Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Descriptions


Dehydrated alcohol injection is used to control the blood supply to the heart to improve exercise ability in patients with symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who are not able to receive open heart surgery.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor with specialized training in heart procedures.

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 have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of dehydrated alcohol injection 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 dehydrated alcohol injection in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during 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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

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.

Proper Use

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given through a needle placed in an artery during a heart procedure.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you receive this medicine to make sure that it is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause serious heart problems (eg, heart block, heart failure, heart rhythm problems). Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, irregular or trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, or weight gain.

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. Chest pain or discomfort
  2. fainting
  3. fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  4. slow or irregular heartbeat
  5. sweating
  6. swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  7. trouble breathing
  8. unusual tiredness or weakness
  9. weight gain

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.