Qutavina
teriparatide
teriparatide
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side
effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What Qutavina is and what it is used for
What you need to know before you use Qutavina
How to use Qutavina
Possible side effects
How to store Qutavina
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Contents of the pack and other information
Qutavina contains the active substance teriparatide that is used to make the bones stronger, and to reduce the risk of fractures by stimulating bone formation.
Qutavina is used to treat osteoporosis in adults. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become thin and fragile. This disease is especially common in women after the menopause, but it can also occur in men. Osteoporosis is also common in patients receiving corticosteroids.
if you are allergic to teriparatide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
if you suffer from high calcium levels (pre-existing hypercalcaemia).
if you suffer from serious kidney problems.
if you have ever been diagnosed with bone cancer or other cancers that have spread (metastasised) to your bones.
if you have certain bone diseases. If you have a bone disease, tell your doctor.
if you have unexplained high levels of alkaline phosphatase in your blood, which means you might have Paget’s disease of bone (disease with abnormal bone changes). If you are not sure, ask your doctor.
if you have had radiation therapy involving your bones.
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Qutavina may cause an increase in the amount of calcium in your blood or urine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before or while using Qutavina:
if you have continuing nausea, vomiting, constipation, low energy, or muscle weakness. These may be signs there is too much calcium in your blood.
if you suffer from kidney stones or have a history of kidney stones.
if you suffer from kidney problems (moderate renal impairment).
Some patients get dizzy or get a fast heartbeat after the first few doses. For the first doses, inject Qutavina where you can sit or lie down right away if you get dizzy.
The recommended treatment time of 24 months should not be exceeded.
Qutavina should not be used in growing adults.
Qutavina should not be used in children and adolescents (less than 18 years).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, because occasionally they may interact (e.g. digoxin/digitalis, a medicine used to treat heart disease).
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Do not use Qutavina if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you are a woman of child-bearing potential, you should use effective methods of contraception during use of Qutavina. If you become pregnant, Qutavina should be discontinued. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Some patients may feel dizzy after injecting Qutavina. If you feel dizzy you should not drive or use machines until you feel better
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium- free’.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is 20 micrograms given once daily by injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in the thigh or abdomen. To help you remember to use your medicine, inject it at about the same time each day.
Inject Qutavina each day for as long as your doctor prescribes it for you. The total duration of treatment with Qutavina should not exceed 24 months. You should not receive more than one treatment course of 24 months over your lifetime.
Your doctor may advise you to use Qutavina with calcium and vitamin D. Your doctor will tell you how much you should take each day.
Read the user manual, which is included in the carton for instructions on how to use the Qutavina pen.
Injection needles are not included with the pen. Pen needles 29 to 31 gauge (diameter 0.25-0.33 mm) can be used.
You should use your Qutavina injection shortly after you take the pen out of the refrigerator as
described in the user manual. Put the pen back into the refrigerator immediately after you have used it. Use a new injection needle for each injection and dispose of it after each use. Never store your pen with the needle attached. Never share your Qutavina pen with others.
Qutavina can be given with or without food.
If, by mistake, you have used more Qutavina than you should, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
The effects of overdose that might be expected include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache.
If you are considering stopping Qutavina treatment, please discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor will advise you and decide how long you should be treated with Qutavina.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The most common side effects are pain in limb (frequency is very common, may affect more than 1 in 10 people) and feeling sick, headache and dizziness (frequency is common). If you become dizzy (light-headed) after your injection, you should sit or lie down until you feel better. If you do not feel better, you should call a doctor before you continue treatment. Cases of fainting have been reported in association with teriparatide use.
If you experience discomfort such as redness of the skin, pain, swelling, itching, bruising or minor bleeding around the area of the injection (frequency is common), this should clear up in a few days or
weeks. Otherwise tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Some patients may have experienced allergic reactions soon after injection, consisting of breathlessness, swelling of the face, rash and chest pain (frequency is rare). In rare cases, serious and
potentially life-threatening allergic reactions including anaphylaxis can occur.
Other side effects include:
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
increase in blood cholesterol levels
depression
neuralgic pain in the leg
feeling faint
irregular heart beats
breathlessness
increased sweating
muscle cramps
loss of energy
tiredness
chest pain
low blood pressure
heartburn (painful or burning sensation just below the breast bone)
being sick (vomiting)
a hernia of the tube that carries food to your stomach
low haemoglobin or red blood cell count (anaemia)
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
increased heart rate
abnormal heart sound
shortness of breath
haemorrhoids (piles)
accidental loss or leakage of urine
increased need to pass water
weight increase
kidney stones
pain in the muscles and pain in the joints. Some patients have experienced severe back cramps or pain which lead to hospitalization.
increase in blood calcium level
increase in blood uric acid level
increase in an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase.
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
reduced kidney function, including renal failure
swelling, mainly in the hands, feet and legs.
Medicinal product no longer authorised
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system
listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and pen after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Qutavina should be stored in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) at all times. You can use Qutavina for up to 28 days after the first injection, as long as the pen is stored in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).
Avoid placing the pens close to the ice compartment of the refrigerator to prevent freezing. Do not use Qutavina if it is, or has been, frozen.
Each pen should be properly disposed of after 28 days, even if it is not completely empty.
Qutavina contains a clear and colourless solution. Do not use Qutavina if solid particles appear or if the solution is cloudy or coloured.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
The active substance is teriparatide. Each milliliter of the solution for injection contains 250 micrograms of teriparatide. Each pre-filled pen of 2.7 mL contains 675 micrograms of teriparatide (corresponding to 250 micrograms per mL).
The other ingredients are glacial acetic acid, sodium acetate trihydrate, mannitol, metacresol, and water for injections. See section 2.
Qutavina is a colourless and clear solution. It is supplied in a cartridge contained in a pre-filled disposable pen. Each pen contains 2.7 mL of solution enough for 28 doses. Qutavina is available in
packs containing one or three pre-filled pens.
Not all pack sizes may be available.
Eurofins PROXY Laboratories (PRX) Archimedesweg 25 2333 CM Leiden
Netherlands
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Wash your hands before every injection.
Prepare the injection site (thigh or abdomen) as recommended by
your doctor or pharmacist.
Remove the white cap by pulling it straight off the device
(Figure B).
Check the pen.
Check the label on the pen.
medicine has expired (Figure C).
Check the medicine cartridge.
The liquid medication should be clear and colourless.
is cloudy, coloured, or has floating particles. (Figure C).
Peel off the paper tab (Figure D).
Push needle straight onto medicine cartridge. (Figure E)
Screw on needle clockwise until firmly attached (Figure F).
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Pull off large outer needle cover (Figure G) and save it for later (see Step 9).
If the pen does not set fully or if you cannot pull back on the black injection button refer to
Troubleshooting Problem E.
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Gently hold a fold of skin on your thigh or abdomen and insert the needle straight into the folded skin (Figure K).
Press the black injection button down until it stops and hold (Figure L).
Hold it in and count to 5 s-l-o-w-l-y to make sure the full dose has been delivered (Figure M). You may not see the black injection button moving. To confirm that your dose has been delivered, see step 8 “Confirm dose”.
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Remove the needle from the skin (Figure N). Once needle is removed from skin, take your thumb off the black injection button.
If the yellow shaft does not show, you have finished the injection steps the right way. (Figure O)
You should NOT see any of the yellow
shaft. If you do and have already injected the medicine, DO NOT inject yourself a second time in the same day.
Instead, you MUST reset the pen. Go to
Troubleshooting Problem A
Put the large outer needle cover on the needle by scooping it up and pressing it on (Figure P and Q). Do not try to put the needle cover back on with your hands.
Unscrew the covered needle all the way by giving the large needle cover 3-5 counter- clockwise turns. (Figure R)
Pull the needle straight off. (Figure S)
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Dispose of the needle into a puncture resistant container according to local regulations (Figure T).
For more information about how to correctly dispose of the needle refer to the Disposal information
section
Push white cap back on (Figure U).
Always store the pen in the refrigerator with the white cap on after use. (Figure V)
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Troubleshooting |
Problem Solution |
A The yellow shaft is still showing after To reset the Qutavina pen follow the steps below: pushing in the black injection button. 1) If you have already injected, DO NOT inject yourself How do I reset my Qutavina? a second time on the same day. Use a new needle for your injection on the following day.
slowly count to 5 s-l-o-w-l-y. You may see a small stream or drop of fluid. When you have finished, the black injection button should be all the way in. needle all the way by giving the needle cover 3 to 5 complete turns. Pull off needle cover and throw away as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Push the white cap back on, and put your Qutavina in the refrigerator. You can prevent this problem by always using a NEW needle for each injection, and by pushing the black injection button all the way in and slowly counting to 5 s-l-o-w-l-y. |
B How can I tell if my Qutavina works? The Qutavina is designed to inject the full dose every time it is used according to the directions in the section Instructions for Use. The black injection button should be all the way in to show that the full dose of medicine has been injected from the Qutavina. Use a new needle every time you inject to be sure your Qutavina will work properly. |
C I see an air bubble in my Qutavina. A small air bubble will not affect your dose and it will not harm you. You can continue to use your dose as usual. |
D I cannot get the needle off. 1) Put the large needle cover on the needle. 2) Use the large needle cover to unscrew the needle. |
Unscrew the needle all the way by giving the large needle cover 3 to 5 counter-clockwise turns.
If you still cannot get the needle off, ask someone to
help you.
See step 9 “Remove needle and dispose”.
When the black injection button becomes hard to pull
out, this means there is not enough medicine in your Qutavina pen for another dose. You may still see some medicine left in the cartridge.
Wipe the outside of the Qutavina with a damp cloth.
Do not place the Qutavina in water, or wash or clean it with any liquid.
Read and follow the instructions in the Information for the Patient leaflet on how to store your pen.
Store the Qutavina with the white cap on.
If the Qutavina has been left out of the refrigerator, do not throw the pen away. Place the pen back in the refrigerator and contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Medicinal product no longer authorised
Before disposing of the Qutavina pen, be sure to remove the pen needle.
Put used needles in a sharps container or a hard-plastic container with a secure lid. Do not throw needles directly into your household waste.
Do not recycle the filled sharps container.
During injection, you may hear one or more clicks – this is normal pen operation
The Qutavina is not recommended for use by the blind or visually impaired persons without the assistance from a person trained in the proper use of the pen.
This user manual was last revised in: