immune globulin (subcutaneous)

Use this medication 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 this medication, 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 immune globulin. 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 this medication 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.

Immune globulin is made from human plasma (part of the blood) and may contain viruses and other infectious agents that can cause disease. Although immune globulin 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 this medication.

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

Immune globulin is used to treat primary immune deficiency.

Immune globulin may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Before receiving immune globulin, tell your doctor if you have:

• an allergy to human immune globulin;
• immune globulin A (IgA) deficiency.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive immune globulin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C: This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use immune globulin without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you 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 this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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

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

Use immune globulin 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.

Immune globulin 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.

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

Immune globulin 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 immune globulin 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 this medication at home, keep a diary of the days and times you used the medication and where you injected it on your body.

Store this medication 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.

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.

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

Do not receive live-virus vaccines such as measles, mumps, or rubella. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.

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.

There may be other drugs that can interact with immune globulin. 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.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about immune globulin subcutaneous.