculated dose of an alkalizing agent.

How Supplied

HOW SUPPLIED R-Gene ® 10 is supplied as a 30 g/300 mL (0.1 g/mL) fill in 500 mL glass containers. Preservative Free: Discard any unused portion. NDC 0009-0436-01 Exposure of pharmaceutical products to heat should be minimized. Avoid excessive heat. It is recommended that the product be stored at room temperature (25°C); however, brief exposure up to 40°C does not adversely affect the product. Solution that has been frozen must not be used. LAB-0020-13.0 Revised Aug 2023 Logo

About This Information

This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.

What are side effects?

Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.

What are drug interactions?

Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.