Phytonadione

Avoid the oral route when the clinical disorder would prevent proper absorption. Bile salts must be given with the tablets when the endogenous supply of bile to the gastrointestinal tract is deficient. The coagulant effects of phytonadione are not immediate; improvement of international normalized ratio (INR) may take 1 to 8 hours. Interim use of whole blood or component therapy may also be necessary if bleeding is severe.

Phytonadione will not counteract the anticoagulant action of heparin.

When phytonadione is used to correct excessive anticoagulant-induced hypoprothrombinemia, anticoagulant therapy still being indicated, the patient is again faced with the clotting hazards existing prior to starting the anticoagulant therapy. Phytonadione is not a clotting agent, but overzealous therapy with vitamin K₁ may restore conditions which originally permitted thromboembolic phenomena. Dosage should be kept as low as possible, and prothrombin time should be checked regularly as clinical conditions indicate.

Anticoagulant-Induced Prothrombin Deficiency in Adults

The recommended dose to correct excessively prolonged prothrombin times caused by oral anticoagulant therapy is, 2.5 mg to 10 mg or up to 25 mg initially. In some instances 50 mg may be required. Frequency and amount of subsequent doses should be determined by prothrombin time response or clinical condition. If, in 12 to 48 hours after oral administration, the prothrombin time has not been shortened satisfactorily, repeat the dose.

Repeated large doses of phytonadione are not warranted in liver disease if the response to initial use of the vitamin is unsatisfactory. Failure to respond to phytonadione may indicate a congenital coagulation defect or that the condition being treated is unresponsive to vitamin K.

Hypoprothrombinemia Due to Other Causes in Adults

If possible, discontinuation or reduction of the dosage of drugs interfering with coagulation mechanisms (such as salicylates, antibiotics) is suggested as an alternative to administering concurrent phytonadione. The severity of the coagulation disorder should determine whether the immediate administration of phytonadione is required in addition to discontinuation or reduction of interfering drugs. 

The recommended dose is 2.5 mg to 25 mg or more (sometimes up to 50 mg). Evaluate INR after 6 to 8 hours, and repeat dose if INR remains prolonged. Modify subsequent dosage (amount and frequency) based upon the INR or clinical condition.

Published studies with the use of phytonadione during pregnancy have not reported a clear association with phytonadione and adverse developmental outcomes [see Data]. There are maternal and fetal risks associated with vitamin K deficiency during pregnancy [see Clinical Considerations]. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with phytonadione.

The estimated background risk for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk

Pregnant women with vitamin K deficiency hypoprothrombinemia may be at increased risk for bleeding diatheses during pregnancy and hemorrhagic events at delivery. Subclinical vitamin K deficiency during pregnancy has been implicated in rare cases of fetal intracranial hemorrhage.

Data

Human Data

Phytonadione has been measured in cord blood of infants whose mothers were treated with phytonadione during pregnancy in concentrations lower than seen in maternal plasma. Administration of vitamin K₁ to pregnant women shortly before delivery increased both maternal and cord blood concentrations. Published data do not report a clear association with phytonadione and adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when used during pregnancy. However, these studies cannot definitively establish the absence of any risk because of methodologic limitations including small sample size and lack of blinding.

Animal Data

In pregnant rats receiving vitamin K₁ orally, fetal plasma and liver concentrations increased following administration, supporting placental transfer.

RiskSummary

Phytonadione is present in breastmilk. There are no data on the effects of phytonadione on the breastfed child or on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the clinical need for phytonadione and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from phytonadione or from the underlying maternal condition.

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established with phytonadione. Hemolysis, jaundice, and hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, particularly in premature infants, have been reported with vitamin K.

Clinical studies of phytonadione did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

Phytonadione tablets possess the same type and degree of activity as does naturally-occurring vitamin K, which is necessary for the production via the liver of active prothrombin (factor II), proconvertin (factor VII), plasma thromboplastin component (factor IX), and Stuart factor (factor X). The prothrombin test is sensitive to the levels of three of these four factors – II, VII, and X. Vitamin K is an essential cofactor for a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the posttranslational carboxylation of multiple, specific, peptide- bound glutamic acid residues in inactive hepatic precursors of factors II, VII, IX, and X. The resulting gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues convert the precursors into active coagulation factors that are subsequently secreted by liver cells into the blood.

In normal animals and humans, phytonadione is virtually devoid of pharmacodynamic activity. However, in animals and humans deficient in vitamin K, the pharmacological action of vitamin K is related to its normal physiological function, that is, to promote the hepatic biosynthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.

Phytonadione tablets generally exert their effect within 6 to 10 hours.

Oral phytonadione is adequately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract only if bile salts are present.

Distribution

After absorption, phytonadione is initially concentrated in the liver, but the concentration declines rapidly. Very little vitamin K accumulates in tissues.

Elimination

Little is known about the metabolic fate of vitamin K. Almost no free unmetabolized vitamin K appears in bile or urine.

Studies of carcinogenicity or impairment of fertility have not been performed with phytonadione. Phytonadione at concentrations up to 2,000 mcg/plate, with or without metabolic activation, was negative in the Ames microbial mutagen test.