Fat emulsion (By injection)

Fat Emulsion (fat e-MULL-shun)

Used to provide calories and essential fatty acids needed by your body. May be given with TPN (total parenteral nutrition).

Brand Name(s):

Omegaven

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to egg, fish, or soybean proteins, olive oil, or safflower oil, or if you have a severe bleeding disorder or high cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood.

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein. It may be used alone or added to your or your baby's TPN bag.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how fat emulsion works. Tell your doctor if you are using a blood thinner (including warfarin) or oral omega-3 fatty acid.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, blood clotting problems, heart failure, diabetes, or obesity.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Lung problem, including acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Metabolic acidosis
  • Increased risk of infections
  • Fat overload syndrome
  • Refeeding syndrome (in severely undernourished patients)
  • Aluminum toxicity
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, difficult or painful urination
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, cold sweat, bluish-colored skin
• Confusion, uneven heartbeat, muscle cramps or pain, numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet, unusual tiredness or weakness
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches
• Rapid weight gain, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Unusual bleeding or bruising

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Redness, pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 4/23/2024