About terlipressin acetate
Vasopressin analogue; splanchnic vasoconstrictor
Used for
- Controls bleeding from oesophageal varices.
- Treats hepatorenal syndrome with rapidly worsening kidney function.
Usual adult dose
Variceal bleeding: typically 2 mg intravenously every four hours initially, then reduced after bleeding control. Hepatorenal syndrome: commonly 0.85 mg intravenously every six hours, adjusted to response.
Common side effects
- Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, or headache.
- Slow or irregular heartbeat; raised blood pressure.
- Reduced blood flow to heart, gut, or limbs.
- Low sodium, especially with prolonged treatment.
Important warnings
- Requires hospital monitoring, including oxygen levels and heart rhythm.
- Can cause serious breathing problems, particularly in hepatorenal syndrome.
- Use caution with heart or blood vessel disease, asthma, or fluid overload.
- Avoid during ongoing pregnancy unless specialist assessment finds treatment essential.
Pregnancy
May reduce blood flow to the uterus and cause contractions; use only when clearly necessary under specialist supervision.
Breastfeeding
Information is limited; discuss breastfeeding with the treating specialist during therapy.
Interactions
- Medicines that slow the heart rate can increase bradycardia risk.
- Medicines that prolong the QT interval can increase abnormal-heart-rhythm risk.
- Other medicines affecting sodium or fluid balance may increase complications.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.