Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. Promotes Efficiency and Convenience

  • Immediately available for rapid intervention1,2

    • Requires no waiting for a pharmacy-mixed bag1,2

    • Supports after-pharmacy-hours medication needs2

  • Eliminates medication admixture errors

  • Provides convenient dosing and titration3 with concentrations of 40 mg in 200 mL (0.2 mg/mL) and 20 mg in 200 mL (0.1 mg/mL)

  • Supports compliance with The Joint Commission standards and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guidelines for dispensing and storing medications4,5,*

Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. is indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable.3

*When possible, medications shall be available in a ready-to-administer form.4,5

Important Safety Information
Close monitoring of the blood pressure is required during therapy. CARDENE I.V. is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug and in patients with advanced aortic stenosis. Reduction of diastolic pressure and reduced afterload may worsen rather than improve myocardial oxygen balance. Caution is advised when administering CARDENE I.V. to patients with impaired renal or hepatic function, in combination with a beta-blocker in patients with congestive heart failure, or portal hypertension. Observe caution in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction due to possible negative inotropic effect. CARDENE I.V. gives no protection against the dangers of abrupt beta-blocker withdrawal; beta-blocker dosage should be gradually reduced. Levels of cyclosporine should be closely monitored during therapy. The most common side effects of CARDENE I.V. are headache (14.6%), hypotension (5.6%), nausea/vomiting (4.9%), and tachycardia (3.5%). Less frequent adverse effects, in each case occurring at 1.4%, include ECG abnormalities, postural hypotension, ventricular extrasystoles, injection-site reaction, dizziness, sweating and polyuria.

 

Please see full prescribing information.

 

References: 1. Ruble J. Impact safety, efficiency, and the bottom line with premixed IV products. Pharma Purchasing Prod. February 2008:34-38, vi. 2. Fanikos J, Erickson A, Munz KE, et al. Observations on the use of ready-to-use and point-of-care activated parenteral products in automated dispensing cabinets in U.S. hospitals. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2007;64(19):2037-2043. 3. CARDENE I.V. prescribing information, 2008. EKR Therapeutics, Bedminster, NJ. 4. Rich DS. New JCAHO medication management standards for 2004. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61(13):1349-1358. 5. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP guidelines: minimum standard for pharmacies in hospitals. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1995;52(23):2711-2717.

 

© EKR Therapeutics, Inc. All rights reserved. August 2009.

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