Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Hextend

Descriptions


Hextend® injection is used to treat low blood volume (hypovolemia) when other treatment is not available.

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

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Solution

Before Using

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 on the relationship of age to the effects of Hextend® injection have not been performed in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Hextend® injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults and are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Sodium Chloride

Magnesium

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Sodium Lactate

Dextrose

Potassium

Calcium

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.

Drug Interactions

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 is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Eplerenone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Alacepril
  • Amiloride
  • Baloxavir Marboxil
  • Benazepril
  • Bictegravir
  • Canrenoate
  • Captopril
  • Cilazapril
  • Delapril
  • Digoxin
  • Eltrombopag
  • Erdafitinib
  • Fosinopril
  • Imidapril
  • Indomethacin
  • Lisinopril
  • Moexipril
  • Pentopril
  • Perindopril
  • Quinapril
  • Raltegravir
  • Ramipril
  • Sparsentan
  • Spirapril
  • Spironolactone
  • Temocapril
  • Trandolapril
  • Triamterene
  • Zofenopril

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.

  • Chlorothiazide
  • Delafloxacin
  • Felodipine
  • Isradipine
  • Licorice
  • Nicardipine
  • Strontium Ranelate

Other Interactions

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.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alkalosis (high pH levels in the blood) or
  • Allergy to corn or
  • Diabetes or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease or
  • Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood) or
  • Kidney disease, severe—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Heart bypass—May increase the risk for bleeding in patients undergoing this surgery.
  • Infection (eg, sepsis), severe or
  • Surgery or
  • Trauma—Use with caution. May increase the risk for serious kidney problems.
  • Leukapheresis—Use in not recommended in patients undergoing this procedure.
  • Liver disease, severe—Use with caution. May increase the risk for serious side effects.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given as a needle placed into one of your veins.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely while receiving the medicine to make sure it is working properly. Blood and urine tests are needed to check for unwanted effects.

Call your doctor right away if you have bloody or cloudy urine, difficult or painful urination, sudden increase or decrease in the amount of urine, or swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, headache, dizziness, or weakness, pain, swelling, or discomfort in a joint, pinpoint red spots on your skin, unusual nosebleeds, or any unusual bleeding or bruising.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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:

Incidence not known

  1. Bloody or cloudy urine
  2. blue lips and fingernails
  3. blurred vision
  4. chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
  5. confusion
  6. cough
  7. coughing that sometime produces a pink frothy sputum
  8. decreased urine output
  9. difficulty swallowing
  10. dilated neck veins
  11. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  12. drowsiness
  13. fainting
  14. fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  15. fever
  16. hives, itching, skin rash
  17. increased sweating
  18. large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  19. muscle tremors
  20. nausea
  21. noisy breathing
  22. no blood pressure or pulse
  23. pale skin
  24. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  25. rapid shallow breathing
  26. restlessness
  27. sneezing
  28. stomach cramps
  29. stopping of the heart
  30. sudden increase or decrease in the amount of urine
  31. sweating
  32. swelling around the eyes
  33. swelling in the legs and ankles
  34. swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  35. unconsciousness
  36. unusual bleeding or bruising
  37. unusual tiredness or weakness
  38. weight gain

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:

Incidence not known

  1. Chills
  2. diarrhea
  3. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  4. headache
  5. joint pain
  6. muscle aches and pains
  7. runny nose
  8. shivering
  9. sore throat
  10. tingling of the feet
  11. trouble sleeping
  12. unusual weight gain or loss
  13. vomiting

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.