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Methylnaltrexone Bromide – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interaction

Methylnaltrexone is a methyl derivative of noroxymorphone with selective, opioid-receptor antagonistic activity. Methylnaltrexone is a member of phenanthrenes. Methylnaltrexone displaces opioids from peripheral opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, the bladder, and the skin, resulting in decreases in opioid-related constipation, urinary retention, and pruritis, respectively. Methylnaltrexone does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not affect the centrally-mediated analgesic effect of opioids.

Indications

  • Treatment of opioid-induced constipation in advanced-illness patients who are receiving palliative care when the response to usual laxative therapy has not been sufficient.
  • For the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain or advanced illness who are receiving palliative care, when the response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient.

Use in Cancer

Methylnaltrexone bromide is approved to treat:

  • Constipation is caused by the use of opioids. It is used in adults with pain caused by cancer or treatment for cancer or by another advanced disease.

Contraindications

  • cancer of the stomach or intestines
  • stomach or intestinal ulcer
  • blockage of the stomach or intestine
  • liver problems
  • excessive diarrhea
  • chronic diarrhea
  • an enlargement of the intestine with stopped bowel function called megacolon
  • chronic kidney disease stage 3A (moderate)
  • chronic kidney disease stage 3B (moderate)
  • chronic kidney disease stage 4 (severe)
  • chronic kidney disease stage 5 (failure)
  • Child-Pugh class C liver impairment

Dosage

Strengths: 12 mg/0.6 mL; 150 mg; 8 mg/0.4 mL

Constipation – Drug-Induced

Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain:

  • Oral: 450 mg orally once a day in the morning
  • Parenteral: 12 mg subcutaneously once a day
  • Prior to initiation, discontinue all maintenance laxative therapy; laxatives can be used as needed for suboptimal response after 3 days.
  • Patients should be within close proximity to a bathroom once this drug is administered.
  • Re-evaluate the continued need for this drug when the opioid regimen is changed to avoid adverse reactions.

Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Advanced Illness:
Parenteral: Weight-based dosing: Administer subcutaneously every other day as needed, but no more frequently than 1 dose in a 24-hour period:

  • Less than 38 kg: 0.15 mg/kg
  • 38 kg to less than 62 kg: 8 mg (0.4 mL)
  • 62 kg to 114 kg: 12 mg subcutaneously (0.6 mL)
  • More than 114 kg: 0.15 mg/kg subcutaneously
  • To determine injection volume for patients whose weight is less than 38 kg or more than 114 kg: multiply patient weight (kg) by 0.0075 and round up to the nearest 0.1 mL

Renal Dose Adjustments

Moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl less than 60 mL/min):

Chronic Non-Cancer Pain:

  • Oral: 150 mg orally once a day in the morning
  • Parenteral: 6 mg subcutaneously once a day

Advanced Illness:
Parenteral: weight-based dosing:

  • Less than 38 kg: 0.075 mg/kg subcutaneously every other day
  • 38 to less than 62 kg: 4 mg subcutaneously every other day
  • 62 to 114 kg: 6 mg subcutaneously every other day
  • Greater than 114 kg: 0.075 mg/kg subcutaneously every other day
  • To determine injection volume for patients whose weight is less than 38 kg or more than 114 kg: multiply patient weight (kg) by 0.0075 and round up to the nearest 0.1 mL

Liver Dose Adjustments

Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B or C):

  • Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Oral: 150 mg orally once a day in the morning

Severe hepatic impairment: Chronic Non-Cancer Pain or Advanced illness:

  • Parenteral: Weight-based dosing:
  • Less than 38 kg: 0.075 mg/kg subcutaneously every other day
  • 38 to less than 62 kg: 4 mg subcutaneously every other day
  • 62 to 114 kg: 6 mg subcutaneously every other day
  • Greater than 114 kg: 0.075 mg/kg subcutaneously every other day
  • To determine injection volume for patients whose weight is less than 38 kg or more than 114 kg: multiply patient weight (kg) by 0.0075 and round up to the nearest 0.1 mL

 

General:

  • If treatment with opioid pain medication is discontinued, this drug should be discontinued; if the opioid regimen is changed, re-evaluate the continued need of this drug.
  • In clinical trials in patients with advanced illness, this drug was administered concomitantly with a laxative regimen.
  • In patients with chronic non-cancer pain, all maintenance laxative therapy should be discontinued prior to initiating therapy; laxatives can be used as needed after 3 days.
  • This drug has been shown to be efficacious in patients who have taken opioids for at least 4 weeks; sustained exposure to opioids prior to starting this drug may increase the patient’s sensitivity to this drug

Patient advice:

  • Patients should be instructed to be within close proximity to toilet facilities once this drug is taken.
  • Patients should be instructed to seek medical attention promptly if unusually severe, persistent, or worsening abdominal pain or diarrhea develops.
  • Patients should understand that symptoms of opioid withdrawal such as sweating, chills, anxiety, irritability, and yawning may occur.
  • Patients should speak to health care professionals if they become pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Side Effects

The Most Common

  • vomiting
  • sweating
  • chills
  • anxiety
  • yawning
  • headache
  • abdominal pain and swelling
  • muscle spasms
  • runny nose
  • severe diarrhea
  • severe abdominal pain

More Common

  • severe or ongoing diarrhea;
  • extreme dizziness, or feeling like you might pass out;
  • bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
  • nausea or vomiting that are new or worsening symptoms; or
  • symptoms of opioid medicine withdrawal–anxiety, sweating, chills, yawning, stomach pain, diarrhea.
  • stomach pain, gas, bloating;
  • mild nausea or diarrhea;
  • headache, muscle spasms;
  • dizziness, tremors, feeling anxious;
  • runny nose; or
  • chills, sweating, or hot flashes.
  • Chills
  • diarrhea
  • fear or nervousness
  • increased sweating
  • severe abdominal or stomach pain
  • severe or persistent diarrhea
  • yawning

Rare

  • Full or bloated feeling
  • headache
  • muscle spasms
  • pressure in the stomach
  • runny nose
  • swelling of the abdominal or stomach area
  • vomiting

Drug Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

AU TGA pregnancy category: B1
US FDA pregnancy category: C

Pregnancy

The limited available data with RELISTOR in pregnant women are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriages. There are clinical considerations when RELISTOR is used by pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, no effects on embryofetal development were observed with the administration of intravenous methylnaltrexone bromide during organogenesis in rats and rabbits at doses up to 20 times and 26 times, respectively, the subcutaneous maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 12 mg RELISTOR injection per day. The intravenous doses in rats and rabbits are about 0.5 times and 0.7 times, respectively, an oral MRHD of 450 mg/day. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Lactation

No information is available on the use of methylnaltrexone during breastfeeding. The manufacturer recommends against breastfeeding in mothers taking methylnaltrexone. Based on pharmacokinetic data, the oral absorption of methylnaltrexone appears to be very low. Observe breastfed infants who have been exposed to opioids during pregnancy or postpartum for signs of opioid withdrawal, especially diarrhea.

How should this medicine be used?

Methylnaltrexone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with water, at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day. Take methylnaltrexone at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take methylnaltrexone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Methylnaltrexone is to be taken by people who are taking opioid (narcotic) medications. Talk to your doctor if you change how much or how often you take your opioid medication. If you stop taking opioid medications, you should stop taking methylnaltrexone as well.

You should stop taking other laxative medications when you start taking methylnaltrexone. However, be sure to let your doctor know if methylnaltrexone does not work for you after taking it for 3 days. Your doctor may tell you to take other laxative medication(s).

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with methylnaltrexone and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) to obtain the Medication Guide.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking methylnaltrexone,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to methylnaltrexone, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in methylnaltrexone tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: alvimopan (Entereg), naldemedine (Symproic), naloxegol (Movantik), naloxone (Evzio, Narcan, in Bunavail, Suboxone, Zubsolv), or naltrexone (Vivitrol, in Contrave, Embeda). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a gastrointestinal obstruction (a blockage in your bowel). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take methylnaltrexone.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had stomach or bowel problems including stomach ulcer (sores in the lining of the stomach), cancer of the stomach or bowel, Crohn’s disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever), diverticulitis (small pouches in the lining of the large intestine that can become inflamed), Ogilvie’s syndrome (a condition in which there is a bulge in the bowel), or kidney or liver disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking methylnaltrexone, call your doctor. If you take methylnaltrexone during your pregnancy, your baby may experience opioid withdrawal symptoms.
  • tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while you are taking methylnaltrexone.
  • you should know that most people have a bowel movement within a few minutes to a few hours after taking methylnaltrexone. Make sure that you are close to a bathroom when you take this medication.
References

Dr. Harun
Dr. Harun

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices.

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