Supply of amino acids, glucose, electrolytes and fluid in the parenteral nutrition of patients in states of moderate to severe catabolism when oral or enteral nutrition is impossible, insufficient or contraindicated.

Nutriflex special is indicated in adults and children aged 2 to 17 years.

Posology

Nutriflex special is suitable for patients with normal glucose tolerance and fluid restriction.

Adults

The dosage and infusion rate have to be adjusted individually according to the clinical status of the patients and their requirements of amino acids, glucose, energy, electrolytes and fluid. If necessary, additional fluid, amino acid, glucose or lipid infusions may be given. In special clinical settings, e.g. parenteral nutrition during haemodialysis to compensate for dialysis related nutrients losses, higher infusion rates may have to be used.

It is recommended that Nutriflex special be administered continuously. A stepwise increase of the infusion rate over the first 30 minutes up to the desired infusion rate prevents possible complications.

The daily dose is:

– max up to 25 ml per kg body weight per day, corresponding to

– up to 1.8 g amino acids per kg body weight per day

up to 6.0 g glucose per kg body weight per day

up to 1750 ml for a 70 kg patient per day

The maximum infusion rate is:

1.0 ml per kg body weight per hour, corresponding to

-0.070 g amino acids per kg body weight per hour

-0.24 g glucose per kg body weight per hour.

70 ml/hour for a 70 kg patient, corresponding to 4.9 g amino acids per hour and 16.8 g glucose per hour.

Paediatric population

Nutriflex special is contraindicated in newborn infants, infants and toddlers < 2 years of age (see section 4.3).

The dosage ranges stated below are values for guidance. The exact dosage and infusion rate should be adjusted individually according to clinical status, age, developmental stage and underlying disease. In critically ill and metabolically unstable children, it is advisable to start with lower daily dosages or infusion rates and to increase them according to the patient's condition. If necessary, additional fluid, amino acid, glucose or lipid infusions may be given.

Daily dose ( 2-17 years of age)

– max up to 29 ml per kg body weight per day, corresponding to

up to 2.0 g amino acids per kg body weight per day

up to 7.0 g glucose per kg body weight per day

Maximum infusion rate (2 to 17 years of age)

1.0 ml per kg body weight per hour, corresponding to

0.070 g amino acids per kg body weight per hour and

0.24 g glucose per kg body weight per hour

Patients with impaired glucose metabolism

If the oxidative metabolism of glucose is impaired (e.g. in the early post-operative or post-traumatic period or in the presence of hypoxia or organ failure), the dosage should be adjusted to keep the blood glucose level close to normal values. Close monitoring of blood glucose levels is recommended in order to prevent hyperglycaemia.

Patients with renal/hepatic impairment

The doses should be adjusted individually in patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency (see also section 4.4). Nutriflex special is contraindicated in severe hepatic insufficiency and in severe renal insufficiency without renal replacement therapy (see section 4.3).

Duration of treatment

The duration of treatment for the indications stated is not limited. During administration appropriate supply of additional energy (preferably in the form of lipids), essential fatty acids, trace elements and vitamins is necessary.

Method of administration

Intravenous use. For infusion into central veins only.

Precautions to be taken before handling or administering the medicinal product

The solution should always be brought to room temperature prior to infusion.

For instructions on aseptic mixing of the chamber contents before administration, see section 6.6.

● Hypersensitivity to the active substance(s) or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1

● Inborn errors of amino acid metabolism

● Hyperglycaemia not responding to insulin doses of up to 6 units insulin/hour

● Intracranial or intraspinal haemorrhage

● Acidosis

● Severe hepatic insufficiency

● Severe renal insufficiency in absence of renal replacement therapy

On account of its composition, Nutriflex special must not be used in newborn infants, infants and toddlers < 2 years of age.

General contraindications to parenteral nutrition include:

● Unstable circulatory status with vital threat (e.g. states of collapse, shock, fluid overload, pulmonary oedema etc.)

● Acute myocardial infarction and stroke

● Unstable metabolic condition (e.g. coma of unknown origin, hypoxia, decompensated diabetes mellitus etc)

Caution should be exercised in cases of increased serum osmolarity.

Like all solutions containing carbohydrates the administration of Nutriflex special can lead to hyperglycaemia. The blood glucose level should be monitored. If there is hyperglycaemia, the rate of infusion should be reduced or insulin should be administered. If the patient is receiving other intravenous glucose solutions concurrently, the amount of additionally administered glucose has to be taken into account.

Abrupt discontinuation of high glucose infusion rates during parenteral nutrition may lead to hypoglycaemia, especially in children less than 3 years of age and in patients with disturbed glucose metabolism. In these patient groups, tapering off of glucose administration is recommended. As a precaution it is recommended that patients should be monitored for hypoglycaemia for at least 30 minutes on the first day of abrupt discontinuation of parenteral nutrition.

Refeeding or repletion of malnourished or depleted patients may cause hypokalaemia, hypophosphataemia and hypomagnesaemia. Close monitoring of serum electrolytes is mandatory. Adequate supplementation of electrolytes according to deviations from normal values is necessary.

Due to the risk of developing a severe lactic acidosis and/or a Wernicke encephalopathy a preexisting thiamin (Vitamin B1) deficiency must be corrected before infusion of glu-cose containing solutions.

Substitution of additional energy in form of lipids may be necessary, as well an adequate supply of essential fatty acids, electrolytes, vitamins and trace elements. As Nutriflex special contains magnesium, calcium, and phosphate, care should be taken when it is co-administered with solutions containing these substances.

Patients with organ impairments

Like all large-volume infusion solutions, Nutriflex special should be administered with caution to patients with impaired cardiac or renal function.

In patients with renal insufficiency, the dose must be carefully adjusted according to individual needs, severity of organ insufficiency and the kind of instituted renal replacement therapy (haemodialysis, haemofiltration etc.).

Likewise in patients with insufficiencies of liver, adrenal glands, heart and lungs the dose must be carefully adjusted according to individual needs and the severity of organ insufficiency.

Application of hyperosmolar glucose solutions in patients with damaged haematoencephalic barrier may lead to increase of intracranial/intraspinal pressure.

There is only limited experience of its use in patients with diabetes mellitus or renal failure.

Patients with metabolic disturbances

Disturbances of the fluid, electrolyte or acid-base balance must be corrected before the start of infusion.

Solutions containing sodium salts should be used with caution in patients with sodium retention (see section 4.5).

Monitoring of clinical parameters

Controls of the serum electrolytes, the water balance, the acid-base balance, and of blood cell counts, coagulation status, hepatic and renal function are necessary.

An interruption of administration of the emulsion may be indicated if the blood glucose concentration rises to above 14 mmol/l (250 mg/dl) during administration.

During long-term administration also blood cell counts and blood coagulation should be monitored carefully.

Warnings and precautions concerning intravenous administration

Too rapid infusion can lead to fluid overload with pathological serum electrolyte concentrations, hyperhydration, pulmonary oedema and polyuria.

Nutriflex special should not be given simultaneously with blood in the same infusion set due to the risk of pseudoagglutination.

As with all intravenous solutions, especially for parenteral nutrition, strict aseptic precautions are necessary for the infusion of Nutriflex special.

Nutriflex special is a preparation of complex composition. It is, therefore, strongly advisable not to add other solutions or emulsions (as long as compatibility is not proven – see section 6.2).

Elderly patients

Basically the same dosage as for adults applies, but caution should be exercised in patients suffering from further diseases like cardiac insufficiency or renal insufficiency that may frequently be associated with advanced age.

Corticosteroids and ACTH are associated with sodium and fluid retention.

Potassium-containing solutions should be used with caution in patients receiving medicinal products that increase the serum potassium concentration, such as potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g. spironolactone, triamterene, amiloride), ACE inhibitors (e.g. captopril, enalapril), angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (e.g. losartan, valsartan), cyclosporine and tacrolimus.

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data from the use of Nutriflex special in pregnant women. Animal studies are insufficient with respect to reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). Nutriflex special should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with parenteral nutrition.

Breast-feeding

Components/metabolites of Nutriflex special are excreted in human milk, but at therapeutic doses no effects on the breastfed newborns/infants are anticipated. Nevertheless, breast-feeding is not recommended for mothers on parenteral nutrition.

Fertility

No data available.

Nutriflex special has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Summary of the safety profile

Undesirable systemic effects with the components of Nutriflex special are rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) and usually related to inadequate dosage and/or infusion rate. Those that do occur are usually reversible and regress when therapy is discontinued.

Listing of undesirable effects Undesirable effects are listed according to their frequencies as follows:

Information on particular undesirable effects

If nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite or polyuria occur, the infusion should be discontinued or, if appropriate, the infusion should be continued at a lower dose level.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Overdose of Nutriflex special is not to be expected on proper administration.

Symptoms of fluid and electrolyte overdose

Hyperhydration, polyuria, electrolyte imbalance and pulmonary oedema.

Symptoms of amino acid overdose

Renal amino acid losses with consecutive amino acid imbalances, sickness, vomiting, shivering, headache, metabolic acidosis, and hyperammonaemia.

Symptoms of glucose overdose

Hyperglycaemia, glucosuria, dehydration, hyperosmolality, hyperglycaemic-hyperosmolar coma.

Treatment

Immediate cessation of infusion is indicated for overdose.

Further therapeutic measures depend on the particular symptoms and their severity. Disorders of the carbohydrate and electrolyte metabolism are treated by insulin administration and appropriate electrolyte substitution, respectively. When infusion is recommenced after the symptoms have declined, it is recommended that the infusion rate be raised gradually with monitoring at frequent intervals.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Solutions for parenteral nutrition, combinations

ATC code B05B A10

Mechanism of action

The purpose of parenteral nutrition is to supply all necessary nutrients and energy for growth and regeneration of tissue as well as to maintain all body functions.

Amino acids are the primary building blocks for protein synthesis and the nitrogen source for the body. Some amino acids are of particular importance since they are essential and can not be synthesized by humans. Intravenously administered amino acids are incorporated in the respective intravascular and intracellular amino acid pools where they serve as substrate for the synthesis of functional and structural proteins and as precursors for various functional molecules. However, to prevent the metabolisation of amino acids for energy production, and also to fuel the other energy consuming processes in the organism, simultaneous energy supply in the form of carbohydrate and/or fat is necessary.

Glucose is ubiquitously metabolised within the organism. Some tissues and organs, such as CNS, bone marrow, erythrocytes, tubular epithelium, cover their energy requirement mainly from glucose. In addition, glucose acts as a structural building block for various cell substances.

Additional energy is ideally supplemented in the form of fat.

Electrolytes are administered for the maintenance of metabolic and physiological functions.

Absorption

Nutriflex special is infused intravenously. Hence, all substrates are available for metabolism immediately. It's bioavailability is 100%.

Distribution

Amino acids are incorporated in a variety of proteins in different organs of the body. In addition each amino acid is maintained as free amino acid in the blood and inside cells.

As glucose is water-soluble, it is distributed with the blood over the whole body. At first, the glucose solution is distributed in the intravascular space and then it is taken up into the intracellular space.

Electrolytes are available in sufficient amounts to sustain the numerous biological processes that they are required for.

Biotransformation

Amino acids that do not enter protein synthesis are utilized by the body as precursors in various metabolic pathways for the biosynthesis of N-containing molecules like nucleotides, haemoglobin, signalling molecules (e.g. thyroxin, dopamine, adrenalin) or co-enzymes (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and energy substrates. The latter metabolism starts with the separation of the amino group from the carbon skeleton by transamination. The remaining carbon chain is then either oxidised directly to CO₂ or utilized as substrate for gluconeogenesis in the liver. The amino group is metabolised in the liver to urea.

Glucose is metabolised to CO₂ and H₂O via the known metabolic routes. Some glucose is utilised for lipid synthesis.

Elimination

Only minor amounts of amino acids are excreted unchanged in urine.

Excess glucose is excreted in urine only if the renal threshold of glucose is reached.

Non-clinical studies have not been performed with Nutriflex special.

Toxic effects of mixtures of nutrients given as substitution therapy at the recommended dosage are not to be expected.

Citric acid monohydrate (for pH adjustment)

Water for injections

No additive or other component should be added to the medicinal product unless compatibility has been proven in advance. See also section 6.6.

Unopened

2 years

After first opening the container

The product should be administered immediately after connecting to infusion set. Partially used containers must not be stored for later use.

After mixing of the contents

Ideally after mixing the two solutions, Nutriflex special should be administered immediately, but if immediate administration is not possible it can be stored for up to 7 days in a refrigerator at 2-8° C and 2 days afterwards at room temperature and daylight but without exposure to direct sunlight.

Do not store above 25 ° C.

Keep bag in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

For storage conditions after mixing the contents, see section 6.3.

Flexible plastic bag made of a dual-layer film consisting of polyamide (external layer) and polypropylene (internal layer). The container is divided into two equally sized compartments separated by an internal peel seam, of either 500 ml or 750 ml. Opening the peel seam results in an aseptic mixing of the two solutions.

Each bag is packed in a protective plastic overwrap.

Nutriflex special is supplied in two-chamber plastic bags containing:

- 1000 ml (500 ml of amino acids solution + 500 ml of glucose solution)

- 1500 ml (750 ml of amino acids solution + 750 ml of glucose solution)

Pack sizes: 5 × 1000 ml, 5 × 1500 ml

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

No special requirements are needed for disposal of container, overwrap and oxygen absorber.

Only completely clear solutions from undamaged containers are to be used.

The design of the dual chamber bag permits aseptic mixing of amino acids, glucose and optional fat in the lower chamber. The addition of further electrolytes is possible if required.

Immediately before use the internal peel seam between the two compartments must be opened allowing the respective contents to be aseptically mixed.

Remove the bag from its protective bag and proceed as follows:

– Open out the bag and lay on a solid surface

– Open the peel seam by using pressure with both hands

– Briefly mix the contents of the bag together.

An additive port is provided for admixing of supplements to Nutriflex special.

Only mixtures of known compatibility should be prepared. Information on compatibility of specified mixtures is available from the manufacturer.

When admixing other solutions or fat emulsions to Nutriflex special, aseptic precautions must be strictly observed. Fat emulsions can be easily admixed by means of a special transfer set.

After infusion, any remaining solution should never be stored for later use.