Initial dose (ng/kg/minute)* | Dose titration | |
Days 1 to 3¶ | 0.5 ng/kg/minute IV for 30 minutes | Increase infusion rate by 0.5 ng/kg/minute every 30 minutes as toleratedΔ up to a maximum rate of 2 ng/kg/minute. Administer highest tolerated rate (up to 2 ng/kg/minute) for remainder of 6-hour infusion. |
Days 4 to 8¶ | Restart at highest tolerated infusion rate from previous day up to a maximum rate of 2 ng/kg/minute. Decrease the dose if non-tolerable adverse reaction occursΔ. |
IV: intravenous; ng: nanograms.
* Doses are based on actual (total) body weight. There are no specific data to guide treatment in children; UpToDate recommends treating frostbite in children as in adults.
¶ Administer intravenous infusion over 6 hours each day for 8 consecutive days via a programmable electronic infusion pump or syringe driver that meets requirements for minimal and maximal volume delivery rates; refer to Lexidrug monograph for specific requirements.
Δ If non-tolerable adverse reaction (eg, headache, hypotension, tachycardia, flushing, jaw pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness) occurs, decrease the dose by 0.5 ng/kg/minute every 30 minutes, until a tolerated dose is reached. If the infusion is stopped due to dose-limiting adverse event, the infusion can be restarted at a previously tolerated dose once the event has resolved.