Bleeding oesophageal varices

Terlipressin (triglycyl-lysine- vasopressin) is a pharmacologically inactive prodrug and must be biotransformed to lypressin. Lypressin is released over 4 to 6 hours. The effects of terlipressin on blood pressure, heart rate, and skin pallor are less pronounced than with lypressin, and the duration of its hemostatic effects is longer, and is attributed to the slow release of lypressin and its prolonged effect

onset: 25-40 min; Duration: 2-10 hrs

Pregnancy

Avoided

Headache, abdominal cramps, hypertension, temporary reduction in blood flow to the skin causing it to become pale (transient blanching)

In acute variceal bleeding, initial dose is 2 to 4 mg IV, followed by maintenance doses of 1mg Q 4- 6 H for 2 to3 days. Cardiovascular function and fluid status should be closely monitored during terlipressin administration

Terlipressin inj. is reconstituted with 5 ml sterile normal saline, the reconstituted solution should be used immediately, or stored under refrigeration (2-8℃) for 12 hrs.