Drug interactions - summary -

Dexamethasone -

 plasma  ACTH response to corticorelin injection is inhibited or blunted
in normal subjects pretreated with dexamethasone

Heparin -

use of heparin solution to maintain IV cannula patency during the corticorelin  test is not
recommended.

Cushing's syndrome differential diagnosis

Adverse reactions -

At doses 1mcg/kg or 100mcg/patient - adverse reactions  include -flushing of face, neck
and upper chest - 15%  almost immediate and lasts for 3 to 5 minutes

Higher doses  > 3mcg/kg -more prolonged  - flushing, tachycardia, hypotension, dyspnea, and chest compression or tightness

At doses > 5mcg/kg - significant increase in heart rate and decreases in blood pressure
Cardiovascular efects occured  2-3 minutes after injection ana lasted for 30-60 minutes
Facial flusing more prolonged  -lasting for 4 hours in some cases.

All signs and symptoms could be reduced by administering the drug as a second 30 second infusion  insterad of by bolus injection.

Special precautions/warnings -

Dose dependent effects -  severity of adverse reactions to cortiocorelin injection appear  to
be dose dependent.. symptoms can be reduced by administering the drug as  30 second 
intravenous infusion instead of bolus injection.

Pregnancy- cortcocorelin should be given to a pregnant women only if clearly needed,

Lactation- caution should be excercised when corticocorelin is administered to a breast
 feeding women.

Children- only few tests have been performed on children

Indication-

Cushings syndrome differential diagnosis

Dosage-
A single intravenous dose of corticorelin at 1mcg/kg is recommended for testing pitutiary
corticotropin function. A 1mcg/kg  body weight is lowest dose that produces maximal cortisol
responses and significant though apparent sub-maximal cortisol response

Storage - refrigerate at 2C to 8C  ( 36 to 45F )

Pregnancy-
Cortcocorelin should be given to a pregnant women only if clearly needed,

Lactation-                                                                                                                            Caution should be excercised when corticocorelin is administered to a breast
 feeding women.

Children-
Only few tests have been performed on children