Consumer medicine information

PLASMA-LYTE 56 AND 5% GLUCOSE IV INFUSION


Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion. It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this product against the benefit they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

What Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion is used for

Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion is a solution used as a source of water, electrolytes (salts) and calories.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

Before you start Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion

When you must not be given it

Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion must not be given to you if:

  • you have an allergy to any ingredient listed at the end of this leaflet;
  • you have had an allergic reaction to corn or corn products. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, peeling of the skin and swelling of the face, lips or tongue, causing difficulty swallowing or shortness of breath;
  • the expiry date printed on the pack has passed.

You must tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

  • heart disease;
  • respiratory failure (lung disease);
  • severe kidney disease;
  • high blood pressure (hypertension);
  • build up of fluid under the skin, particularly around the ankles (peripheral oedema);
  • build up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema);
  • high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia or eclampsia)
  • aldosteronism (a disease that causes high levels of hormone called aldosterone);
  • any other condition associated with retaining sodium or fluid, such as treatment with steroids;
  • diabetes (your blood sugar levels will be monitored closely and your insulin treatment may need to be modified);
  • any condition that means you are more likely to have high blood levels of potassium (hyperkalaemia), such as kidney failure, adrenocortical insufficiency, severe dehydration (a loss of water from the body, eg. due to vomiting or diarrhoea) or extensive tissue damage (as can occur in severe burns) – your doctor will need to check your blood potassium levels;
  • myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness);
  • recovery after an operation;
  • head injury within the past 24 hours;
  • a high pressure within the skull (intracranial hypertension);
  • a stroke;
  • are pregnant;
  • are breast-feeding.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion. These include:

  • potassium-sparing diuretics (certain water tablets, eg. amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene);
  • angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure);
  • tacrolimus (used to prevent rejection of a transplant and to treat some skin diseases);
  • cyclosporin (used to prevent rejection of a transplant).

These medicines can increase the concentration of potassium in your blood. This can be life-threatening. A rise in your blood potassium levels is more likely to occur if you have kidney disease.

  • corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicines);
  • acidic medicines including: salicylates used to treat inflammation (aspirin), sleeping tablets (barbiturates) and lithium (used to treat psychiatric illnesses);
  • alkaline (basic) medicines including: sympathomimetics (medicines included in some cough & cold preparations (eg. pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine) and for treating ADHD (eg. dexamphetamine).

How Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion is given

How much is given

Your doctor will decide how much Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion will be given to you, which depends on your need and condition.

You should not be given Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion if there are particles floating in the solution or if the pack is damaged in any way.

How it is given

The Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion will be given at a slow rate of injection (drip) by your health professional. Usually, you will need to stay in a health institution (hospital, nursing home, etc.) but in some cases at home, as it requires a special medical equipment to deliver the medicine into your circulation. This delivery should be attended by a health professional. A cannula (administration needle) is placed in a vein by your doctor or nurse.

The infusion is for single use, and for one person only. Any unused portion must be discarded and not used later, either for you or anyone else.

Your doctor will decide when to stop giving you this infusion.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you want to know more about the use of Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion.

If you are given too much (overdose)

The doctor or nurse giving you the Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion has had experience in the use of this sort of medicine, so it is unlikely that you will be given an overdose. However, in case of an overdose, the infusion will be discontinued and another treatment may be needed. You may experience some of the effects listed under “Side effects” below.

Side effects

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion. As with any medicine, some side effects may occur.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • skin rash;
  • shortness of breath (dyspnoea);
  • wheezing;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • swelling of the skin of the face, lips and swelling of the throat;
  • redness of the skin (erythema).

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

All of these side effects are very rare.

Other possible side effects are:

  • reactions due to the administration technique:
    – fever (febrile response);
    – infection at the site of infusion;
    – local pain or reaction (redness or swelling) at the site of infusion;
    – irritation or inflammation of the vein into which the solution is infused (phlebitis);
    – formation of a blood clot (venous thrombosis) at the site of infusion;
    – escape of the infusion solution into the tissues around the vein (extravasation);
    – an excess of fluid in the body (hypervolaemia);
    – high levels of blood potassium which can cause abnormal heart rhythm (hyperkalaemia);
    – hyperglycaemia.
  • low blood pressure (hypotension);
  • chest discomfort;
  • flushing
  • feeling of weakness;
  • cold sweat;
  • chills.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.

Discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.

After using Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion

Storage

Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion will be stored in the pharmacy or the hospital ward. It is recommended that the product be stored below 30°C and do not freeze.

Product description

What it looks like

Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion is a clear solution filled in plastic bags.

What is in Plasma-Lyte 56 and 5% Glucose Infusion

The active components are Sodium Chloride, Potassium Acetate, Magnesium Acetate, and Glucose-anhydrous.

The other ingredients are water for injections and hydrochloric acid.

Manufacturer

Name and address of sponsor

Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd
1 Baxter Drive
Old Toongabbie NSW 2146

AUST R number

AUST R 19441

Date of preparation:

December 2014

Published by MIMS August 2017