Tocofersolan

Tocofersolan Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

D-Alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (Tocofersolan, Vedrop), has been developed in Europe as an orally bioavailable source of vitamin E in children suffering from cholestasis . Cholestasis is the reduction or stoppage of bile flow, either to impaired secretion by hepatocytes (liver cells) or obstruction , .

Tocofersolan is a polyethylene glycol derivative of α-tocopherol and synthetic water-soluble version of Tocopherol. Tocofersolan is an oral treatment of vitamin E deficiency due to digestive malabsorption in pediatric patients with congenital chronic cholestasis or hereditary chronic cholestasis. It was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June 2009 under the market name Vedrop. Moreover, the agent is capable of demonstrating antioxidant effects that make it a popular component to include in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as well.

In addition to the above, tocofersolan has been studied as a promising application as an absorption enhancer in drug delivery .

Trade Name Tocofersolan
Generic Tocofersolan
Tocofersolan Other Names Tocofersolan, Tocofersolano, Tocofersolanum, Tocophersolan, TPG-S, TPGS
Type
Protein binding

Highly bound to lipoproteins .

Groups Approved
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Tocofersolan
Tocofersolan

Uses

Tocofersolan is a derivative of alpha tocopherol used to treat vitamin E deficiencies.

Tocofersolan is indicated in vitamin E deficiency caused by digestive malabsorption in pediatric patients with congenital chronic cholestasis or hereditary chronic cholestasis from birth (full term newborns) up to 18 years of age .

Tocofersolan is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Vitamin E Deficiency

How Tocofersolan works

Vitamin E is a major lipo-soluble antioxidant in humans. It acts as a free radical chain breaking molecule, halting the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and it plays an important role in maintaining both the stability and integrity of cell membranes .

Toxicity

> 7 g/kg ( Rat )

Common adverse reactions

The most commonly reported adverse reaction during treatment is diarrhea . High doses of Vitamin E may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal conditions. In the case of an overdose, symptomatic treatment should be provided . High doses of vitamin E have been reported to increase bleeding tendency in patients with Vitamin K deficiency, or patients taking oral anti-vitamins K treatment . Therefore, careful monitoring of the prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (INR) are advised. A possible adjustment of the dose of oral anticoagulant during and after treatment with Vedrop may be necessary .

Renal impairment

Data regarding patients with renal impairment are limited, this drug should be administered with caution and those with renal impairment or dehydration should be closely followed .

Hepatic impairment

This drug should be administered with caution in patients with liver impairment and under close monitoring of the liver function tests in such patients .

Hypersensitivity

Vedrop, the commercial form, contains sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E219) and sodium ethyl parahydroxybenzoate (E215) which may cause allergic reactions, which are sometimes delayed .

Pregnancy

There is no current data on taking tocofersolan during pregnancy. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonal/ fetal development, parturition or postnatal development. Caution should be taken when prescribing this medication to pregnant women .

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether tocofersolan is released into human breast milk. The excretion of tocofersolan in milk has not been studied in animals .

Fertility

No data is available .

Food Interaction

No interactions found.

Volume of Distribution

Located principally on cell membranes, within mitochondria and microsomes, vitamin E is widely distributed throughout the body (red blood cells, brain, muscle, liver, platelets) and fat tissues are its primary reservoir .

Elimination Route

The bioavailability of vitamin E from tocofersolan is unique from than that of other medicinal products .

Due to its amphipathic property in which it forms its own micelles, tocofersolan is readily taken up into enterocytes, even in the absence of bile salts; fat-soluble d-alpha-tocopherol is then released after hydrolysis. This formulation enhances the absorption of d-alpha-tocopherol compared to the administration of free d-alpha-tocopherol. Additionally, tocophersolan may enhance the absorption of water-insoluble agents and other fat-soluble vitamins .

Tocofersolan is a pro-drug; the active metabolite is the d-alpha-tocopherol. At low concentrations, tocofersolan forms micelles which improve the absorption of non-polar lipids such as other fat-soluble vitamins. Its required micellar concentration is low (0.04 to 0.06 mmol/l) .

A pharmacokinetic study of 12 healthy subjects compared tocofersolan with a water-miscible reference vitamin E after one single oral loading dose of 1200 IU (international units). The relative bioavailability of tocofersolan was found to be (Frel of 1.01 ± 1.74) with AUC0-t of 0.383 ± 0.203μM.h/mg, Cmax of 0.013 ± 0.006, Tmax of 6.0 h (6.0 – 24.0) .

For more information about Vitamin E metabolism, please visit the drug entry Tocopherol.

Half Life

29.7 h

Elimination Route

Vitamin E is primarily eliminated in the bile (75%) and feces, either as free tocopherol or in oxidized forms. Urine is a minor elimination route of vitamin E (as glucuronic-conjugate) .

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*** Taking medicines without doctor's advice can cause long-term problems.
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