Digoxin immune FAB is used as an antidote to treat a life-threatening overdose of digoxin
or digitoxin.
Digoxin immune FAB is not for treating a mild digitalis overdose.
Digoxin immune FAB may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking digoxin immune FAB?
If possible, before you receive digoxin immune FAB, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease;
kidney disease;
if you are allergic to antibiotics; or
if you are allergic to papaya extracts such as papain or
chymopapain (Chymodiactin).
FDA pregnancy category C. Digoxin immune FAB may be
harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before receiving this medication.
It is not known whether digoxin immune FAB passes into breast milk or if it could
harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a 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 digoxin immune FAB. However, make
sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received the
medication.
How should I take digoxin immune FAB?
Digoxin immune FAB 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 and not causing harmful side effects,
your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. This will help your doctor determine how
long to treat you with digoxin immune FAB.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain digitalis tests. Tell
any doctor who treats you that you have been treated with digoxin immune FAB.
What happens if I miss a dose of digoxin immune FAB?
Since digoxin immune FAB is given in an emergency situation by a healthcare
professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.
Where can I get more information about digoxin immune FAB?
Your pharmacist has information about digoxin immune FAB written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of digoxin immune FAB?
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:
low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst,
increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling);
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
swelling, rapid weight gain.
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 digoxin immune FAB?
If possible, before you receive digoxin immune FAB, tell your doctor if you have
heart disease or kidney disease, or if you are allergic to antibiotics or papaya extracts such as
papain or chymopapain.
In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your
caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you received this
medication.
After treatment with digoxin immune FAB, you will be watched to make sure the
medication has been effective and you no longer have any effects of the digitalis overdose.
What should I avoid while taking digoxin immune FAB?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity
after you are treated with digoxin immune FAB.
What other drugs will affect digoxin immune FAB?
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with digoxin
immune FAB. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications,
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new
medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of digoxin immune FAB?
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.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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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
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009