Metyrosine Brand Name– Demser
What is Metyrosine
Metyrosine is an orally administered agent used to inhibit catecholamine synthesis in patients with pheochromocytoma, a chromaffin cell tumor that produces excessive amounts of epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Metyrosine can be useful in patients who are refractory to phenoxybenzamine therapy, or it can be administered as an adjunct to phenoxybenzamine therapy.
Metyrosine also has been used to treat essential hypertension, but other more useful agents preclude its use.
Metyrosine was approved by the FDA in 1979.
Indications
- pheochromocytoma
For the short-term management of patients with pheochromocytoma who are awaiting surgery, or for long-term management of malignant pheochromocytoma when surgery is contraindicated
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- anemia
- anxiety
- confusion
- crystalluria
- depression
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- dysarthria
- dysuria
- eosinophilia
- fatigue
- galactorrhea
- hallucinations
- headache
- hematuria
- hypersalivation
- impotence (erectile dysfunction)
- nasal congestion
- nausea
- peripheral edema
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombocytosis
- tremor
- trismus
- urticaria
- vomiting
- xerostomia
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- dehydration
- driving or operating machinery
- hepatic disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- surgery
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Amobarbital
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Atropine; Difenoxin
- Atropine; Diphenoxylate
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Barbiturates
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Benzodiazepines
- Butabarbital
- Carbidopa; Levodopa
- Carbidopa; Levodopa; Entacapone
- Chlorpromazine
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Codeine; Promethazine
- Dextromethorphan; Promethazine
- Ethanol
- Fluphenazine
- Haloperidol
- Levodopa
- Meperidine; Promethazine
- Mephobarbital
- Mesoridazine
- Methohexital
- Metoclopramide
- Molindone
- Opiate Agonists
- Pentobarbital
- Perphenazine
- Perphenazine; Amitriptyline
- Phenobarbital
- Phenothiazines
- Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Primidone
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Secobarbital
- Sedating H1-blockers
- Thiethylperazine
- Thiopental
- Thioridazine
- Thiothixene
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Trifluoperazine
