Cafcit (Intravenous)

Caffeine citrate injection is used to treat short-term apnea of prematurity when premature babies (infants between 28 and 32 weeks gestational age) stop breathing. Apnea of prematurity happens because the baby's breathing centers are not fully developed.

This medicine is available with or without a doctor's prescription.

Your baby's doctor will monitor your baby's progress closely while your baby is getting this medicine. This helps your doctor check if the medicine is working correctly and decide if your baby should keep taking it.

Call your baby's doctor immediately if your baby still has apnea.

Tell your baby's doctor right away if your baby shows any of these symptoms: faster heartbeat, more wet diapers, restlessness, jitteriness, or shaking.

Call your baby's doctor right away if your baby has any of these symptoms: abdominal or stomach swelling, vomiting, or bloody stools. These could be signs of a serious bowel or stomach issue.

Do not take other medicines unless your doctor has talked about them with you. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, it's important to consider the risks of taking it against the benefits it may provide. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, you should think about the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Current studies have not found any pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of caffeine citrate injection in premature babies.

Geriatric

There is no information available on the relationship of age to the effects of caffeine citrate injection in older patients.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women indicate that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When receiving this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily a complete list.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may choose not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Riociguat
• Viloxazine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.

• Capmatinib
• Givosiran
• Iobenguane I 131
• Peginterferon Alfa-2b
• Pixantrone
• Ritlecitinib
• Tocilizumab

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also lead to interactions. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily a complete list.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some situations. If used together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take this medicine, or provide special instructions regarding food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Tobacco

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Anemia or
• Central nervous system problems or
• Heart or blood vessel problems or
• Lung disease or breathing problems (e.g., obstructive apnea) or
• Sepsis (infection in the blood)—should be ruled out or treated first before using this medicine.

• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or
• Necrotizing enterocolitis or
• History of seizures—use with caution. This may worsen these conditions.

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—use with caution. The effects may be stronger because caffeine oral solution may be removed from the body more slowly.

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse right away if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Feeding intolerance

Less common

• Agitation
• black, tarry stools
• blood in the stools or urine
• bruising
• burning feeling or tenderness in the stomach
• chills
• coma
• confusion
• coughing or vomiting blood
• decreased urine output
• depression
• dizziness
• fainting
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• headache
• hostility
• indigestion
• irritability
• lethargy
• lightheadedness
• muscle twitching
• nausea
• persistent bleeding
• rapid, shallow breathing
• rapid weight gain
• rash
• seizures
• stomach upset
• swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Get emergency help right away if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Irritability
• nervousness
• rapid heartbeat
• trouble sleeping

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. Your health care professional may also have 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:

Less common

• Dry skin

Other side effects not listed may also happen 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.

In the U.S.

• Cafcit

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: CNS Stimulant

Chemical Class: Caffeine

A nurse or other trained health professional will give your baby this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your baby's veins. The medicine must be injected slowly, so your baby's IV tube will need to stay in place for 10 to 30 minutes.

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