Vivaglobin

Generic Name: immune globulin (subcutaneous) (im MYOON GLOB yoo lin)
Brand Names: Vivaglobin

What is Vivaglobin?

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Vivaglobin (immune globulin) is a sterilized solution made from human plasma. It contains the antibodies to help your body protect itself against infection from various diseases.

Vivaglobin is used to treat primary immune deficiency.

Vivaglobin may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information about Vivaglobin

Use Vivaglobin exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Before using Vivaglobin, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

If you miss a dose, use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

There may be other drugs that can interact with Vivaglobin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Stop using Vivaglobin and get emergency medical help if you think you have used too much medicine, or if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects are more likely, and you may have none at all. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or is especially bothersome.

Vivaglobin is made from human plasma (part of the blood) and may contain viruses and other infectious agents that can cause disease. Although Vivaglobin is screened, tested, and treated to reduce the risk of it containing anything that could cause disease, there is still a small possibility it could transmit disease. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Vivaglobin.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using Vivaglobin?

You should not use Vivaglobin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an immune globulin or if you have immune globulin A (IgA) deficiency with antibody to IgA.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Vivaglobin is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known if immune globulin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Vivaglobin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you have already started treatment with Vivaglobin, tell your doctor if it has been 8 weeks or longer since your last dose.

How is Vivaglobin given?

Use Vivaglobin subcutaneous exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Vivaglobin subcutaneous is given as an injection under the skin, usually into the stomach, hip, thigh, or upper arm. You may also receive several injections at one time using a pump that sends the medicine through tubes connected to needles placed just under the skin at different locations on your body.

You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Vivaglobin comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Vivaglobin subcutaneous must never be injected into a blood vessel or vein. Before injecting the medicine, you will need to place the needle in your skin and test to make sure it is placed only in the skin and not in a vein. To do this, gently pull back on the plunger of the syringe that is connected to the needle or tubing. If blood flows back into the syringe, remove the needle and tubing and throw them away. Using a new needle and syringe or tubing, place the needle in a new location and do another blood flowback test to make sure the needle is not in a vein.

Do not draw your Vivaglobin dose into a syringe until you are ready to give yourself an injection. Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription. Throw away any unused medicine that is left over after injecting your dose.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

If you use Vivaglobin at home, keep a diary of the days and times you used the medication and where you injected it on your body.

Using Vivaglobin may affect the results if you have certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using immune globulin.

Store Vivaglobin in the refrigerator and do not allow it to freeze. You may allow the medication to reach room temperature before measuring your dose in a syringe. Then place the vial back in the refrigerator.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

What should I avoid while using Vivaglobin?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with immune globulin. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), oral polio, chickenpox (varicella), BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Guérin), and nasal flu vaccine.

Vivaglobin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, chills, shaking, nausea, vomiting;

• fast heartbeat; or

• nervousness.

Less serious side effects may include:

• redness, itching, and swelling of skin where the shots are given;

• headache;

• mild itching or skin rash;

• upset stomach;

• sore throat; or

• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Vivaglobin?

There may be other drugs that can interact with Vivaglobin. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Vivaglobin.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Vivaglobin only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.04. Revision Date: 07/29/2009 3:04:32 PM.

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