Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) (Systemic)

Brand Names : Gamimune N 5%, Gamimune N 10%, Gamimune N 5% S/D, Gamimune N 10% S/D, Gammagard S/D, Gammagard S/D 0.5 g, Gammar-P IV, Iveegam, Panglobulin, Polygam S/D, Sandoglobulin, Venoglobulin–I, Venoglobulin-S, IGIV, IVIG

Before Using This Medicine

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 immune globulin intravenous (IGIV), the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to intramuscular or intravenous immune globulins. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether IGIV passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Although there is no specific information comparing use of IGIV in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of IGIV in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - 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. When receiving IGIV it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Live virus vaccines - IGIV may affect the degree of protection provided by live virus vaccines. Also, live virus vaccines may interfere with the therapeutic effects of IGIV
• Nephrotoxic drugs (drugs that may damage the kidney) - IGIV has been shown to have a connection with kidney damage. Your doctor may need to lower your dose of IGIV if you are taking any nephrotoxic drugs

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of IGIV. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to maltose or sucrose
  May be in some IGIV products

• Blood clotting problems (or history of) or
• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
• Heart disease (or history of) or
• Heart problems or
• Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiencies or
• Kidney problems or
• Severe allergic reaction to IGIV - IGIV may make these conditions worse

• Kidney problems or
• Conditions that make a person susceptible or more likely to have kidney problems such as:
  • Abnormal kidney function
  • Being older than 65 years of age
  • Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
  • Paraproteinemia (having abnormal proteins called paraproteins in the blood)
  • Sepsis (serious infection in the body)
  • Volume depletion (loss of body fluids)
  - May cause kidney dysfunction, failure, and can be fatal.