Fomepizole Injection
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about Antizol. It does not contain all the information that is known about Antizol.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you being given Antizol against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Antizol is used for
Antizol belongs to a group of medicines called antidotes.
Antizol is used to treat ethylene glycol and methanol poisoning.
Antizol helps to restore your blood levels of ethylene glycol and/or methanol to normal.
Your doctor may have administered this medicine for another reason.
Your doctor will explain why you are being treated with Antizol and tell you what dose you are being given.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Antizol has been administered to you.
Antizol is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription
Before you are given Antizol
When you must not be given it
You must not be given Antizol if you have been drinking alcohol excessively.
You should not be given Antizol if you have ever experienced an anaphylactic reaction with Antizol or other pyrazoles.
Antizol should not be used if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
Before you use it
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
The effect of ANTIZOL in pregnant women is not known. Therefore the use of ANTIZOL in pregnant women is not recommended.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
It is not known whether ANTIZOL passes into breast milk. If you are breast feeding, your doctor may advise you to stop breastfeeding while you are using this medicine.
Taking other medicines
Antizol can significantly reduce the rate of elimination of ethanol and vice versa. For this reason, you should not be given Antizol if you have been drinking alcohol to excess.
Antizol may interact with medicines that increase or decrease the effect of phenytoin, carbamazepine, cimetidine, ketoconazole and other similar medicines, although this has not been studied.
How Antizol is given
Antizol is given as a slow intravenous infusion into a vein.
Antizol must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor will decide what dose and for how long you will receive Antizol. This depends on your condition and other factors.
To begin treatment, 15 mg/kg of Antizol is given as a slow intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.
Your serum levels of ethylene glycol and/or methanol will be monitored during the treatment.
If you are given too much
The doctor giving you Antizol will be experienced in administration of antidotes, so it is unlikely that you will be given an overdose.
However, if you are accidentally given an overdose of Antizol, you may have nausea, dizziness or vertigo. These are usually short-lived.
Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose. Ask your doctor if you have any concerns.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Antizol.
Antizol helps most people with ethylene glycol and/or methanol intoxication, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
If you have any questions, please talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- Hangover
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Feeling drunk
- Facial flush
- Speech/visual disturbances, including temporary blurred vision
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Back pain
- Pain or burning along the length of a vein
- Vein being hard and cord like
- Fainting
- Seizures
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Decreased appetite
- Agitation/anxiety
- Pharyngitis
- Rash
- Abnormal smell
- Roar in ear
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Bad or metallic taste
- Cough
- Vertigo
- Sweating or feeling of warmth
- Rapid involuntary eye movements
- Heart rate increase or decrease
- Blood pressure increase or decrease
- Confusion
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- Signs of kidney problems such as painful urination, difficulty urinating or lower back pain
- Signs of anaemia such as paleness, coldness, clamminess or fatigue
- Easy bruising
The above list includes serious side effects, which may require medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor or nurse immediately, or go to emergency department at your nearest hospital:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; selling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin
Some people may get other side effects while being given Antizol that are not present on this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After being given Antizol
Storage
Antizol will be stored in the pharmacy ward.
Product is for single use in one patient only. Discard any residue.
The injection is kept in a cool, dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Product Description
What Antizol looks like
Antizol is a clear to yellow liquid at room temperature. It may present as a solid at lower temperatures.
Ingredients
Each vial of Antizol contains 1.5 g of fomepizole. The vials are packed under nitrogen but do not contain any other excipients.
Sponsor
In Australia
AFT Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
113 Wicks Road
North Ryde
NSW 2113
In New Zealand
AFT Pharmaceuticals Ltd,
Auckland.
Australian Registration Number AUST R 263913
This leaflet was prepared in November 2016
Published by MIMS December 2017