beractant at a glance
Medicine class
Lung surfactant
Main role
Treatment or prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in eligible premature babies
Administration
Placed directly into the trachea by a trained neonatal team
Clinical setting
Given where ventilation and continuous monitoring are available
What is beractant used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for premature newborn babies in these circumstances:
Treatment of respiratory distress syndrome, also called hyaline membrane disease, in babies meeting the product's birth-weight criterion.
Prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in eligible babies born before 32 weeks who need intubation for stabilisation or show evidence of surfactant deficiency.
How does beractant work?
Surfactant coats the lungs' tiny air sacs and lowers surface tension. Beractant helps prevent these air sacs from collapsing and improves lung expansion and ventilation.
beractant preparations and strengths
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 25 mg/mL
How to take beractant
Beractant is not swallowed or given by a parent. A trained neonatal team places it directly into the trachea through an endotracheal tube or suitable less-invasive catheter while monitoring breathing, heart rate and oxygenation.
Warm the vial to room temperature only as specified in the product information.
Inspect the suspension and gently invert it to redisperse settling; do not shake.
Each vial is for single use; discard unused residue.
beractant side effects
Common or expected effects
- Pulmonary haemorrhage is listed as common.
- Intracranial haemorrhage is listed as very common, although trials found a similar incidence with placebo and rates were consistent with this high-risk population.
- Temporary bradycardia or reduced oxygen levels can occur during administration, particularly with some less-invasive procedures.
Get urgent medical advice
- Pulmonary haemorrhage.
- Intracranial haemorrhage.
- Endotracheal-tube blockage or other acute airway obstruction.
- Persistent or severe bradycardia or oxygen desaturation during administration.
beractant in pregnancy
Pregnancy considerations do not apply because beractant is given directly to newborn babies, not to the pregnant parent.
beractant while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding considerations do not apply to the baby's direct administration of beractant. Parents can discuss feeding plans with the neonatal team according to the baby's condition.
beractant interactions
No medicine-interaction studies have been performed for beractant.
Common questions about beractant
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is beractant used for?
It treats respiratory distress syndrome in eligible premature newborn babies and may prevent it in certain premature babies at high risk.
Is beractant a steroid?
No. It is a lung surfactant that supplements the surfactant needed to keep the baby's air sacs open.
How is beractant given?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.