tetracosactide acetate at a glance
Medicine class
ACTH analogue and anterior pituitary hormone analogue
Main roles
Adrenal function testing and short-term treatment of selected steroid-responsive conditions
Administration
The depot suspension is shaken before use and injected into a muscle under medical supervision. It must not be injected into a vein.
What is tetracosactide acetate used for?
The selected depot product is licensed for:
Diagnostic investigation of suspected adrenocortical insufficiency.
Short-term treatment of conditions for which glucocorticoids are indicated, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Adjunctive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis, particularly when oral glucocorticoids are not tolerated or have been ineffective.
How does tetracosactide acetate work?
Tetracosactide reproduces the activity of the first part of natural ACTH. It binds to receptors on adrenal-cortex cells and activates cyclic-AMP signalling, increasing production of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and, to a lesser extent, androgens. Measuring the resulting cortisol response helps assess adrenal function.
How to take tetracosactide acetate
This product is administered by a healthcare professional. Food restrictions are not specified in the product information.
Tell the clinical team about asthma, allergies and any previous reaction to ACTH or tetracosactide.
Tell them about all medicines, particularly corticosteroids, oestrogens, anticonvulsants, diabetes treatments and blood-pressure medicines.
The depot ampoule must be shaken before intramuscular injection.
Remain available for observation after administration because immediate hypersensitivity reactions can occur.
tetracosactide acetate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Side-effect frequencies cannot be reliably estimated from available data.
- Possible reactions include injection-site redness or pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, flushing, itching, headache and sweating.
- With therapeutic use, corticosteroid-type effects may include increased appetite, weight gain, fluid retention, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, mood or sleep changes, acne, bruising, muscle weakness and increased susceptibility to infection.
Get urgent medical advice
- Anaphylaxis or angioedema, with breathing difficulty, swelling, hives, faintness or collapse.
- Severe mood disturbance, psychosis or seizures.
- Pancreatitis, gastrointestinal ulceration, bleeding or perforation.
- Heart failure, thromboembolism, severe hypertension or low potassium.
- Glaucoma, cataract or significant visual disturbance.
- Adrenal haemorrhage.
tetracosactide acetate in pregnancy
Evidence in pregnancy is limited and animal reproductive-toxicity data are insufficient. The product information advises use only when the expected benefit outweighs potential fetal risk, so pregnancy or possible pregnancy should be discussed with the specialist or prescriber before testing or treatment.
tetracosactide acetate while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether tetracosactide passes into human milk. The prescriber should assess the need for testing or treatment and discuss the uncertainties with anyone who is breastfeeding.
tetracosactide acetate interactions
Relevant medicine-related considerations include:
Valproate
Concurrent use should be avoided because severe jaundice has been reported in children.
Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin, clonazepam, nitrazepam, phenobarbital or primidone
Concurrent use may increase the risk of liver damage and requires careful clinical consideration.
Oestrogens, including hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy
They can increase total cortisol and may make adrenal-test results misleading, requiring alternative interpretation methods.
Common questions about tetracosactide acetate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is tetracosactide acetate used to test?
It stimulates the adrenal cortex so that the cortisol response can be measured, helping investigate suspected adrenocortical insufficiency.
Is tetracosactide acetate a steroid?
No. It is an ACTH analogue that prompts the adrenal glands to produce the body’s own corticosteroid hormones.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.