Oral mucositis prevention, in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy (off-label use): Oral: 10 g 3 times daily throughout chemoradiotherapy (Tsujimoto 2015) or 10 to 30 g/day during chemoradiotherapy (MASCC/ISOO [Elad 2020]).
Short bowel syndrome: NutreStore: Oral: 30 g/day administered as 5 g 6 times daily for up to 16 weeks; to be used in combination with growth hormone and nutritional support.
Sickle cell disease : Endari: Note: Only the Endari brand/formulation is approved for sickle cell disease (SCD); avoid the use of other glutamine formulations for SCD (Quinn 2018).
Prevention of vaso-occlusive pain in patients with frequent episodes (≥2 in the prior year), either as an adjunct to hydroxyurea or as an alternative in patients unable to tolerate hydroxyurea (Niihara 2018):
<30 kg: Oral: 5 g (1 packet) twice daily (total dose 10 g/day).
30 to 65 kg: Oral: 10 g (2 packets) twice daily (total dose 20 g/day).
>65 kg: Oral: 15 g (3 packets) twice daily (total dose 30 g/day).
Supplement (nutritional):
GlutImmune, GlutaMent, GlutaSolve, Glutapak-10, Sympt-X: Oral: Average dose: 10 g 3 times/day; dosing range: 5 to 30 g/day.
Glutamine (capsules): Oral: 500 mg daily.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling; use with caution.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling; use with caution.
(For additional information see "Glutamine (including L-glutamine [pharmaceutical grade] and supplements): Pediatric drug information")
Note: Dose is presented as grams of l-glutamine.
Sickle cell disease: Note: Only the Endari brand/formulation is approved for sickle cell disease (SCD); avoid the use of other glutamine formulations for SCD (Quinn 2018).
Children ≥5 years and Adolescents: Endari: Oral Powder:
<30 kg: Oral: 5 g (1 packet) twice daily; total daily dose: 10 g/day.
30 to 65 kg: Oral: 10 g (2 packets) twice daily; total daily dose: 20 g/day.
>65 kg: Oral: 15 g (3 packets) twice daily; total daily dose: 30 g/day.
Supplement (nutritional):
Sympt-X: Children and Adolescents: Oral: 0.25 to 0.5 g/kg/day given in 3 divided doses; usual adult dose: 10 g/dose.
Glutasolve: Children >3 years and Adolescents: Oral: 15 g (1 packet)/dose; frequency determined based on patient's clinical status, indication, and nutritional assessment.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling; use with caution. Nutritional supplements/medical foods are contraindicated in renal impairment.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling; use with caution. Nutritional supplements/medical foods are contraindicated in liver impairment.
Refer to adult dosing.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product
Capsule, Oral:
Generic: 500 mg
Packet, Oral:
Endari: 5 g (1 ea, 60 ea)
NutreStore: 5 g (84 ea [DSC])
Tablet, Oral:
Generic: 500 mg
May be product dependent
Sympt-X is available in US in 300 g jars, 500 g jars and packets (10 g L-glutamine + 5 g maltodextrin)
Endari: Mix each dose with 240 mL cold or room temperature beverage (eg, water, milk, apple juice) or with 120 to 180 mL of food (eg, applesauce or yogurt). Complete dissolution is not required prior to administration. Prepare immediately prior to administration.
GlutaMent: Mix each 10 g packet with 120 to 180 mL water or juice; use within 30 minutes of mixing. Do not mix with hot beverages. May also add to applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. For mucositis, mix each 10 g packet with 120 mL water; administer using a swish-and-swallow technique. If administering via feeding tube, mix with 60 mL water; flush with 30 mL water before and after administration. Do not mix directly with enteral formula.
Glutapak-10: Prior to use, mix with 60 to 120 mL liquid or semisolid food. If administering via feeding tube, mix each 10 g packet with 60 to 120 mL water, and flush feeding tube before and after administration. Use immediately after preparation.
GlutaSolve: Mix each 22.5 g packet (containing l-glutamine 15 g) with 120 mL water. May also be mixed in hot or cold beverages, applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. If administering via feeding tube, mix with 60 to 120 mL warm water for 20 seconds. Flush tube with 15 to 30 mL water before and after administration. Use immediately after preparation. Do not mix directly with enteral formula.
GlutImmune: Mix with food or hot or cold beverages.
NutreStore: Mix each packet (5 g) with ~250 mL water prior to administration; may vary the volume of water according to the patient's preference. Administer with meals or snacks every 2 to 3 hours while awake. If transient intolerance to oral intake, doses may be delayed up to 2 hours.
Sympt-X: Mix dose with 180 to 240 mL water, juice, or another beverage; may also be mixed with semi-solid foods such as yogurt or smoothie. Use immediately after preparation. May administer via feeding tube.
Oral:
Endari: Children ≥5 years and Adolescents: Mix each dose with 240 mL cold or room temperature beverage (eg, water, milk, apple juice) or with 4 to 6 ounces of semi-solid food (eg, applesauce, yogurt); do not use hot beverage or food. Complete dissolution is not required prior to administration. Prepare immediately prior to administration; do not save for later use.
Glutasolve: Children >3 years and Adolescents: Mix each 22.5 g packet (containing l-glutamine 15 g) with 120 mL hot or cold beverage. May also be mixed in applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. Stir well and use immediately.
Feeding tube administration: Mix with 60 to 120 mL warm water; do not mix directly with enteral formula. Flush tube with 15 to 30 mL water before and after administration. Use immediately after preparation.
Sympt-X: Children and Adolescents: Mix dose with 180 to 240 mL water, juice, or another beverage (<40°C [104°F]); may not completely dissolve; may also be mixed with semi-solid foods such as yogurt or smoothie. Use immediately after preparation. May administer via feeding tube.
Short bowel syndrome (NutreStore): For the treatment of short bowel syndrome in patients receiving specialized nutritional support when used in conjunction with a recombinant growth hormone that is approved for this indication.
Sickle cell disease (Endari only): To reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients 5 years and older.
In the clinical trial, Endari was used for the prevention of vaso-occlusive pain in patients with frequent episodes (≥2 in the prior year), either as an adjunct to hydroxyurea or as an alternative in patients unable to tolerate hydroxyurea (Niihara 2018).
Supplement (nutritional): Medical food used to promote GI tract healing and nutritional supplementation with GI disorders, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other critical illnesses.
Note: A medical food is formulated to be administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements are established by medical evaluation. Medical foods are not drugs and, therefore, are not subject to any FDA regulatory requirements that specifically apply to drugs (eg, requirement for written/oral prescription prior to dispensing, premarket review or approval, proof of safety and efficacy).
Oral mucositis prevention, in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiation
The following adverse drug reactions and incidences are derived from product labeling unless otherwise specified.
>10%:
Cardiovascular: Chest pain (12%)
Central nervous system: Headache (18%)
Gastrointestinal: Flatulence (22%), constipation (21%), nausea (19%), abdominal pain (17%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Limb pain (13%), back pain (12%)
Respiratory: Cough (16%)
Frequency not defined:
Cardiovascular: Peripheral edema, vascular disease
Central nervous system: Chills, depression, hypoesthesia, insomnia, pain
Dermatologic: Nail disease, pruritus, skin rash
Endocrine & metabolic: Dehydration, increased thirst
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal distention, Crohn disease, gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal fistula, hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, tenesmus, vomiting, xerostomia
Genitourinary: Fungal vaginosis, mastalgia
Hepatic: Hepatic insufficiency
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction
Infection: Bacterial infection, infection, viral infection
Local: Injection site reaction
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Myalgia
Respiratory: Flu-like symptoms, laryngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis
Renal: Nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis
Miscellaneous: Fever
Endari, NutreStore: There are no contraindications listed in the manufacturer's labeling.
OTC labeling: Renal or liver impairment; Reye syndrome; shock; multi-organ failure
Disease-related concerns:
• Hepatic impairment: Use with caution in patients with hepatic impairment.
• Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment.
None known.
Lactulose: Glutamine may diminish the therapeutic effect of Lactulose. Specifically, glutamine may diminish the ammonia-lowering effects of lactulose. Risk C: Monitor therapy
Endogenous glutamine can be detected in cord blood and concentrations are decreased in low birth-weight infants (Ivorra 2012).
Endogenous glutamine is present in breast milk.
According to the manufacturer, the decision to breastfeed during therapy should consider the risk of infant exposure, the benefits of breastfeeding to the infant, and the benefits of treatment to the mother.
NutreStore: To be used in combination with a specialized diet. Take with meal or snack.
Renal function, hepatic function
Glutamine regulates GI cell growth, function, and regeneration in short bowel syndrome. Glutamine is considered a "conditionally essential" amino acid during metabolic stress and injury. Glutamine is a precursor for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). In sickle cell disease, NAD and its reduced form, NADH, have a role in regulating and preventing red blood cell oxidative damage; in sickle red blood cells, the ratio of NADH to total NAD is lower, which results in a decreased NAD redox potential (Niihara 1998). Glutamine may improve NAD redox potential in sickle red blood cells through increased availability of reduced glutathione.
Distribution: Adults (healthy): IV: Vd: ~200 mL/kg
Metabolism: Hepatic metabolism to glutamate and ammonia
Half-life elimination: Adults (healthy): IV: ~1 hour
Time to peak, serum: Adults (healthy): ~30 minutes
Capsules (Glutamine Oral)
500 mg (per each): $0.09
Pack (Endari Oral)
5 g (per each): $24.60
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