Sodium Selenate Decahydrate (467µg/2mL) Injection
Contains 100 micrograms of selenium in 2mL
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
What Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is used for
Selenium is an essential trace mineral. Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is added to intravenous solutions (IV) that are given as a source of nutrition (Total Parenteral Nutrition – TPN) for a patient unable to ingest food. It prevents a deficiency of copper, manganese and selenium by maintaining the levels of these trace elements in the blood.
This medicine is also used in the prevention of abnormal tissue growth.
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 are given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection
When you must not be given it
You should not be given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection if you have an allergy to selenium or sodium selenate decahydrate or any medicine or vitamin preparation containing sodium selenate.
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.
You should not be given this medicine if the solution is discoloured, cloudy, turbid, or a precipitate or particles are present. The solution is normally a clear, colourless solution.
You should not be given this medicine if, when added to another IV solution, it causes the IV solution to precipitate, become cloudy, turbid, discolour, or particles are visible. Sodium selenate decahydrate may not be compatible with the IV solution.
You should not be given this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack, or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you are given this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket, health food shop herbalist or naturopath. Some medicines may interfere with Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection.
This medicine should not be mixed with products containing:
- carbonates
- bicarbonates
- phosphates
- sulphates.
These medicines may be affected by Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection 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 being given this medicine.
How Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is given
This medicine must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is given by mixing it in an IV solution and then infusing it into a vein.
Your doctor will decide what dose of this medicine you will receive and how long you will receive it for. This depends on your medical condition and other factors, such as your weight.
If you are given too much (overdose)
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection must only be given by a nurse or doctor so an overdose is not likely to occur.
Symptoms of an overdose are similar to side effects but may be more severe.
The symptoms of a side effect are listed under Side effects.
The amount of selenium in your blood will be monitored.
While you are being given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you have been given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you have been given this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you have been given this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you have been given 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. Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Things to be careful of
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection. This medicine helps most people with low levels of selenium in their bodies, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. 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 list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor or nurse immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital:
- garlic odour on the breath
- hair loss
- changes in the fingernails
- diarrhoea
- dermatitis
- tiredness, light-headedness
- irritability
- numbness or weakness of the arms or legs.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After being given Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection
Storage
This medicine will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward of a hospital. The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
A doctor or trained nurse will open this medicine for use in your IV bag. It will be opened for use on you. It will be used only once and then it will be discarded. It will never be stored after it is opened or used for more than one person.
Product description
What it looks like
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is a clear, colourless to faintly straw coloured, particle-free solution in a clear glass vial sealed with a grey rubber stopper and aluminium seal with a plastic flip off cap.
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is available in a 2mL vial.
Ingredients
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection 2mL vial contains 0.467mg sodium selenate decahydrate in 2mL of water for injections.
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine, azo dyes or preservatives.
Manufacturer
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection is made in Australia by:
Phebra Pty Ltd
19 Orion Road
Lane Cove West NSW 2066
Australia
Sodium Selenate Decahydrate Injection 100 micrograms/2mL of selenium, 2mL vial.
AUST R 22868
Phebra product code INJ091
This leaflet was amended in May 2014.
Phebra and the Phi symbol are trademarks of Phebra Pty Ltd.
Published by MIMS November 2014
