tetracosactide (tetracosactrin)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Synacthen.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page.
More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up-to-date
information on the medicine.
Those updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of
which you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you having
Synacthen against the benefits they expect it will give you.
If you have any concerns about having this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What Synacthen is used for
Synacthen is used as a diagnostic test to find out if the adrenal glands, small glands
next to the kidneys, are working as well as they should. The Synacthen test is given
as a single injection into the muscle.
Synacthen is used as a test only. It is not used to treat poorly functioning adrenal
glands.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Synacthen has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Synacthen is only available with a doctor's prescription. It is not habit- forming.
Before you are given Synacthen
When you must not have it
You should not be given Synacthen if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
tetracosactide (tetracosactrin), the active ingredient in Synacthen
any of the other ingredients of Synacthen listed at the end of this leaflet
a similar medicine called ACTH or corticotrophin
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include redness or pain at the injection site,
rash, itching, hives or flushing of the skin, dizziness, nausea (feeling sick) or
vomiting, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of
the body.
You should not be given Synacthen if you have any of the following healthproblems/medical
conditions:
asthma or other allergic conditions
a viral illness or you have recently been vaccinated with a live virus
an infection, unless you are taking antibiotics for it
a stomach ulcer
severe heart disease
overactive adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome)
adrenocortical insufficiency
(adrenal glands not working properly)
a mental illness with disturbances in thinking, feelings and behaviour
If you are unsure whether any of the above conditions apply to you, ask your doctor
before you have the Synacthen test.
This medicine could make your condition worse.
Do not have Synacthen if you are pregnant.
This medicine may cause a miscarriage or affect your developing baby if you have it
while you are pregnant.
Do not breast-feed while the Synacthen test is being done.
There is not enough information to recommend breast-feeding while you are having Synacthen.
Before you start to have it
Tell your doctor if you have asthma or allergies, including any allergies to other
medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
If you have asthma or allergies, your chance of having an allergic reaction to Synacthen
may be greater than normal. Your doctor can discuss this with you further.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:
diabetes
high blood pressure
Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have one of the above conditions.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently
taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription from
a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
These include medicines used to treat:
diabetes
high blood pressure
convulsions
It may be necessary to change the dose or in some cases to stop the medicine.
Some medicines may affect the results of the Synacthen test. These include:
some corticosteroid medicines, including cortisone and hydrocortisone
spironolactone, a medicine usually used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention
oestrogens, including the birth control pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Your doctor may ask you to skip the morning dose of some medicines on the day of the
Synacthen test so that the test results are not affected.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you
have the Synacthen test.
How Synacthen is given
You will be given a single injection of Synacthen into the muscle. You will have two
blood samples taken, one before the dose of Synacthen and the other 30 minutes after
the dose. These blood samples will show whether your adrenal glands are functioning
as well as they should.
After having Synacthen
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert
after you have had the Synacthen test until you know how it has affected you.
Although Synacthen is unlikely to have affected your reactions, make sure before you
drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are
having the Synacthen test, even if you don't think it is connected with the medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time
they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following signs of
a possible allergic reaction to Synacthen:
redness or pain at the injection site
rash, itching, hives or flushing of the skin
dizziness
nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of the body
Allergic reactions to Synacthen can happen rarely. Your doctor or nurse will watch
you closely for signs of allergy during the Synacthen test and will have medicines
to treat this type of reaction near at hand.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
It is possible that other side effects not listed above may happen in some people.
Product description
What it looks like
Synacthen is available in a glass ampoule containing 1 mL of liquid; one ampoule per
carton. Each ampoule contains 250 micrograms of tetracosactide (tetracosactide).
Ingredients
Each ampoule of Synacthen contains
250 micrograms of the active ingredient, tetracosactide (tetracosactrin) (as the hexa-
acetate salt). It also contains:
acetic acid
sodium acetate
sodium chloride
water for injections
This medicine does not contain any preservative.
Sponsor
Synacthen is distributed in Australia by:
Clinect Pty Ltd
20-132 Atlantic Drive, Keysborough VIC 3173, Australia
Free Call Australia: 1800 899 005
®= Registered Trademark
This leaflet was prepared in March 2020
Australian Registration Number Synacthen ampoules AUST R 11058