Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins or as a shot under your skin.

This medicine may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems.

Make sure family members or other people you are with know how to inject the medicine in case you are unable to do it by yourself during an HAE attack.

Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine. Also, use a silicone-free syringe when using this medicine.

Do not inject into skin areas that are itchy, swollen, painful, red, bruised, or have scars or stretch marks.

Check the injection kits regularly to make sure that the powder or liquid has not changed its color. Do not use this medicine if it is discolored or if there are particles in the mixed liquid.

Carry this medicine with you at all times for emergency use in case you have an HAE attack.

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 hereditary angioedema:
    • For injection dosage form:
      • Berinert®:
        • Adults and children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by a doctor. The usual dose is 20 International Units (IU) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected into a vein.
      • Cinryze®:
        • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—1000 units (U) injected into a vein every 3 or 4 days. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 2500 U every 3 or 4 days.
        • Children 6 to 11 years of age—500 U injected into a vein every 3 or 4 days. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 U every 3 or 4 days.
        • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
      • Haegarda®:
        • Adults and children 8 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 60 units per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected under the skin 2 times a week (every 3 or 4 days).
        • Children younger than 8 years of age—Use and 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 injection kits at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep the medicine in the original carton until ready to use. You may also store the powder vial in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

You may store the mixed liquid at room temperature. Use Berinert® and Haegarda® within 8 hours of mixing them, and use Cinryze® within 3 hours of mixing it. Do not refrigerate or freeze the mixed liquid.

Do not use leftover medicine. Throw away the vial after you have used it.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container which the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.