or polyps within 6 months before starting GATTEX
Have any polyps removed
To keep using GATTEX, your healthcare provider should:
Have your colon checked for new polyps at the end of 1 year of using GATTEX. If no polyp is found, your healthcare provider should check you for polyps as needed and at least every 5 years.
Have any new polyps removed
If cancer is found in a polyp, your healthcare provider should stop GATTEX.
Blockage of the bowel (intestines). A bowel blockage keeps food, fluids, and gas from moving through the bowels in the normal way. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of a bowel blockage:
trouble having a bowel movement or passing gas
stomach area (abdomen) pain or swelling
nausea
vomiting
swelling and blockage of your stoma opening, if you have a stoma
If blockage is found, your healthcare provider may temporarily stop GATTEX.
Swelling (inflammation) or blockage of your gallbladder or pancreas.
Your healthcare provider will do tests to check your gallbladder and pancreas within 6 months before starting GATTEX and at least every 6 months while you are using GATTEX.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get:
stomach area (abdomen) pain and tenderness
chills
fever
change in your stools
nausea
vomiting
dark urine
yellowing of your skin or the whites of eyes
These are not all the side effects of GATTEX. For more information, see "What are the possible side effects of GATTEX?"
What is GATTEX?
GATTEX is a prescription medicine used in adults with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) who need additional nutrition or fluids from intravenous (IV) feeding (parenteral support).
It is not known if GATTEX is safe or effective in children.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using GATTEX?
Before you use GATTEX, tell your healthcare provider if you:
have cancer or a history of cancer
have or had polyps anywhere in your bowel (intestines) or rectum
have heart problems
have high blood pressure
have problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys
have any other medical condition
are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if GATTEX will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while using GATTEX.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if GATTEX passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use GATTEX or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell your healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using GATTEX with certain other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.
Your other healthcare providers may need to change the dose of any oral medicines you take while using GATTEX. Tell the healthcare provider who gives you GATTEX if you will be taking a new oral medicine.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use GATTEX?
Use GATTEX exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
GATTEX is given 1 time each day at the same time.
Inject your dose of GATTEX under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in your stomach area (abdomen), upper legs (thighs), or upper arms. Do not inject GATTEX into a vein or muscle.
Use a different injection site each time you use GATTEX.
GATTEX comes as a powder for injection in a vial that is used only 1 time (single-u |
