Do you have high cholesterol that is inherited? Sometimes it is very difficult to control this condition with ordinary cholesterol pills, diet control, and exercise alone. To control high cholesterol levels caused by genetic causes, doctors sometimes recommend a special type of injection. Today we are talking about one such special injection, Mipomersen.
What is Mipomersen?
Simply put, Mipomersen is a shot that is given to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. This is not your typical cholesterol pill. It is specifically used for people with a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia.
This medicine is not used alone. It is used in conjunction with a proper diet and other cholesterol medications prescribed by your doctor . The brand name for this medicine is Kynamro. This medicine can also be used for other conditions. So, if you have any questions, ask your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before giving you the Mipomersen vaccine, your doctor will need to know your complete health history. Be sure to tell them about these things in particular.
- If you are a heavy drinker: This is very important because the combination of this medication and alcohol increases the risk of liver damage.
- If you have kidney disease.
- If you have liver disease.
- If you have allergies to Mipomersen or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant.
- If you are a nursing mother.
Based on this information, the doctor will decide whether this medication is suitable for you or not.
How exactly is this vaccine used?
This is an injection under the skin. Don't worry, a doctor or trained nurse will show you exactly how to give yourself this injection at home. You should follow the instructions exactly . You will usually get it at the prescribed interval, about once a week. Don't use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
What do you do with used needles?
Never throw used needles and syringes in the trash. It's very dangerous. They should be put in a special sharps container that you can take out. If you don't have one, ask your doctor for one.
Special instructions about the medicine
When you are given this medicine, you will receive a special instruction leaflet (MedGuide) with it. Read that leaflet carefully each time you take the medicine. It contains a lot of important information.
What if I overdose?
If you accidentally inject yourself with more than the prescribed dose, do not delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
Since this is a once-a-week dose, it's possible to forget. Suppose you take your shot every Monday. If you forget and remember on Wednesday, take the dose as soon as you remember.
However, if you remember on a Friday, meaning there are less than 3 days until your next dose on Monday, skip that day and take the vaccine as usual on the following Monday. Never take a double dose or take extra doses.
Things to be especially careful about when taking this medicine:
Risk of liver damage
The main risk of this drug is the risk of liver injury .
Drinking alcohol while taking this medication increases the risk of liver damage. Therefore, avoid drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day. Talk to your doctor about this.
Cancer risk
This medicine may increase the risk of certain types of cancer. Don't be afraid of this, talk openly with your doctor and understand the risks.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common. Let's understand them clearly from the table below.
| Mipomersen side effects | |
|---|---|
| Things to tell your doctor immediately: | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Liver problems | Dark urine, light-colored stools, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea. |
| Other serious symptoms | Feeling generally unwell or feverish, unusually tired or weak. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist: | |
| Headache | General headache. |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Discomfort at the injection site | Pain, redness, or swelling where the injection was given. |
If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, tell your doctor about them as well.
Can there be problems with other medications? (Drug Interactions)
Yes, Mipomersen can interact with other medications you are taking. This can increase the risk of liver damage. You should be especially careful if you are taking the following medications:
- Acetaminophen
- amiodarone
- isotretinoin
- lomitapide
- methotrexate
- tamoxifen
- tetracycline
This list is not complete. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications, vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements you take. Also tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
How to store the medicine?
- Do not keep this medicine within the reach of children.
- Store in the refrigerator at a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (2-8 °C).
- If you don't have a refrigerator, you can store it at room temperature (20-25 °C) for up to 14 days. But keep it in its original carton, away from heat and light .
Take-Home Message
- Mipomersen is a special injection for genetic high cholesterol conditions. It is used in conjunction with diet and other medications.
- Before starting the medication, tell your doctor about your complete health history, especially liver and kidney disease, and the amount of alcohol you consume.
- The risk of liver damage from drinking alcohol while taking this medication is very high, so avoid it.
- Be aware of symptoms of liver damage (yellowing of the eyes, dark urine, pain in the right side of the abdomen). If this happens, see a doctor immediately.
- Dispose of used needles safely, only in a sharps container.
- This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with others for any reason.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න