Perflutren

Perflutren is used for:

Making the heart easier to see during certain diagnostic procedures (eg, echocardiogram).

Perflutren is a contrast agent. It works in the blood to help create a clearer picture of the heart.

Do NOT use Perflutren if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Perflutren
• you have certain serious heart problems (eg, cardiac shunt, worsening or unstable heart failure, recent heart attack, recent heart blood vessel problems, QT prolongation, serious irregular heartbeat)
• you have certain serious lung problems (eg, respiratory failure, severe emphysema, a blood clot in the lungs, high blood pressure in the lungs)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Perflutren :

Some medical conditions may interact with Perflutren . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of lung problems or heart problems (eg, congenital heart defect, irregular heartbeat)
• if you have had recent worsening of heart or lung problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Perflutren . However, no specific interactions with Perflutren are known at this time.

Ask your health care provider if Perflutren may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Perflutren :

Use Perflutren as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Perflutren will be administered as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic.
• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
• If you miss a dose of Perflutren , contact your doctor immediately.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Perflutren .

Important safety information:

• Perflutren may cause dizziness or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Perflutren with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Lab tests, including heart function and vital signs, may be performed while you use Perflutren . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Perflutren should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Perflutren while you are pregnant. It is not known if Perflutren is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Perflutren , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Perflutren :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; flushing; headache; nausea.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; fainting; fever; irregular heartbeat; numbness or pain of arm, leg, or back; seizure; shortness of breath; sudden severe headache, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately.

Perflutren is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Perflutren at home, store Perflutren as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Perflutren out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Perflutren , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Perflutren is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Perflutren . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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