Fomepizole is an antidote to certain types of poison.
Fomepizole is used to treat poisoning with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) or methanol (contained in
solvents, fuels, and other household or automotive chemicals). Fomepizole is sometimes used together
with hemodialysis to rid the body of a poison.
Fomepizole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fomepizole?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to fomepizole.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby and is not
recommended in pregnant women unless clearly needed.
It is not known whether fomepizole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby.
In a poisoning situation, it may not be possible to tell your caregivers that you are pregnant or
breast-feeding before you are treated with fomepizole. However, make sure any doctor caring for your
pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received the medication.
How should I take fomepizole?
Fomepizole is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this
injection in a hospital or emergency setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion,
and each dose can take up to 30 minutes to complete.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood and urine will need to be tested
often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with fomepizole. You will also be
watched for any effects of the poisoning, such as problems with vision, breathing, or urination.
What happens if I miss a dose of fomepizole?
Since fomepizole is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will
miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about fomepizole?
Your pharmacist has information about fomepizole written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of fomepizole?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these serious side effects (some are effects
of the poison and not of fomepizole):
burning, swelling, or skin changes where the medicine was
injected;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
fast or slow heart rate, feeling like you may pass out; or
skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle
weakness.
Less serious side effects may include:
mild skin rash;
heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
loss of appetite;
dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, or headache;
metallic taste in your mouth;
hangover feeling;
back pain;
sore throat;
ringing in your ears; or
changes in vision, changes in smell or taste senses.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about fomepizole?
In a poisoning situation, it may not be possible to tell your caregivers that you are pregnant or
breast-feeding before you are treated with fomepizole. However, make sure any doctor caring for your
pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received the medication.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have any burning, swelling, or skin changes where the
medicine was injected.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood and urine will need to be tested
often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with fomepizole. You will also be
watched for any effects of the poisoning, such as problems with vision, breathing, or urination.
What should I avoid while taking fomepizole?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you
are treated with fomepizole.
What other drugs will affect fomepizole?
Tell your doctor if you have recently used any of the following drugs:
phenytoin (Dilantin);
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
cimetidine (Tagamet); or
ketoconazole (Nizoral).
There may be other drugs that can affect fomepizole. Tell your doctor about
all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009