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Alimta ® (pemetrexed for injection)
This information is intended for UK registered healthcare professionals only as a scientific exchange in response to your search for information.For current prescribing information for all Lilly products, including Summaries of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and Instructions for Use, please visit: www.medicines.org.uk (England, Scotland, Wales) or www.emcmedicines.com/en-GB/northernireland/ (Northern Ireland).
Alimta® (pemetrexed): Acceptable Range of Final Dilution Volume
Reconstituted pemetrexed solutions should be diluted to an approximate total volume of 100 mL (acceptable final volume range is 75 mL to 125 mL).
Prior to administration, pemetrexed should be reconstituted with
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20 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (preservative free) for each 500-mg vial, and
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4.2 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (preservative free) for each 100-mg vial.1
The appropriate volume of reconstituted pemetrexed solution should be further diluted to 100 mL (range of 75-125 mL) with 0.9% sodium chloride injection (preservative free) to make a final solution for infusion. Pemetrexed should be administered as an IV infusion over 10 minutes.1,2
Final Infusion Volume: 100 mL vs Larger Volumes (eg, 250 mL)
The rationale behind the recommendation for diluting the reconstituted solution to only 100 mL over larger volumes (eg, 250 mL) is to allow for a short administration time (ie, 10-minute IV infusion).2 Final infusion volumes >100 mL could prolong the infusion time of pemetrexed. A prolonged infusion time >20 minutes has not been studied by Lilly and could potentially produce unexpected toxicities.2
1. Alimta [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands
2. Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
Glossary
IV = intravenous
Lilly = Eli Lilly and Company
Date of Last Review: 07 December 2020
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