Primacor

Primacor Injection

Milrinone Lactate

CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

Please read this leaflet before you start taking this medicine

This leaflet answers some common questions about Primacor injections. It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

All medicines have benefits and risks. In deciding to give you Primacor your doctor has weighed the risks of taking Primacor against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.

If you have any concerns about this medicine ask your doctor.

Primacor is used for the short term treatment of severe congestive heart failure. This is a condition where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body. The symptoms of this condition include weakness, breathlessness, fluid build-up in the tissues and a blue discolouration of the skin.

Primacor also helps to maintain the output of blood from the heart in patients following heart surgery.

Primacor helps improve the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood around your body.

Primacor works by increasing the force by which your heart muscles work and opening up your blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely.

You should not use Primacor if you are allergic to milrinone, similar medicines, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

The symptoms of an allergic reaction may include a rash, asthma attack or hay fever.

You should not use Primacor if you have certain severe problems (obstructive aortic or pulmonary valvular disease).

Primacor should not be given if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

It is not known whether Primacor can harm your baby or whether it is found in breast milk.

You must tell your doctor if:

you suffer from kidney disease

you already suffer from another heart condition

you are allergic to other drugs used to treat congestive heart failure.

You should talk to your doctor if you are using any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription.

These medicines may be affected by Primacor or affect the way that Primacor works.

If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before Primacor is given to you.

Primacor is usually given to you in hospital. It is given to you as a series of injections as follows:

Adults:

Initial Dose

One injection given slowly over a 10 minute period.

Second Dose

The Primacor will be diluted with intravenous fluids and injected slowly into a vein. This “infusion” may last up to 48 hours. The dose used will depend upon the severity of your condition.

Primacor is not recommended for use in children.

Too high a dose of Primacor may cause low blood pressure. If this occurs, the dose of Primacor may be reduced or the infusion temporarily stopped.

Tell your doctor as soon as you do not feel well while Primacor is being given to you.

Primacor helps most people with severe congestive heart failure, but it may have unwanted effects in some people.

All medicines have side effects. Some times they are serious, most of the time they are not.

Effects you may feel during the Primacor injection include:

An irregular heartbeat

Low blood pressure

Light headedness, dizziness

Chest pain

Headaches

Skin rashes

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

If you need to store Primacor make sure it is in a cool dry place where the temperature does not exceed 30°C.

Do not refrigerate.

This is not all the information available on Primacor. If you have any more questions or are not sure about anything ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Primacor is a clear colourless to pale yellow solution.

A box contains 10 ampoules.

Each Primacor 10 mL ampoule contains:

Active Ingredient

Milrinone Lactate 1mg/mL

Other ingredients

Glucose

Water for Injections

Lactic acid

Sodium hydroxide

Primacor is supplied in Australia by:

sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd

12-24 Talavera Road

Macquarie Park, NSW 2113

Freecall No: 1800 818 806

Primacor is supplied in New Zealand by:

sanofi-aventis new zealand limited

Level 8, James & Wells Tower

56 Cawley Street

Ellerslie, Auckland

Freecall No: 0800 283 684

This leaflet was last revised in December 2009.

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