Arginine

R-Gene ® 10 is indicated as an intravenous stimulant to the pituitary for the release of human growth hormone in patients where the measurement of pituitary reserve for HGH can be of diagnostic usefulness. It can be used as a diagnostic aid in such conditions as panhypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, chromophobe adenoma, postsurgical craniopharyngioma, hypophysectomy, pituitary trauma, acromegaly, gigantism and problems of growth and stature. If the insulin hypoglycemia test has indicated a deficiency of pituitary reserve for HGH, a test with R-Gene ® 10 is advisable to confirm the negative response. This can be done after a waiting period of one day. As patients may not respond to R-Gene ® 10 (Arginine Hydrochloride Injection, USP) during the first test, the unresponsive patient should be tested again to confirm the negative result.

Adult Dosage The recommended adult dose is 30 g arginine hydrochloride (300 mL of R-Gene ® 10) administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. The total dose should not exceed 30 g arginine hydrochloride. See Directions for Use for preparation instructions. Pediatric Dosage The recommended pediatric dose is 0.5 g/kg arginine hydrochloride (5 mL/kg of R-Gene ® 10) administered by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. The total dose should not exceed 30 g arginine hydrochloride. • For patients weighing 59 kg or less, withdraw a weight based dose from a sealed R-Gene ® 10 bottle and place in a separate container for intravenous infusion to avoid the inadvertent delivery and administration of the total volume from the commercially available container. See Directions for Use for preparation instructions.

The administration of R-Gene ® 10 is contraindicated in persons having known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in this product.

There have been reports of overdosage of R-Gene ® 10 in pediatric patients leading to death. EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE EXERCISED WHEN INFUSING R-GENE ® 10 INTO PEDIATRIC PATIENTS. OVERDOSAGE OF R-GENE ® 10 IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS CAN RESULT IN HYPERCHLOREMIC METABOLIC ACIDOSIS, CEREBRAL EDEMA, OR POSSIBLY DEATH. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis have been reported. Appropriate medical support should be available during R-Gene ® 10 administration. If anaphylaxis or other serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, R-Gene ® 10 should be discontinued and appropriate medical treatment initiated. R-Gene ® 10 should always be administered by intravenous infusion because of its hypertonicity. R-Gene ® 10 is a diagnostic aid and is not intended for therapeutic use.

Adverse reactions associated with 1670 infusions in premarketing studies were as follows: Non-specific side effects consisting of nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing, numbness and local venous irritation were reported in approximately 3% of the patients. One patient had an allergic reaction which was manifested as a confluent macular rash with reddening and swelling of the hands and face. The rash subsided rapidly after the infusion was terminated and 50 mg of diphenhydramine were administered. One patient had an apparent decrease in platelet count from 150,000 to 60,000. One patient with a history of acrocyanosis had an exacerbation of this condition following infusion of R-Gene ® 10.

It is recommended that the product be stored at room temperature (25°C), however, brief exposure up to 40°C does not adversely affect the product.