Drug Notes

Anthrax immune globulin (By injection)

Anthrax Immune Globulin (AN-thrax i-MUNE GLOB-ue-lin)

Treats inhalational anthrax.

Brand Name(s):

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein. The infusion may take several hours.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some foods and medicines can affect how immune globulin works. Tell your doctor if you are using any medicine that contains estrogen.
• Talk to your doctor before you get any vaccine while you are receiving anthrax immune globulin. Some vaccines may not work as well while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, diabetes, heart or blood vessel disease, or a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. Tell your doctor if you have immune globulin deficiency, especially IgA.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Blood clots, which could lead to heart attack or stroke
  • Serious kidney problems
  • Bleeding, hemolytic anemia
  • Aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS)
  • Serious lung problems
• This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted viruses, although the risk is low. Human donors and donated blood are both tested for viruses to keep the transmission risk low. Talk with your doctor about this risk if you are concerned.
• Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results. This medicine contains maltose that will cause falsely high results on some blood sugar tests.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blue lips or fingernails, trouble breathing
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, rapid weight gain, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood
• Fever, chills, headache, nausea, or vomiting during the infusion
• Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking
• Stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, eye pain, eye sensitivity to light
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness
• Yellow skin or eyes, trouble breathing, tiredness, uneven heartbeat

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Mild headache
• Nausea
• Pain, redness, or swelling where the shot is given

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

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

Last Updated: 1/27/2017