Pronunciation: TES-a-moe-REL-in
Generic Name: Tesamorelin
Brand Name: Egrifta
Egrifta is used for:
Reducing excess stomach fat in certain HIV-infected patients.
Egrifta is a human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analog. It works by stimulating the pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH). This causes the breakdown of excess stomach fat.
Do NOT use Egrifta if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Egrifta or to mannitol
- you are pregnant
- you have cancer, an underactive pituitary gland, or a pituitary gland tumor
- you have had your pituitary gland removed, pituitary gland surgery, radiation treatment of the head, or a head injury
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Egrifta:
Some medical conditions may interact with Egrifta. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of cancer, non-cancerous growths, or diabetes
- if you have severe breathing problems (eg, respiratory failure); a serious illness caused by complications from surgery, injury, or trauma; or kidney or liver problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Egrifta. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Anticonvulsants (eg, phenytoin), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), cyclosporine, or sex hormones (eg, estradiol, testosterone) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Egrifta
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Egrifta may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Egrifta:
Use Egrifta as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Egrifta. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Egrifta is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Egrifta at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Egrifta. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Do not use Egrifta if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
- Use the proper technique taught to you by your doctor. Inject deep under the skin, NOT into a vein or muscle.
- Be sure to rotate your injection site on the stomach area with each dose as directed. Do not inject Egrifta into scar tissue, bruises, or the belly button.
- Do not prepare Egrifta until you are ready to use it. After mixing, use Egrifta right away and throw away any unused medicine. Do not store prepared doses for later use.
- Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
- If you miss a dose of Egrifta, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Egrifta.
Important safety information:
- The safety of long-term use of Egrifta is not known. Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve while you use Egrifta.
- Egrifta is not intended to manage weight loss.
- Egrifta may raise your blood sugar. High blood sugar may make you feel confused, drowsy, or thirsty. It can also make you flush, breathe faster, or have a fruit-like breath odor. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor right away.
- Diabetes patients - Egrifta may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Lab tests, including IGF-I and blood sugar levels, may be performed while you use Egrifta. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Egrifta should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Egrifta if you are pregnant. It may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it. If you become pregnant, stop taking Egrifta and contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Egrifta is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Egrifta to the baby.
Possible side effects of Egrifta:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Nausea; night sweats; stomach upset; trouble sleeping; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; flushing; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue); arm, joint, leg, or muscle pain; burning, numbness, or tingling of the skin; decreased sense of touch; fainting or faintness; fast or irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); muscle or joint soreness or stiffness; numbness, pain, or weakness in your wrist, hand, or fingers, redness, swelling, itching, pain, irritation, rash, bleeding, or bruising at the injection site; shortness of breath or trouble breathing; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, increased thirst, hunger, or urination; confusion; drowsiness; flushing; rapid breathing; fruit-like breath odor).
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Egrifta side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Egrifta:
Egrifta comes with 2 boxes, one with the medicine and one with syringes, needles, and solution to mix with the medicine. Store the medicine box in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Store in original packaging until just before use. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Store the box with the solution, syringes, and needles at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Do not use Egrifta after its expiration date. Keep Egrifta out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Egrifta, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Egrifta is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Egrifta. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Egrifta resources
- Egrifta Side Effects (in more detail)
- Egrifta Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Egrifta Drug Interactions
- Egrifta Support Group
- 2 Reviews for Egrifta - Add your own review/rating
- Egrifta Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Egrifta Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Egrifta Consumer Overview
- Tesamorelin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Egrifta with other medications
- Lipodystrophy
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