Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Glutamine (Oral Route)

US Brand Names

Description

Glutamine is a substance naturally produced in the body to help regulate cell growth and function. There may also be man-made versions of these substances. Glutamine is used along with human growth hormone and a specialized diet to treat short bowel syndrome

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

For good health, it is important that you eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow carefully any diet program your health care professional may recommend. For your specific dietary vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of appropriate foods. If you think that you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, you may choose to take a dietary supplement.

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of glutamine in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of glutamine in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, elderly patients are more likely to be sensitive requiring the need for dosage adjustment.

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Liver disease—May be worsened by glutamine.

Proper Use

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (powder for oral solution):
  • For short bowel syndrome
    • Adults—30 grams per day in divided doses (5 grams taken 6 times a day) for up to 16 weeks. Taken with meals or snacks, 2 to 3 hours apart while awake.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Blood in urine
• Changes in skin color
• Chills
• Cold hands and feet
• Confusion
• Cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fast heartbeat
• Fever
• Frequent and painful urination
• Headache
• Hives
• Itching
• Lightheadedness
• Lower back or side pain
• Pain, redness, or swelling in arm or leg
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Skin rash
• Stomach pain
• Sudden decrease in amount of urine
• Tightness in chest
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Cough or hoarseness
• Frequent urge to defecate
• Straining while passing stool

• Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
• Back pain
• Bacterial infection
• Bleeding after defecation
• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at site
• Bloated full feeling
• Body aches or pain
• Breast pain, female
• Chest pain
• Change in the color, amount, or odor of vaginal discharge
• Congestion
• Constipation
• Crohn's disease, aggravated
• Dark urine
• Decreased urination
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• Difficulty in moving
• Discoloration of fingernails or toenails
• Discouragement
• Dry mouth
• Dryness or soreness of throat
• Ear or hearing symptoms
• Excess air or gas in stomach or intestines
• Feeling sad or empty
• Feeling unusually cold shivering
• Flatulence
• Full or bloated feeling
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Increase in heart rate
• Indigestion
• Irritability
• Joint pain;
• Lack of appetite
• Light-colored stools
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Muscle aches and pains
• Muscle pain or stiffness
• Nausea
• Pain in joints
• Pain or burning while urinating
• Pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• Passing gas
• Pressure in the stomach
• Rash
• Rectal bleeding
• Runny nose
• Shivering
• Sleeplessness
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Stomach bloating, burning, cramping, or pain
• Stuffy nose
• Sunken eyes
• Sweating
• Swelling of abdominal or stomach area
• Swelling of face
• Swelling of hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• Swollen joints
• Tender, swollen glands in neck;
• Thirst
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble in swallowing
• Unable to sleep
• Uncomfortable swelling around anus
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Voice changes
• Vomiting
• Vomiting of blood
• Weight loss
• Wrinkled skin
• Yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Copyright © 2013 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.