Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Essepna
What is Essepna used for?
- Essepna is used along with other products that contain nutrients that are given to you through an infusion into your vein.
- It contains amino acids which are nutrients your body needs to make proteins.
- It is given to you when you cannot eat normally.
- It is used in adults only.
How does Essepna work?
Essepna contains amino acids. Your body uses amino acids to build proteins. Proteins are needed in your muscles, organs and immune system to make your body work right.
What are the ingredients in Essepna?
Medicinal ingredients and quantities in 100 mL:
Alanine Arginine Glycine Histidine Isoleucine Leucine Lysine acetate = Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Proline Serine Taurine Threonine Tryptophan Tyrosine Valine | 1.4 g 1.2 g 1.1 g 0.3 g 0.5 g 0.74 g 0.93 g 0.66 g 0.43 g 0.51 g 1.12 g 0.65 g 0.10 g 0.44 g 0.20 g 0.04 g 0.62 g |
mL = millilitre; g = gram
Non-medicinal ingredients: glacial acetic acid and water for injections.
Essepna comes in the following dosage forms: as a solution.
Do not use Essepna if:
- you are allergic to Essepna.
- you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Essepna or to a component of the container.
- you have a condition where your body has a problem using proteins or amino acids.
- you have an inherited disease where your body cannot break down amino acids.
- you have a condition called metabolic acidosis where you have an acid imbalance in your body
- your kidney function is low but you are not on dialysis or another kind of blood filtration treatment
- your liver function is seriously reduced.
- you have a condition called fluid overload where your body keeps too much liquid.
- you are suffering from shock.
- you have hypoxia (low levels of oxygen).
- you have a heart condition called decompensated heart failure.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Essepna. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have a heart problems.
- have a low levels of potassium in your blood.
- have a low levels of sodium in your blood.
- have a folate deficiency.
- have liver or kidney problems.
- have diabetes.
- have thyroid gland dysfunction.
- have had serious allergic reactions in the past
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Other warnings you should know about:
Essepna should not be used in pediatric patients.
You may excrete more trace elements like copper and zinc while you are receiving Essepna. Your healthcare professional will make sure to also give you trace elements if you are receiving Essepna for longer than 5 days. Your healthcare professional will also make sure you get folic acid while you are receiving Essepna. They will give this to you every day.
Your healthcare professional will monitor your electrolytes, amount of glucose and water in your body and your kidney and liver function while you are receiving Essepna. Other blood tests including levels of blood proteins and blood cells will also be performed.
Essepna can cause serious allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare professional right away if you have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, fever, headache, shivering, skin rash or hives, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
How to take Essepna:
- Essepna will be given to you by a healthcare professional.
- Your healthcare professional will make sure that Essepna is prepared correctly before it is given to you.
- It will be infused slowly into your vein.
- Essepna may be mixed with another solution before it is given to you.
Usual dose:
- Your doctor will decide about the amount of the medicine you should receive.
- The recommended dose for adult patients is 10 to 20 mL of Essepna per kg body weight each day. The maximum dose is 20 mL of Essepna per kg body weight each day.
- You may receive a lower dose if you have problems with:
- heart
- liver
- kidney
- too high blood sugar
Overdose:
It is very unlikely that you will receive more infusion than you should as your healthcare professional will monitor you during treatment. The effects of an overdose may include nausea, dizziness (light headedness), vomiting and shivering (chills). If you experience these symptoms or believe that you have received too much Essepna, inform your healthcare professional immediately.
| If you think you have taken too much Essepna, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
What are possible side effects from using Essepna?
Like all medicines, Essepna can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects have been observed when the Essepna infusion was administered too quickly:
- loss of potassium or sodium from the blood.
- folate deficiency.
At the site of injection the following side effects may occur:
- soreness and tenderness of the vein.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom/effect | Talk with the doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and call the doctor or pharmacist | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||||
| VERY COMMON | |||||
| Injection site reaction: soreness and tenderness of the vein used for infusion. | √ | ||||
| UNCOMMON | |||||
| Thrombosis (clot in a blood vessel): swelling and pain in one part of the body. | √ | √ | |||
| Allergic reaction: difficulty swallowing or breathing, fever, headache, shivering, skin rash or hives, shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. | √ | √ | |||
| Refeeding syndrome (a serious condition that can happen in malnourished patients once nutrients are reintroduced to the body): Confusion, coma, difficulty breathing, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, seizures, swelling, weakness. | √ | √ | |||
These are not all the possible side effects that you may feel when taking Essepna. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to 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. |
Storage:
Store between 5℃ and 25℃ in overwrap. Do not freeze.
Keep bag in the overwrap. To be used once the overwrap is removed.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Essepna:
- 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 (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php); the manufacturer’s website (https://www.fresenius-kabi.com/en-ca/), or by calling 1-877-821-7724.
Fresenius Kabi Canada Ltd.
165 Galaxy Blvd, Suite100
Toronto, ON M9W 0C8
Essepna is a trademark of Fresenius Kabi AG
Fresenius Kabi is a Registered Trademark of Fresenius SE and Biofine is a Registered Trademark of Fresenius Medical Care.
Date of Preparation: December 29, 2020