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isoprenaline hydrochloride (i-so-pren'a-len)
Consumer Medicine Information
Disclaimer
This information answers some common questions about Isuprel™. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Isuprel™
against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this information with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Isuprel™ is used for
Isuprel™ is used to treat heart block and cardiac arrest. Isuprel™ is intended to be used in hospitals only.
It belongs to a group of medicines called synthetic sympathomimetic amines.
Isuprel™ helps improve the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood around your body.
Isuprel™ works by strengthening your heart muscles and increasing the heartbeat rate.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given Isuprel™
When you must not be given it
You must not be given Isuprel™ if you have an allergy to:
• any medicine containing isoprenaline
• any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• sodium metabisulfite
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
• shortness of breath
• wheezing or difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
• rash, itching or hives on the skin
You must not be given Isuprel™ if you have any of the following:
• fast heart rate
• fast, slow or irregular heart beat caused by digitalis toxicity
• medicines used to treat unusual heart beat, such as inotropic therapy
• recently suffered a heart attack
• a feeling of tightness, pressure or heaviness in the chest
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
• asthma
• diabetes
• hyperthyroidism
• other heart conditions
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
Isuprel™ contains sodium metabisulfite, which may causeallergic-type reactions. This includes anaphylactic symptoms and life threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in some susceptible people.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Isuprel™.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Isuprel™ may interfere with each other. These include:
• combined use of adrenaline and digitalis, medicines used to stimulate the heart
• inhalational anaesthetics such as halothane and cyclopropane
• medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions such as chlorpromazine or
monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• slow injection of isoprenaline in combination with aminophylline, theophylline and
intravenous corticosteroids.
These medicines may be affected by Isuprel™ or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take Isuprel™
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained herein
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. The dosage will depend on your condition.
How it is given
Isuprel™ will normally be given to you as an injection under the skin, or into the vein, muscle or heart.
If you take too much (overdose)
As Isuprel™ is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any severe side effects after being given Isuprel™, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital.
You may need urgent medical attention.
In case of overdose, immediately contact the Poisons Information Centre for advice (telephone 13 11 26 in Australia).
Symptoms of Isuprel™ overdose include the side effects listed below in the 'Side Effects' section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
While you are using Isuprel™
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Isuprel™.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Isuprel™ affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness and light-headedness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you being given Isuprel™.
This medicine helps most people with heart block and cardiac arrest, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Some unwanted effects may occur when being treated with Isuprel™. These include:
• nervousness
• headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
• restlessness
• palpitations, sweating
• mild tremors, weakness
• hot flashed, flushing of the skin
• fast heart beat
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• nausea and vomiting
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using Isuprel™
Storage
Isuprel™ will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The ampoule is kept in the refrigerator where the temperature stays between 2 and 8°C. It should be protected
from light.
Product description
What it looks like
Isuprel™ is a clear, colourless solution. It is available as 1ml ampoules in packs of 50 and 5ml ampoules in packs of 10.
Ingredients
Isuprel™ contains 0.2 mg of isoprenaline hydrochloride as the active ingredient.
It also contains:
• sodium lactate
• lactic acid
• sodium metabisulfite
• sodium chloride
• water for injections
• hydrochloride acid
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Isuprel™ is supplied by:
Australian Sponsor:
Hospira Pty Ltd
ABN 13 107 058 328
Level 3, 390 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia
Isuprel™ is available in the following strengths:
• 0.2/1 mL ampoules - AUST R 12582
• 1 mg/5 mL ampoules - AUST R48213
This information was prepared in February 2010.
Consumer Medicine Information
Disclaimer
This information answers some common questions about Isuprel™. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Isuprel™
against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this information with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Isuprel™ is used for
Isuprel™ is used to treat heart block and cardiac arrest. Isuprel™ is intended to be used in hospitals only.
It belongs to a group of medicines called synthetic sympathomimetic amines.
Isuprel™ helps improve the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood around your body.
Isuprel™ works by strengthening your heart muscles and increasing the heartbeat rate.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given Isuprel™
When you must not be given it
You must not be given Isuprel™ if you have an allergy to:
• any medicine containing isoprenaline
• any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• sodium metabisulfite
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
• shortness of breath
• wheezing or difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
• rash, itching or hives on the skin
You must not be given Isuprel™ if you have any of the following:
• fast heart rate
• fast, slow or irregular heart beat caused by digitalis toxicity
• medicines used to treat unusual heart beat, such as inotropic therapy
• recently suffered a heart attack
• a feeling of tightness, pressure or heaviness in the chest
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
• asthma
• diabetes
• hyperthyroidism
• other heart conditions
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
Isuprel™ contains sodium metabisulfite, which may causeallergic-type reactions. This includes anaphylactic symptoms and life threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in some susceptible people.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Isuprel™.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Isuprel™ may interfere with each other. These include:
• combined use of adrenaline and digitalis, medicines used to stimulate the heart
• inhalational anaesthetics such as halothane and cyclopropane
• medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions such as chlorpromazine or
monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• slow injection of isoprenaline in combination with aminophylline, theophylline and
intravenous corticosteroids.
These medicines may be affected by Isuprel™ or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take Isuprel™
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained herein
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. The dosage will depend on your condition.
How it is given
Isuprel™ will normally be given to you as an injection under the skin, or into the vein, muscle or heart.
If you take too much (overdose)
As Isuprel™ is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any severe side effects after being given Isuprel™, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital.
You may need urgent medical attention.
In case of overdose, immediately contact the Poisons Information Centre for advice (telephone 13 11 26 in Australia).
Symptoms of Isuprel™ overdose include the side effects listed below in the 'Side Effects' section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
While you are using Isuprel™
Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Isuprel™.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Isuprel™ affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness and light-headedness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you being given Isuprel™.
This medicine helps most people with heart block and cardiac arrest, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Some unwanted effects may occur when being treated with Isuprel™. These include:
• nervousness
• headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
• restlessness
• palpitations, sweating
• mild tremors, weakness
• hot flashed, flushing of the skin
• fast heart beat
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• nausea and vomiting
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using Isuprel™
Storage
Isuprel™ will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The ampoule is kept in the refrigerator where the temperature stays between 2 and 8°C. It should be protected
from light.
Product description
What it looks like
Isuprel™ is a clear, colourless solution. It is available as 1ml ampoules in packs of 50 and 5ml ampoules in packs of 10.
Ingredients
Isuprel™ contains 0.2 mg of isoprenaline hydrochloride as the active ingredient.
It also contains:
• sodium lactate
• lactic acid
• sodium metabisulfite
• sodium chloride
• water for injections
• hydrochloride acid
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Isuprel™ is supplied by:
Australian Sponsor:
Hospira Pty Ltd
ABN 13 107 058 328
Level 3, 390 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia
Isuprel™ is available in the following strengths:
• 0.2/1 mL ampoules - AUST R 12582
• 1 mg/5 mL ampoules - AUST R48213
This information was prepared in February 2010.
