C1-Esterase Inhibitor Human Injection
C1-esterase inhibitor human injection (Cinryze, Haegarda) is used to prevent swelling and painful attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE; an inherited condition that causes episodes of swelling in the hands, feet, face, airway, or intestines) in adults and children 6 years of age or older. C1-esterase inhibitor human injection (Berinert) is used to treat acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in adults and children who have symptoms affecting the stomach, intestines, face, throat, and airway. C1-esterase inhibitor human is in a class of medications called complement inhibitors. It works by replacing C1-esterase inhibitor that is normally produced by the body and that helps control inflammation and swelling.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
C1-esterase inhibitor human (Haegarda) comes as a powder in a vial to be mixed with a liquid to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). C1-esterase inhibitor human (Berinert, Cinryze) comes as a powder in a vial to be mixed with a liquid to inject intravenously (into a vein). For the prevention of swelling and painful attacks of hereditary angioedema, C1-esterase inhibitor human injection is usually injected intravenously (Cinryze) over a period of 5 or 10 minutes or subcutaneously (Haegarda) every 3 to 4 days. For the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, C1-esterase inhibitor human injection (Berinert) is usually injected intravenously when needed, according to your doctor’s directions. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use C1-esterase inhibitor human injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
You may receive your of C1-esterase inhibitor human injection in your doctor’s office or your doctor may allow you or a caregiver to perform the injections at home. If you using C1-esterase inhibitor human injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you or a caregiver how to mix and inject a dose of the medication at home. Before you use C1-esterase inhibitor human injection for the first time, you and the person who will be giving the injections should read the manufacturer’s information for the patient that comes with it. These instructions describe how to mix and inject a dose of C1-esterase inhibitor human. Be sure that you understand these directions. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to mix or inject the medication or how to dispose of used needles and syringes after you inject the medication.
You may receive your of C1-esterase inhibitor human injection in your doctor’s office or your doctor may allow you or a caregiver to perform the injections at home. If you using C1-esterase inhibitor human injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you or a caregiver how to mix and inject a dose of the medication at home. Before you use C1-esterase inhibitor human injection for the first time, you and the person who will be giving the injections should read the manufacturer’s information for the patient that comes with it. These instructions describe how to mix and inject a dose of C1-esterase inhibitor human. Be sure that you understand these directions. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to mix or inject the medication or how to dispose of used needles and syringes after you inject the medication.
You should mix the medication right before you plan to inject it. However, you may mix the medication in advance, store it at room temperature, and use within 8 hours (Berinert, Haegarda) or within 3 hours (Cinryze). Be sure that the medication is at room temperature before you inject it.
If you are using C1-esterase inhibitor human (Haegarda), inject the medication under the skin of your stomach area. Do not inject C1-esterase inhibitor human (Haegarda) into the navel or into any scarred, reddened, irritated, itchy, painful, or bruised areas of skin. Also, do not inject into areas with scars or stretch marks. Choose a different area (at least 2 inches away from your previous injection) for each injection.
Once you do get to see the doctor, don’t be surprised if you’re rushed out of the exam room before you get all of your questions answered, according to healthcare staffing agency Staff Care. Studies show that 41% of ophthalmologists spend just 9 to 12 minutes with a patient, and 13- to 16-minute appointments are the norm for 40% of cardiologists, 37% of pediatricians, 35% of urologists, 35% of family physicians, 34% of obstetricians and gynecologists and 30% of otolaryngologists.
If you are using C1-esterase inhibitor human (Berinert) to treat an acute attack of hereditary angioedema, you should call your doctor immediately or seek medical care at a healthcare facility. If you are using C1-esterase inhibitor human (Cinryze, Haegarda) to prevent swelling and painful attacks of hereditary angioedema, be sure to talk to your doctor about what you should do if you have an acute attack of hereditary angioedema.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.