Mecasermin injection

What is this medication?

MECASERMIN (ME ka SER min) is a man-made growth factor. It is used to increase growth in children who are short for their age. It is only for children whose bodies do not make enough growth factor. It is not used if the child has finished growing and his or her bone growth plates have closed.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Increlex

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• cancer
• diabetes
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• sleep apnea or loud snoring
• scoliosis
• thyroid disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to mecasermin, benzyl alcohol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or other preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medication is injected under the skin. You will be taught how to prepare and give it. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. The doses should be given about 20 minutes before or after a snack or a meal. Skip the dose if your child cannot or will not eat. It is important that your child eat well and not skip meals. It is important to follow the directions given to you by your care team.

Always check the appearance of your medication before using it. It should be clear and colorless like water. Do not use this medication if it is cloudy, thickened, colored, or has solid particles in it. Do not use any medication that has been frozen or has been open for more than 30 days.

It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or care team to get one.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years of age for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or health care professional for advice. Do not try to make up missed doses or use double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medication?

• other forms of growth hormone
• medicines for diabetes
• steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress.

Dangerously low blood sugar can occur when this medicine is injected and no food is eaten within 20 minutes. Checking and recording your blood sugar is very important when you start this medicine and whenever the dose is changed. Avoid participating in any high-risk activities like driving within 2 to 3 hours after a dose until a well-tolerated dose of this medicine has been established.

Learn how to check your blood sugar. Learn the symptoms of low blood sugar and how to manage them. Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once. If a child becomes unresponsive, you may need to administer an injection of glucagon. Make sure you understand how to do this before starting therapy with this medicine.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• ear pain or discharge
• joint pain
• leg, hip or knee pain
• seizures
• signs and symptoms of low blood sugar such as feeling anxious; confusion; dizziness; increased hunger; unusually weak or tired; sweating; shakiness; cold; irritable; headache; blurred vision; fast heartbeat; loss of consciousness
• swelling of the tonsils, irregular breathing during sleep, or snoring
• symptoms of increased pressure in the head such as continued or severe headache; nausea; vomiting; changes in vision or eye pain
• walking with a limp

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• increase or decrease in fat under the skin near where injected
• muscle pain
• pain or swelling at site where injected

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store in the refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees C (35 and 46 degrees F). Do not freeze. Protect from light. Once opened, vials must be discarded after 30 days. Throw away any unopened medicine after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.