Pronunciation:

FAK-tor NINE

Brand Names:

• Alphanine SD
• Alprolix
• Bebulin
• Bebulin VH
• Benefix
• Idelvion
• Ixinity
• Mononine
• Profilnine SD
• Proplex T
• Rebinyn
• Rixubis

Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Antihemophilic Agent

Uses of This Medicine:

Factor IX is a protein produced naturally in the body. It helps the blood form clots to stop bleeding. Injections of factor IX are used to treat hemophilia B, which is sometimes called Christmas disease. This is a condition in which the body does not make enough factor IX. If you do not have enough factor IX and you become injured, your blood will not form clots as it should, and you may bleed into and damage your muscles and joints.

Injections of one form of factor IX, called factor IX complex, also are used to treat certain people with hemophilia A. In hemophilia A, sometimes called classical hemophilia, the body does not make enough factor VIII, and, just as in hemophilia B, the blood cannot form clots as it should. Injections of factor IX complex may be used in patients in whom the medicine used to treat hemophilia A is no longer effective. Injections of factor IX complex also may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

The factor IX product that your doctor will give you is obtained naturally from human blood or artificially by a man-made process. Factor IX obtained from human blood has been treated and is not likely to contain harmful viruses such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C (non-A, non-B) virus, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The man-made factor IX product does not contain these viruses.

Factor IX is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Blood clots may be especially likely to occur in premature and newborn babies, who are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of injections of factor IX.

Older adults—

This medicine has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood clots or a history of medical problems caused by blood clots or
• Liver disease—Risk of bleeding or developing blood clots may be increased

Proper Use of This Medicine:

Some medicines given by injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your health care professional will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will have a chance to practice preparing and injecting it. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is to be prepared and injected.

To prepare this medicine:

• Take the dry medicine and the liquid (diluent) out of the refrigerator and bring them to room temperature, as directed by your doctor.
• When injecting the liquid (diluent) into the dry medicine, aim the stream of liquid (diluent) against the wall of the container of dry medicine to prevent foaming.
• Swirl the container gently to dissolve the medicine. Do not shake the container.

Use this medicine right away. It should not be kept longer than 3 hours after it has been prepared.

A plastic disposable syringe and filter needle must be used with this medicine. The medicine may stick to the inside of a glass syringe, and you may not receive a full dose.

Do not reuse syringes and needles. Put used syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant disposable container, or dispose of them as directed by your health care professional.

Dosing—

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• The condition for which you are using this medicine.
• Your body weight.
• The amount of factor IX your body is able to make.
• How much, how often, and where in your body you are bleeding.
• Whether or not your body has built up a defense (antibody) against this medicine.

Missed dose—

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage—

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Some factor IX products must be stored in the refrigerator, and some may be kept at room temperature for short periods of time. Store this medicine as directed by your doctor or the manufacturer.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

If you were recently diagnosed with hemophilia B, you should receive hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines to reduce even further your risk of getting hepatitis A or hepatitis B from factor IX products.

After a while, your body may build up a defense (antibody) against this medicine. Tell your doctor if this medicine seems to be less effective than usual.

It is recommended that you carry identification stating that you have hemophilia A or hemophilia B. If you have any questions about what kind of identification to carry, check with your health care professional.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

Changes in facial skin color

fast or irregular breathing

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes

shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing

skin rash, hives, and/or itching

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Bluish coloring (especially of the hands and feet)

convulsions

dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position

increased heart rate

large blue or purplish patches in the skin (at places of injection)

nausea or vomiting

pains in chest, groin, or legs (especially calves)

persistent bleeding from puncture sites, gums, or inner linings of the nose and/or mouth, or blood in the stool or urine

severe pain or pressure in the chest and/or the neck, back, or left arm

severe, sudden headache

shortness of breath or fast breathing

sudden loss of coordination

sudden and unexplained slurred speech, vision changes, and/or weakness or numbness in arm or leg

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Burning or stinging at place of injection

changes in blood pressure or pulse rate

chills

drowsiness

fever

headache

nausea or vomiting

redness of face

shortness of breath

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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