Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

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 performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Omegaven® in children. However, children are more likely to have unwanted effects (eg, agitation, slow heartbeat, vomiting). Safety and efficacy have been established in children.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Intralipid® in children.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Omegaven® in the elderly.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of Intralipid® in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

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. 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.

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:

  • Allergy to egg, fish, or soybean proteins, olive oil, or safflower oil or
  • Bleeding disorder, severe or
  • Hyperlipidemia (high triglycerides or fats in the blood), severe or
  • Lipid metabolism disorders, severe—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Blood problems or
  • Diabetes or
  • Liver disease or
  • Lung or breathing problems or
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation or swelling of the pancreas), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Electrolyte imbalance or
  • Fluid disorder or
  • Metabolic disorders, severe—Should be corrected first before receiving this medicine.
  • Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides or fats in the blood)—Use with caution. May increase risk of pancreas problems.
  • Infection—May decrease your body's ability to fight infections.
  • Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
  • Undernourished patients, severely—May cause refeeding syndrome. Monitor and increase nutrient intake slowly for the patients.