Lumitene (beta-carotene)
Vitamin A Oral Capsule
Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
Overview
Beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, protects patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) against severe photosensitivity reactions (burning sensation, edema, erythema, pruritus, and/or cutaneous lesions) and is a weak antioxidant.
Generic name: beta-carotene
Drug class: Vitamin A
Therapeutic class: Electrolyte Balance-Nutritional Products
Reference product & biosimilars
No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.
Today’s intelligence on Lumitene
Indications
No indications are available for this drug.
Dosing
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Beta carotene is administered orally. The drug may be administered as a single daily dose or in divided doses, preferably with meals. The contents of beta carotene capsules may be mixed with orange or tomato juice to facilitate administration to children.
No dosing information is available for this tab.
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Drug interactions
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Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.
Vitamin A/Selected Retinoids
SEVERITY LEVEL: 1-Contraindicated Drug Combination: This drug combination is contraindicated and generally should not be dispensed or administered to the same patient.
MECHANISM OF ACTION: The retinoids are structurally related to vitamin A. (1-6)
CLINICAL EFFECTS: Concurrent use of retinoids with vitamin A supplements may result in signs of vitamin A toxicity.(1-6) Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, dry or itchy skin or lips, irritability, and hair loss.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS: None determined.
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The manufacturer of acitretin states that concomitant use of vitamin A supplements should be avoided.(1) The manufacturer of bexarotene states that patients should be advised to limit vitamin A supplements. In clinical studies, patients were advised to limit their vitamin A intake to less than or equal to 15,000 International Units/day.(2) The manufacturer of isotretinoin states that patients should be advised against taking vitamin A supplements.(3) The manufacturer of palovarotene states that concomitant use of vitamin A must be avoided.(4) The manufacturer of tretinoin states that tretinoin must not be administered in combination with vitamin A.(5) The UK manufacturer of alitretinoin states that tretinoin must not be administered in combination with vitamin A.(6)
DISCUSSION: The retinoids are structurally related to vitamin A. The concurrent use of retinoids with vitamin A may result in signs and symptoms of vitamin A toxicity.(1-6)
There are no severe interactions for this drug.
Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
Fat Soluble Vitamins/Colesevelam
SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
MECHANISM OF ACTION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1)
CLINICAL EFFECTS: Colesevelam may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome.
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by colesevelam should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Oral multivitamin supplements should be taken at least four hours before the dose of colesevelam.(1)
DISCUSSION: Colesevelam may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.(1)
Fat Soluble Vitamins/Orlistat
SEVERITY LEVEL: 3-Moderate Interaction: Assess the risk to the patient and take action as needed.
MECHANISM OF ACTION: The acetate ester forms of vitamin A and vitamin E must undergo hydrolysis for absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.(1) The enzyme responsible for this hydrolysis is inhibited by orlistat.(2)
CLINICAL EFFECTS: Orlistat may reduce absorption of fat soluble vitamins, leading to a deficiency state.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS: A pre-existing deficiency of fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) or chronic malabsorption syndrome.
PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The inhibition of fat soluble vitamin absorption by orlistat should be borne in mind during implementation of a vitamin supplementation strategy. Patients should be strongly encouraged to take a multivitamin supplement which contains fat soluble vitamins, particularly Vitamin D as it appears most susceptible to this interaction.(4,5) Multivitamin supplements should be taken at least two hours before or after the dose of orlistat, or at bedtime.(4) Patients with chronic malabsorption syndromes should not receive orlistat.(4)
DISCUSSION: Adult patients taking orlistat without supplementation showed a greater reduction in vitamin A,D,E and beta-carotene levels compared to placebo during two or more consecutive visits in studies of 1-2 years duration; these patients had normal baseline values prior to orlistat therapy. Low vitamin values in orlistat patients were as follows: low Vitamin D 12%, low beta-carotene 6.1%, low Vitamin E 5.8%, low Vitamin A 2.2%.(4) A pharmacokinetic interaction study showed a 30% reduction in beta-carotene supplement absorption and a 60% decreased in vitamin E acetate absorption with concomitant orlistat.(4) In a study, orlistat produced the vitamin net concentration by approximately 43%.(1) In a study, no statistically significant decrease in vitamin A absorption was observed with concurrent orlistat.(2) In a study, mean vitamin D levels were significantly reduced compared with baseline after one month of orlistat therapy despite multivitamin supplementation.(5)
Contraindications
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- Hypervitaminosis A
- Pregnancy
- Disease of liver
- Malabsorption states
Adverse reactions
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There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.
More Frequent
- Carotenodermia
Rare or Very Rare
- Arthralgia
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Ecchymosis
Precautions
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Reproduction studies in rats using beta carotene dosages 300-400 times the maximum usual human dosage have shown the drug to be fetotoxic (an increase in resorption rate) but not teratogenic; at 75 times the maximum usual human dosage or less, no such fetotoxicity was observed. A 3-generation reproduction study in rats receiving beta carotene at a dietary concentration of 0.1% has revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus. There are no adequate and controlled studies to date in humans. Beta carotene should be used during pregnancy only when the potential benefits justify the possible risks to the fetus.
Since it is not known whether beta carotene is distributed into milk, the drug should be used with caution in nursing women.
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ICD codes
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Formulary status
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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data
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