Atracurium besilate Medsurge

Atracurium besilate Medsurge

Active ingredient(s): atracurium besilate

---

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Atracurium besilate Medsurge. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Atracurium besilate Medsurge.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Atracurium besilate Medsurge?
2. What should I know before I use Atracurium besilate Medsurge?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Atracurium besilate Medsurge?
5. What should I know while using Atracurium besilate Medsurge?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Atracurium besilate Medsurge?

Atracurium besilate Medsurge contains the active ingredient atracurium besilate. Atracurium besilate belongs to a group of medicines called neuromuscular blockers. Atracurium besilate works by blocking the effects of one of the body’s chemical messengers called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is involved in muscle contraction.

Atracurium besilate is a highly selective, competitive or non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agent which is used as an adjunct to general anaesthesia to enable tracheal intubation to be performed and to relax skeletal muscles during surgery or controlled ventilation, and to facilitate mechanical ventilation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

2. What should I know before I use Atracurium besilate Medsurge?

Do not use Atracurium besilate Medsurge if:

• you are allergic to atracurium besilate, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  Symptoms of an allergic reaction may be mild or severe. They usually include some or all of the following:
  wheezing, swelling of the lips/mouth, difficulty in breathing, hayfever, lumpy rash (“hives”) or fainting.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have had any adverse reactions during an operation.
• have had any type of allergic reaction to muscle relaxants, or to any medicines used during an operation.
• are allergic to any other medicines or any other substance, such as foods, dyes or preservatives.
• if you or a relative have had previous difficulties with anaesthetics.
• you have or have ever had any of the following medical conditions:
  – asthma or any other breathing disorders
  – heart disease
  – kidney, liver disease or disease of the nervous system e.g. myaesthenia gravis

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of being given Atracurium besilate if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are given Atracurium besilate Medsurge.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Atracurium besilate may be affected by other medicines such as:

• antibiotics
• drugs for the heart
• blood pressure tablets
• magnesium
• lithium
• other muscle blockers (e.g. hexamethonium) and anaesthetics.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Atracurium besilate Medsurge.

4. How do I use Atracurium besilate Medsurge?

Atracurium besilate Medsurge can be given into a vein in two ways:

• as an injection, or
• as a slow infusion.

Atracurium besilate Medsurge will be administered by an anaesthetist or other doctor with special training. You will never be expected to give yourself this medication. The dosage will vary according to many factors such as your body weight and the type of operation you have.

5. What should I know while using Atracurium besilate Medsurge?

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Atracurium besilate affects you.

If you are discharged early, following treatment with Atracurium besilate or any other anaesthetic agents, do not drive or operate machinery.

Looking after your medicine

Atracurium besilate Medsurge should be stored by the hospital’s pharmacy between 2° and 8°C and protected from light. Do not freeze.

Once removed from the fridge, the ampoules may be stored below 25°C, protected from light for up to 1 week only, provided the product is used before the printed expiry date. Thereafter discard the ampoules.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems after receiving atracurium besilate, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects	What to do
skin flushing lowering of blood pressure changes in heart rate either increased or decreased tight breathing allergic reactions skin rash seizures (in certain patients) muscle weakness	Call your doctor or nurse straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Atracurium besilate Medsurge contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	atracurium besilate
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	benzenesulfonic acid, water for injections
Potential allergens	None

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Atracurium besilate Medsurge looks like

Atracurium besilate Medsurge is clear, slightly yellow solution supplied in glass ampoules contains Atracurium besilate 25 mg/2.5 mL with pack size 5 x 2.5 mL ampoules (Aust R 400346).

Atracurium besilate Medsurge is clear, slightly yellow solution supplied in glass ampoules contains Atracurium besilate 50 mg/5 mL with pack size 5 x 5 mL ampoules (Aust R 400347).

Who distributes Atracurium besilate Medsurge

Medicianz Healthcare Pty Ltd
Unit 1&2, 6-7 Gilda Court
Mulgrave, Victoria 3170

Marketed and Distributed by Medsurge Healthcare.

Telephone: 1300 788 261
Website: www.medsurgehc.com

This leaflet was prepared in November 2023.