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Cromolyn (Cromolyn Sodium) - Description and Clinical Pharmacology

 
 



Rx Only
Rev. 06/11
GEN06-42-0001

For Oral Use Only – Not for Inhalation or Injection.

MUST BE DILUTED.

DESCRIPTION:

Each 5 mL ampule of Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate contains 100 mg cromolyn sodium, USP, in purified water. Cromolyn sodium is a hygroscopic, white powder having little odor. It may leave a slightly bitter aftertaste. Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate is clear, colorless, and sterile. It is intended for oral use.

Chemically, cromolyn sodium is disodium 5,5’-[(2-hydroxy-trimethylene) dioxy]bis[4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-2-carboxylate] The empirical formula is C23H14Na2O11; the molecular weight is 512.34. Its chemical structure is:

Pharmacologic Category: Mast cell stabilizer

Therapeutic Category: Antiallergic

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY:

In vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown that cromolyn sodium inhibits the release of mediators from sensitized mast cells. Cromolyn sodium acts by inhibiting the release of histamine and leukotrienes (SRS-A) from the mast cell. Cromolyn sodium has no intrinsic vasoconstrictor, antihistamine, or glucocorticoid activity.

Cromolyn sodium is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. No more than 1% of an administered dose is absorbed by humans after oral administration, the remainder being excreted in the feces. Very little absorption of cromolyn sodium was seen after oral administration of 500 mg by mouth to each of 12 volunteers. From 0.28 to 0.50% of the administered dose was recovered in the first 24 hours of urinary excretion in 3 subjects. The mean urinary excretion of an administered dose over 24 hours in the remaining 9 subjects was 0.45%.

CLINICAL STUDIES:

Four randomized, controlled clinical trials were conducted with Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate in patients with either cutaneous or systemic mastocytosis; two of which utilized a placebo-controlled crossover design, one utilized an active controlled (chlorpheniramine plus cimetidine) crossover design, and one utilized a placebo-controlled parallel group design. Due to the rare nature of this disease, only 36 patients qualified for study entry, of whom 32 were considered evaluable. Consequently, formal statistical analyses were not performed. Clinically significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain) were seen in the majority of patients with some improvement also seen for cutaneous manifestations (urticaria, pruritus, flushing) and cognitive function. The benefit seen with Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate 200 mg QID was similar to chlorpheniramine (4 mg QID) plus cimetidine (300 mg QID) for both cutaneous and systemic symptoms of mastocytosis.

Clinical improvement occurred within 2-6 weeks of treatment initiation and persisted for 2-3 weeks after treatment withdrawal. Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate did not affect urinary histamine levels or peripheral eosinophilia, although neither of these variables appeared to correlate with disease severity. Positive clinical benefits were also reported for 37 of 51 patients who received Cromolyn Sodium Oral Solution, Concentrate in United States and foreign humanitarian programs.

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