terlipressin acetate at a glance
Medicine class
Vasopressin analogue and vasoconstrictor
Licensed use
Treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices
Administration
Given into a vein by healthcare professionals in hospital
Monitoring
Blood pressure, heart rhythm or rate, oxygen saturation, electrolytes and fluid balance
What is terlipressin acetate used for?
The selected product has one licensed indication. Another recognised hospital use is not licensed for this product.
Licensed: treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices caused by portal hypertension.
Not licensed for this selected product: type 1 hepatorenal syndrome. Other terlipressin products may be authorised for it.
How does terlipressin acetate work?
Terlipressin is converted to lysine-vasopressin. It constricts abdominal blood vessels, reducing portal pressure and blood flow through enlarged oesophageal veins to help control bleeding.
terlipressin acetate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 0.12 mg/mL, 1 mg
How to take terlipressin acetate
A doctor or nurse administers terlipressin acetate intravenously in a monitored hospital setting. The selected presentation is a clear, colourless solution; food does not affect administration.
Tell staff about heart, lung or circulation disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, pregnancy and all medicines being used.
Promptly report pain, swelling or skin changes around the injection site.
terlipressin acetate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Headache
- Slow heartbeat
- Raised blood pressure
- Pale skin or reduced skin circulation
- Shortness of breath or fluid in the lungs
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe breathing difficulty or respiratory failure
- Chest pain, heart attack, heart failure or a dangerous abnormal rhythm
- Intestinal ischaemia, causing severe abdominal pain or blood in the stools
- Markedly reduced circulation to the limbs or skin necrosis
- Severe hyponatraemia, potentially causing weakness, twitching, confusion or seizures
- Injection-site necrosis
terlipressin acetate in pregnancy
The selected product is contraindicated during pregnancy. Terlipressin can cause uterine contractions, increase pressure within the uterus and reduce uterine blood flow. Discuss pregnancy status before treatment whenever circumstances allow.
terlipressin acetate while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether terlipressin passes into human milk, and risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. A specialist should weigh the importance of treatment against the benefits of breastfeeding and agree an individual plan.
terlipressin acetate interactions
Hospital staff should review all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products, particularly those affecting heart rhythm or electrolytes.
Non-selective beta-blockers
May increase pressure-lowering effects within the portal circulation and contribute to cardiovascular effects.
Propofol, sufentanil and other medicines that slow heart rate
Combined use may cause marked bradycardia and reduced cardiac output.
QT-prolonging medicines
Class IA or III antiarrhythmics, erythromycin, some antihistamines and tricyclic antidepressants may increase the risk of serious ventricular arrhythmias.
Common questions about terlipressin acetate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is terlipressin acetate given for bleeding oesophageal varices?
It narrows abdominal blood vessels, lowering pressure and blood flow through enlarged oesophageal veins to help control bleeding.
Is terlipressin acetate given only in hospital?
Yes. Trained staff administer it intravenously with cardiovascular, respiratory, electrolyte and fluid monitoring.
Is terlipressin acetate licensed for hepatorenal syndrome?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.