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Bayhep B (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin) - Warnings and Precautions

 
 



WARNINGS

BayHep B is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may contain infectious agents, such as viruses, that can cause disease. The risk that such products will transmit an infectious agent has been reduced by screening plasma donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain current virus infections, and by inactivating and/or removing certain viruses. Despite these measures, such products can still potentially transmit disease. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products. Individuals who receive infusions of blood or plasma products may develop signs and/or symptoms of some viral infections, particularly hepatitis C. ALL infections thought by a physician possibly to have been transmitted by this product should be reported by the physician or other healthcare provider to Bayer Corporation [1-800-288-8371].

The physician should discuss the risks and benefits of this product with the patient, before prescribing or administering it to the patient.

BayHep B should be given with caution to patients with a history of prior systemic allergic reactions following the administration of human immune globulin preparations. Epinephrine should be available.

In patients who have severe thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injections, Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) should be given only if the expected benefits outweigh the risks.

PRECAUTIONS

GENERAL

BayHep B should not be administered intravenously because of the potential for serious reactions. Injections should be made intramuscularly, and care should be taken to draw back on the plunger of the syringe before injection in order to be certain that the needle is not in a blood vessel.

Intramuscular injections are preferably administered in the anterolateral aspects of the upper thigh and the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. The gluteal region should not be used routinely as an injection site because of the risk of injury to the sciatic nerve. An individual decision as to which muscle is injected must be made for each patient based on the volume of material to be administered. If the gluteal region is used when very large volumes are to be injected or multiple doses are necessary, the central region MUST be avoided; only the upper, outer quadrant should be used. 17

LABORATORY TESTS

None required.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Although administration of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) did not interfere with measles vaccination,18 it is not known whether Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) may interfere with other live virus vaccines. Therefore, use of such vaccines should be deferred until approximately 3 months after Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) administration. Hepatitis B Vaccine may be administered at the same time, but at a different injection site, without interfering with the immune response.16 No interactions with other products are known.

PREGNANCY CATEGORY C

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with BayHep B. It is also not known whether BayHep B can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. BayHep B should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

PEDIATRIC USE

Safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population have not been established.

Page last updated: 2006-01-05

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