What is the most important information I should know about glycerol phenylbutyrate?
This medicine can affect your nervous system. Call your doctor right away if you have: confusion, headaches, memory problems, hearing problems, vomiting, an altered sense of taste, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, or if you feel unusually sleepy or light-headed.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate should not be given to a child under 2 months old.
What is glycerol phenylbutyrate?
Glycerol phenylbutyrate binds with other substances in the liver and kidneys to help eliminate nitrogen from the body. Excess nitrogen can cause hyperammonemia (HYE-per-AM-moe-NEE-mee-a), a build-up of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is very toxic when it circulates in blood and tissues and can cause permanent brain damage, coma, or death.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate helps prevent a build-up of ammonia in the blood in people with urea cycle disorder. This medicine is used in adults and children who are at least 2 months old. Glycerol phenylbutyrate will not treat hyperammonemia.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate is usually given together with a low-protein diet and sometimes dietary supplements.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking glycerol phenylbutyrate?
You should not use glycerol phenylbutyrate if you are allergic to it.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate should not be given to a child under 2 months old. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without medical advice.
To make sure glycerol phenylbutyrate is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- liver or kidney disease;
- a pancreas disorder;
- stomach or intestinal disorder,
- a condition called NAGS (N-acetylglutamate synthase) deficiency; or
- if you use other medicines.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
If you become pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of glycerol phenylbutyrate on the baby.
It is not known whether glycerol phenylbutyrate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How should I take glycerol phenylbutyrate?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate is usually taken 3 times per day. Take with food or infant formula.
Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
If you are unable to swallow, you may take glycerol phenylbutyrate through a nasogastric (NG) or gastric feeding tube as follows: After measuring the correct dose in the oral syringe, attach it to the feeding tube and push the plunger down to empty the syringe into the tube. Then flush the tube with 2 teaspoons of water and allow it to drain. Follow this with 2 more teaspoons of water to wash the contents down.
If you switch from sodium phenylbutyrate to glycerol phenylbutyrate, your dose will not be the same. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
Glycerol phenylbutyrate is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include a special diet and other medications. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should eat or avoid to help control your condition.
To be sure this medicine is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. A buildup of ammonia in the blood can quickly cause brain injury or death. Do not miss any follow up visits to your doctor for blood tests. Every person with a urea cycle disorder should remain under the care of a doctor.
Your name may be listed on a Urea Cycle Disorder registry. This is to collect information about people with these disorders and to evaluate the effects of treatment.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking glycerol phenylbutyrate?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of glycerol phenylbutyrate?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; cough, wheezing, difficult breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any signs of high blood levels of ammonia (hyperammonemia):
- weakness, lack of energy;
- thinking problems, changes in behavior, feeling irritable;
- breathing problems;
- feeding problems; or
- seizure (convulsions).
Glycerol phenylbutyrate can affect your nervous system. Call your doctor at once if you have:
- drowsiness, unusual tiredness;
- memory problems;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- confusion, ongoing headache, vomiting;
- numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
- altered sense of taste; or
- hearing problems.
Common side effects may include:
- occasional headache;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
- indigestion or heartburn, gas, diarrhea;
- loss of appetite;
- dizziness, tired feeling;
- rash; or
- (common in children younger than 2 years) fever, cold or flu symptoms, cough, small bumps on the skin.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect glycerol phenylbutyrate?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Glycerol phenylbutyrate can affect other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make those medications less effective. Certain other drugs can affect your blood levels of ammonia, making glycerol phenylbutyrate less effective or causing hyperammonemia.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about glycerol phenylbutyrate.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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