What is the most important information I should know about GATTEX?
Making abnormal cells grow faster
GATTEX can make abnormal cells that are already in your body grow faster. There is an increased risk that abnormal cells could become cancer. If you get cancer of the bowel (intestines), liver, gallbladder or pancreas while using GATTEX, your healthcare provider should stop GATTEX. If you get other types of cancers, you and your healthcare provider should discuss the risks and benefits of using GATTEX.
Polyps in the intestines
Polyps are growths on the inside of the intestines. For adult patients, your healthcare provider will have your colon and upper intestines checked for polyps within 6 months before starting GATTEX, and have any polyps removed. To keep using GATTEX, your healthcare provider should have your colon and upper intestines checked for polyps at the end of 1 year of using GATTEX.
For pediatric patients, your healthcare provider will check for blood in the stool within 6 months before starting GATTEX. If there is blood in the stool, your healthcare provider will check your colon and upper intestines for polyps, and have any polyps removed. To keep using GATTEX, your healthcare provider will check for blood in the stool every year during treatment of GATTEX. If there is blood in the stool, your healthcare provider will check your colon and upper intestines for polyps. The colon will be checked for polyps at the end of 1 year of using GATTEX.
For adult and pediatric patients, if no polyp is found at the end of 1 year, your healthcare provider should check you for polyps as needed and at least every 5 years. If any new polyps are found, your healthcare provider will have them removed and may recommend additional monitoring. If cancer is found in a polyp, your healthcare provider should stop GATTEX.
Blockage of the bowel (intestines)
A bowel blockage keeps food, fluids, and gas from moving through the bowels in the normal way. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of a bowel or stomal blockage:
If a blockage is found, your healthcare provider may temporarily stop GATTEX.
Swelling (inflammation) or blockage of your gallbladder or pancreas
Your healthcare provider will do tests to check your gallbladder and pancreas within 6 months before starting GATTEX and at least every 6 months while you are using GATTEX. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get:
Fluid overload
Your healthcare provider will check you for too much fluid in your body. Too much fluid in your body may lead to heart failure, especially if you have heart problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you get swelling in your feet and ankles, you gain weight very quickly (water weight), or you have trouble breathing.
The side effects of GATTEX in children and adolescents are similar to those seen in adults.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you or your child:
Tell your healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using GATTEX with certain other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Your other healthcare providers may need to change the dose of any oral medicines (medicines taken by mouth) you take while using GATTEX. Tell the healthcare provider who gives you GATTEX if you will be taking a new oral medicine.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
GATTEX® (teduglutide) for subcutaneous injection is a prescription medicine used in adults and children 1 year of age and older with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) who need additional nutrition or fluids from intravenous (IV) feeding (parenteral support). It is not known if GATTEX is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age.
For additional safety information, click here for full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, and discuss any questions with your doctor.
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SCROLL FOR FULL MEDICATION GUIDE INFORMATION
GATTEX® (Ga’-tex)
(teduglutide)
for injection, for subcutaneous use
Read this Medication Guide carefully before you start taking GATTEX and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.
GATTEX may cause serious side effects, including:
Before you start using GATTEX, your healthcare provider will:
To keep using GATTEX, your healthcare provider should:
If cancer is found in a polyp, your healthcare provider should stop GATTEX.
A bowel blockage keeps food, fluids, and gas from moving through the bowels in the normal way. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of a bowel or stomal blockage:
If a blockage is found, your healthcare provider may temporarily stop GATTEX.
Your healthcare provider will do tests to check your gallbladder and pancreas within 6 months before starting GATTEX and at least every 6 months while you are using GATTEX.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get:
These are not all the side effects of GATTEX. For more information, see “What are the possible side effects of GATTEX?”
Before using GATTEX, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you or your child:
Tell your healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using GATTEX with certain other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Your other healthcare providers may need to change the dose of any oral medicines (medicines taken by mouth) you take while using GATTEX. Tell the healthcare provider who gives you GATTEX if you will be taking a new oral medicine.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
GATTEX may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of GATTEX in adults include:
The side effects of GATTEX in children and adolescents are similar to those seen in adults.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all of the possible side effects of GATTEX.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Keep GATTEX and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use GATTEX for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give GATTEX to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
If you would like more information about GATTEX talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about GATTEX that is written for health professionals.
Active ingredient: teduglutide
Inactive ingredients: dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate, L-histidine, mannitol, and monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate. Sterile Water for Injection is provided as a diluent.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Important Safety Information.