Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Your doctor will prescribe your child's exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your child's stomach, thigh, upper arm, or buttocks. This medicine must not be injected into a vein or muscle.

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

Some medicines given by injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If your child is using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you or your child's caregiver on how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will have a chance to practice preparing and injecting it. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is to be prepared and injected.

Use a different body area each time you give your child a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

This medicine must be taken 20 minutes before or 20 minutes after a snack or meal. Never let your child skip a meal once your child received this medicine.

To use the vial:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • Check the liquid in the vial. It should be clear and colorless. Do not use it if it is cloudy or has particles in it.
  • Remove the protective cap. Do not remove the rubber top.
  • Pull back on the plunger to draw air into the syringe equal to the prescribed dose. Put the needle through the rubber top of the vial and push the plunger to inject air into the vial.
  • Leave the syringe in the vial and turn both upside down. Hold it firmly.
  • Make sure the tip of the needle is in the liquid. Pull the plunger to withdraw the correct dose into the syringe.
  • Before removing the needle out of the vial, check the syringe for air bubbles. If there are bubbles in the syringe, hold the vial and syringe with needle straight up and tap the side of the syringe until the bubbles float to the top. Push the bubbles out with the plunger and draw liquid back in until you have the correct dose.
  • Remove the needle from the vial. Do not let the needle touch anything.
  • Pinch the skin and insert the needle. Slowly push the plunger of the syringe all the way in to make sure you have injected all of the liquid. Pull the needle straight out and gently press on the injection site with gauze or a cotton ball for a few seconds.
  • Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject the medicine.

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 (vial):
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by IGF-1 deficiency:
      • Children 2 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 0.04 to 0.08 milligram (mg) per kg of body weight injected under the skin 2 times a day. Your doctor may increase the dose, as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 0.12 mg per kg of body weight 2 times a day.
      • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

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 in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

You may store the opened vial in the refrigerator. Use it within 30 days after opening. Throw away any unused medicine after 30 days. Do not freeze.

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