Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or a vein.

If you are using this medicine for prevention of hepatitis B from occurring again in patients who have had liver transplants, this medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

If you are using this medicine for prevention of hepatitis B infection after being exposed to hepatitis B virus, it should be given as a shot into one of your muscles.

This medicine works best if you receive it soon after being exposed to hepatitis B. If you had sexual contact with a person who has hepatitis B, you should receive this medicine within 14 days. If you were exposed some other way, you should receive this medicine within 24 hours of being exposed to hepatitis B.

You may need to have a second dose of medicine 1 month after the first dose. Make sure you understand the schedule if you need to have a second dose.

This medicine may be given to a baby if the baby's mother has hepatitis B. The baby is often given the medicine within 12 hours after birth. Ask your doctor about the schedule if your baby needs this medicine.

Hepatitis B vaccine is often used in addition to hepatitis B immune globulin. Make sure you understand if you also need the vaccine.