LoginBeneFIX
Generic Name: nonacog alfa (rch)
Product Name: BeneFIX
Indication: What BeneFIX is used for
BeneFIX is used for the control and treatment of bleeding and the prevention of bleeding in people with haemophilia B.
BeneFIX has been approved for use in haemophilia B. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why BeneFIX has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that BeneFIX is addictive.
BeneFIX is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Action: How BeneFIX works
BeneFIX, nonacog alfa (rch) is a coagulation factor IX product that is produced by recombinant technology. Mammalian cells, which have the DNA for human coagulation factor IX put in them, are grown in large amounts in cell culture laboratories. These cells make recombinant human factor IX, which is released into cell culture media and then very highly purified. The recombinant factor IX does not contain any human blood, preservatives, or added animal or human components.
People with haemophilia B (Christmas disease) are deficient in coagulation factor IX. BeneFIX works by replacing factor IX to enable blood to clot.
It contains the active ingredient nonacog alfa and the inactive ingredients glycine, sucrose, L-histidine, polysorbate 80 and sodium chloride solution (0.234%).
Dose advice: How to use BeneFIX
Before you use BeneFIX
When you must not use it
Do not use BeneFIX if you are allergic to hamster proteins or any of the ingredients listed here.
Signs of allergy include a skin rash, itching, chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, hives, faintness, rapid heartbeat, blurred vision, shortness of breath and/or a swollen face. If any of these signs occur, stop using BeneFIX and see your doctor immediately, you may need urgent medical care.
Do not use BeneFIX after the expiry date (printed on the pack).
If you use this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not use BeneFIX if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should use BeneFIX, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to use it
Certain people must use BeneFIX with caution. Ask your doctor for advice.
Tell your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- It is not known whether BeneFIX can affect your ability to have children or harm your developing baby;
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
- It is not known whether BeneFIX passes into breast milk;
- Have liver disease or are at risk of developing clotting disorders other than haemophilia or have recently had surgery.
- These conditions increase your risk for clotting complications.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by BeneFIX, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Using BeneFIX
How BeneFIX is given
BeneFIX is given as an injection directly into your veins, usually by yourself, a doctor, nurse, or another trained person.
BeneFIX contains no additives that would prevent the growth of bacteria once the powder is dissolved with sterile sodium chloride solution. For this reason, each vial of BeneFIX is for single use only, in one patient only. Discard any residue.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained here.
When injecting BeneFIX, you must follow the detailed instructions provided in the leaflet inside the pack.
When you have finished injecting BeneFIX, discard the needle and syringe into a sharps container.
If you do not understand the instructions for injecting BeneFIX found in the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Dosage
Your doctor will decide the dose of BeneFIX you will receive. The dose and duration will depend upon your individual needs for replacement factor IX therapy. If you have been using plasma-derived factor IX, the dose of BeneFIX may differ from the dose of plasma-derived factor IX.
Your doctor may decide to change the dose of BeneFIX you receive during your treatment.
Reconstitution and administration of BeneFIX
Always wash your hands before doing the following procedures. Use germ-free methods during the making up procedure and during injection.
Use only the materials provided in the pack for dissolving the BeneFIX powder with the sodium chloride solution and then injecting the BeneFIX solution.
Inject BeneFIX solution as soon as possible or within 3 hours after dissolving the powder.
The made-up solution may be stored at room temperature before injection.
Inject the BeneFIX solution intravenously over several minutes.
The rate of injection should be determined by your comfort level.
If you see clumping of red blood cells in the tubing or syringe, discard all this material (tubing, syringe and BeneFIX solution) and start again with a new package.
Clumping together of red blood cells in the tubing or syringe has been noticed sometimes when BeneFIX is being given to patients. No side effects have been reported when this clumping has occurred. To minimise the risk of clumping, it is important to limit the amount of blood entering the tubing. Blood should not enter the syringe.
Disposal
Please dispose of all unused solution, empty vials and used needles and syringes into a sharps bin.
Overdose
Immediately contact your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (tel: 131 126 in Australia, or tel: 0800 764 766 in New Zealand) if you inject more BeneFIX than your doctor recommends. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort.
While you are using BeneFIX
Things you must do
- See your doctor immediately if your bleeding does not stop as expected;
- Stop the infusion immediately and contact your doctor, if you experience allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching, chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, hives, faintness, chills, flushing, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and/or a swollen face;
- Always follow your doctor’s instructions carefully;
- Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using BeneFIX;
- If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are using BeneFIX;
- If you become pregnant while you are using BeneFIX, tell your doctor.
Things you must not do
- Do not give BeneFIX to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you;
- Do not use BeneFIX to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to;
- Do not stop using BeneFIX or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor, unless you have an allergic reaction.
After using BeneFIX
Storage
Before reconstitution:
Keep BeneFIX in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.
BeneFIX must be used by the expiry date (Exp) on the label.
If stored at room temperature below 30°C, BeneFIX must be used within 6 months. Write the date on the package when you first store BeneFIX at room temperature.
Keep BeneFIX (and needles) where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicine.
Do not use BeneFIX beyond the date (month and year) printed on the label after the letters Exp, even if it has been stored properly.
Medicines cannot be stored indefinitely.
After reconstitution:
To stop bacterial contamination of the solution, use the made-up BeneFIX as soon as possible or within 3 hours after reconstitution.
Schedule of BeneFIX
BeneFIX is not scheduled.
Side effects of BeneFIX
During your treatment with BeneFIX, your blood will be checked for inhibitors to factor IX activity. Inhibitors are antibodies against factor IX, which are made by your immune system. The inhibitors stop the factor IX from working as well as it used to.
Tell your doctor immediately if you are using increasing amounts of BeneFIX in order to control a bleed.
Injection of any medicine intravenously may have side effects. Often they are not serious but sometimes they can be. You may need medical treatment if you experience some side effects.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Headache;
- Runny or blocked nose or sneezing;
- Light-headedness;
- Fever;
- Chills;
- Flushing;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhoea;
- Feeling of tiredness, drowsiness, or lack of energy;
- Discomfort or swelling at the injection site;
- Altered taste;
- Coughing;
- Burning sensation in the jaw or skull;
- Changes in your vision;
- Tremor.
These are all mild side effects of BeneFIX injection and will usually disappear on their own. Tell your doctor if they continue.
If any of the following side effects happen, STOP using BeneFIX and tell your doctor immediately:
- A skin rash;
- Itching;
- Chest tightness;
- Wheezing;
- Dizziness;
- Hives;
- Faintness;
- Rapid heartbeat;
- Shortness of breath;
- A swollen face;
- Blurred vision.
These side effects could mean that you are having an allergic reaction. These side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
For further information talk to your doctor.
References
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