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For Hypertensive Emergencies

Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. Delivers Benefits to the Pharmacy

Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. provides smooth, predictable blood pressure control in the management of hypertensive emergencies.1 It also may offer the pharmacy efficiency and convenience.

  • Eliminates medication admixture errors

  • Supports compliance with The Joint Commission standards and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guidelines for dispensing and storing medications2,3

    • Providing medications in ready-to-administer form when possible2,3

    • Standardizing drug concentrations2

    • Providing medications to meet patient needs when the pharmacy is closed2

    • Limiting preparation of admixtures by nursing staff3

  • Saves pharmacy time and labor4,5

  • Can be stored in automated dispensing cabinets for improved inventory control5


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Images of Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. Bags
Images of Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. Outer Boxes

Ready-to-Use CARDENE I.V. is indicated for short-term management of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable.1

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. CARDENE I.V. prescribing information, 2008. EKR Therapeutics, Bedminster, NJ. 2. Rich DS. New JCAHO medication management standards for 2004. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2004;61(13):1349-1358. 3. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. ASHP guidelines: minimum standard for pharmacies in hospitals. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1995;52(23):
2711-2717. 4. Ruble J. Impact safety, efficiency, and the bottom line with premixed IV products. Pharma Purchasing Prod. February 2008:34-38, vi. 5. 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.

 

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