Metopirone
Metopirone (metyrapone) is a medication used to test how well your pituitary gland works. This can help your healthcare provider diagnose you with conditions, like Cushing Syndrome or hypopituitarism. Metopirone (metyrapone) can be taken as a single-dose (overnight test), but some people might be required to do a 6-day test under medical supervision.
What is Metopirone (metyrapone)?
What is Metopirone (metyrapone) used for?
Testing pituitary gland function
How Metopirone (metyrapone) works
Metopirone (metyrapone) is a diagnostic agent. It helps your healthcare provider diagnose certain health conditions by testing how well your pituitary gland works. Metopirone (metyrapone) works by preventing your adrenal gland from making cortisol, a stress hormone. In response to this drop in cortisol, your pituitary gland should make adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which results in certain steroids being released. Your provider will then measure the levels of these steroids in either your blood or urine to determine if your hormone-producing glands are working properly.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Metopirone (metyrapone)?
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness, tiredness, and other symptoms of low blood pressure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Extreme sleepiness
- Rash
Other Side Effects
- Low white blood cell count with or without symptoms of infection, such as fever and cough
Serious Side Effects
- Acute adrenal crisis: Stomach-area pain, confusion, dizziness, weakness, headache, fever, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, and fast breathing
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
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:
Rare (with long-term use)
Irregular heartbeat
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Skin rash
Rare (usually with long-term use)
Enlargement of clitoris
muscle cramps or pain
sore throat or fever
swelling of feet or lower legs
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
weight gain (rapid)
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:
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.
Pros and cons of Metopirone (metyrapone)
Pros
Can be used to diagnose different medical conditions
Can be an option for those wanting to avoid steroid use
Single-dose test can be taken at home and only requires 1 dose
Can be used in adults and children
Cons
Multiple-dose test requires hospitalization
Some medications might affect the test results
Might not be safe for females who are pregnant or nursing
Only available as a brand-name mediation, so it might be expensive
Pharmacist tips for Metopirone (metyrapone)
Metopirone (metyrapone) can cause dizziness and tiredness, so it might not be safe to drive after taking this medication. If you're taking the single-dose at home and need to get to your provider's office the next morning for a blood test, it might be a good idea to have someone else drive you.
If you have problems with your thyroid (e.g. hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), you might not have a normal response to a Metopirone (metyrapone). Talk to your provider prior to taking Metopirone (metyrapone) if you think you have problems with your thyroid.
Let your provider know about any medications you're taking that affect your adrenal or pituitary glands, including corticosteroids, before you take Metopirone (metyrapone). These medications can interact with Metopirone (metyrapone) which might result in the test not giving accurate results.
Metopirone (metyrapone) isn't a treatment for Cushing Syndrome. It can only be used to diagnose this condition. If you have Cushing Syndrome or any other condition affecting your adrenal or pituitary glands, talk to your provider about your treatment options.
Frequently asked questions about Metopirone (metyrapone)
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What are the risks and warnings for Metopirone (metyrapone)?
Metopirone (metyrapone) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Acute adrenal crisis
Risk factors: Adrenal gland problems
Metopirone (metyrapone) lowers the amount of cortisol your body makes. Sometimes, this can cause an acute adrenal crisis, especially if your adrenal gland doesn't work normally. An adrenal crisis happens when your cortisol levels are too low. This reaction can be life-threatening. If you experience stomach-area pain, confusion, dizziness, weakness, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, fast heart rate, or fast breathing after taking Metopirone (metyrapone), contact your healthcare provider right away.
Overdose
Risk factors: Taking insulin or oral blood sugar medications
It's possible to take too much Metopirone (metyrapone), resulting in an overdose of the medication. Certain medications, like insulin or oral medications for high blood sugar, can make your reaction to an overdose worse. If you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, confusion, weakness, fainting, irregular heartbeat, or low blood pressure after taking Metopirone (metyrapone), get medical help right away. Make sure you take this medication exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider.
Metopirone (metyrapone) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 360 capsules | $20756.35 | $57.66 |
Typical dosing for Metopirone (metyrapone)
Metopirone (metyrapone) can be taken as a single-dose test or a multiple-dose test. Your healthcare provider will determine which test is most appropriate for you.
Single-dose test
Adults and children: Your provider will calculate your dose based on your body weight. The typical dose is to take 30 mg/kg by mouth at midnight with yogurt or milk. The maximum dose is 3 grams max.
Multiple-dose test
Adults: The typical dose is to take 750 mg by mouth every 4 hours for 6 doses with milk or a snack.
Children: The typical dose is 15 mg/kg by mouth every 4 hours for 6 doses with milk or a snack. The minimum dose is 250 mg.
Interactions between Metopirone (metyrapone) and other drugs
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Tegafur
How much does Metopirone (metyrapone) cost?
Metopirone (metyrapone) contraindications
Adrenal gland problems
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