DIAZOXIDE ORAL SUSPENSION, USP

Diazoxide Oral Suspension, USP is a nondiuretic benzothiadiazine derivative taken orally for the management of symptomatic hypoglycemia. Diazoxide oral suspension contains 50 mg of diazoxide, USP in each milliliter and has a chocolate-mint flavor; alcohol content is approximately 7.29%. Other ingredients include sorbitol solution, chocolate mint type flavor, propylene glycol, magnesium aluminum silicate, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, sodium benzoate, methylparaben, poloxamer 188, propylparaben, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6 and purified water. Hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH.

Diazoxide has the following structural formula:

Diazoxide is 7-chloro-3-methyl-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide with the empirical formula C₈H₇ClN₂O₂S and the molecular weight 230.7. It is a white powder practically insoluble to sparingly soluble in water.

Diazoxide produces a dose-related increase in blood glucose, due primarily to an inhibition of insulin release from the pancreas, and also to an extrapancreatic effect.

The hyperglycemic effect of diazoxide begins within an hour and generally lasts no more than 8 hours in the presence of normal renal function.

Diazoxide decreases the excretion of sodium and water, resulting in fluid retention which may be clinically significant.

The hypotensive effect of diazoxide is usually not marked (see ADVERSE REACTIONS).

Other pharmacologic actions of diazoxide include increased pulse rate; increased serum uric acid levels due to decreased excretion; increased serum levels of free fatty acids’ decreased chloride excretion; decreased para-aminohippuric acid; (PAH) clearance with no appreciable effect on glomerular filtration rate.

The concomitant administration of a benzothiazide diuretic may intensify the hyperglycemic and hyperuricemic effects of diazoxide. In the presence of hypokalemia, hyperglycemic effects are also potentiated.

Diazoxide-induced hyperglycemia is reversed by the administration of insulin or tolbutamide. The inhibition of insulin release by diazoxide is antagonized by alpha-adrenergic blocking agents.

Diazoxide is extensively bound (more than 90%) to serum proteins, and is excreted in the kidneys. The plasma half-life following intravenous administration is 28 ± 8.3 hours. Limited data on oral administration revealed a half-life of 24 and 36 hours in two adults. In four children aged 4 months to 6 years, the plasma half-life varied from 9.5 to 24 hours on long-term oral administration. The half-life may be prolonged following overdosage, and in patients with impaired renal function.

Diazoxide oral suspension is indicated for the management of hypoglycemia due to hyperinsulinism associated with the following conditions:

• Adults: Inoperable islet cell adenoma or carcinoma, or extrapancreatic malignancy.
• Infants and children: Leucine sensitivity, islet cell hyperplasia, nesidioblastosis, extrapancreatic malignancy, islet cell adenoma, or adenomatosis. Diazoxide oral suspension may be used preoperatively as a temporary measure, and postoperatively, if hypoglycemia persists.

Diazoxide oral suspension should be used only after a diagnosis of hypoglycemia due to one of the above conditions has been definitely established. When other specific medical therapy or surgical management either has been unsuccessful or is not feasible, treatment with diazoxide oral suspension should be considered.

Diazoxide oral suspension is contraindicated in patients with:

• Functional hypoglycemia
• Hypersensitivity to diazoxide, any of the excipients in diazoxide oral suspension, or other thiazides

The antidiuretic property of diazoxide may lead to significant fluid retention. In patients with compromised cardiac reserve, fluid retention may precipitate congestive heart failure. If fluid retention develops, manage according to standards of care.

Co-administration of diazoxide oral suspension with thiazides may potentiate the hyperglycemic and hyperuricemic actions of diazoxide (see DRUG INTERACTIONS and ANIMAL PHARMACOLOGY AND/OR TOXICOLOGY).

Ketoacidosis and nonketotic hyperosmolar coma have been reported in patients treated with diazoxide oral suspension, usually during intercurrent illness. Prompt recognition and treatment are essential (see OVERDOSAGE), and prolonged surveillance following the acute episode is necessary because of the long drug half-life of approximately 30 hours. Advise patients to monitor urine glucose and ketones and to promptly report abnormal findings and symptoms of ketoacidosis to their healthcare provider. Transient cataracts occurred in association with hyperosmolar coma in an infant, and subsided on correction of the hyper-osmolarity. Cataracts have been observed in several animals receiving daily dosages of intravenous or oral diazoxide.

The development of abnormal facial features in four children treated chronically (>4 years) with diazoxide oral suspension for hypoglycemia hyperinsulinism in the same clinic has been reported.

Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates and Infants
There have been postmarketing reports of pulmonary hypertension occurring in infants and neonates treated with diazoxide. The cases were reversible upon discontinuation of diazoxide. Monitor patients, especially those with risk factors for pulmonary hypertension, for respiratory distress and discontinue diazoxide oral suspension if pulmonary hypertension is suspected.

Frequent and Serious:
Sodium and fluid retention is most common in young infants and in adults and may precipitate congestive heart failure in patients with compromised cardiac reserve. (see DRUG INTERACTIONS).

Infrequent but Serious:
Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma may develop very rapidly. Monitor patients for up to 7 days due to the long half-life of diazoxide (see OVERDOSAGE).

Other frequent adverse reactions:
Hirsutism of the lanugo type, mainly on the forehead, back and limbs, occurs most commonly in children and women and may be cosmetically unacceptable. It subsides on discontinuation of diazoxide oral suspension.

Hyperglycemia or glycosuria may require reduction in dosage in order to avoid progression to ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma.

Gastrointestinal intolerance may include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, ileus, diarrhea, transient loss of taste.

Tachycardia, palpitations, increased levels of serum uric acid are common.

Thrombocytopenia with or without purpura may require discontinuation of diazoxide oral suspension. Neutropenia is transient, is not associated with increased susceptibility to infection, and ordinarily does not require discontinuation of diazoxide oral suspension. Skin rash, headache, weakness, and malaise may also occur.

Other adverse reactions:

Cardiovascular: Hypotension occurs occasionally, which may be augmented by thiazide diuretics given concurrently. A few cases of transient hypertension, for which no explanation is apparent, have been noted. Chest pain has been reported rarely. Pulmonary hypertension has been reported in neonates and young infants (see WARNINGS).

There have been postmarketing reports of pericardial effusion in patients without structural heart disease; the majority of cases occurred in pediatric patients and infants.

Gastrointestinal: There have been postmarketing reports of necrotizing enterocolitis; the majority of cases occurred in infants with underlying co-morbid conditions.

Hematologic: eosinophilia; decreased hemoglobin / hematocrit; excessive bleeding, decreased IgG.

Hepato-renal: increased AST, alkaline phosphatase; azotemia, decreased creatinine clearance, reversible nephrotic syndrome, decreased urinary output, hematuria, albuminuria. Neurologic: anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, polyneuritis, paresthesia, pruritus, extrapyramidal signs.

Ophthalmologic: transient cataracts, subconjunctival hemorrhage, ring scotoma, blurred vision, diplopia, lacrimation. Skeletal, integumentary; monilial dermatitis, herpes, advance in bone age; loss of scalp hair. Systemic: fever, lymphadenopathy. Other; gout acute pancreatitis/pancreatic necrosis, galactorrhea, enlargement of lump in breast.

An overdosage of diazoxide oral suspension causes marked hyperglycemia which may be associated with ketoacidosis. Because of the diazoxide’s long half-life (approximately 30 hours), the symptoms of overdosage require prolonged surveillance for periods up to 7 days until the blood glucose level stabilizes within the normal range. One investigator reported successful lowering of diazoxide blood levels by peritoneal dialysis in one patient and by hemodialysis in another.

Patients should be under close clinical observation when treatment with diazoxide oral suspension is initiated. Carefully monitor the clinical response and blood glucose until the patient’s condition has stabilized satisfactory; in most instances, this may be accomplished in several days. If administration of diazoxide oral suspension is not effective after 2 or 3 weeks, discontinue diazoxide oral suspension.

Individualize the dosage of diazoxide oral suspension based on the severity of the hypoglycemic condition and the blood glucose level and clinical response of the patient. Adjust the dosage until the desired clinical and laboratory effects are produced with the least amount of diazoxide oral suspension. Take special care to ensure the accuracy of the dosage in infants and young children.

Adults and children:
The recommended starting dosage is 3 mg/kg/day, administered orally, divided into 3 equal doses every 8 hours or 2 equal doses every 12 hours. The dosage may be titrated to a maximum of 8 mg/kg/day. Patients with refractory hypoglycemia may require higher dosages.

Infants and newborns:
The recommended starting dosage is 8 mg/kg/day, administered orally, divided into 3 equal doses every 8 hours or 2 equal doses every 12 hours. The dosage may be titrated to a maximum of 15 mg/kg/day.

Oral diazoxide in the mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, pig, and monkey produces a rapid and transient rise in blood glucose levels. In dogs, increased blood glucose is accompanied by increased free fatty acids, lactate, and pyruvate in the serum. In mice, a marked decrease in liver glycogen and an increase in the blood urea nitrogen level occur.

In acute toxicity studies the LD50 for orally administered diazoxide is >5,000 mg/kg in the rat, >522 mg/kg in the neonatal rat, between 1,900 and 2,572 mg/kg in the mouse, and 219 mg/kg in the guinea pig. Although the oral LD₅₀ was not determined in the dog, a dosage of up to 500 mg/kg was well tolerated.

In subacute oral toxicity studies, diazoxide at 400 mg/kg in the rat produced growth retardation, edema, increases in liver and kidney weights, and adrenal hypertrophy. Daily dosages up to 1,080 mg/kg for 3 months produced hyperglycemia, an increase in liver weight and an increase in mortality. In dogs given oral diazoxide at approximately 40 mg/kg/day for 1 month, no biologically significant gross or microscopic abnormalities were observed. Cataracts, attributed to markedly disturbed carbohydrate metabolism, have been observed in a few dogs given repeated daily dosages of oral or intravenous diazoxide. The lenticular changes resembled those which occur experimentally in animals with increased blood glucose levels. In chronic toxicity studies, rats given a daily dosage of 200 mg/kg diazoxide for 52 weeks had a decrease in weight gain and an increase in heart, liver, adrenal and thyroid weights. Mortality in drug-treated and control groups was not different. Dogs treated with diazoxide at dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day for 82 weeks had higher blood glucose levels than controls. Mild bone marrow stimulation and increased pancreas weights were evident in diazoxide-treated dogs; several developed inguinal hernias, one had a testicular seminoma, and another had a mass near the penis. Two females had inguinal mammary swellings. The etiology of these changes was not established. There was no difference in mortality between diazoxide-treated and control groups. In a second chronic oral toxicity study, dogs given milled diazoxide dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day had anorexia and severe weight loss, causing death in a few. Hematologic, biochemical, and histologic examination did not indicate any cause of death other than inanition. After 1 year of treatment, there is no evidence of herniation or tissue swelling in any of the dogs.

When diazoxide was administered at high dosages concomitantly with either chlorothiazide to rats or trichlormethiazide to dogs, increased toxicity was observed. In rats, the combination was nephrotoxic; epithelial hyperplasia was observed in the collecting tubules. In dogs, a diabetic syndrome was produced which resulted in ketosis and death. Neither of the drugs given alone produced these effects.

Although the data are inconclusive, reproduction and teratology studies in several species of animals indicate that diazoxide, when administered during the critical period of embryo formation, may interfere with normal fetal development, possibly through altered glucose metabolism. Parturition was occasionally prolonged in animals treated at term. Intravenous administration of diazoxide to pregnant sheep, goats, and swine produced in the fetus an appreciable increase in blood glucose level and degeneration of the beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans. The reversibility of these effects was not studied.

Diazoxide Oral Suspension, USP 50 mg/mL, a white to light brown colored, chocolate-mint flavored suspension; bottle of 30 mL (NDC 0254-1010-19), with dropper calibrated to deliver 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg diazoxide, USP.

Shake well before each use. Protect from light. Store in carton until contents are used. Store in light resistant container as defined in the USP. Store Diazoxide Oral Suspension, USP at 25°C (77°F), excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). See USP Controlled Room Temperature.

Manufactured by:
Novitium Pharma LLC
70 Lake Drive, East Windsor
New Jersey 08520

Manufactured for:
Par Health USA
Rochester, MI 48307

Revised: 07/2026
OS1010-01-16-06

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