EPOPROSTENOL SODIUM
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet?
This leaflet answers some common questions about EPOPROSTENOL SUN. It does not contain all of the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using EPOPROSTENOL SUN against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What EPOPROSTENOL SUN is used for
It is used to treat some types of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH is characterised by high blood pressure in the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs, and increased resistance in the blood vessels of the lung. The cause of PAH is not known, however there are a number of diseases such as scleroderma that are associated with PAH. EPOPROSTENOL SUN belongs to a group of medicines called prostaglandins.
It works by widening the blood vessels in the lungs and so lowering the blood pressure in your lungs (known as a vasodilator action).
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why EPOPROSTENOL SUN has been prescribed for you.
EPOPROSTENOL SUN is not addictive.
Before you use EPOPROSTENOL SUN
When you must not use it
- Do not use EPOROSTENOL SUN if you have ever had an allergic reaction to epoprostenol 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. - Do not use EPOPROSTENOL SUN if you have heart disease with shortness of breath, and swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build-up.
- Do not use EPOPROSTENOL SUN after the expiry date [EXP.] printed on the pack.
If you use it after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well. - Do not use EPOPROSTENOL SUN if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you’re not sure whether you should be using EPOPROSTENOL SUN, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to use it
You must tell your doctor if:
- you are allergic to foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines.
- you have heart disease.
- you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast-feeding.
- you are taking any medicine to prevent blood clots, such as heparin, warfarin, aspirin or other anti-inflammatory pain killers (NSAIDs).
- you are taking any medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure, or a group of medicines known as nitrates that are used to treat angina.
- you are taking digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure.
- you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
- you are on a sodium-controlled diet.
Some medicines may affect the way others work. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you what to do when using EPOPROSTENOL SUN with other medicines.
How to use EPOPROSTENOL SUN
EPOPROSTENOL SUN will be given as an intravenous infusion only, normally through a permanently fitted intravenous catheter (during initial treatment a ‘peripheral line’ may be used which is a non-permanent catheter).
Before it is used, it must be dissolved only in sterile water for injection or sodium chloride 0.9% solution for injection.
How much to use
Initial treatment with EPOPROSTENOL SUN will be carried out in a hospital. Your doctor will start you on an infusion and slowly increase the dose (every 15 minutes) to find the most effective or largest dose you can tolerate.
During this part of the treatment you will also learn about how your body reacts to EPOPROSTENOL SUN.
Your doctor will then continue the infusion based on this dose, and may increase or decrease your infusion rate depending on your response to the treatment. All changes should be done gradually and under the direction of a doctor, except in emergency situations.
If you develop pulmonary oedema (water in the lungs) during this time, your doctor may choose not to treat you with EPOPROSTENOL SUN.
How to use it
EPOPROSTENOL SUN will be given to you as continuous intravenous infusion only, normally through a permanently fitted intravenous catheter through a pump.
There are only certain pumps which can be used. Your doctor will make sure you are using the right one.
Your doctor or nurse will have shown you how to keep your catheter clean, and the area around it clean and free from infection. They will also show you how to prepare and administer EPOPROSTENOL SUN and how to stop treatment if necessary. It is very important you follow their instructions carefully.
Use a vial once only and then discard.
How long to use it
Use it for as long as your doctor advises you to.
It is generally used over a prolonged period of time, possibly years.
It should not be stopped suddenly. Symptoms of suddenly stopping it include dizziness, weakness and difficulty breathing.
If you use too much (overdose)
As EPOPROSTENOL SUN has vasodilatory action, overdose may lead to low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, facial flushing, headache and fast heart beat.
In hospital, the effects are monitored carefully by your doctor. In the unlikely event that you receive too much, appropriate action, such as reducing the dose can be taken promptly.
If you are using EPOPROSTENOL SUN at home and you think you have used too much, immediately telephone your doctor or the nearest hospital casualty department, even if there are no signs of discomfort. You may need urgent medical attention.
You can also call the Poison Information Centre at 13 11 26 for advice. Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
While you are using EPOPROSTENOL SUN
Things you must do
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are using EPOPROSTENOL SUN if you are about to start on any new medicines.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breast feed.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Things you must not do
Do not stop using or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use EPOPROSTENOL SUN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
It must only be administered using the equipment and materials provided by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. These must not be substituted.
Things to be careful of
As with many other medicines, EPOPROSTENOL SUN may cause dizziness/ drowsiness/tiredness in some people.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you. If you are affected, do not drive or operate machinery.
Side-Effects
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking EPOPROSTENOL SUN, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet. Like other medicines, it can cause side effects in some people.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to it while you are receiving it, TELL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. Symptoms usually include some or all of the following:
- wheezing
- swelling of the lips/mouth
- difficulty in breathing
- hay fever
- lumpy rash (“hives”)
- fainting
Tell your doctor at once if you experience any of the following while you are receiving EPOPROSTENOL SUN:
- fever
- fatigue
- chills/flu-like symptoms
- facial flushing or paleness
- fast heart beat
- shortness of breath
- diarrhoea
- feeling or being sick
- wind or tummy discomfort
- anxiety, nervousness and agitation
- dizziness, especially on standing
- headaches
- dry mouth
- rash
- decreased or increased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin
- tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
- chest pain and tightness
- reddening and pain at the infusion site
- sweating
- jaw, muscle and/or back pain
- Bleeding: any bleeding can be serious, if this occurs you should contact your doctor
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side-effects. You may not experience any of them.
This is not a complete list of all possible side-effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side-effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor if you don’t understand anything in this list.
EPOPROSTENOL SUN may affect your blood sugar levels, heart rate or blood pressure during infusion. Your doctor will monitor these.
It is very important to keep the area around the intravenous catheter clean, otherwise infection of the skin at the site of injection may result, which can then spread into your blood (known as septicaemia).
During administration of EPOPROSTENOL SUN the intravenous catheter may become blocked. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if this happens.
Storing EPOPROSTENOL SUN
Storage
Keep this medicine where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep EPOPROSTENOL powder in a cool, dry place where it stays below 25°C. Protect from light by keeping them in their cartons until use.
Do not store EPOPROSTENOL SUN powder in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave them in the car or on window sills.
Do not freeze EPOPROSTENOL SUN at any time.
The reconstituted solution should be immediately further diluted to final concentration. EPOPROSTENOL SUN diluted to the final concentration in the drug delivery reservoir as directed can be stored for up to 8 days at 2° to 8°C. Do not expose this solution to direct sunlight.
Discard any unused solution after this time.
Do not use it if you notice any particles in the reconstituted solution.
Product description
What EPOPROSTENOL SUN looks like
It is a sterile lyophilized white to off-white powder supplied in a clear glass vial with the rubber stopper and an aluminium flip-off cap. Each pack contains one vial. The 500 µg vial has an orange flip-off cap and the 1.5 mg vial has a purple flip-off cap. The vial stopper is not made with natural rubber latex.
Ingredients
EPOPROSTENOL SUN contains the active ingredient epoprostenol, as the sodium salt. It also contains sucrose, glycine, and sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment).
Supplier
EPOPROSTENOL SUN is supplied by: Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd Macquarie Park Sydney NSW 2113, Australia.
Further Information
This leaflet was prepared in xxxx
EPOPROSTENOL SUN 500 µg- AUST R 292849
EPOPROSTENOL SUN 1.5 mg AUST R 292847
Published by MIMS November 2021