Serostim
(rDNA Orign) for injection instuctions
This
section explains how to give yourself a Serostim® injection.
It may seem complicated, but after you've given
yourself the first injection, it will get easier.
Serostim® injections can fairly easily
be given because Serostim® is injected
under the skin (subcutaneously). Many patients
self-inject many types of drugs subcutaneously.
This type of injection is less penetrating
than injections that are given directly into
a vein or muscle (intravenous or intramuscular
injections). If you are interested in receiving
a Serostim® injection instruction video,
please call 800-714-2437.
Your
Needle and Syringe
It's important to know all the different
pieces used in giving a subcutaneous injection – and
how they work.
Needle
You have two needle sizes. The longer needle is for mixing Serostim® and
the shorter needle is for giving yourself the injection.
Syringe Barrel
This is the plastic tube that holds the liquid to be injected. Just like
a ruler, it has lines to tell you how much liquid is inside. The tip
of the barrel should have a plastic protector.
Needle Cap
This plastic cover keeps the needle sterile and prevents accidental "sticks." Plunger
This is the rod-like piece that slides in and out of the barrel. You
should hold the end of the plunger.
Needle Hub
This is the part of the needle that connects the needle to the syringe
barrel.
Now you're ready to learn how to give yourself an injection. But, before
you begin, organize all of your injection supplies.Injection Supplies
Gather the following items when you are ready to prepare to inject your
dose:
Serostim® Vial
This vial contains the drug in a freeze-dried pellet.
Sterile Water for Injection Vial
This vial holds the sterile water that you will mix with Serostim® to
dissolve it.
Syringe
You will only need one syringe, but you will use it twice: to add sterile
water to the Serostim® vial and to give yourself the injection.
Needles
You have two needles: a longer needle to add sterile water to the Serostim® vial
and withdraw the drug prior to injection, and a shorter needle to give
yourself the injection.
Alcohol Swabs
You will use these to clean your skin where you intend to inject. You
will also use the swabs to wipe off the vial tops.
Band-Aid® or Adhesive Bandage and gauze pad (if desired)
After injecting yourself, you may want to cover the injection site with
a Band-Aid® or an adhesive bandage and gauze pad.
Make sure all the above items are still in unopened packages. If you
find a needle or syringe packet open, do not use it. Dispose of it in
your used needle/syringe box.
Used Needle/Syringe Box (Sharps Container)
Your healthcare provider or pharmacy that distributes Serostim® may
have provided you with a red safety box. You can also use a coffee can
with a snap-on lid or another strong container to create a "used
needle box." You will put used needles and syringes into it to protect
you and other people from getting stuck with them and to prevent the
spread of HIV and other infections.
Disposable Gloves
Have these ready if a friend or family member will be giving you the
injection. You do not need gloves if you'll be injecting yourself.
Now that you have organized your supplies, select a good work surface.
A bathroom or kitchen counter may be a good place. The surface should
be flat, and the room should have lots of bright light so you can see
well. Before you begin, always make sure the work area is clean and wash
your hands.Injecting Serostim (rDNA Orign) for injection)
Preparation
Remember, it is recommended to inject Serostim® right before you
go to bed. Typically more growth hormone is secreted at night than during
the day.
Step 1
Get Your Serostim® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] Injection
Supplies
Step 2
Clean the Work Surface
Step 3
Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water. If someone else is giving you the
injection, he or she should put on a pair of disposable gloves now.
Reconstitution
Step 4
Remove Flip Tops from Drug and Sterile Water
Vials
Remove the flip tops from drug and sterile water vials. Throw the tops
away. You can use your regular wastebasket.
Clean both rubber stoppers with a fresh alcohol swab. You can also throw
this swab in your regular wastebasket.
Do not touch the vial tops with your hands or gloves.
IF YOU TOUCHED THE VIAL TOPS AFTER CLEANING THEM: Simply use a new alcohol
swab to wipe off the vial tops that you touched. Then continue with the
next step in the instructions.
Step 5
Twist the Larger Needle Onto Syringe
Unwrap the syringe.
Unwrap the larger needle. Do not touch the hub of the needle where it
connects to the syringe.
Take the plastic tip protector from the syringe (if it has one).
Hold the syringe by its cap and twist tightly into place on the syringe.
Keep the needle cap on as you do this.
IF YOU TOUCH OR DROP THE HUB OF THE NEEDLE OR THE BOTTOM OF THE SYRINGE
BEFORE THEY ARE CONNECTED: Dispose of them in your red safety box. Start
over with a new needle and syringe.
Step 6
Pull Plunger/Remove Needle Cap
Pull back on the plunger in the syringe until it reaches the 1cc line
on the barrel unless your medical provider has designated a different
dose.
Keep the needle cap on the needle.
Do not touch the now exposed plunger.
Hold the syringe in one hand. Use your other hand to pull the needle
cap straight off the needle (do not twist the cap as you pull).
If the needle and the syringe come apart — and they have not touched
anything — simply twist them back together again.
If the needle and/or syringe have touched anything, dispose of them in
your red safety box. Then, simply start over again from Step 2.
Set the needle cap aside. You will need it again later.
Step 7
Fill the Syringe With Sterile Water
Place the vial of sterile water on your clean work surface.
Push the needle straight down through the middle of the rubber stopper
on top of the vial.
Push on the syringe plunger all the way down; this will push 1cc of air
into the vial. You'll feel a little pressure.
While holding the plunger down, pick up the vial and the syringe with
your other hand and turn it upside down. Now, slide the needle tip below
the level of water in the vial.
Release the plunger. The syringe barrel fills up with water by itself.
You can help it along by pulling back on the plunger until it reaches
the 1cc mark on the syringe barrel. If air bubbles get in, tap the barrel
with your fingertips, then gently push the plunger in to move the air
bubble(s) back into the vial.
When you have 1cc of water in the syringe and it's clear of air bubbles,
wiggle the vial off the needle, being careful not to touch the needle
tip. Do not put the syringe down.
Throw the empty water vial away in your regular wastebasket.
Preparing Serostim® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]
Now you will mix the sterile water with the drug provided in the Serostim® vial
to produce Serostim®. At this point, you should be holding the needle
and syringe containing 1cc of sterile water without any air bubbles.Step
8Slowly Inject the Sterile Water Against the Inner Side of the Serostim® Vial
Place the vial of Serostim® on your clean
surface.
Holding the water-filled syringe by the barrel, push the needle, at a
slight angle to the rubber stopper, all the way down into the top of
the Serostim® vial. The needle tip should rest against the wall of
the vial. Push the syringe plunger gently and slowly to allow the water
to flow down the side of the vial. Do not squirt the water onto the pellet.
This will make the drug solution foamy and hard to use.Safety Profile
Serostim® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] is the only growth
hormone approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment
of AIDS wasting or cachexia. This indication is based on the analysis
of changes in body weight and lean body mass in studies of up to 12 weeks
in duration. The continued use of Serostim® treatment should be reevaluated
in patients who continue to lose weight in the first two weeks of treatment.
Click here for Serostim® Full Prescribing Information.
Serostim®, when taken as prescribed, is generally well tolerated.
In clinical studies, 1.5% of patients stopped using Serostim® due
to drug-related side effects. The most common adverse reactions to Serostim® are
increased tissue turgor (generally swelling of hands and feet) and musculoskeletal
discomfort (pain, swelling or stiffness). Generally mild to moderate
in severity, these symptoms usually resolve spontaneously with continued
treatment or are effectively managed with analgesic therapy. When unresponsive
to symptomatic therapy, these side effects may also be managed by reducing
the total daily dose of Serostim® or the number of doses given per
week. Elevations in mean blood glucose levels can also occur. Patients
with other risk factors for glucose intolerance should be monitored closely.
Serostim® must be given with concomitant antiviral therapy. There
is no evidence of HIV replication with Serostim® therapy in the presence
of any of the currently available nucleoside analogues in vitro. In the
controlled clinical trials, no significant growth hormone-associated
increase in viral burden was observed. However, growth hormone has been
shown to increase HIV replication in some experimental systems.
Serostim® therapy should be carried out under the regular guidance
of a physician who is experienced in the diagnosis and management of
AIDS. Inadequate nutritional intake, malabsorption and hypogonadism,
which are common in individuals with AIDS and which may contribute to
catabolism and weight loss, should also be monitored and treated. Patients
should contact their physician should they experience any side effects
or discomfort during treatment with Serostim®. Serostim®, like
other growth hormones, should generally not be used in patients with
acute critical illness in intensive care units since safety has not been
established in this situation.
Rebuilding and retaining lean body mass is possible with Serostim® treatment.
Muscle, organ tissue and body fluids are components of lean body mass.
However, the impact of treatment-induced improvements in body weight
and lean body mass on survival has not been established in placebo-controlled
trials.Click
Here for information on HGH Anti Aging Treatment>>
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Serostim® Prescribing
Information
An Adobe Acrobat
file of the Serostim® Full Prescribing
Information is available for download.
The Acrobat Reader plug-in is needed
to view these files. If you do not
have this software you can download
it from the Acrobat Reader link below:
Download
the Serostim® Prescibing
Information
Download
Acrobat Reader
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Serostim® Monograph
An Adobe Acrobat
file of the Serostim® [somatropin
(rDNA origin) for injection] Monograph
is available for download. The Acrobat
Reader plug-in is needed to view
these files. If you do not have this
software you can download it from
the Acrobat Reader link below:
Download
the Serostim® Monograph
Download
Acrobat Reader
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Serostim
105IU Kit 126IU Kit Includes 7 - 6mg
vials x $13.00per iu = $1638 |
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