Emicizumab is used to prevent bleeding or reduce bleeding episodes in individuals who have a condition called haemophilia A (an inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels of a certain blood clotting protein known as factor VIII).
Emicizumab is to be injected subcutaneously (into the fatty layer under the skin, usually in the thigh, upper arm, or abdomen area).
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you. If you or a caregiver had been given the proper training on the preparation and injection techniques of this medicine, you or your caregiver may do the administration.
Remember to rotate the injection sites. Do not inject into the same area all the time. New injection sites should be at least 1.5 inches away from the previous injection site. Do not inject near the navel (belly button).
Do not administer into moles, or areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, hard, scarred, or affected by psoriasis.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of treatment depending on your condition.
Emicizumab must be used regularly for it to be effective. Continue using this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop using it unless instructed by the doctor.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Emicizumab.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
If you or a caregiver had been trained to administer this medicine and missed a dose, inject the missed dose as soon as you remember before the day of the next scheduled dose, then return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you forgot to administer your dose.
Do not use Emicizumab if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
Inform your doctor if you have thrombotic microangiopathy (a condition involving blood clots and injury to small blood vessels that may cause damage to the kidneys and other organs) or are at high risk for this condition (e.g. if you or a family member have had this condition in the past).
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while being treated with this medicine. You must use proven birth control methods during Emicizumab therapy and for at least 6 months after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
If you are going to have certain laboratory tests (e.g. blood works to measure clotting of the blood), inform your doctor that you are using this medicine.
For as long as you are using this medicine, you may need to have regular blood tests to check your body's response to the medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have blood tests.
Emicizumab may cause any of the following side effects: headache, joint or muscle pain, diarrhoea, fever, and redness, itching, bruising, or pain at the injection site.
Serious side effects may occur when this medicine is used with activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC), a medicine that controls bleeding. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- confusion, weakness, swelling of the arms and legs, yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal or back pain, reduced urination
- shortness of breath, chest pain, cough which may contain blood
- pain, swelling, and tenderness in your arm or leg accompanied by redness and warmth
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are using bypassing agents (medicines that help blood clot but work in a different way than usual clotting factor treatment) such as aPCC.
Treatment with bypassing agents should be discontinued the day before starting Emicizumab therapy.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in the refrigerator, between 2-8°C.
Do not freeze Emicizumab otherwise, it will no longer be effective and should not be used.
Protect from light.
When unopened vials are removed from the refrigerator, store them below 30°C (room temperature) for up to 7 days. Unopened vials may be returned to the refrigerator after storage at room temperature.
If you notice that the solution has changed colour or has become cloudy, do not use it. Throw it away and use a new injection.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
Sign Out
