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Peyona: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

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Prescription (Rx)
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20 mg
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Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · About this document

Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Peyona

Serious Warnings and Precautions

  • Caffeine citrate:

    • increases how much blood is pumped by the heart
    • increases metabolism which may result in higher energy and nutrition requirements during treatment
    • belongs to a group of drugs known as methylxanthines. Methylxanthines have been linked to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis – a serious disease that affects the intestine of premature babies
    • is a central nervous system stimulant and may cause seizures
  • If your baby has kidney problems, there is an increased potential for caffeine to accumulate in your baby’s body

What is PEYONA used for?

  • PEYONA is used for the treatment of interrupted breathing (apnea) in premature babies.

How does PEYONA work? Apnea in premature babies occurs when the baby’s breathing centres in the brain are not fully developed. Peyona contains caffeine citrate. It belongs to a group of medicines called methylxanthines. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It stimulates the breathing center in your baby’s brain to help them to breathe.

What are the ingredients in PEYONA:

Medicinal ingredients: caffeine citrate

Non-medicinal ingredients: citric acid monohydrate, sodium citrate, and water for injection

PEYONA comes in the following dosage forms:

Solution: 20 mg / mL

Do not use PEYONA if you are:

  • allergic to caffeine citrate or to any of the other ingredients in PEYONA (see What are the ingredients in PEYONA)

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your baby’s healthcare

professional before your baby is given PEYONATM. Talk about any health conditions or problems your baby may have, including if:

  • your newborn has previously been treated with theophylline
  • your newborn suffers from seizures
  • you (the mother) consumed large amounts of caffeine prior to delivery
  • you have a premature infant who suffers from heart disease or you had unusual rhythm disturbances before the baby was born
  • your newborn has kidney or liver problems
  • your newborn has frequent regurgitation (bringing swallowed food up again to the mouth)
  • your newborn produces more urine than usual
  • your newborn has a reduced weight gain or food intake

Other warnings you should know about:

Breast-feeding: If you are breast-feeding while your infant is being treated with PEYONA, you should not drink coffee or take any other high caffeine products. Caffeine passes into breast milk.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with PEYONA:

  • theophylline (used to treat breathing problems). This medicine may increase the risk for a serious disease that affects the intestine of premature babies (called necrotising enterocolitis) when it is given with medicines used to treat gastric disease (such as antihistamine H2 receptor blockers or proton-pump inhibitors that reduces gastric acid secretion). Tell your baby’s doctor if your newborn has been previously treated with theophylline.

  • drugs that decrease the amount of caffeine removed by the body such as:

    • cimetidine (used to treat gastric disease)
    • ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections)

  • drugs that increase the amount of caffeine removed by the body such as:

    • phenobarbital (used to treat epilepsy)
    • phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy)

These medicines are not to be given to your baby while your baby is receiving treatment with PEYONA. If your baby is taking any of these medicines, the doctor may need to adjust the dose or change one of the medicines to something else.

How PEYONA is given:

PEYONA should only:

  • be given when other causes of apnea had been ruled out or be properly treated by your baby’s doctor before your baby starts treatment.
  • be given under the supervision of a doctor experienced in neonatal intensive care
  • be used in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where adequate facilities / equipment are available to monitor your baby

Usual dose:

Your baby’s doctor will decide:

  • how much PEYONA to give your baby. The dose will depend on your baby’s body weight
  • for how long it will be given. Your baby’s doctor should stop treatment with PEYONA when your baby has 5 to 7 days without apnea attacks

The usual starting dose is 20 mg per kilogram of body weight (equal to 1 mL per kilogram of body weight) given once.

  • The starting dose will be given as an infusion into their vein (intravenous infusion). It is given using a syringe infusion pump or other metered infusion device. This method is also known as “a drip.”

The usual maintenance dose is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight (equal to 0.25 mL per kilogram of body weight) given every 24 hours.

  • After their first dose, their maintenance doses may be given by intravenous infusion or by mouth.

Your baby’s doctor may need to do blood tests during treatment with PEYONA to check the levels of caffeine in your baby’s blood. This is to make sure the right amount of PEYONA is being given.

Overdose:

If you think your baby has been given too much PEYONA, contact your child’s healthcare professional immediately.

If your baby receives more PEYONA than they should, they may experience:

  • high blood levels of sugar (hyperglycemia)
  • low blood levels of potassium (hypokalaemia)
  • tremors of the hands and feet
  • feeling restless
  • muscle tension and muscle spasms
  • stiffening and contraction of muscles followed by uncontrolled twitching (tonic-clonic movements)
  • uncontrolled jaw and lip movement
  • rapid breathing (tachypnea)
  • rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
  • vomiting
  • gastric problems
  • fever
  • feeling jittery
  • high blood levels of certain chemicals (urea)
  • higher number of certain cells (leukocyte) in blood
  • seizures

Tell your baby’s doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms

What are possible side effects from using PEYONATM:

These are not all the possible side effects your baby may feel when taking PEYONA. If your baby experiences any side effects not listed here, contact their healthcare professional.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Symptom / effectTalk to your healthcare professionalStop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Only if severeIn all cases
COMMON
Hyperglycemia: (high blood sugar): increased thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, headache, blurred vision and fatigueX
Infusion site phlebitis, infusion site inflammation (swelling of a vein): pain, tenderness, redness or swellingX
Tachycardia (abnormally fast heartbeat)X
UNCOMMON
Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms): rapid, slow or irregular heartbeatX
Convulsion: seizure, spasms, shaking or fitsX
NOT KNOWN
DeafnessX
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), failure to thrive, feeding intoleranceX
Increased left ventricular output and increased stroke volume (an increase in the amount of blood pumped by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction)X
Irritability, feeling jittery,X
restlessness, brain injury
Regurgitation (bringing swallowed food up again to the mouth), increased gastric aspirateX
Necrotising enterocolitis (serious disease that affects the intestines): swelling or bloating in the abdomen, discolouration of the abdomen, bloody stool, diarrhea, vomitingX
Sepsis (infection of the blood): fever or dizziness, chills, high or very low body temperature, little or no urine, low blood pressure, palpitations, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeatX
Urine output increased, urine sodium and calcium increased, haemoglobin decreased, thyroxine decreased (abnormal thryroid lab results)X

If your baby has a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

  • Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html)
  • for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
  • Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage:

PEYONA will be stored by the doctor. It will be stored at 15-30°C.

If you want more information about PEYONA:

  • Talk to your healthcare professional
  • Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the importer Methapharm Inc., by calling 1-800-287-7686 ext. 7804.

Last Revised: March 3, 2020

PEYONATM is a trademark owned by CHIESI FARMACEUTICI S.p.A

About this document

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs · DIN (Drug Identification Number): 02496771

Revision date stated in the text: March 3, 2020

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Peyona

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
DIN 02496771
Schedule(s) PRESCRIPTION RECOMMENDED
Active ingredient(s) Caffeine citrate 20 MG
Dosage form(s) Solution
Route(s) of administration Oral, Intravenous
Drug class (WHO ATC)
  1. N Nervous system drugs
    1. N06 Psychoanaleptics
      1. N06B Psychostimulants, agents used for ADHD and nootropics
        1. N06BC Xanthine derivatives, psychostimulants, agents used for ADHD and nootropics
          1. N06BC01 Caffeine
Company CHIESI FARMACEUTICI S.P.A.
Current status Marketed
Current status date July 13, 2020

Source: Health Canada – Drug Product Database (DPD) and product monographs, data as of November 1, 2026. Data from the Health Canada Drug Product Database, as published there. Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.