4.1. Therapeutic indications

PABAL is indicated for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage due to uterine atony.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Caesarean section under epidural or spinal anaesthesia:

Withdraw 1 ml of PABAL containing 100 micrograms carbetocin and administer only by intravenous injection, under adequate medical supervision in a hospital.

Vaginal delivery:

Withdraw 1 ml of PABAL containing 100 micrograms carbetocin and administer by intravenous injection or intramuscular injection, under adequate medical supervision in a hospital.

Method of administration

For intravenous or intramuscular administration.

Carbetocin must only be administered after delivery of the infant, and as soon as possible after delivery, preferably before the delivery of the placenta.

For intravenous administration carbetocin must be administered slowly, over 1 minute.

PABAL is intended for single use only. No further doses of carbetocin should be administered.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of carbetocin in children below 12 years of age.

The safety and efficacy of carbetocin in adolescents has not yet been established.

Currently available data are described in section 5.1 but no recommendation on a posology can be made.

4.3. Contraindications

• During pregnancy and labour before delivery of the infant.

• Carbetocin must not be used for the induction of labour.

• Hypersensitivity to carbetocin, oxytocin or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

• Hepatic or renal disease.

• Serious cardiovascular disorders.

• Epilepsy.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Carbetocin is intended for use only at well-equipped specialist obstetrics units with experienced and qualified staff available at all times.

The use of carbetocin at any stage before delivery of the infant is not appropriate because its uterotonic activity persists for several hours. This is in marked contrast to the rapid reduction of effect observed after discontinuation of an oxytocin infusion.

In case of persistent vaginal or uterine bleeding after administration of carbetocin the cause must be determined. Consideration should be given to causes such as retained placental fragments, perineal, vaginal and cervix lacerations, inadequate repair of the uterus, or disorders of blood coagulation.

Carbetocin is intended for single administration only, intramuscular or intravenous. In case of intravenous administration, it must be administered slowly over 1 minute. In case of persisting uterine hypotonia or atonia and the consequent excessive bleeding, additional therapy with another uterotonic should be considered. There are no data on additional doses of carbetocin or on the use of carbetocin following persisting uterine atony after oxytocin.

Animal studies have shown carbetocin to possess some antidiuretic activity (vasopressin activity: <0,025 IU/vial) and therefore the possibility of hyponatraemia cannot be excluded, particularly in patients also receiving large volumes of intravenous fluids. The early signs of drowsiness, listlessness and headache should be recognised to prevent convulsions and coma.

In general, carbetocin should be used cautiously in the presence of migraine, asthma and cardiovascular disease or any state in which a rapid addition to extracellular water may produce hazard for an already overburdened system. The decision of administering carbetocin can be made by the physician after carefully weighing the potential benefit carbetocin may provide in these particular cases.

No data is available on the use of carbetocin in patients with eclampsia. Patients with eclampsia and pre-eclampsia should be carefully monitored.

Specific studies have not been undertaken in gestational diabetes mellitus.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

During clinical trials, carbetocin has been administered in association with a number of analgesics, spasmolytics and agents used for epidural or spinal anaesthesia, and no drug interactions have been identified.

Specific interaction studies have not been undertaken.

Since carbetocin is closely related in structure to oxytocin, the occurrence of interactions known to be associated with oxytocin cannot be excluded:

Severe hypertension has been reported when oxytocin was given 3 to 4 hours following prophylactic administration of a vasoconstrictor in conjunction with caudal-block anaesthesia.

During combination with ergot-alkaloids, such as methylergometrine, oxytocin and carbetocin may enhance the blood pressure enhancing effect of these agents. If oxytocin or methylergometrine are administered after carbetocin there may be a risk of cumulative exposure.

Since it has been found that prostaglandins potentiate the effect of oxytocin, it is expected that this can also occur with carbetocin. Therefore, it is not recommended that prostaglandins and carbetocin be used together. If they are concomitantly administered, the patient should be carefully monitored.

Some inhalation-anaesthetics, such as halothane and cyclopropane may enhance the hypotensive effect and weaken the effect of carbetocin on the uterus. Arrhythmias have been reported for oxytocin during concomitant use.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Carbetocin is contraindicated during pregnancy and must not be used for the induction of labour (see section 4.3).

Breastfeeding

No significant effects on milk let-down have been reported during clinical trials. Small amounts of carbetocin have been shown to pass from plasma into breast milk of nursing women (see section 5.2). The small amounts transferred into colostrum or breast milk after a single injection of carbetocin, and subsequently ingested by the infant are assumed to be degraded by enzymes in the gut.

Breast-feeding does not need to be restricted after the use of carbetocin.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.

4.8. Undesirable effects

The adverse events observed with carbetocin during the clinical trials were of the same type and frequency as the adverse events observed with oxytocin.

Intravenous administration* – Tabulated summary of adverse reactions

System Organ Class

Very common

≥ 1/10

Common

≥ 1/100 and < 1/10

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Anaemia

Immune system disorders

Hypersensitivity (including anaphylactic reaction)

Nervous system disorders

Headache, tremor

Dizziness

Cardiac disorders

Tachycardia, bradycardia which can lead to cardiac arrest ***, arrhythmia***, myocardial ischaemia***, and QT prolongation***

Vascular disorders

Hypotension, flushing

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Chest pain, dyspnoea

Gastrointestinal disorders

Nausea, abdominal pain

Metallic taste, vomiting

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Pruritus

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Back pain

General disorders and administration site conditions

Feeling of warmth

Chills, pain

* Based on studies in caesarean section

*** Reported with oxytocin (closely related in structure to carbetocin)

In the clinical trials sweating was reported as sporadic cases.

Intramuscular administration** – Tabulated summary of adverse reactions

System Organ Class

Uncommon

≥ 1/1,000 and <1/100

Rare

≥ 1/10,000 and < 1/1,000

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Anaemia

Immune system disorders

Hypersensitivity (including anaphylactic reaction)

Nervous system disorders

Headache, dizziness

Tremor

Cardiac disorders

Tachycardia

Bradycardia***, arrhythmia***, myocardial ischaemia***, and QT prolongation***

Vascular disorders

Hypotension

Flushing

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Chest pain

Dyspnoea

Gastrointestinal disorders

Nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Pruritus

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Back pain, muscular weakness

Renal and urinary disorders

Urinary retention

General disorders and administration site conditions

Chills, pyrexia, pain

** Based on studies in vaginal delivery

*** Reported with oxytocin (closely related in structure to carbetocin)

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

Overdosage of carbetocin may produce uterine hyperactivity whether or not due to hypersensitivity to this agent.

Hyperstimulation with strong (hypertonic) or prolonged (tetanic) contractions resulting from oxytocin overdose can lead to uterine rupture or postpartum haemorrhage.

Overdosage of oxytocin may lead to hyponatraemia and water intoxication in severe cases, especially when associated with excessive concomitant fluid intake. As carbetocin is an analogue of oxytocin, the possibility of a similar event cannot be excluded.

Treatment of overdosage of carbetocin consists of symptomatic and supportive therapy. When signs or symptoms of overdosage occur oxygen should be given to the mother. In cases of water intoxication, it is essential to restrict fluid intake, promote diuresis, correct electrolyte imbalance, and control convulsions that may eventually occur.