Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Carbetocin Injection
What is Carbetocin Injection used for?
Carbetocin Injection makes the uterus (womb) shrink. This will help prevent heavy bleeding in women who have delivered a baby by caesarean section.
How does Carbetocin Injection work?
Carbetocin is the active ingredient in Carbetocin Injection. It locks onto special parts of the muscle cells of the uterus. This causes the uterus to contract.
What are the ingredients in Carbetocin Injection?
Medicinal ingredient: Carbetocin
Non-medicinal ingredients: Glacial acetic acid, sodium chloride and water for injection.
Carbetocin Injection comes in the following dosage form:
Solution, 100 mcg / mL.
You must not be given Carbetocin Injection if you:
are pregnant. Carbetocin Injection must only be given after your baby has been delivered.
- are allergic to carbetocin or any of the ingredients of Carbetocin Injection.
- have any serious heart problems.
- ever have had an allergic reaction to oxytocin. This is a medicine that is sometimes given during or after labour.
- are younger than 18 years of age or older than 65 years of age.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you are given Carbetocin Injection. BEFORE you receive Carbetocin Injection, talk about any conditions or problems you may have, or have had, including:
- liver or kidney problems;
- pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy) or eclampsia (seizures if pre-eclampsia worsens);
- problems with your heart or your circulation (such as high blood pressure);
- epilepsy;
- migraines;
- asthma; or
- if you are breastfeeding. A small amount of Carbetocin Injection will pass into your breast milk. However, you do not need to stop breastfeeding your baby because of this.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with Carbetocin Injection:
- Medicines that cause blood vessels to narrow.
- Medicines you breathe to put you to sleep for surgery, like halothane and cyclopropane.
- Prostaglandins, which are medicines used to induce labour.
How Carbetocin Injection is given:
Carbetocin Injection will be given to you right after your baby has been delivered.
Carbetocin Injection will be given by intravenous injection immediately after your baby has been delivered by cesarean section under an epidural or spinal anaesthetic.
Usual dose:
100 mcg given as a single injection of 1 mL of Carbetocin Injection.
Overdose:
If you are accidentally given too much Carbetocin Injection, your womb may contract strongly. This can cause you to experience abdominal pain. You may also feel drowsy, a loss of energy and get a headache. This is caused by water building in your body.
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have received too much Carbetocin Injection, tell your healthcare professional or contact your hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
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What are possible side effects from using Carbetocin Injection?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when given Carbetocin Injection. If you experience any side effects not listed here, talk to your healthcare professional.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Stomach pain.
- Itching, flushing.
- Feeling of warmth.
- Fever
- Headache.
- Shakiness.
- Dizziness.
- Metallic taste in the mouth.
- Sweating, chills.
- Back pain.
- Fast heartbeat.
Side effects seen with similar products that might be expected with Carbetocin include:
- Slow heartbeat.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Chest pain.
- Fainting.
- Palpitations (may feel like your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or skipping beats), which may mean the heart is not beating properly
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if Severe | In all cases | ||
| VERY COMMON | |||
| Low blood pressure: dizziness, fainting, light-headedness may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up. | |||
| COMMON | |||
| Anemia: (decreased number of red blood cells): Fatigue, loss of energy, weakness. | |||
| Chest pain | |||
| Rapid heart beat | |||
| Breathlessness; trouble breathing | |||
| Anxiety | |||
| UNKNOWN FREQUENCY | |||
| Hypersensitivity (allergic reaction), including anaphylactic reaction: sudden wheeziness and chest pain or tightness; or swelling of eyelids, face, lips, tongue or throat | |||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.\ |
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Storage:
- Store at: 2°C - 8°C. Protect from light. Single dose pre-filled syringe. Use only if the syringe contents are clear and colourless. Once the pre-filled syringe has been opened, the product should be used immediately. Discard the unused portion.
- The tip cap and stopper are not made with natural rubber latex
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Carbetocin Injection:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); or by contacting the manufacturer, Juno Pharma