Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins, as a shot into one of your muscles, or as a shot under your skin.

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

While you are being treated with immune globulin injection, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccines should not be given for 3 to 6 months after receiving immune globulin.

The Gammagard Liquid, Gammaked™, Gamunex®-C, and Hizentra® products may be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. They are given as an infusion under your skin once every week. Cuvitru® and Hizentra® products may also be given once every 2 weeks. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and infuse the medicine. You will be shown the body areas where the medicine can be given. Use a different body area for each infusion. Keep track of where you give an infusion to make sure you rotate sites. This will help prevent skin problems.

Do not change the brand or type of your immune globulin unless your doctor tells you to. If you must change the brand of medicine, talk to your doctor before giving yourself an infusion. Make sure you understand the instructions on how to use the new brand.

Allow the Gammagard Liquid, Gammaked™, or Gamunex®-C brand to reach room temperature before using it.

To use Cuvitru®, Gammagard Liquid, Gammaked™, Gamunex®-C, or Hizentra®:

  • First, gather the items you will need on a clean, flat surface using a cloth or towel in a well-lighted area.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • If you have been told to wear gloves when preparing your infusion, put the gloves on.
  • Check the liquid in the vial (glass container). It should be clear and slightly yellow to light brown in color. If it is cloudy, discolored, or contains large flecks (particles), do not use the vial. Select another vial.
  • If the liquid is clear, place it on the clean, flat surface. Do not heat up or shake the medicine.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions on how to prepare the correct amount of medicine.
  • Choose an injection site on your body (eg, stomach area, thigh, upper arm, upper leg, hip). Clean the injection site with a fresh alcohol wipe, and let it dry.
  • With two fingers, pinch together the skin at the injection site. Insert the needle with the tube under the skin.
  • Put sterile gauze and tape over the injection site to keep the needle from coming out.
  • Before starting the infusion, make sure no blood is flowing into the infusion tube. If blood is present, remove and throw away the used needle and tube.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use the infusion pump.
  • Remove the peel-off portion of the label from the used vial. Place this label in your treatment diary or log book. Write down the amount of medicine you used, the date, and the time of your treatment.
  • It usually takes about 60 minutes for each infusion.
  • When all of the medicine has been infused, turn off the pump.
  • Take the gauze off and remove the needle and tube from your skin.
  • Clean and store the infusion pump.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist 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 Hizentra® at room temperature, away from heat and moisture, for up to 30 months. Keep from freezing. Protect the product from direct light. Keep the medicine in its original package until you are ready to use it.

Store Gamunex®-C in its original container and in the refrigerator, but do not freeze it.

You may store Gammagard Liquid or Gammaked™ in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Store it in the original container. Do not freeze. Talk with your pharmacist if you have questions about storage of this product.

Store Cuvitru® at room temperature, away from heat and moisture, for up to 24 months or in the refrigerator for up to 36 months. Do not freeze. Do not shake. Protect the product from direct light. Keep the medicine in its original package until you are ready to use it.

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

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.