PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Accofil 70 MU/0.5 ml (0.73 mg/ml) injectable solution and for infusion in pre-filled syringe
filgrastim
Read this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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What is Accofil
Accofil contains the active ingredient filgrastim. Filgrastim is a protein produced in the bacteriaEscherichia coliusing recombinant DNA technology. It belongs to a group of proteins called cytokines and is very similar to a natural protein (granulocytes and colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF]) produced by your own body. Filgrastim stimulates the bone marrow (the tissue where new blood cells are produced) to produce more white blood cells that help fight infections.
What is Accofil used for
Your doctor has prescribed Accofil to help your body produce more white blood cells. Your doctor will tell you why you are being treated with Accofil. Accofil is useful for several different diseases, including:
No use Accofil
Advertencias y precauciones
Consulte con su médico antes de usar Accofil:
Consult with your doctor before using Accofil:
Tell your doctor if you have:
Inform your doctor immediately during treatment with Accofil if:
experience facial or ankle swelling, blood in the urine or brown-colored urine or note that you urinate less than usual (glomerulitis).
The needle cover of the pre-filled syringe contains natural rubber (a latex derivative) that may cause an allergic reaction.
Rarely reportedinflammation of the aorta (the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body) in cancer patients and healthy donors. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, general discomfort, back pain and increased inflammatory markers. Inform your doctor if you experience these symptoms
Pérdida de respuesta a filgrastim
If you experience a loss of response or failure to maintain response with filgrastim treatment, your doctor will investigate the reasons including whether you have developed antibodies that neutralize the activity of filgrastim.
Your doctor may want to monitor you closely, see section 4 of the leaflet. If you are a patient with chronic severe neutropenia, you may have the risk of developing blood cancer (leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). You should talk to your doctor about the risks of developing blood cancer and what tests should be done. If you develop or have a risk of developing blood cancer, do not use Accofil unless your doctor tells you to. If you are a stem cell donor, you must be between 16 and 60 years old.
Tenga especial cuidado con otros productos que estimulan los leucocitos
Accofil is one of a group of products that stimulate white blood cell production. Your healthcare professional should always record the exact product you are using.
Otros medicamentos y Accofil
You should not receive Accofil within 24 hours before and 24 hours after receiving chemotherapy.
Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken other medications, including those purchased without a prescription.
Embarazo y lactancia
Accofil has not been tested in pregnant women.
It is essential to tell your doctor if:
It is unknown whether filgrastim passes into breast milk. Therefore, your doctor may decide that you should not use this medication if you are breastfeeding.
Conducción y uso de máquinas
Accofil may slightly affect your ability to drive or operate machines. This medication may cause dizziness. It is recommended to wait and see how you feel after taking Accofil and before driving or operating machines.
Accofil contiene sorbitol y sodio
This medication contains sorbitol. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If you (or your child) suffer from hereditary fructose intolerance (IHF), a rare genetic disorder, you should not receive this medication. Patients with IHF cannot break down fructose, which may cause severe adverse effects.
Consult with your doctor before receiving this medication if you (or your child) suffer from IHF or if your child cannot take sweet foods or drinks because they cause dizziness, vomiting or unpleasant effects such as swelling, stomach cramps or diarrhea.
This medication also contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per dose, i.e., it is essentially "sodium-free".
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
The amount of Accofil you need will depend on the disease for which you are taking Accofil and your body weight.
Dose
Accofil and neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells) associated with chemotherapy
The usual dose is 0.5 million units (5 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day. For example, if you weigh 60 kilograms, your daily dose will be 30 million units (300 micrograms). Treatment with Accofil usually lasts for about 14 days. However, in some types of disease, a longer treatment may be necessary, lasting up to approximately one month.
Accofil and bone marrow transplant
The usual initial dose is 1 million units (10 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day administered by infusion. For example, if you weigh 60 kg, your daily dose will be 60 million units (600 micrograms). You will usually receive your first dose of Accofil at least 24 hours after chemotherapy and at least 24 hours after receiving your bone marrow transplant. Your doctor will then check your blood to see how the treatment is working and how long it will last.
Accofil chronic and severe neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells)
The usual initial dose is 0.5 million units (5 micrograms) and 1.2 million units (12 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day in a single dose or divided dose. Your doctor will then check your blood to see how well your Accofil treatment is working and to find the most suitable dose for you. Long-term treatment with Accofil is required for the reduction of neutropenia.
Accofil and neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells) in patients with HIV infection
The usual initial dose is 0.1 million units (1 microgram) and 0.4 million units (4 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day. Your doctor may check your blood regularly to see if the Accofil treatment is working. Once your white blood cell count has returned to normal, it may be possible to reduce the frequency of the dose to less than once a day. Long-term treatment with Accofil may be necessary to maintain a normal number of white blood cells in the blood.
Accofil and peripheral blood stem cell transplant (stem cells collected from the blood for use in bone marrow transplant)
If you are donating stem cells for yourself, the usual dose is 0.5 million units (5 micrograms) to 1 million units (10 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day. Accofil treatment will last up to 2 weeks. Your doctor will monitor your blood to determine the best time to collect the stem cells.
If you are donating stem cells for someone else, the usual dose is 1 million units (10 micrograms) per kilogram of body weight per day. Accofil treatment will last 4 to 5 days. Your doctor will perform blood tests to determine the best time to collect the stem cells.
Administration form
This medication is administered by injection, either by intravenous infusion (IV) or by subcutaneous injection (SC) in the tissue under the skin.
If you are receiving this medication by subcutaneous injection, your doctor may suggest that you learn how to administer the injections. Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions on how to do this (see below for instructions on injecting Accofil). Do not attempt to self-inject without these instructions. Part of the information you need is given at the end of this prospectus, but the proper treatment of your disease requires close and constant collaboration with your doctor.
Information for self-injection
This section contains information on how to administer Accofil to yourself. It is essential that you do not attempt to administer an injection without having received the necessary training from your doctor or nurse. If you are unsure of being able to inject or have any doubts, consult your doctor or nurse..
How do I inject Accofil??
You should administer the injection in the tissue just under the skin. This is known as a subcutaneous injection. The injection should be administered approximately at the same time every day.
Equipment needed
To administer a subcutaneous injection, you will need:
What should I do before administering a subcutaneous injection of Accofil?
Ensure that the needle cover remains on the syringe until just before you are ready to inject.
a. Remove the preloaded Accofil syringe from the refrigerator.
b. Check the expiration date indicated on the syringe (CAD). Do not use it if the date is beyond the last day of the month shown or if it has been left out of the refrigerator for more than 15 days or has expired in any other way.
c. Check the appearance of Accofil. It should be a clear and colorless liquid. If there are particles inside, do not use it.
d. To make the injection more comfortable, let the preloaded syringe stand at room temperature for 30 minutes or hold the preloaded syringe gently in your hands for a few minutes. Do not heat Accofil in any other way (for example, do not heat it in a microwave or in warm water)
e.Wash your hands carefully.
f. Find a comfortable and well-lit place and place everything you need within reach (the preloaded Accofil syringe and the alcohol-impregnated gauze).
How do I prepare the Accofil injection?
Before injecting Accofil, you should:
Never use a syringe that has been dropped onto a hard surface.
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to remove the air bubble before the injection. The injection of the solution with the air bubble is harmless.
Where should I put the injection?
The most suitable places for the injection are:
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If someone else administers the injection, you can also use the back of your forearms (see Figure 4).
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To avoid the risk of pain at a specific point, it is better to change the injection site every day.
How do I inject??
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Preloaded syringe without safety needle cover
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Preloaded syringe with safety needle cover
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Remember
If you have any doubts, ask for help and advice from your doctor or nurse.
How to dispose of used syringes
If you use more Accofil than you should
If you use more Accofil than you should, consult your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
If you forget to use Accofil
Do not administer a double dose to compensate for the missed doses. Contact your doctor to discuss when to administer the next dose.
If you interrupt Accofil treatment
Your doctor will indicate when to interrupt Accofil treatment. It is very common to have multiple cycles of Accofil treatment.
If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Inform your doctor immediately during treatment:
These may be symptoms of a rare condition (which can affect up to 1 in 100 people) called capillary leak syndrome, which causes blood to leak from the small blood vessels in the body and requires urgent medical attention.
These may be symptoms of a condition called "sepsis" (also known as
"blood poisoning"), a severe infection with a body-wide inflammatory response that can be fatal and requires urgent medical attention.
If you suffer from kidney damage (glomerulonephritis). Kidney damage has been observed in patients who have received Accofil. Call your doctor immediately if you experience swelling in the face or ankles, blood in your urine, or urine that is brown in color, or if you notice that you are urinating less than usual.
A very common side effect of Accofil use is muscle or bone pain (musculoskeletal pain), which can be relieved by taking conventional analgesics. In patients undergoing stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may occur: this is a reaction of the donor cells against the recipient; among the signs and symptoms are skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and ulcers and sores in the mouth, intestine, liver, skin, or eyes, lungs, vagina, and joints. In healthy stem cell donors, a frequent observation is an increase in white blood cells (leukocytosis) and a decrease in platelets that reduces the blood's ability to clot (thrombocytopenia); your doctor will monitor these reactions.
Very common side effects(observed in more than 1 in 10 people using Accofil):
Common side effects(observed in more than 1 in 100 people using Accofil):
Rare side effects(observed in more than 1 in 10,000 patients using Accofil):Cancer patients
veno-occlusive disease)
Rare side effects (observed in more than 1 in 10,000 patients using Accofil):
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a side effect that does not appear in this leaflet.
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through thenational notification system included in theAppendix V. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep out of sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging and on the pre-filled syringe after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month.
Store in refrigerator (between 2 °C-8 °C) Do not freeze.
The syringe can be removed from the refrigerator and left at room temperature (but not above 25ºC), for a single period of up to a maximum of 15 days and never beyond the expiration date on the label. After this period, the medication should not be refrigerated again and should be discarded..
Store the pre-filled syringe in the packaging to protect it from light.
Do not use Accofil if you observe turbidity or discoloration or if there are particles in it.
Do not place the cap on used needles, as you may accidentally prick yourself. Medications should not be thrown away through drains or in the trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Accofil
Aspect of the product and content of the packaging
Accofil is a transparent and colourless solution for injection or infusion in a pre-filled syringe marked with 1/40 printed marks of 0.1 ml to 1 ml on the syringe barrel with a needle for injection. Each pre-filled syringe contains 0.73 ml of solution.
Accofil is available in packaging of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 pre-filled syringes, with or without a safety needle guard and alcohol-impregnated gauzes.
Only some sizes of packaging may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder
Accord Healthcare S.L.U.
World Trade Center, Moll de Barcelona, s/n,
Edifici Est 6th floor,
08039 Barcelona,
Spain
Responsible for manufacturing
Accord Healthcare Limited
Sage House, 319 Pinner Road,
North Harrow,
Middlesex HA1 4HF,
United Kingdom
Accord Healthcare Polska Sp.z o.o.,
ul. Lutomierska 50,95-200 Pabianice, Poland
Accord Healthcare B.V.,
Winthontlaan 200,
3526 KV Utrecht,
Netherlands
Further information on this medicinal product can be obtained by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorisation holder:
AT / BE / BG / CY / CZ / DE / DK / EE / EL / FI / HR / HU / IS / LT / LV / LX/ MT / NL / NO / PT / PL / RO / SE / SI / SK / UK(NI) / ES | FR Accord Healthcare France SAS +33 3 20 40 17 70 |
Accord Healthcare S.L.U. Tel: +34 93 301 00 64 | IT Accord Healthcare Italia Tel: +39 02 94323700 |
Last review date of this leaflet:
The detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu
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The following information is intended only for healthcare professionals:
Accofil does not contain preservatives. Due to a possible risk of microbial contamination, the pre-filled syringes of Accofil are for single use.
Exposure to freezing temperatures up to a maximum of 48 hours does not affect the stability of Accofil. If exposure exceeds 48 hours or if it is frozen more than once, DO NOT use Accofil.
In order to improve the traceability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, the name of the product (Accofil) and the batch number of the product administered must be clearly recorded in the patient's medical history
Accofil should not be diluted with sodium chloride. This medicinal product should not be mixed with other medicinal products except for those mentioned below. The dilution of filgrastim may be adsorbed by glass and plastic materials except if it is diluted as mentioned below.
If necessary, Accofil may be diluted in 5% glucose. Dilution to a final concentration of less than 0.2 MU (2 g) per ml is not recommended at any time.
The solution must be visually inspected before use. Only solutions that are transparent and free of particles should be used.
For patients treated with filgrastim diluted to concentrations below 1.5 MU (15 g) per ml, human serum albumin (HSA) should be added to a final concentration of 2 mg/ml. Example: in a final injection volume of 20 ml, total doses of filgrastim below 30 MU (300 µg) should be administered with the addition of 0.2 ml of human serum albumin 200 mg/ml (20%).
When diluted in 5% glucose, Accofil is compatible with glass and a variety of plastics such as PVC, polyolefin (a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene) and polypropylene.
After dilution
Chemical and physical stability of the diluted infusion solution has been demonstrated for use within a maximum of 30 hours at 25 °C ± 2 °C. From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, the times and conditions of storage prior to use are the responsibility of the user, and in general, should not exceed 30 hours at 25 °C ± 2 °C, unless the dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
Use of the pre-filled syringe with a safety needle guard
The safety needle guard covers the needle after injection to prevent needlestick injuries. This does not affect the normal functioning of the syringe. Press the plunger of the syringe slowly and uniformly until all the dose has been administered, until the plunger cannot move any further. Keeping the pressure on the plunger, remove the syringe from the patient. The safety needle guard will cover the needle when the plunger is released.
Use of the pre-filled syringe without a safety needle guard
Administer the dose following the standard protocol.
Never use a pre-filled syringe that has been dropped onto a hard surface.
Disposal
The disposal of unused medicinal product and all materials that have been in contact with it will be carried out in accordance with local regulations.
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.