الأدوية والمكملات الغذائية

Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin in the thighs or stomach. It 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 Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself or 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.

This medicine is available in 2 forms: vial and prefilled syringe.

To use the prefilled syringe:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
• Check the liquid in the syringe. It should be clear and colorless to light yellow. Do not use it if it is cloudy or has particles in it. If there is foam, put it back in the refrigerator for later use.
• Allow the syringe to warm to room temperature.
• Remove and throw away the rubber cap from the tip of the syringe barrel.
• With one hand, hold the syringe by the barrel. With your other hand, hold the needle close to the hub where the green needle cover connects to the syringe.
• Push the needle onto the syringe and tighten by using an easy twisting motion in the direction of the arrow.
• Pull the green needle cover back from the needle toward the syringe barrel. Do not remove it.
• Hold the syringe and needle tightly. Gently rock the plastic needle shield back and forth for removal. Remove the plastic needle shield by pulling it straight off.
• If you see large air bubbles in the syringe, hold the syringe with the needle pointing up and tap the syringe to bring air bubbles to the top. Press the plunger in slightly to push air bubbles out of the syringe.
• Pinch the skin firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Hold the syringe like a pencil at a 45 to 90 degree angle to your skin. With a quick "dart-like" motion, push the needle into the skin as far as it will go.
• Gently push the plunger rod all the way down until empty.

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 to slightly yellowish. Do not use it if it is cloudy or has particles in it.
• Allow the vial to warm by gently rolling it in the palms of your hands for 1 minute. Do not shake.
• Remove the plastic cap from the top of the vial. Clean the rubber stopper.
• Remove the needle cap. Fill the syringe with air by pulling back on the plunger to the mark on the syringe barrel that matches the prescribed dose.
• Hold the vial on a flat surface. Do not touch the cleaned rubber stopper. Push the needle straight down through the middle of the rubber stopper on the vial. Slowly inject all the air from the syringe into the air space above the solution. Do not inject air into the fluid.
• Keep the needle in the vial. Turn the vial upside down. Slowly pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe with the medicine to the prescribed dose.
• Do not remove the needle from the vial. Lay the vial and syringe on its side on your flat work surface until you are ready to inject.
• If you see large air bubbles in the syringe, hold the syringe with the needle pointing up and tap the syringe to bring air bubbles to the top. Press the plunger in slightly to push air bubbles out of the syringe.
• Pinch the skin firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Hold the syringe like a pencil at a 45 to 90 degree angle to your skin. With a quick "dart-like" motion, push the needle into the skin as far as it will go.
• Gently push the plunger rod all the way down until empty.

Drink extra fluids while you are using this medicine. This will keep you well hydrated, especially during the early part of your treatment.

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 (solution):
  • For hepatitis B:
    • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 180 micrograms (mcg) injected under the skin once a week for 48 weeks. The medicine should be used on the same day each week and at about the same time.
    • Children 3 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually not more than 180 mcg injected under the skin once a week (same time and day each week) for 48 weeks. The length of time will be determined by your doctor.
    • Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For hepatitis C:
    • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 180 micrograms (mcg) injected under the skin once a week for 48 weeks. The medicine should be used on the same day each week and at about the same time.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For hepatitis C infection, in combination with ribavirin:
    • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 180 micrograms (mcg) injected under the skin once a week (same time and day each week) together with oral ribavirin 2 times a day for 24 to 48 weeks. The length of time will be determined by your doctor.
    • Children 5 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually not more than 180 mcg injected under the skin once a week (same time and day each week) together with oral ribavirin 2 times a day for 24 to 48 weeks. The length of time will be determined by your doctor..
    • Children younger than 5 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.

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine and you are 1 or 2 days late, use it as soon as you can. If it has been more than 2 days since you were supposed to use the medicine, call your doctor 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 in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Do not leave this medicine out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. Do not freeze or shake. Protect it from light.

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