CARBETOCIN

Carbetocin was approved by Health Canada and the United Kingdom in 1997 and belongs to the oxytocin receptor antagonist class. It is indicated to prevent excessive bleeding in women who have recently delivered.

Carbetocin prevents excessive bleeding in women who have recently delivered their babies. It is a synthetic, nonapeptide form of the hormone oxytocin, which promotes contractions of muscle cells in the uterus and epithelial cells in the breast. This hormone helps induce labor during delivery time and reduces blood flow from the placenta to the baby after delivery.

Carbetocin will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. It is usually administered as an injection or infusion in the vein (intravenous) or muscle (intramuscular). Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and frequency based on your disease condition and other factors.

The most common side effects of Carbetocin are low blood pressure, anemia, tiredness, loss of energy, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, itching, fever, headache, dizziness, and shakiness. Serious side effects while taking Carbetocin are anxiety, including breathlessness, chest pain, and rapid heartbeat.

Carbetocin should not be administered if you are pregnant or in labor with an undelivered baby, allergic to Carbetocin or its ingredients, or allergic to oxytocin. Avoid taking this medicine if you have liver or kidney disease, serious heart disease, or epilepsy.

Notify your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant or breastfeeding. Before taking this medicine, it is crucial to inform your physician if you have experienced migraines, have asthma, pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy), eclampsia (toxemia of pregnancy), heart or circulation issues (like high blood pressure), or any other medical conditions.

Follow the dosage and administration instructions provided by your doctor. Inform your healthcare professional of any known allergies or medical conditions prior to receiving Carbetocin. If you experience any unexpected or severe side effects, such as difficulty breathing or allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention. Inform your healthcare professional of all other medications or supplements you are taking to prevent potential drug interactions. Discuss any concerns regarding treatment with your healthcare professional.

Centaur Pharma, Patient Information Leaflet, [Revised on Jan 2022] [Accessed on 28th August 2023], Carbetocin-Ferring-Patient-Information-Leaflet.pdf(d2gohj824v350l.cloudfront.net) Ferring Inc., [Revised on 21st Feb 2020] [Accessed on 21st Mar 2022], https://www.ferring.ca/media/1253/eng-duratocin-vial-pm-eng-21feb2020.pdf Roger K. Long, Hakan Cakmak, Hypothalamic & Pituitary Hormones, Lange’s Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 14th Edition, 2018, 667-686.