5 GRASS MIX: Package Insert and Label Information
5 GRASS MIX- phleum pratense pollen, dactylis glomerata pollen, poa pratensis pollen, agrostis gigantea pollen and anthoxanthum odoratum pollen injection, solution
3 GRASS MIX- cynodon dactylon whole, bromus inermis pollen and sorghum halepense pollen injection, solution
4 WEED MIX- xanthium strumarium pollen, plantago lanceolata pollen, chenopodium album pollen and amaranthus retroflexus pollen injection, solution
5 GRASS MIX- phleum pratense, dactylis glomerata, poa pratensis, agrostis gigantea pollen and anthoxanthum odoratum injection, solution
6 GRASS MIX- phleum pratense, dactylis glomerata, poa pratensis, agrostis gigantea pollen, festuca pratensis and lolium perenne injection, solution
7 GRASS MIX- phleum pratense, dactylis glomerata, poa pratensis, agrostis gigantea pollen, festuca pratensis, lolium perenne and anthoxanthum odoratum injection, solution
8 SOUTHERN GRASS MIX- cynodon dactylon whole, sorghum halepense pollen, phleum pratense, dactylis glomerata, poa pratensis, agrostis gigantea pollen, festuca pratensis and lolium perenne injection, solution
9 SOUTHERN GRASS MIX- cynodon dactylon whole, sorghum halepense pollen, phleum pratense, dactylis glomerata, poa pratensis, agrostis gigantea pollen, festuca pratensis, lolium perenne and anthoxanthum odoratum injection, solution
9 TREE MIX- alnus rhombifolia pollen, fraxinus americana pollen, ulmus americana pollen, betula lenta pollen, acer saccharum pollen, carya ovata pollen, quercus alba pollen, populus alba pollen and platanus occidentalis pollen injection, solution
MIXED RAGWEED- ambrosia artemisiifolia and ambrosia trifida pollen injection, solution
WESTERN WEED MIX- bassia scoparia pollen, artemisia tridentata pollen, ambrosia psilostachya pollen, ambrosia acanthicarpa pollen and salsola kali pollen injection, solution
ALK-Abello, Inc.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF CENTER — AL® THERAPEUTIC
ALLERGENIC EXTRACTS ALUM PRECIPITATED
OF
POLLENS, MOLDS,
INHALANT S AND EPIDERMALS
DOSAGE BASED ON
PROTEIN NITROGEN CONTENT
WARNING
This allergenic extract is intended for use by physicians who are experienced in the administration of allergenic extracts for immunotherapy and the emergency care of anaphylaxis, or for use under the guidance of an allergy specialist. These allergenic extracts are not directly interchangeable with allergenic extracts of the same labeled potency from different manufacturers. The patient must be re-evaluated with the newly selected extract. Patients being switched from other types of extracts such as aqueous extracts, glycerinated extracts, or alum precipitated extracts from other suppliers to this allergenic extract should be started as though they were coming under treatment for the first time. Patients should be instructed to recognize adverse reaction symptoms and cautioned to contact the physician’s office if reaction symptoms occur. As with all allergenic extracts, severe systemic reactions may occur. In certain individuals, these life-threatening reactions may be fatal. Patients should be observed for 20 to 30 minutes following treatment, and emergency measures, as well as personnel trained in their use, should be immediately available in the event of a life-threatening reaction.
Sensitive patients may experience severe anaphylactic reactions resulting in respiratory obstruction, shock, coma and/or death. Patients with unstable asthma or steroid dependent asthmatics and patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are at greater risk to a fatal outcome from a systemic allergic reaction. If treated, these high risk patients should be started at lower (more conservative) doses and be progressed more slowly to a maintenance dose. Usually this is a lower dose than for those patients without these predispositions. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION)
This product should not be injected intravenously. Deep subcutaneous routes have proven to be safe. See the warnings, precautions, adverse reactions and over-dosage sections below.
Patients receiving beta-blockers may not be responsive to epinephrine or inhaled bronchodilators. Respiratory obstruction not responding to parenteral or inhaled bronchodilators may require theophylline, oxygen, intubation and the use of life support systems. Parenteral fluid and/or plasma expanders may be utilized for treatment of shock. Adrenocorticosteroids may be administered parenterally or intravenously. Refer to the warnings, precautions and adverse reaction sections below.
Abelló
Port Washington, NY 11050
U.S. Government License No. 1256
DESCRIPTION
Center-Al® (Allergenic extracts, Alum Precipitated) is prepared from aqueous allergenic extracts by the formation of an aluminum hydroxide precipitated complex. It is supplied as a sterile suspension in multiple dose vials for subcutaneous injection. 0.4% Phenol is added as a preservative.
This product is compounded and diluted on a PNU basis. Extracts containing Short Ragweed Pollen also bear a labeled potency declaration in terms of Antigen E content.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Numerous studies have confirmed Antigen E (AgE) as the major antigen associated with Short Ragweed pollinosis. In a well-controlled study, purified Antigen E was significantly superior to placebo in amelioration of symptoms associated with Short Ragweed pollinosis.¹ Therefore, it is essential that the physician be aware of AgE content of allergenic extracts administered for hyposensitization therapy.
Some studies have indicated that for most patients a cumulative Antigen E dosage of less than 0.1 unit is not immunizing (sufficient to stimulate specific IgG antibodies).² This, however, does not suggest that a 0.1 unit is a maximum tolerated dose. Most moderately sensitive patients may tolerate a dosage ten to fifty times greater. For exquisitely sensitive patients who cannot tolerate an immunizing dose of this preparation, the physician should consider immunotherapy with alternatives to conventional aqueous allergenic extract.
Alum precipitated bacterial and viral vaccines and alum precipitated toxoids have been effectively and routinely used in immunization injections for many years. The explanation usually given for the effect of such preparations is that the physical chemical absorption of an antigen onto an alum complex results in a slower release of the antigen with a consequent prolongation of the antigenic stimulus.
The treatment consists of the subcutaneous injection of gradually increasing doses of the allergens to which the patient is allergic. It has been demonstrated that this method of treatment induces an increased tolerance to the allergens responsible for the symptoms on subsequent exposure. Although the exact relationships between allergen, skin-sensitizing antibody (IgE) and the blocking antibody (IgG) have not been precisely established, clinically confirmed immunological studies have demonstrated the safety of Center-Al extracts and effectiveness in terms of symptom reduction and IgG response consistent with dose administered.³
In a controlled study with Center-Al Ragweed given pre-seasonally, patients were selected and matched by histamine release to Antigen E and assigned to treatment groups: Aqueous, Center-Al , and Placebo.³ All patients were highly sensitive to Ragweed Antigen E, reacting to <0.001 mcg Antigen E/mL as determined by intradermal skin testing. These patients received a pre-seasonal course of immunotherapy and achieved a mean cumulative dose of 52 units of Antigen E (27,365 PNU) in 13 to 19 injections. Starting doses in these patients were 10 PNU or approximately 0.02 units of AgE. This dosage was found to be significantly superior to Placebo as measured by symptom scores during the ragweed pollen season.
Although maximum tolerated doses for Center-Al expressed in AgE content have not specifically been studied, one investigator reported maximum tolerated doses with Center-Al ragweed at 2,000-5,000 PNU (4-10 units of Antigen E) with previously untreated patients.9 At least three investigators using mixed (tall and short) ragweed extracts demonstrated a maximum tolerated peak dose of 2,000 to 10,000 PNU in 10-13 injections in moderately sensitive patients.6,10-12 This was achieved by roughly doubling the dose in each successive injection at low dosages (<1,000 PNU) and if well tolerated, increasing the dosage approximately 50% until maximum tolerated dose for each patient was achieved.
Reaction rates for these patients were significantly lower than patients treated with aqueous extracts with the same or more conservative dosage regimen.3,7,8,11
5 GRASS MIX Indications and Usage
Hyposensitization (injection) therapy is a treatment for patients exhibiting allergic reactions to seasonal pollens, dust mites, molds, animal danders, and various other inhalants, in situations where the offending allergen cannot be avoided.
Prior to the initiation of therapy, clinical sensitivity should be established by careful evaluation of the patient’s history confirmed by diagnostic skin testing. Hyposensitization should not be prescribed for sensitivities to allergens which can be easily avoided.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
A patient should not be immunized against a substance which the patient has not demonstrated symptoms and/or tissue-fixed IgE antibodies as demonstrated by skin testing. Immunotherapy should not be attempted in patients with active asthma, severe respiratory obstruction, or cardiovascular disease.
There is some evidence, although inconclusive, that routine immunizations may exacerbate autoimmune diseases. Hyposensitization should be given cautiously to patients with this predisposition. The physician must weigh risk to benefit in these rare cases.
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Down’s syndrome and renal insufficiency are theoretically at risk from aluminum intake, including alum precipitated allergenic extracts.
WARNINGS
Patients should always be observed for at least 20-30 minutes after any injection. In the event of a marked systemic reaction, application of a tourniquet above the injection site and administration of 0.2 mL to 1.0 mL of Epinephrine injection (1:1,000) are recommended. Maximal recommended dose for children under 2 years of age is 0.3 mL. Maximal recommended dose for children between 2 and 12 years of age is 0.5 mL. The tourniquet is then gradually released. Patients under treatment with beta-blockers may be refractory to the usual dose of epinephrine.
PRECAUTIONS
Information For Patients:
Patients should be instructed to describe any active allergic symptoms such as rhinitis, wheezing, dyspnea, etc. prior to injection including any late reactions from previous administration Patients should be instructed to remain in the office for 20 to 30 minutes after injection to monitor for adverse reactions. Also, see ADVERSE REACTIONS and WARNINGS sections.
General:
- Center-Al Allergenic Extracts, Alum Precipitated, are not to be used for intradermal testing.
- Store at temperatures 2° and 8°C at all times, even during use.
- DO NOT FREEZE. Freezing may cause agglomeration.
- Shake vial thoroughly to disperse suspension prior to removal of the dose to be administered.
- A separate sterile syringe and needle should be used for each individual patient, to prevent transmission of homologous serum hepatitis and other infectious agents from one person to another.
- Injections are to be administered subcutaneously with the usual sterile precautions, preferably in the upper outer aspects of the arm, using a sterile tuberculin- type syringe and 25 or 26 gauge needle, 1⁄2 to 1⁄4 in length.
- Avoid injecting intravenously. Pull back gently on syringe plunger and note if blood enters the syringe. If blood should enter the syringe, withdraw the needle and reinsert at another site, repeating the same precaution.
- Allergenic extracts slowly become less potent with age. During the course of treatment, it may be necessary to continue therapy with a vial of extract bearing a later expiration date. The initial dose of the extract bearing the later expiration date should be lowered to a safe non-reaction-eliciting level, usually reducing the dosage of the first injection of the new vial 50-75% of the previous well tolerated dose of the older vial.
- Subcutaneous nodules may develop at injection sites. The incidence of nodules increases with higher dosage of individual products and with extemporaneous mixtures at lower dosage. No single dose should provide more than 5,000 PNU whether as single allergen or mixture, nor should it exceed 0.5 mL in volume. If nodules occur, the highest single dose administered should be limited to a maximum of 0.2 mL (2,000 PNU).
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Center-Al Allergenic Extracts, Alum Precipitated, are not to be mixed with any non-alum containing allergen(s) or with other types of alum precipitated products. Such mixing may free the alum-absorbed allergens.
Center-Al Allergenic Extracts, Alum Precipitated, should be diluted only with Sterile Diluent for Allergenic Extracts (Phenol-Saline) containing 0.9% Sodium Chloride, 0.4% Phenol. Use of other types of diluents may result in re-solution of some of the alum-complexed allergen thereby resulting in release of free aqueous extracts.
Patients receiving beta-blockers may not be responsive to epinephrine or an inhaled bronchodilator.
PREGNANCY — CATEGORY C:
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Center-Al (Allergenic Extracts, Alum Precipitated). It is also not known whether Center-Al can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.
Controlled studies of hyposensitization with moderate to high doses of allergenic extracts during conception and all trimesters of pregnancy have failed to demonstrate any risk to the fetus or to the mother. However, on the basis of histamine’s known ability to contract the uterine muscle, the release of significant amounts of histamine from allergen exposure or hyposensitization overdose should be avoided on theoretical grounds. Therefore, allergenic extracts should be used cautiously in a pregnant woman and only if clearly needed.
PEDIATRIC USE:
Children can receive the same dose as adults, however, to minimize discomfort associated with dose volume it may be advisable to reduce the volume of the dose by one-half and administer the injection at two different sites.
NURSING MOTHERS:
It is not known if allergens administered subcutaneously appear in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when allergenic extracts are administered to a nursing woman.
CARCINOGENESIS, MUTAGENESIS, IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY:
Studies in animals have not been performed.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Local: Reactions at the site of injection may be immediate or delayed. Immediate wheal and erythema reactions are ordinarily of little consequence, but if very large may be the first manifestation of a systemic reaction. If large local reactions occur, the patient should be observed for systemic symptoms for which treatment is outlined below.
Delayed reactions start several hours after injection with local edema, erythema, itching or pain. They are usually at their peak at 24 hours and usually require no treatment. Antihistamine drugs may be administered orally.
The next therapeutic dose should be reduced to the dose which did not elicit a reaction, and subsequent doses increased more slowly, i.e., use of intermediate dilutions.
Systemic: It should be noted that anaphylaxis and deaths following the injection of mite and other extracts, including pollen extracts, have been reported by The British Committee on Safety in Medicine.13 Fatalities from immunotherapy in the United States since 1945 have been extensively reviewed by Lockey, R.F., et al.14 and also more recently by Reid, M.J., et al.15 With careful attention to dosage and administration, such reactions occur infrequently, but it must be remembered that allergenic extracts are highly potent to sensitive individuals and OVERDOSE could result in anaphylactic symptoms. Therefore, it is imperative that physicians administering allergenic extracts understand and be prepared for the treatment of severe reactions.
Systemic reactions are characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: sneezing, mild to severe generalized urticaria, itching other than at the injection site, extensive or generalized edema, wheezing, asthma, dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia, lacrimation, marked perspiration, cough, hypotension, syncope and upper airway obstruction. Symptoms may progress to shock and death. Patients should always be observed for at least 20-30 minutes after any injection.
Volume expanders and vasopressor agents may be required to reverse hypotension. Inhalational bronchodilator and parenteral aminophylline may be required to reverse bronchospasm. Severe airway obstruction, unresponsive to bronchodilator, may require tracheal intubation.
In the event of a marked systemic reaction, application of a tourniquet above the injection site and administration of 0.2 mL to 1.0 mL of Epinephrine Injection (1:1,000) are recommended. Maximal recommended dose for children under 2 years of age is 0.3 mL. Maximal recommended dose for children between 2 and 12 years of age is 0.5 mL. The tourniquet is then gradually released.
The next therapeutic injection of extract should be reduced to the dose which did not elicit a reaction, and subsequent doses increased more slowly, i.e., use of intermediate dilutions.
Adverse Events should be reported via MedWatch (1-800-FDA-1088), Adverse Event Reporting, Food & Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
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