patient information leaflet hbvaxpro 40mcg

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml, suspension for injection

Hepatitis B vaccine (rDNA)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you are vaccinated.

Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

In this leaflet:

1. What HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml is and what it is used for
2. Before you use HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml
3. How to use HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml
6. Further information

1. WHAT HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

This vaccine is indicated for active immunisation against hepatitis B virus infection caused by all known subtypes in predialysis and dialysis adult patients.

It can be expected that hepatitis D will also be prevented by immunisation with HBVAXPRO as hepatitis D (caused by the delta agent) does not occur in the absence of hepatitis B infection.

The vaccine will not prevent infection caused by other agents such as hepatitis A, hepatitis C and hepatitis E and other pathogens known to infect the liver.

2. BEFORE YOU USE HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms / ml

Do not use HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml:

if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to hepatitis B surface antigen or to any of the other ingredients of HBVAXPRO (see section 6.)
if you have a severe febrile illness

Take special care with HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml:

Pregnancy and Breast-feeding:

Caution should be exercised when prescribing to pregnant women.

Breast-feeding is not a contraindication.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines:

Some of the rare effects may affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.

Using other vaccines:

This vaccine can be administered simultaneously with hepatitis B immunoglobulin, at a separate injection site.

This vaccine can be used to complete a primary immunisation course or as a booster dose in subjects who have previously received another hepatitis B vaccine.

This vaccine can be administered concomitantly with other vaccines, using separate sites and syringes.

Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

3. HOW TO USE HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml

Posology:

The recommended dose for each injection (1 ml) is 40 micrograms for predialysis and dialysis adult patients

A course of vaccination should include three injections.

The schedule is two injections with an interval of one month followed by a third injection 6 months after the first administration (0,1,6 months).

A booster dose must be considered in these vaccinees if the antibody level against hepatitis B virus surface antigen is less than 10 IU/l.

Method of administration:

It should be well shaken until a slightly opaque white suspension is obtained.

The doctor will give the vaccine as an injection into muscle. The upper arm muscle is the preferred site for injection in adults.

This vaccine should never be given into a vein.

Exceptionally, the vaccine may be administered subcutaneously in patients with thrombocytopoenia (diminution of blood platelets) or to persons at risk of haemorrhage.

If you forget one dose of HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml:

If you miss a scheduled injection, your doctor will decide when to give the missed dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, HBVAXPRO can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

As with other hepatitis B vaccines, in many instances, the causal relationship of side effects to the vaccine has not been established.

HBVAXPRO is generally well tolerated.

The most common side effects seen are injection-site reactions: soreness, redness and hardening.

Other side effects are reported very rarely: low platelet count, lymph node disease, allergic reactions, nervous system disorders such as pins and needles, facial paralysis, nerve inflammations including Guillain-Barre Syndrome, inflammation of the nerve of the eye that leads to impaired vision, brain inflammation, exacerbation of multiple sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, convulsions, headache, dizziness and fainting, low blood pressure, blood vessel inflammation, asthma-like symptoms, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, skin reactions such as eczema, rash, hair loss, itching, hives and skin blistering, joint pain, arthritis, muscle pain, pain in extremity, fatigue, fever, vague illness, flu-like symptoms and elevations of liver enzymes.

If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

5. HOW TO STORE HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Do not use HBVAXPRO after the expiry date which is stated on the label.

Store in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C)

Do not freeze

6. FURTHER INFORMATION

What HBVAXPRO 40 micrograms/ml contains

The active substance is, for one dose of 1 ml:

Hepatitis B virus surface antigen, recombinant (HBsAg) * 40.00 micrograms

Adsorbed on amorphous aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulfate (0.50 milligram Al+)

* produced from recombinant strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain 2150-2-3)

The other ingredients are sodium chloride, borax and water for injections.

Medicine: hbvaxpro 40mcg