C1 esterase inhibitor, human (intravenous route, subcutaneous route)
Available brands
Berinert, Cinryze, Haegarda
About this medication
C1 esterase inhibitor is used to treat or prevent hereditary angioedema (HAE). HAE is a rare disease that causes swelling of the face, hands, feet, throat, stomach, bowels, or genitals. People who have HAE have low levels of C1 esterase inhibitor in their body. This medicine helps increase the amount of C1 esterase inhibitors in the body. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
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 this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness ofBerinert®in children. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness ofCinryze®in children 6 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have been established. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects ofHaegarda®in children younger than 8 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects ofBerinert®in the geriatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness ofHaegarda®orCinryze®in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receivingCinryze®. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. 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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins or as a shot under your skin. This medicine may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems. Make sure family members or other people you are with know how to inject the medicine in case you are unable to do it by yourself during an HAE attack. Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine. Also, use a silicone-free syringe when using this medicine. Do not inject into skin areas that are itchy, swollen, painful, red, bruised, or have scars or stretch marks. Check the injection kits regularly to make sure that the powder or liquid has not changed its color. Do not use this medicine if it is discolored or if there are particles in the mixed liquid. Carry this medicine with you at all times for emergency use in case you have an HAE attack. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store theinjection kitsat room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep the medicine in the original carton until ready to use. You may also store thepowder vialin the refrigerator. Do not freeze. You may store the mixed liquid at room temperature. UseBerinert®andHaegarda®within 8 hours of mixing them, and useCinryze®within 3 hours of mixing it. Do not refrigerate or freeze the mixed liquid. Do not use leftover medicine. Throw away the vial after you have used it. Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container which the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.