Consumer Information for: RAPIVAB

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

RAPIVAB is used to treat flu symptoms in patients 18 years of age and older. It is to be used when symptoms have been present for 2 days or less.

  • RAPIVAB is given as one intravenous injection (e.g. into a vein) by a healthcare professional. RAPIVAB does not take the place of a flu vaccination. You should continue to get your an annual flu vaccination, as recommended by your healthcare professional.

What it does

RAPIVAB works by blocking the production of a substance needed for the flu virus to spread. This reduces the infection.

What the medicinal ingredient is

In addition to the active ingredient, peramivir, RAPIVAB contains water for injection and sodium chloride (i.e. salt).

What dosage form it comes in

RAPIVAB is available as a clear solution in a vial containing 10 mg/mL (200 mg / 20 mL vial) of solution. Your health care professional will prepare your appropriate dose of RAPIVAB for intravenous injection.

When it should not be used

You are hypersensitive (allergic) to this drug.

Warnings and precautions

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before he or she administers RAPIVAB. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if:

  • you have kidney trouble or if you are receiving regular dialysis treatments.
  • you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
  • you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.

Other warnings you should know about:

  • The use of RAPIVAB in children 18 years of age or less has not been established.

Tell your healthcare professional about all medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

Interactions with this medication

No interactions with other drugs have been identified, following laboratory studies with rimantidine (another drug given by mouth to treat flu), oseltamivir (another drug given by mouth to treat flu), oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and probenecid (a drug used to treat gout).

Proper use of this medication

RAPIVAB treatment should begin within 2 days of the start of flu symptoms. It is given only by a healthcare professional as an intravenous injection over 15 to 30 minutes.

Usual dose

The recommended adult dose is 600 mg as a single intravenous injection. You should receive a smaller dose if you have moderate to severe kidney disease.

Overdose

There have been no reports of overdosage with RAPIVAB.

In the event of an overdose of RAPIVAB, your healthcare professional will monitor your vital signs, observe how you are doing, and administer supportive care as needed.
Side effects and what to do about them

This is not a complete list of side effects. If you have a side effect not listed here, then:

  • Contact your healthcare professional.
  • See the warnings under the `To help avoid side effects` section.

Common side effects include: diarrhea

Other side effects include: rash

Serious side effects and what to do about them.
Symptom / effect Talk to your healthcare professional Only if severe Talk to your healthcare professional In all cases
Serious skin reactions, such as:
  • severe blistering, peeling skin, mouth sores, with fever and fatigue (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)

  • inflamed, reddened and raised skin and blisters (erythema multiforme)
   ✔
✔
Liver problems with symptoms such as:
  • yellow skin and yellowing of the whites of the eyes

  • abdominal pain
   ✔
✔
Effects in the brain such as:
  • delirium

  • abnormal behaviour
   ✔
✔
Kidney failure with symptoms such as:
  • difficulty or pain in urinating

  • less frequent urination

  • blood in the urine

  • brown urine

  • edema (bodyswelling)
   ✔
✔
✔
✔
✔

Talk to your healthcare professional if:
  • you have a side effect not shown above.
  • the side effect interferes with daily activity.
How to store
  • Your healthcare professional will store the vials at 20-25°C before use.
Reporting side effects

You can help improve the safe use of healthproducts for Canadians by reporting serious and unexpected side effects to Health Canada. Your report may help to identify new side effects and change the product safety information.

3 ways to report:

  • Online at MedEffect (hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index-eng.php);
  • By calling 1-866-234-2345 (toll-free, or
  • By completing a Consumer Side Effect Reporting Form and sending it by:
    • Fax to 1-866-678-6789 (toll-free) or
    • Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program
      • Health Canada, Postal Locator 1908C
      • Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
  • Postage paid labels and the Consumer Side Effect Reporting Form areavailable at MedEffect (hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/index-eng.php).

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information
  • Talk to your healthcare professional
  • Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professional andincludes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canadawebsite (hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php); the manufacturer’s website(http://www.biocryst.com) or by calling 1-800-xxx-xxxx).

This leaflet was prepared by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc..

Last revised: January 3, 2018

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