Various alimentary tract and metabolism products

Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Approved 15 Apr 2026OralLiquid

The FDA lists this product in 9 strengths and forms.

Indications

Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is indicated for use as a nitrogen-binding agent for chronic management of patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) who cannot be managed by dietary protein restriction and/or amino acid supplementation alone. Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid must be used with dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, dietary supplements (e.g., essential amino acids, arginine, citrulline, protein-free calorie supplements).

Limitations of Use: Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is not indicated for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia in patients with UCDs because more rapidly acting interventions are essential to reduce plasma ammonia levels. The safety and efficacy of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid for the treatment of N- acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency has not been established. Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is a nitrogen-binding agent indicated for chronic management of patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) who cannot be managed by dietary protein restriction and/or amino acid supplementation alone.

Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid must be used with dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, dietary supplements. ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is not indicated for treatment of acute hyperammonemia in patients with UCDs. ( 1 ) Safety and efficacy for treatment of N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency has not been established. ( 1 )

Contraindications

Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate. Signs of hypersensitivity include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash. Known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate. ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Neurotoxicity : Phenylacetate (PAA), the active moiety of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid, may be toxic; reduce dosage for symptoms of neurotoxicity. ( 5.1 ) Pancreatic Insufficiency or Intestinal Malabsorption : Monitor ammonia levels closely. ( 5.2 )

Indications

Interactions

Corticosteroids, valproic acid, or haloperidol : May increase plasma ammonia level; monitor ammonia levels closely. ( 7.1 ) Probenecid : May affect renal excretion of metabolites of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid, including phenylacetylglutamine (PAGN) and PAA. ( 7.2 ) CYP3A4 Substrates with narrow therapeutic index (e.g., alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine) : Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid may decrease exposure; monitor for decreased efficacy of the narrow therapeutic index drug.

( 7.3 ) Midazolam : Decreased exposure; monitor for suboptimal effect of midazolam. ( 7.3 )

7.1Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Ammonia Corticosteroids Use

of corticosteroids may cause the breakdown of body protein and increase plasma ammonia levels. Monitor ammonia levels closely when corticosteroids and glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid are used concomitantly. Valproic Acid and Haloperidol Hyperammonemia may be induced by haloperidol and by valproic acid. Monitor ammonia levels closely when use of valproic acid or haloperidol is necessary in patients with UCDs.

7.2Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Oral Liquid Probenecid

Probenecid may inhibit the renal excretion of metabolites of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid including PAGN and PAA.

7.3Potential for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Oral Liquid to Affect Other Drugs Drugs

with narrow therapeutic index that are substrates of CYP3A4 Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid is a weak inducer of CYP3A4 in humans. Concomitant use of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid may decrease the systemic exposure to drugs that are substrates of CYP3A4. Monitor for decreased efficacy of drugs with narrow therapeutic index (e.g., alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine) [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Midazolam Concomitant use of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid decreased the systemic exposure of midazolam.

Monitor for suboptimal effect of midazolam in patients who are being treated with glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Limited available data with glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage. In an animal reproduction study, administration of oral glycerol phenylbutyrate to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis at doses up to 2.7– times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients resulted in maternal toxicity, but had no effects on embryo-fetal development.

In addition, there were no adverse developmental effects with administration of oral glycerol phenylbutyrate to pregnant rats during organogenesis at 1.9 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients; however, maternal toxicity, reduced fetal weights, and variations in skeletal development were observed in pregnant rats administered oral glycerol phenylbutyrate during organogenesis at doses greater than or equal to 5.7 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients [see Data] .

Report pregnancies to Teva at 1-888-838-2872. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage 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.

Data Animal Data Oral administration of glycerol phenylbutyrate during the period of organogenesis up to 350 mg/kg/day in rabbits produced maternal toxicity, but no effects on embryo-fetal development. The dose of 350 mg/kg/day in rabbits is approximately 2.7 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients, based on combined area under the plasma concentration-time curve [AUCs] for PBA and PAA. In rats, at an oral dose of 300 mg/kg/day of glycerol phenylbutyrate (1.9 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients, based on combined AUCs for PBA and PAA) during the period of organogenesis, no effects on embryo-fetal development were observed.

Doses of 650 mg/kg/day or greater produced maternal toxicity and adverse effects on embryo-fetal development including reduced fetal weights and cervical ribs at the 7th cervical vertebra. The dose of 650 mg/kg/day in rats is approximately 5.7 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients, based on combined AUCs for PBA and PAA. No developmental abnormalities, effects on growth, or effects on learning and memory were observed through maturation of offspring following oral administration in pregnant rats with up to 900 mg/kg/day of glycerol phenylbutyrate (8.5 times the dose of 6.87 mL/m 2 /day in adult patients, based on combined AUCs for PBA and PAA) during organogenesis and lactation.

Adverse reactions

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Neurotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Pancreatic insufficiency or Intestinal Malabsorption [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥10%) in adults are: diarrhea, flatulence, and headache. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva at 1-888-838-2872 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Assessment of adverse reactions was based on exposure of 45 adult patients (31 female and 14 male) with UCD subtype deficiencies of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC, n=40), carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS, n=2), and argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS, n=1) in a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled (glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid vs sodium phenylbutyrate), crossover, 4-week study (Study 1) that enrolled patients 18 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] .

One of the 45 patients received only sodium phenylbutyrate prior to withdrawing on day 1 of the study due to an adverse reaction. The most common adverse reactions (occurring in at least 10% of patients) reported during short-term treatment with glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid were diarrhea, flatulence, and headache. Table 1 summarizes adverse reactions occurring in 2 or more patients treated with glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid or sodium phenylbutyrate (incidence of at least 4% in either treatment arm).

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in 2 or More Adult Patients with UCDs (at least 4% in Either Treatment Arm) in Study 1 Number (%) of Patients in Study 1 Sodium Phenylbutyrate (N = 45) Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Oral Liquid (N = 44) Diarrhea 3 (7) 7 (16) Headache 4 (9) 6 (14) Flatulence 1 (2) 6 (14) Abdominal pain 2 (4) 3 (7) Vomiting 2 (4) 3 (7) Decreased appetite 2 (4) 3 (7) Fatigue 1 (2) 3 (7) Dyspepsia 3 (7) 2 (5) Nausea 3 (7) 1 (2) Dizziness 4 (9) 0 Abdominal discomfort 3 (7) 0 Other Adverse Reactions Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid has been evaluated in 77 patients with UCDs (51 adult and 26 pediatric patients ages 2 years to 17 years) in 2 open-label long-term studies, in which 69 patients completed 12 months of treatment with glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid (median exposure=51 weeks).

During these studies there were no deaths. Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of adult patients were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, dizziness, headache, and fatigue. Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of pediatric patients ages 2 years to 17 years were upper abdominal pain, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and headache. Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid has been evaluated in 17 patients with UCDs ages 2 months to less than 2 years in 3 open-label studies.

The median exposure was 6 months (range 0.2 to 20 months). Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of pediatric patients aged 2 months to less than 2 years were neutropenia, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pyrexia, hypophagia, cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, rash, and papule. Glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid has been evaluated in 16 patients with UCDs less than 2 months of age (age range 0.1 to 2 months, median age 0.5 months) in a single, open-label study.

The median exposure was 10 months (range 2 to 20 months). Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of pediatric patients aged less than 2 months were vomiting, rash, gastroesophageal reflux, increased hepatic enzymes, feeding disorder (decreased appetite, hypophagia), anemia, cough, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, pyrexia, lethargy, and irritability/agitation.

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of glycerol phenylbutyrate oral liquid. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure: Abnormal body odor, including from skin, hair and urine Retching and gagging Dysgeusia or burning sensation in mouth

Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

Glycerol Phenylbutyrate

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

5.1Neurotoxicity

5.2Pancreatic Insufficiency or Intestinal Malabsorption

Interactions

7.1Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Ammonia Corticosteroids Use

7.2Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Oral Liquid Probenecid

7.3Potential for Glycerol Phenylbutyrate Oral Liquid to Affect Other Drugs Drugs

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information

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