Prospect: information for the user
Tegsedi 284 mg injectable solution in pre-filled syringe
Inotersen
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring, which will facilitate the detection of new information about its safety. You can contribute by reporting any adverse effects you may experience. The final part of section 4 includes information on how to report these adverse effects.
Read this prospect carefully before starting to use this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
Tegsedi contains the active ingredient inotersen. Inotersen is used to treat adults with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is a genetic disease that causes the accumulation of small fibers of a protein called transthyretin in the organs of your body, preventing them from functioning correctly. Tegsedi is used when the disease causes symptoms of polyneuropathy (nerve damage).
The active ingredient in Tegsedi, inotersen, is a type of medication called an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor. It acts by reducing the production of transthyretin by the liver, thereby decreasing the risk of transthyretin fibers depositing in organs and causing symptoms.
Do not use Tegsedi:
Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Tegsedi, your doctor will evaluate your blood cells, liver function, kidney function, vitamin A levels, and urine protein levels. They may also perform pregnancy tests to ensure you have a negative result. Unless your doctor explicitly recommends it, you will only be treated with Tegsedi if all these results are within acceptable levels, and your pregnancy test is negative. Your doctor will repeat these controls regularly during treatment. It is essential to have these blood and urine tests regularly while taking Tegsedi.
Thrombocytopenia
Tegsedi may reduce the blood cells responsible for clotting (platelets), which can lead to a condition called thrombocytopenia at any time during treatment with Tegsedi (see section 4). When you do not have enough platelets, as occurs in thrombocytopenia, your blood may not clot quickly enough to stop bleeding. This can cause the formation of bruises, as well as more severe problems such as excessive bleeding or internal bleeding. Your doctor will perform blood tests to monitor platelet levels before treatment and regularly during treatment with Tegsedi. It is essential to have these blood tests regularly while taking Tegsedi due to the risk of severe bleeding caused by low platelet counts. If you stop using Tegsedi, your blood values should be checked 8 weeks after stopping the medication.
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained bruises or a rash of small red patches on the skin (called petechiae), bleeding from cuts on the skin that does not stop or oozes, nasal bleeding or bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool, or bleeding in the white part of the eyes. Seek immediate assistance if you experience stiffness in the neck or an unusual and intense headache, as these symptoms may be caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.
Glomerulonephritis/Renal problems
Glomerulonephritis is a kidney condition where the kidneys do not work properly due to inflammation and renal damage. Some patients treated with inotersen have developed this condition. The symptoms of glomerulonephritis are foam in the urine, urine that is pink or brown, blood in the urine, and urinating less than usual.
Some patients treated with inotersen have also developed a decline in kidney function without having glomerulonephritis.
Your doctor will monitor your kidney function before treatment and regularly during treatment with Tegsedi. It is essential to have these blood tests regularly while taking Tegsedi due to the risk of severe bleeding caused by low platelet counts. If you stop using Tegsedi, your kidney function should be checked 8 weeks after stopping the medication. If you develop glomerulonephritis, your doctor will treat this condition.
Vitamin A deficiency
Tegsedi may decrease your body's vitamin A levels (also known as retinol). Your doctor will measure these levels, and if they are already low, this will be corrected, and all symptoms will resolve before starting treatment with Tegsedi. The symptoms of low vitamin A include:
If you have vision problems or any other eye issues while taking Tegsedi, inform your doctor. You may be referred to an eye specialist for a check-up, if necessary.
Your doctor will ask you to take a daily vitamin A supplement during treatment with Tegsedi.
Vitamin A levels both above and below normal can harm the developing fetus. Therefore, women of childbearing age should exclude pregnancy before starting treatment with Tegsedi, and use effective contraceptive methods (see section “Pregnancy and breastfeeding” below).
If you intend to become pregnant, you will stop taking inotersen, including vitamin A supplements, and verify that your vitamin A levels have returned to normal before attempting conception.
If you have an unplanned pregnancy, you will stop taking inotersen. However, due to the prolonged activity of Tegsedi, your reduced vitamin A levels may persist. The safety of continuing 3000 IU of vitamin A per day during the first trimester of pregnancy is unknown, but this dose should not be exceeded. You will resume vitamin A supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy if your vitamin A levels have not returned to normal, due to the increased risk of vitamin A deficiency in the third trimester.
Liver damage and liver control
Tegsedi may cause severe liver problems. Before starting to take inotersen, you will need to have a blood test to check that your liver is functioning correctly. You will also need to have these blood tests regularly while taking this medication. It is essential to have these blood tests regularly while taking Tegsedi.
Rejection of liver transplant
Consult your doctor before using Tegsedi if you have received a liver transplant. Cases of liver transplant rejection have been reported in patients treated with Tegsedi. Your doctor will monitor this aspect regularly during treatment with Tegsedi.
Children and adolescents
Tegsedi should not be used in children or adolescents under 18 years old.
Other medications and Tegsedi
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication. It is essential to inform your doctor if you are already being treated with any of the following:
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medication.
Women of childbearing age
Tegsedi reduces your body's vitamin A levels, which is essential for normal fetal development during pregnancy. The safety of vitamin A supplementation to compensate for the risk of vitamin A deficiency that could affect your unborn child is unknown. If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should use effective contraceptive methods, and pregnancy should be excluded before starting treatment with Tegsedi.
Pregnancy
You should not use Tegsedi if you are pregnant, unless your doctor explicitly advises it.
Breastfeeding
Inotersen may pass into breast milk. The risk to the infant cannot be ruled out. Consult your doctor if you should interrupt breastfeeding or stop treatment with Tegsedi.
Driving and operating machinery
The use of Tegsedi has not been shown to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Tegsedi contains sodium
This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per 1.5 ml, making it essentially “sodium-free”.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
The recommended dose of Tegsedi is a dose of 284 mg of inotersen.
Doses should be administered once a week. All subsequent doses should be injected once a week, on the same day of each week.
Administration route and form
Tegsedi is only for subcutaneous injection.
Usage instructions
Before using the pre-filled syringe, your doctor will show you or your caregiver how to use it correctly. If you or your caregiver have any doubts, ask your doctor.
Read the usage instructions before starting to use the pre-filled syringe and each time the prescription is repeated, as there may be new information.
Guide to parts
Each pre-filled syringe contains a dose, and it is only for single use.
ADVERTENCIAS | |
Do notremove the needle cap from the syringe until you have reachedPaso 6of these instructions, and are ready to inject Tegsedi. Do notshare the syringe with another person or reuse the syringe. Do notuse the pre-filled syringe if it falls on a hard surface or is damaged. Do notfreeze the pre-filled syringe. If any of the above occurs, discard the pre-filled syringe in a sharps container and use a new pre-filled syringe. | |
PREPARACIÓN | |
1. Necessary supplies | |
- 1 pre-filled syringe from the refrigerator - 1 alcohol wipe (not supplied) - 1 gauze or cotton ball (not supplied) - 1 sharps container (not supplied) Do notinject the medication until you have gathered the listed items. | |
2. Preparation for use of the pre-filled syringe | |
Do not move the plunger. | |
3. Check the medication in the pre-filled syringe | |
Look at the inspection area to check that the solution is transparent and colorless or pale yellow. It is normal to see bubbles in the solution. You do not need to do anything about it. Do notuse if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles. If the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles, discard the pre-filled syringe in a sharps container (with a sharp edge), and use a new pre-filled syringe. | |
4. Select the injection site | |
Select the injection site in the abdomen (stomach) or the front of the thigh. The injection site can also be the external area of the upper arm, if Tegsedi is administered by a caregiver. Do notinject in an area within 3 cm of the navel. Do notinject in the same area each time. Do notinject if the skin is bruised, painful, red, or hard. Do notinject in tattoos, scars, or damaged skin. Do notinject through clothing. | |
5. Clean the injection site | |
Wash your hands with soap and water. Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe in a circular motion. Let the skin air dry. Do not touch the area again before injecting. | |
INYECCIÓN | |
6. Remove the needle cap | |
Hold the pre-filled syringe by the body, with the needle pointing outward. Remove the needle cap by pulling it straight off. Do not turn it. You may see a drop of liquid at the end of the needle. This is normal. Keep your hands away from the plunger to avoid pushing the plunger before you are ready to inject. Do notremove the needle cap until just before injecting. Do notpull the needle cap holding the pre-filled syringe by the plunger. Always hold the body of the syringe. Do notlet the needle touch any surface. Do notremove any bubbles from the pre-filled syringe. Do notput the needle cap back on the syringe. | |
7. Insert the needle | |
Hold the pre-filled syringe in one hand. Hold the skin around the injection site as your healthcare professional has instructed. You should pinch the skin lightly around the injection site, or apply the injection without pinching the skin. Insert the needle slowly into the selected injection site at a 90° angle until it is fully inserted. Do nothold the pre-filled syringe by the plunger, or push against the plunger to insert the needle. | |
8. Start the injection | |
Slowly and firmly push the plunger down completely until the medication has been injected. Check that the needle remains fully inserted in the injection site while injecting the medication. It is essential to push the plunger down completely. The pre-filled syringe may make a "click" sound as you push the plunger down. This is normal.Do notinterpret this as the injection being finished. The plunger may feel rigid towards the end of the injection. You may need to press a bit harder on the plunger to ensure you have pushed it down as far as possible. Do notrelease the plunger. | |
9. Push the plunger down | |
Press firmly on the plunger at the end of the injection. Hold the plunger down completely and wait5 seconds.If you release the plunger too quickly, you may lose some of the medication. The plunger will begin to rise automatically, indicating that the plunger was pushed down completely. Press again if the plunger does not start to rise automatically. | |
10. Complete the injection | |
Release the plunger slowly and let the safety spring retract the plunger automatically. Now the needle should safely retract into the pre-filled syringe, and the safety spring mechanism should be visible on the outside of the plunger. When the plunger stops, the injection is complete. If the plunger does not rise automatically when releasing the pressure, it means the safety spring was not activated, and you should press the plunger again but with more force. Do notlift the plunger with your hand. Lift the entire pre-filled syringe straight up. Do nottry to put the needle cap back on the retracted needle. Do notrub the injection site. | |
ELIMINACIÓN Y CUIDADO | |
Elimination of the used pre-filled syringe | |
After use, immediately put the used pre-filled syringe in a sharps container. Do not throw the pre-filled syringe in your household trash. |
If you use more Tegsedi than you should
Contact your doctor or pharmacist, or go to the emergency department of a hospital immediately, even if you do not have any symptoms.
If you forget to use Tegsedi
If you forget a dose of Tegsedi, administer the next dose as soon as possible, unless the next scheduled dose is within two days, in which case you should skip the missed dose and administer the next dose as scheduled.
Do nottake a double dose to compensate for missed doses.
Do notinterrupt treatment with Tegsedi unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any other questions about using this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Severe side effects
If you experience any of the following side effects, stop using Tegsedi and contact your doctor immediately:
Seek immediate assistance if you experience stiffness in the neck or an unusual and intense headache, as these symptoms may be caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.
Other side effects
Very frequent(can affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Frequent(can affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Rare(can affect up to 1 in 100 people)
-Allergic reaction
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a side effect that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the national notification system included in theAppendix V. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information about the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the box, tray, and pre-filled syringe after CAD/EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Store in refrigerator (between 2°C and 8°C).
Do not freeze.
Tegsedi can be stored without refrigeration for up to 6 weeks at a temperature below 30°C. If not refrigerated and not used within 6 weeks, the medication must be discarded.
Store in the original packaging to protect it from light.
Do not use this medication if you notice that the contents are cloudy or contain particles.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the containers and medications that you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Tegsedi
Each milliliter contains 189 mg of inotersen (as inotersen sodium). Each pre-filled syringe contains 284 mg of inotersen (as inotersen sodium) in 1.5 mL of solution.
Appearance of the product and contents of the container
Tegsedi is a transparent, colorless to pale yellow injectable solution (pH 7.5 – 8.8) in a pre-filled syringe.
Tegsedi is available in container sizes of 1 or 4 pre-filled syringes.
Only some container sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder
Akcea Therapeutics Ireland Ltd
St. James House,
72 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2
D02 Y017, Ireland
Responsible manufacturer
ABF Pharmaceutical Services GmbH
Brunnerstraße 63/18-19
1230 Vienna
Austria
Last review date of this leaflet: 11/2023
The detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu.
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