Formulary
Metreleptin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Metreleptin is a recombinant human leptin analogue which binds to, and activates the leptin receptor to increase fat breakdown in the blood, muscles and...
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Metreleptin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Metreleptin is a recombinant human leptin analogue which binds to, and activates the leptin receptor to increase fat breakdown in the blood, muscles and...
Drug action
Metreleptin is a recombinant human leptin analogue which binds to, and activates the leptin receptor to increase fat breakdown in the blood, muscles and liver, thereby correcting some abnormalities in patients with lipodystrophy.
Indications and dose
**Leptin deficiency in lipodystrophy (specialist use only)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): (consult product literature).
**Leptin deficiency in lipodystrophy (specialist use only) for metreleptin**
- **Child 2-17 years** (By subcutaneous injection): (consult product literature).
Cautions
Autoimmune disease; elderly (limited information available); haematological abnormalities; severe infection
Side effects
Common or very common Alopecia; appetite abnormal; fatigue; gastrointestinal discomfort; headache; hypoglycaemia; menorrhagia; nausea; weight changes Frequency not known Arthralgia; cough; deep vein thrombosis; diabetes mellitus; diarrhoea; dyspnoea; increased risk of infection; insulin resistance; malaise; myalgia; pancreatitis; peripheral swelling; pleural effusion; skin reactions; tachycardia; vomiting
Interactions
**Other interactions (4):**
- Since it cannot be excluded that metreleptin may reduce exposure to substrates of CYP3A through enzyme induction, the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced if co-administered with...
- The effect of metreleptin on CYP450 enzymes may be clinically relevant for CYP450 substrates with narrow therapeutic index, where the dose is individually adjusted.
- Upon initiation or discontinuation of metreleptin, in patients being treated with these types of agents, therapeutic monitoring of effect (e.g., warfarin), or drug concentrations (e.g.
- When starting therapy with Myalepta there is a risk of hypoglycaemia in patients who are on anti-diabetic medicinal products, in particular insulin or insulin secretagogues (see section 4.4).
Pregnancy
Avoid-toxicity in animal studies. M
Breast feeding
Specialist sources indicate use with caution-no information available. Large molecular weight and short half-life suggest limited excretion into milk, but monitor breast-fed infants for adverse reactions such as hypoglycaemia, decreased weight and abdominal pain.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Metreleptin in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary

