What is Synagis?

Palivizumab injection is used to prevent serious lung infection in children and babies caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It belongs to a group of medicines known as immunizing agents. This medicine works by giving your body antibodies to protect it against RSV infection.

RSV infection can cause serious problems that affect the lungs, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and in severe cases can even cause death. These problems are more likely to occur in infants and children younger than 6 months of age with chronic lung disease and breathing problems. Babies who were born premature or babies who were born with heart disease may also have problems with RSV.

The onset of RSV activity usually occurs in November and continues through April, but it may begin earlier or continue later in certain communities. A good way to help prevent RSV infection is to receive palivizumab before the start of the RSV season.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your child's muscles (usually in the thighs).

This medicine is usually given once a month during the RSV season, which is the time of year that RSV is most common in your community. Your child should receive the first shot of this medicine before the season starts to help prevent serious infections from the RSV virus.

This medicine comes with a patient information insert. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of palivizumab injection in children older than 24 months of age at the start of dosing. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of palivizumab injection in geriatric patients.

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bleeding problems or
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

It is very important that your doctor check your child's progress at regular visits. This will allow your child's doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if your child should continue to use it.

This medicine may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if your child has a rash, itching, hoarseness, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of the hands, face, or mouth after receiving the medicine.

If your child has certain types of heart disease and needs to have a corrective surgery, your doctor may need to give your child an additional shot of this medicine soon after surgery.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats your child knows that he or she is using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.