Kynamro

Generic name: Mipomersen
Drug class: Miscellaneous antihyperlipidemic agents

Usage of Kynamro

Kynamro is a cholesterol-lowering medication. It reduces blood levels of "bad" cholesterol, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein-B (apo-B), or non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL).

Kynamro is used together with a low-fat diet and other treatments to lower total cholesterol in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited type of high cholesterol). Kynamro is not for use in people with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

It is not known whether Kynamro will lower your risk of heart disease.

Kynamro side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Kynamro: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Kynamro and call your doctor at once if you have:

flu symptoms within 2 days after an injection--fever, chills, body aches, tired feeling, joint or muscle pain;

pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, or tenderness where an injection was given; or

nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Kynamro side effects may include:

nausea;

headache; or

flu symptoms.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Kynamro

You should not use Kynamro if you are allergic to mipomersen, or if you have:

active liver disease; or

abnormal liver function tests.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

cirrhosis or other liver disease;

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); or

if you drink alcohol.

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using Kynamro.

Using Kynamro during pregnancy could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant while using this medicine. Use effective birth control during treatment.

It is not known whether mipomersen passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

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How to use Kynamro

Take Kynamro exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Kynamro is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self inject this medicine if you do not understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Kynamro is usually given once per week. Use this medicine on the same day each week, at the same time of day.

Use a different place on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm each time you give the injection. Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject the medication. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Kynamro is only part of a treatment program that may also include a special diet and other medications. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Kynamro should be stored in a refrigerator, if possible. However the injection must be at room temperature at the time of administration. Take a vial or prefilled syringe out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature before giving an injection. Do not heat the medicine before using. Do not remove the needle cover from the prefilled syringe until you are ready to give the injection.

Kynamro may also be stored at room temperature for up to 14 days. Keep the medicine in its original container and protect from heat or light.

Prepare your dose only when you are ready to give an injection. If you use any other injectable medication, do not mix it with this medicine or inject it at the same time you inject Kynamro.

Do not use the medicine if it looks cloudy or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Each single-use vial (bottle) or prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left in it after injecting your dose.

Use a disposable needle only once, then throw away in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Kynamro can cause your liver enzymes to get too high. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your weekly treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued based on the results of these tests.

Warnings

Kynamro is available only from a certified pharmacy.

You should not use Kynamro if you have active liver disease or abnormal liver function tests. Tell your doctor right away if you have liver symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, stomach pain, itching, tiredness, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Kynamro can cause your liver enzymes to get too high. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your treatments may be stopped based on the results of these tests.

What other drugs will affect Kynamro

Other drugs may interact with Kynamro, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

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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