Adverse Reaction:
CNS - headache, dizziness, sedation
Dermatologic - allergic rash
GI - nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, or pain
Hematologic- rarely decreased white blood cell count or bone marrow depression
Contra-Indications:
Hypersenstivity to metyrapone
Special Precautions/Warnings
Acute adrenal insufficiency - metyrapone may induce acute adrenal insufficency in patients with reduced adrenal secretory capacity.
Response to adrenals - ability of adrenals to respond to exogenous ACTH should be
demonstrated before mytyrapone is employed as test.
Hypo-hyperthyroidism - in presence of hypo-hyperthyroidism response to metyrapone
may be subnormal
Hazardous tasks- since metyrapone may cause dizziness, and sedation, patients should
excercise caution when driving or operating machinery.
Pregnancy- should be given to a pregnant only if required
Lactation- caution should be excercised when drug is administered to a breast feeing woman
Patient Information:
Ref - USP PDI Vol II 17th Edition (1997)
1.Allergies-
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to
metyrapone. Also tell your healthcare care professional if you are allergic to
any other substances such as foods. preservatives or dyes.
2.Pregnancy-
Metyrapone has not been fully studied in pregnant women. However, some
small studies have shown that metyrapone can affect the production of
chemicals by the pitutiary and adrenal glands of the fetus.
Before taking metyrapone make sure that your doctor knows that you are
pregnant or if you may become pregnant
3. Breast-feeding-
It is known not known whether metyrapone passes into breast milk.
However, use of metyrapone is not recommended during breast feeding
as it causes unwanted side effects in nursing babies.
4.Children-
This medicine has been tested in children and has not been shown to cause
different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
5.Older adults-
Although there is no specific information comparing use of metyrapone in the
elderly with use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause different side
effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults
6. Other medicines-
Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following -
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Carbamazepine
Corticosteroids
Estrogens
Griseofluvin
Oral contraceptives
Phenylbutazone
Phenytoin
Primidone
Rifampicin
7. Other medical problems-
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems
especially-
Breast cancer or
Diabetes or
Heart disease
Liver disease or
Low blood sugar or
Thyroid disease - these conditions may cause false results of metyrapone
testing and resultin wrong diagnosis
Excessive body hair in female - long term therapy may increase growth
of body hair
Pophyria - metyrapone may worsen active cases of porphyria
Underactive adrenal or pituitiary gland- metyrapone may reduce the
amount of certain hormones produced by the adrenal glands , these
hormones are needed to respond to stress or illness.
Manufacturer Details