Parenteral nutrition (amino acid solution)
Injectable amino acids (parenteral nutrition) provide the body with the "building blocks" it needs to make proteins — muscle, skin, enzymes and defences. They are used in hospital when a patient cannot eat or use the digestive tract, usually together with glucose and fat, to preserve muscle mass and wound healing.
Also known as: aminoácidos, amino acids, Aminoplasmal, amino acids injection
No documented drug–drug interactions for this medicine.
Oral protein intake should be counted towards the daily amino acid total.
Adjust parenteral amino acid provision to oral protein intake.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Amino acids SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15230/smpc
The protein load of amino acids may worsen uraemia in severe renal impairment.
Adjust amino acid provision to renal function; consider essential amino acids.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Amino acids SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15230/smpc
Protein provision may precipitate hepatic encephalopathy.
Use with caution and monitor neurological status.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Amino acids SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15230/smpc
Amino acid solutions for parenteral nutrition should only be used when benefit outweighs risk.
Use under specialist guidance with metabolic monitoring.
Limited data; prefer enteral nutrition when possible.
No specific additional contraception.
EMC-UK (MHRA) — approved Amino acids SmPC: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15230/smpc
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Source of nitrogen for protein synthesis: provides essential and non-essential amino acids that are incorporated into body proteins. The TrophAmine composition (with taurine and N-acetyl-L-tyrosine) normalises the plasma amino acid profile to that of a breast-fed infant when given with cysteine.
Parenterally administered amino acids enter the plasma amino acid pool and are used for protein synthesis (anabolism) or catabolised, providing nitrogen for the synthesis of non-protein compounds. Cysteine (conditionally essential in the neonate) is added because its endogenous synthesis is limited.
Administration is exclusively parenteral (IV); bioavailability is complete by definition of the route. Infusion must be slow and controlled (hypertonic solution of ~866 mOsm/L in TrophAmine 10%).
Metabolised in the liver and other tissues: transamination, deamination and incorporation into proteins; nitrogen is excreted mainly as urea. Taurine is excreted mostly unchanged in urine.
Half-life does not apply classically (mixture of endogenous amino acids); kinetics follow protein turnover, with nitrogen elimination over hours to days depending on the patient metabolic state.
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
