Rapid therapy of severe depletion or malabsorption of the water soluble vitamins B and C, particularly in alcoholism, where a severe depletion of thiamine can lead to Wernicke's encephalopathy; after acute infections, post-operatively and in psychiatric states. Also used to maintain levels of vitamin B and C in patients on chronic intermittent haemodialysis.

 4.2 Posology and method of administration

Pabrinex is also available as an Intramuscular High Potency Injection. Therefore before administration, ensure that both the Summary of Product Characteristics and ampoule labels refer to the INTRAVENOUS injection.

1) The preferred method of administration of Pabrinex Intravenous High Potency is by drip infusion. Equal volumes of the contents of ampoules number 1 and 2 should be added to 50ml to 100ml physiological saline or glucose 5% and infused over 30 minutes (see “Special Precautions for Storage” section).

2) For a combined injection volume of not more than 10ml (e.g. the contents of one 5ml ampoule number 1 and one 5ml ampoule number 2) the contents of the ampoules are drawn up into a syringe to mix them just before use, then injected slowly, over a period of 10 minutes, into a vein.

Adults:

Elderly: as for adults.

Known hypersensitivity to any of the active constituents or to the excipients.

Although potentially serious allergic adverse reactions such as anaphylactic shock may occur rarely during, or shortly after, parenteral administration of Pabrinex, such rare occurrence of serious allergic reactions should not preclude the use of Pabrinex in patients who need treatment by this route of administration particularly those at risk of Wernicke's encephalopathy - for whom treatment with parenteral thiamine is essential. Initial warning signs of a reaction to Pabrinex are sneezing or mild asthma and those treating patients need to note that the administration of further injections to such patients may give rise to anaphylactic shock. Facilities for treating anaphylactic reactions should be available whenever Pabrinex Intravenous High Potency is administered. To minimise the risk of such events with Pabrinex Intravenous High Potency, the preferred mode of administration is by infusion over a period of 30 minutes.

This medicine is for injection into a vein only and should not be given by any other route

Care should be taken to ensure that the route of administration used (intramuscular or intravenous) is that intended – reports of unintentional administration by the wrong route have been received; these incidents have not been associated with serious adverse reactions.

The content of pyridoxine may interfere with the effects of concurrent levodopa therapy.

No adverse effects have been noted at recommended doses when used as clinically indicated.

However animal studies are insufficient with respect to effects on pregnancy/ and-or/ embryonal/foetal development/ and-or/ parturition/ and-or/ postnatal development (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown.

Caution should be exercised when prescribing to pregnant women.

 4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However given the nature of the product, no effects are anticipated.

Adverse reactions reported as possibly associated to Pabrinex are presented in the following table by MedDRA System Organ Class (SOC), Preferred Term and frequency. The following frequency categories are used:

Very common (>1/10);

Common (>1/100, <1/10);

Uncommon (>1/1,000, <1/100);

Rare (>1/10,000, <1/1,000);

Very rare (<1/10,000), including isolated reports.

Post-marketing adverse reactions are reported voluntarily from a population with an unknown rate of exposure. Therefore it is not possible to estimate the true incidence of adverse reactions and the frequency is “unknown”.

Tabulated summary of adverse reactions

4.9 Overdose

In the unlikely event of overdosage, treatment is symptomatic and supportive.