Octagam

Octagam can raise your risk of getting blood clots in various parts of your body. Symptoms of a blood clot might be different depending on the location of the clot. They can include swelling, warmth, or tenderness in the legs. But more seriously, clots can lead to breathing problems, heart attack, or stroke and cause chest pain; difficulty breathing; or weakness of the face, legs, or arms. Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms, because this is a medical emergency.

Octagam can cause severe, and even fatal, kidney problems. Your risk is higher if you have certain factors like older age, diabetes, or taking medications that can cause kidney problems. Your provider will order lab tests to check your kidney health before and during treatment with Octagam. If your kidney health worsens during treatment, your provider might slow down your infusion or even have you stop taking it. Contact your provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of kidney failure, including changes in your need to urinate, tiredness, dry and itchy skin, low appetite, and muscle cramps.

Serious allergic reactions, including life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis (closing of the throat), are possible. Tell your provider all of your allergies before starting Octagam. This medication is made with a sugar from corn, so let them know if you have allergies to corn. If you notice a choking sensation, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, swelling around your eyes, sweating, dizziness, or nausea after using Octagam, get medical attention right away.

Octagam contains maltose, which is a type of sugar. Maltose can cause your blood sugar readings to be falsely high if you use certain glucose monitors that use a substance called GDH-PQQ to detect blood sugar. This raises your risk for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if you give yourself insulin to correct this falsely high blood sugar level. Contact your local pharmacist or the manufacturer of the glucose monitor test you use if you're not sure if it can be used with products that have maltose in them.

Octagam can cause your body to rapidly destroy your own red blood cells. Your provider will monitor your blood cell counts before and during treatment to help make sure they don't drop too low. Contact your provider if you experience symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and weakness.

Although rare, Octagam can cause inflammation of the brain (aseptic meningitis). It can start to happen within several hours to 2 days after receiving Octagam. Typically, it goes away within several days of stopping treatment. Contact your provider if you experience symptoms of meningitis, including severe headache, neck stiffness, sleepiness, fever, sensitivity to light, painful eye movements, nausea, or vomiting.

Octagam can cause a condition called transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). This condition happens when fluid backs up in your lungs. It typically occurs within 1 to 6 hours after receiving the medication. Let your provider know right away if you experience symptoms of lung injury like severe breathing problems, chest pain or tightness, a racing heartbeat, or fever.