Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Arixtra

What is the most important information I should know about ARIXTRA?

ARIXTRA may cause serious side effects, including:

Spinal or epidural blood clots (hematoma). People who take a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant) like ARIXTRA, and have medicine injected into their spinal and epidural area, or have a spinal puncture have a risk of forming a blood clot that can cause long-term or permanent loss of the ability to move (paralysis). Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if:
- a thin tube called an epidural catheter is placed in your back to give you certain medicine
- you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a medicine to help prevent blood from clotting
- you have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures
- you have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine
If you use ARIXTRA and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet), and loss of control of your bowels or bladder (incontinence).
Because the risk of bleeding may be higher, tell your doctor before using ARIXTRA if you:
1. o are also taking certain other medicines that affect blood clotting such as aspirin, an NSAID (for example, ibuprofen or naproxen), clopidogrel, or warfarin sodium
2. o have bleeding problems
3. o had problems in the past with pain medication given through the spine
4. o have had surgery to your spine
5. o have a spinal deformity

See “What are the possible side effects of ARIXTRA?” for more information about side effects.

What is ARIXTRA?

ARIXTRA is a prescription medicine that is used to:

help prevent blood clots from forming in adults who have had certain surgeries of the hip, knee, or the stomach-area (abdominal surgery).
treat adults who have blood clots in their legs or blood clots that travel to their lungs, along with the blood thinner medicine called warfarin sodium.
treat children 1 year of age or older weighing at least 22 pounds (10 kg) who have blood clots.

It is not known if ARIXTRA is safe and effective for use in children:

younger than 1 year of age and weighing less than 22 pounds (10 kg) who have blood clots.
younger than 1 year of age with kidney problems.
for the prevention of blood clots in the legs and to treat blood clots in the legs or lungs when given with warfarin sodium.
with liver problems.

Who should not use ARIXTRA?

Do not use ARIXTRA if you:

have certain kidney problems
have active bleeding problems
have an infection in your heart
have low platelet counts and if you test positive for a certain antibody during treatment with ARIXTRA
weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kg) and ARIXTRA will be used to help prevent blood clots in adults undergoing certain surgery. See “What are the possible side effects of ARIXTRA?”
had a serious allergic reaction to ARIXTRA

Before using ARIXTRA, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have had any bleeding problems (such as stomach ulcers)
have had a stroke
have had recent surgeries, including eye surgery
have diabetic eye disease
have kidney or liver problems
have uncontrolled high blood pressure
have a latex allergy. The packaging (needle guard) for ARIXTRA contains dry natural latex rubber.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ARIXTRA may harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the best way for you to prevent or treat blood clots.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ARIXTRA passes into breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will breastfeed during treatment with ARIXTRA.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines can increase your risk of bleeding.

See “What is the most important information I should know about ARIXTRA?” Do not start taking any new medicines without first talking to your doctor.

Tell all your doctors and dentist that you use ARIXTRA, especially if you need to have any kind of surgery or a dental procedure. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to all your doctors and pharmacist before you start a new medicine.

How should I use ARIXTRA?

ARIXTRA is available in different types of syringes. Your doctor will decide which type of syringe is best for you or your child. See the Instructions for Use to confirm the prescribed syringe and how to give an ARIXTRA injection.
If your doctor tells you that you may give yourself or your child injections of ARIXTRA at home, you will be shown how to give the injections first before you do them on your own.
Use ARIXTRA exactly as your doctor tells you to.
ARIXTRA is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection).
If you miss a dose of ARIXTRA, inject your dose as soon as you remember. Do not inject 2 doses at the same time.
Your doctor may perform blood tests and test for blood in your stool as needed during treatment with ARIXTRA to check for side effects.
If you inject too much ARIXTRA, call your doctor right away.

What are possible side effects of ARIXTRA?

ARIXTRA can cause serious side effects. See “What is the most important information I should know about ARIXTRA?”

Severe bleeding. Certain conditions can increase your risk for severe bleeding, including:
- some bleeding problems
- some gastrointestinal problems including ulcers
- some types of strokes
- uncontrolled high blood pressure
- diabetic eye disease
- soon after brain, spine, or eye surgery
In children, certain conditions that can increase risk of bleeding, include:
1. o systemic lupus erythematous (also known as Lupus)
2. o Wilms tumor
3. o antiphospholipid syndrome
4. o genetic conditions that affect blood clotting
5. o cancer
6. o decreased red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia)
7. o indwelling chest tubes
8. o chest surgery
9. o infection
10. o severe high blood pressure that affects the brain
11. o enlarged or blocked lymph vessels in the small intestine (intestinal lymphangiectasia)
Certain kidney problems can also increase your risk of bleeding with ARIXTRA. Your doctor may check your kidney function during your treatment with ARIXTRA.
Increased bleeding risk in adults who weigh less than 110 pounds (50 kg) undergoing certain surgeries.
Low blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). Platelets are blood cells that help your blood to clot normally. Your doctor may check your platelet counts during your treatment with ARIXTRA.
You may bruise or bleed more easily during your treatment with ARIXTRA, and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. Tell your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of bleeding, bruising or rash of dark red spots under the skin during your treatment with ARIXTRA.

The most common side effects of ARIXTRA in adults include:

bleeding problems
bleeding, rash, and itching at the injection site (injection site reactions)
increased blood levels of certain liver tests
low red blood cell counts (anemia)
sleep problems (insomnia)
increased wound drainage
low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
dizziness

purplish spots on skin (purpura)
low blood pressure (hypotension)
confusion
fluid-filled blisters (bullous eruption)
blood clots (hematoma)
severe bleeding after surgery (post-operative hemorrhage)
infection

The most common side effects of ARIXTRA in children include:

bleeding problems
low red blood cell counts (anemia)
low blood platelet counts
allergic reaction, such as sudden swelling of your face, tongue, throat, or trouble swallowing

skin problems
abnormal blood levels of certain liver tests
low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)
low blood pressure (hypotension)

These are not all the possible side effects of ARIXTRA.

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

How should I store ARIXTRA?

See the product label for complete instructions on how to store ARIXTRA.
Throw away (discard) ARIXTRA that is out of date (expired) or unused.

Keep ARIXTRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of ARIXTRA

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in Patient Information leaflets. Do not use ARIXTRA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ARIXTRA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about ARIXTRA that is written for healthcare professionals.

What are the ingredients in ARIXTRA?

Active ingredient: fondaparinux sodium

Inactive ingredients: sodium chloride and water for injection. May also contain sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid as pH adjusters.

Manufactured for:

Mylan Institutional LLC

Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.

Manufactured by:

Aspen Notre Dame de Bondeville

Notre Dame de Bondeville, France

For more information about ARIXTRA, contact Mylan at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX).

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Revised: 12/2024

MI:PL:ARXTIJ:R7p

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

ARIXTRA^®(Ah-RIX-trah)

(fondaparinux sodium injection)

for subcutaneous use

This Instructions for Use contains information on how to inject ARIXTRA. Before you use ARIXTRA, read and follow the step-by-step instructions. Talk to your or your child’s doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Important Information You Need to Know Before Injecting ARIXTRA

ARIXTRA is available in different types of syringes. Confirm the syringe looks like the figure below before you continue:

Your healthcare provider should show you how to prepare and inject ARIXTRA. Do not inject yourself or someone else until you have been shown how to inject ARIXTRA.
Each ARIXTRA syringe is 1 dose of ARIXTRA. The syringe is for a one-time use only.
Use ARIXTRA exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
The packaging (needle guard) for ARIXTRA contains dry natural latex rubber.

How should I store ARIXTRA syringes?

Store ARIXTRA at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
Keep ARIXTRA syringes and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not use ARIXTRA if:

the solution appears discolored (the solution should normally appear clear)
you see any particles in the solution
the syringe is damaged
it is out of date (expired)

How should I give an injection of ARIXTRA?

ARIXTRA is injected into a skinfold of the lower stomach-area (abdomen) as directed by your or your child’s doctor. Do not inject ARIXTRA into muscle.

Instructions for injecting ARIXTRA
Parts of the ARIXTRA syringe:
1. Rigid needle guard 2. Plunger 3. Finger-grip 4. Security sleeve
Syringe Before Use	Syringe After Use
1. Wash your hands well with soap and water, rinse, and towel dry.
2. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. If giving the injection to a child, instruct child to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Choose a spot on the lower stomach-area (abdomen), at least 2 inches below the belly button (Figure A). Change (alternate) between using the left and right side of the lower abdomen for each injection.	Figure A.
3. Clean the injection area with an alcohol swab.
4. Remove the needle guard, by first twisting it counter-clockwise and then pulling it in a straight line away from the body of the syringe (Figure B). Throw away (discard) the needle guard. • Do not touch the needle or let it come in contact with any surface before the injection. A small air bubble in the syringe is normal. • To be sure that you do not lose any medicine from the syringe, do not try to remove air bubbles from the syringe before giving the injection.	Figure B.
5. Gently pinch the skin that has been cleaned to make a fold. Hold the fold between the thumb and the forefinger of one hand during the entire injection (Figure C).	Figure C.
6. Hold the syringe firmly in your other hand using the finger grip. Insert the full length of the needle straight into your skinfold at an angle of 90° (Figure D).	Figure D.
7. Inject all of the medicine in the syringe by using your thumb to firmly press down on the plunger as far as it goes. This will activate the automatic needle protection system (Figure E).	Figure E.
8. Release the plunger. • The needle will withdraw automatically from the skin and pull back (retract) into the security sleeve where it will be locked (Figure F). • A white safety indicator will appear above the upper body of the syringe. • You may hear or feel a soft click after the plunger rod is released.	Figure F.
9. Throw away (dispose of) used and unused ARIXTRA syringes: • Put your used ARIXTRA needles and syringes in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) loose needles and syringes in your household trash. • If you do not have an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is: made of a heavy-duty plastic, can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out, upright and stable during use, leak-resistant, and properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container. • When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away used needles and syringes. For more information about safe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA's website at: http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal. • Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.

This Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Revised: 12/2024

Manufactured for:

Mylan Institutional LLC

Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.

Manufactured by: