Hemofil-M

Generic name: Antihemophilic Factor
Drug class: Miscellaneous coagulation modifiers

Usage of Hemofil-M

Antihemophilic factor (AHF) injection is used to treat, control, prevent, and decrease the frequency of bleeding episodes, and prevent bleeding during surgery in patients with hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency).

Antihemophilic factor (AHF) is a protein that is produced naturally in the body. It helps the blood form clots to stop bleeding and prevents bleeding problems from happening as often.

Hemophilia A, also called classical hemophilia, is a condition where the body does not make enough AHF. If you do not have enough AHF and you become injured, your blood will not form clots properly. You might bleed into and damage your muscles and joints. AHF injection is given to increase the levels of AHF in the blood.

There are several different types of AHF. They are made from human blood or artificially by a man-made process (recombinant). AHF made from human blood has been treated and is not likely to contain harmful viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The man-made AHF products do not contain these viruses.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Hemofil-M side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Fever

Less common or rare

Changes in facial skin color

chest tightness

chills

fast or irregular breathing

nausea

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes

sensation of burning, warmth, heat, numbness, tightness, or tingling

skin rash, hives, or itching

trouble breathing

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds

blurred vision

chest pain or discomfort

confusion

cough

deep or fast breathing with dizziness

difficult or labored breathing

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

noisy breathing

numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

slow or irregular heartbeat

sweating

swelling of the face, throat, or tongue

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. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about 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:

More common

Headache

Less common

Burning, stinging, or swelling at the injection site

diarrhea

dizziness or lightheadedness

dry mouth or bad taste in the mouth

lack or loss of strength

nosebleed

redness of the face

vomiting

Rare

Change in taste

loss of taste

Incidence not known

Feeling of warmth

increased sweating

irritability

muscle or bone pain

redness of the eye

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

redness of the skin

stomach pain

trouble seeing

Other side effects not listed may also occur 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.

Before taking Hemofil-M

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of antihemophilic factor injection in children.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of Hemofil® M in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Advate®, Adynovate®, Eloctate™, Kogenate® FS, Kovaltry®, Novoeight®, Xyntha®, or Xyntha® Solofuse® in the geriatric population, no geriatric-specific problems have been documented to date. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related medical problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving these medicines.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of Hemofil® M in geriatric patients.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

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How to use Hemofil-M

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

This medicine may also be given at home to patients who do not need to be in a hospital or clinic. If you or your child is using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Make sure you understand all of the instructions before giving yourself an injection. Your dose may change based on where you are bleeding. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Not all brands are prepared in the same way and the dose may be different.

Every package of medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

To prepare the medicine using 2 bottles (vials) or containers:

Take the bottles of powder medicine and liquid (diluent) out of the refrigerator and let them warm to room temperature.

Wipe the rubber surface of the bottles with an alcohol swab and allow them to dry.

Follow the specific directions for your brand of medicine when you prepare the injection.

Add the liquid to the powder using the special transfer needle or transfer device that comes with the package.

When injecting the liquid into the dry medicine, aim the stream of liquid against the wall of the container of dry medicine to prevent foaming.

Swirl the bottle gently to dissolve the medicine. Do not shake the bottle. Shaking will create foam in the mixture.

Check the mixture to make sure it is clear. Do not use the medicine if you can see anything solid in the mixture or if the mixture is cloudy.

Use a plastic disposable syringe to remove the mixture from the bottle. Use a special filter needle if your brand of medicine provides one.

Give the injection as directed by your doctor.

If you are using more than one bottle of medicine for your dose, prepare the second bottle the same way. Add the mixture from the second bottle to the same syringe.

To prepare the medicine using a prefilled dual-chamber syringe (Xyntha® and Xyntha® Solofuse®):

Take the prefilled dual-chamber syringe out of the refrigerator and warm it to room temperature.

The dual-chamber syringe has the powder medicine in one part and the liquid (diluent) in the second part of the syringe.

Attach the plunger rod to the syringe according to the directions. Keep the syringe pointed up to prevent leaking of the liquid.

Remove the white seal and the grey rubber tip cap. Put the blue vented cap on the syringe. Do not touch the open ends of the syringe and the blue cap.

Slowly push the plunger until the 2 stoppers inside the syringe are together. This will push all of the liquid into the chamber with the powder medicine.

Keep the syringe pointed up and gently swirl the syringe to mix the liquid and powder.

Check the mixture to make sure it is clear. Do not use the medicine if you can see anything solid in the mixture or if the mixture is cloudy.

Keep the syringe pointed up and push the plunger until most of the air is removed.

A special infusion set comes with the package. Remove the blue cap and attach the infusion set to the syringe.

Give the injection as directed by your doctor.

If you are using more than one syringe of medicine for your dose, prepare the second dual-chamber syringe the same way. The mixture from each syringe will be combined together in a separate syringe before your injection. Your doctor will show you how to do this.

Use the mixture within 3 or 4 hours after it is prepared. It must not be stored and used later. Do not put the mixture in the refrigerator.

Do not reuse syringes and needles. Put used syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant disposable container, or dispose of them as directed by your doctor.

Talk to your doctor before traveling. You should plan to bring enough medicine for your treatment when traveling.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take Depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For injection dosage form (injection):

For bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A:

Adults and children—Dose is based on body weight and the type of bleeding episode. The dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. If stored at room temperature, the medicine will expire at 3 months or after the expiration date, whichever comes first.

If you move the medicine from the refrigerator to room temperature, write the date you take it from the refrigerator on the container. The length of time the medicine can remain at room temperature will depend on the brand you use. If you have already stored the medicine at room temperature, do not return it to the refrigerator. If you do not use the medicine within the time recommended by the manufacturer, you must destroy the medicine.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check you or your child closely while you are receiving this medicine to make sure it is working properly. Blood tests may be needed.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you get the injection.

It is recommended that you carry an identification (ID) card or letter stating that you have hemophilia A and the type of medicine you are using. If you have any questions about what kind of identification to carry, check with your doctor.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of parvovirus infection: fever, chills, drowsiness, runny nose, and followed by a rash or joint pain.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses to people who have received them, although the risk is low. Human donors and donated blood are both tested for viruses to keep the transmission risk low. Talk with your doctor about this risk if you are concerned.

The stopper of the bottle (vial) contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to latex. Tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy before you start using this medicine.

Disclaimer

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