FATEMULSIONS (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
- Intralipid
- Liposyn II
- Liposyn III
In Canada?
Category
- Nutritional supplement, fatty acid
Description
Fat emulsionsare used as dietary supplements for patients who are unable to get enoughfat in their diet, usually because of certain illnesses or recent surgery.Fats are used by the body for energy and to form substances needed for normalbody functions.
Fat emulsions are available by injection only with your doctor's prescription,in the following dosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For fat emulsions, the followingshould be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to eggs, soybeans, beans, peas, or fat emulsions. Also tellyour health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances,such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy?Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been donein either animals or humans.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether fat emulsions pass intothe breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problemsin nursing babies.
Children?Fat emulsions may cause or worsen lung problems orjaundice if given to premature infants. Although there is no specific informationcomparing use of fat emulsions in older children with use in other age groups,it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older childrenthan it does in adults.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. Although there is no specific information comparinguse of fat emulsions in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicineis not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older peoplethan it does in younger adults.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of fat emulsions. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Blood problems or
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus or
- High cholesterol levels or
- Infection or
- Jaundice or
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease or
- Lung disease or
- Pancreas disease?Fat emulsions may make these conditions worse
Proper Use of This Medicine
Dosing?The amount of fat emulsions to be used will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage dose of fat emulsions. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of fat emulsions that is infused into your vein depends on thestrength of the fat emulsions used.
- For injection dosage form:
- For nutritional supplement:
- Adults and teenagers?At first, the dose is 0.5 to 1 milliliter(mL) per minute injected slowly into a vein over a period of fifteen to thirtyminutes. Your doctor may increase the rate of the injection until up to 250to 500 mL have been injected over four to six hours.
- Children?At first, the dose is 0.1 mL per minute injected slowlyinto a vein over a period of fifteen minutes. Your doctor may increase therate of the injection up to 50 to 100 mL per hour.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
It isvery important that your doctor check your progress weekly while you are receivingfat emulsions to make sure that this medicine does not cause unwanted effects.
Fat emulsions can lower your ability to fight infection. If you think youare getting an infection, check with your doctor.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they mayneed medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following sideeffects occur:
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medicalattention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjuststo the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following sideeffects continue or are bothersome:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 05/12/1993
Revised: 09/02/1999
