Imogam Rabies-HT

Generic name: Rabies Immune Globulin
Drug class: Immune globulins

Usage of Imogam Rabies-HT

Rabies immune globulin is used together with rabies vaccine to prevent infection caused by the rabies virus. It works by giving your body the antibodies it needs to protect it against the rabies virus. This is called passive protection. This passive protection lasts long enough to protect your body until it can produce its own antibodies against the rabies virus.

Rabies immune globulin is given to persons who have been exposed (eg, by a bite, scratch, or lick) to an animal that is known or thought to have rabies. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis. Rabies immune globulin is used only in persons who have never before received the rabies vaccine.

Rabies infection is serious and often fatal. In the U.S., rabies in wild animals, especially raccoons, skunks, and bats, accounts for the most cases of rabies passed on to humans, pets, and other domestic animals. In Canada, the animals most often infected with rabies are foxes, skunks, bats, dogs, and cats. Horses, swine, and cattle have also been known to become infected with rabies. In much of the rest of the world, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia, dogs account for the most cases of rabies passed on to humans.

If you are being (or will be) treated for a possible rabies infection while traveling outside of the U.S. or Canada, contact your doctor as soon as you return to the U.S. or Canada, since it may be necessary for you to have additional treatment.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other health care professional.

Imogam Rabies-HT 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Body aches or pain

chills

cough

difficulty in breathing

ear congestion

fever

headache

loss of voice

nasal congestion

runny nose

sneezing

sore throat

unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

Cloudy or bloody urine

high blood pressure

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs

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

Dizziness

joint pain

muscle pain

pain, soreness, tenderness, or stiffness at the injection site

Less common

Fever

Rare

Skin rash

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 Imogam Rabies-HT

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 have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of rabies immune globulin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

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

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of KedRAB® in the elderly.

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. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Adenovirus Vaccine

Dengue tetravalent vaccine, live

Influenza virus vaccine, Live

Measles virus vaccine, live

Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live

Poliovirus Vaccine, Live

Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live

Smallpox Vaccine

Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Zoster Vaccine, Live

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.

Relate drugs

How to use Imogam Rabies-HT

A doctor, nurse, or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or clinic. It is given as a shot in the upper arm (deltoid) or thigh muscle. It may also be injected directly into the body part that was bitten or scratched which caused your exposure to rabies.

This medicine is given together with your first rabies vaccine dose as soon as possible after exposure. It may also be given within 7 days after the first dose of the rabies vaccine.

All bite wounds and scratches should be cleaned well right away with soap and water. Other medicines (including povidone-iodine solution, anti-tetanus vaccine, or medicine to treat infection) should be given as directed by your doctor.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check you closely to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests are needed to check for unwanted effects.

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 if you have concerns about this risk.

While you are being treated with rabies immune globulin, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. You should not receive measles vaccine within 4 months after receiving rabies immune globulin. You should not also receive other live virus vaccines (eg, mumps, polio, rubella) within 3 months after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening and requires 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 receiving this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk of developing blood problems, including blood clots or hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells). Check with your doctor right away if you have swelling and pain in your arms, legs, or stomach, chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of sensation, confusion, problems with muscle control or speech, stomach or back pain, dark urine, decreased urination, fever, tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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