nadroparin calcium
19,000 IU anti-Xa / mL solution for injection
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Fraxiparine Forte injections. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Fraxiparine Forte against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the injection. You may need to read it again.
What Fraxiparine Forte is used for
Fraxiparine Forte belongs to a group of medicines called Low Molecular Weight Heparins.
Fraxiparine Forte is used to treat existing blood clots that are blocking blood vessels.
It is a medicine that works by delaying the action by which blood clots form. This results in the blood remaining thin and prevents formation of clots which may become lodged in blood vessels and treats blood clots if they have already formed.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
There is not enough information to recommend how the use of this medicine can affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine for patients aged less than 18 years. Therefore, Fraxiparine Forte is not recommended for use in children or adolescents.
Before you use Fraxiparine Forte
When you must not use it
Do not use Fraxiparine Forte if you have an allergy to:
- any medicine containing nadroparin calcium
- heparin or low-molecular weight heparins
- any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath
- wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not use Fraxiparine Forte if you:
- have had thrombocytopenia (a low blood platelet count) due to using Fraxiparine Forte before
- have an increased risk of bleeding or a bleeding disorder
- have a history of ulcers in the stomach or intestine
- have had a burst blood vessel in your brain
- have infective endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart)
- have severe kidney failure and are being treated for a blood clot
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the carton or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved. It is not known whether Fraxiparine Forte can harm your baby if used during pregnancy.
Do not breast-feed if you are taking this medicine. The active ingredient in Fraxiparine Forte can pass into breast milk. The effect on the baby is not known; therefore Fraxiparine Forte should not be used when you are breast-feeding.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions or procedures:
- an increased risk of bleeding including:
– liver problems or liver failure
– very high blood pressure
– history of stomach ulcers
– bleeding disorders
– disorder of the blood vessels in the eye
– recent surgery of the brain, spinal cord or eye - kidney disease
- problems with your heart including angina or heart attack
- high potassium levels in the blood
- diabetes
- metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood)
- thrombocytopenia (a low blood platelet count)
- a recent or planned spinal or epidural injection (an injection around the spinal cord)
- an allergy to latex, as the needle shield of the syringe may contain latex
- dead skin tissue (cutaneous necrosis) around injection sites
Tell your doctor if you are elderly or aged less than 18 years.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Fraxiparine Forte.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Fraxiparine Forte may interfere with each other. These include:
- aspirin or other medicines used to reduce pain and inflammation (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or salicylates)
- ticlopidine or other medicines used to thin the blood and prevent it from clotting (oral anticoagulants and anti-platelet agents)
- corticosteroids (medicines used to reduce inflammation)
- dextrans (medicines used to thin the blood)
- ACE inhibitors (medicines used to treat high blood pressure and some other heart conditions)
These medicines may be affected by Fraxiparine Forte or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How Fraxiparine Forte is given
The dose of Fraxiparine Forte you will need will depend on why you are being treated with Fraxiparine Forte and also on your body weight.
If you are injecting this medicine yourself you will be instructed by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist on how to prepare and give the injection subcutaneously (under the skin). Use it exactly as prescribed and do not exceed the prescribed dosage.
How much to take and how long to take Fraxiparine Forte for
Treatment of existing blood clots:
For the treatment of existing blood clots, Fraxiparine Forte will be given by an injection subcutaneously (under the skin) once daily for 10 days. The dose will be calculated by your doctor according to your body weight.
If you have moderate or severe kidney impairment, you may need a reduced dose.
Follow your doctor’s instructions on how much Fraxiparine Forte should be taken.
How to self administer Fraxiparine Forte
In some cases, you may be allowed to treat yourself with Fraxiparine Forte. You should follow the guidelines below to make sure that you inject Fraxiparine Forte properly. You should speak with your doctor if you have any concerns about how to give the injection. Most people, however, will be given the injection by a nurse or doctor.
Removal of packaging prior to injection:
To divide the syringes, carefully fold the twin pack several times, so that the syringes are back to back, then slowly using an even pressure divide the two syringes starting from the plunger end of the pack.
To remove the syringe from its plastic packaging, gently tear the top backing film completely from the plastic tray (starting from the plunger end), then allow the syringe to roll onto the palm of your other hand. The rubber cap over the needle may appear to be off-centre on the syringe, however, this occurs during packaging and does not mean that the needle is bent.
Preparation of syringe for subcutaneous injection:
To remove the cap from the syringe needle:
- hold the syringe vertically (grey cap uppermost)
- hold the grey cap by its collar, and the syringe barrel in your other hand, then slowly rotate the syringe barrel gently pulling downwards at the same time, until the needle is fully withdrawn from the cap
- do not pull the cap upwards from the syringe – this may bend the needle
Hold the syringe vertically with the needle uppermost and ensure the air bubble is at the top of the syringe. Advance the plunger to the volume/dosage required, expelling air and any excess.
Method for subcutaneous administration:
- A suitable site for injection is the skin on the lower part of the stomach, away from any wound or joints. Alternatively injection may be made into the thigh.
- Pinch a skin fold. Note: the use of alcohol may toughen the skin, making later injection difficult.
- Maintain the fold and insert the needle vertically to its full depth then inject Fraxiparine Forte over 10 to 15 seconds. There may be a small air bubble in the barrel of the syringe but this does not have to be removed.
- Still holding the skin fold, withdraw the needle vertically. Do not rub the site of injection.
- After the injection is given, install the safety system on the Fraxiparine Forte syringe and dispose of carefully.
Any unused portion of Fraxiparine Forte should be disposed of at once.
Fraxiparine Forte is not intended for injection directly into muscle or into a vein.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Fraxiparine Forte.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Increased or excessive bleeding is the major sign of overdose. Overdose may be treated by reducing or delaying the next doses of Fraxiparine Forte or in more serious cases, a drug called protamine sulphate can partly reverse the effect of Fraxiparine Forte.
While you are using Fraxiparine Forte
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Fraxiparine Forte.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Things you must not do
Do not take Fraxiparine Forte to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Fraxiparine Forte affects you.
Side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while being treated with Fraxiparine Forte.
Like other medicines, Fraxiparine Forte can cause some side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention 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.
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
More common side effects:
- small blood clot under the skin at the injection site
- abnormal bleeding
- injection site reactions
Less common side effects:
- rash, hives, redness or itching around the injection site
- calcium deposits at the injection site
- dead skin tissue (cutaneous necrosis) at the injection site
Your doctor may monitor you with blood tests for:
- high levels of proteins
- high levels of potassium
- low platelet count or raised white blood cell count
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- allergic reactions such as skin rash, swelling of the face including mouth, lips and/or tongue, throat, wheezing or shortness of breath
- persistent painful erection of the penis (priapism)
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using it
Storage
Fraxiparine Forte should be stored below 25°C. Do not freeze. Do not refrigerate, as cold injections may be painful.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
Use Fraxiparine Forte once only and discard any unused portion of each syringe.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Fraxiparine Forte is a sterile solution for subcutaneous injection.
Fraxiparine Forte is presented as 0.6 mL, 0.8 mL and 1.0 mL graduated syringes in packs of 2, 6 and 10 syringes.
Ingredients
Fraxiparine Forte contains nadroparin calcium 19,000IU anti-Xa per 1.0mL as the active ingredient.
- water for injections
- calcium hydroxide or dilute hydrochloric acid
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Suppliers
Fraxiparine is supplied in Australia by:
Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd
34-36 Chandos Street
St. Leonards, 2065, NSW.
Fraxiparine® is a registered trade mark of Aspen Global Inc.
0.6 mL Syringe AUST R 67149
0.8 mL Syringe AUST R 67148
1.0 mL Syringe AUST R 67145
This leaflet was prepared in September 2017.
Version 5.0
Published by MIMS November 2017