What Valtropin contains
Powder:
- The active substance is somatropin. One vial of powder contains 5 mg somatropin (corresponding to 15 IU). After reconstitution with 1.5 ml solvent, 1 ml contains 3.33 mg somatropin (corresponding to 10 IU).
- The other ingredients are glycine, mannitol, sodium phosphate monobasic, sodium phosphate dibasic and for pH (acidity) adjustment sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.
Solvent:
- The pre-filled syringe contains water for injections and metacresol (see section 2, ?Important information about some of the ingredients of Valtropin?).
What Valtropin looks like and contents of the pack
Valtropin is presented as a powder and solvent for solution for injection.
One pack contains:
- 5 mg of white to almost white powder in a glass vial closed with a rubber stopper and a cap
- 1.5 ml of solvent in a pre-filled syringe closed with a tip cap, for reconstitution as a clear solution.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
BioPartners GmbH
Kaiserpassage 11
D-72764 Reutlingen
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 7121 948 7756
Fax: +49 (0) 7121 346 255
This leaflet was last approved in {MM/YYYY}
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INFORMATION ON HOW TO SELF-INJECT Valtropin
Please read the following instructions carefully before using Valtropin.
Introduction
The following instructions explain how to inject Valtropinyourself. Please read the instructions carefully and follow them step by step. Your doctor or his/her assistant will instruct you how to self-inject Valtropin. Do not attempt to inject yourself unless you are sure you understand the procedure and requirements of self-injection.
General notes
For patients with a known allergy to metacresol, Valtropin should not be reconstituted with the supplied solvent (see section 2, ?Do not use Valtropin?). If allergy to the accompanying solvent occurs, the vials should be reconstituted with water for injections: please fill a syringe with 1.5 ml of water for injections and follow the same instructions as for the pre-filled syringe (see section 5 ?How to store Valtropin?). Do not use tap water.
Collect the necessary items before you begin. These are:
Supplied in the pack
- the Valtropinvial with powder for solution for injection
- the pre-filled syringe with 1.5 ml solvent for solution for injection NOT supplied in the pack
- sterile injection syringe and needles
- alcohol swabs
- dry gauze or cotton pad
- an adhesive plaster
- disposal box for used syringes and needles.
Preparing the solution
1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before preparing the medicine.
2. Take the Valtropin carton out of the refrigerator and take the powder vial and pre-filled syringe with solvent out of the box. Check that the medicine is within the expiry date.
3. Remove the protective plastic cap from the powder vial.
4. Clean the rubber stopper on the top of the powder vial with an alcohol swab. After cleaning do not touch the top of the vial.
Vial containing the powder of your medicine
5. Take the pre-filled syringe with solventsupplied in the pack to prepare your medicine. Remove the rubber tip cap and firmly attach a needle to the syringe. Your doctor or his/her assistant will tell you what size of needle to use.
6. Remove the needle guard without touching the needle.
7. Slowly insert the needle straight through the centre of the rubber stopper of the vial.
8. Slowly inject all of the solvent (1.5 ml) into the powder vial aiming the stream of liquid against the side of the vial. DO NOT aim it at the white powder at the bottom of the vial.
Before taking the syringe out of the vial, draw in the same amount of air (1.5 ml) as the solvent you injected to reduce the pressure in the vial. Withdraw the syringe and replace the needle guard.
9. Swirl the vial GENTLY to completely dissolve the contents. DO NOT SHAKE.
Dissolving up your medicine
10. The resulting solution should be clear, without particles.
11. Label the vial with the date on which you prepared the solution.
Preparing the injection
12. Clean the rubber stopper on the top of the vial with an alcohol swab again. After cleaning do not touch the top of the vial.
Vial containing the solution of your medicine
13. Take the injection syringe and the needle supplied by your pharmacy or hospital, to withdraw the solution of medicine. Remove the injection syringe from its sterile packaging and attach the needle to the syringe.
14. Fill the syringe with air by pulling the plunger back to the level that represents your dose as prescribed by your doctor.
15. Remove the needle guard without touching the needle.
16. Slowly insert the needle straight through the centre of the rubber stopper of the vial.
17. Gently push the plunger to discharge the air in the syringe into the vial.
18. Turn the vial upside down with the needle still in it and hold the vial in one hand. Hold the syringe with the needle in the vial pointing up. Ensure that the tip of the needle is in the solution. Using your other hand slowly pull back the plunger in a continuous motion to draw the correct dose into the syringe ensuring that the needle tip remains in the solution.
Withdrawing the right volume of your medicine with the help of the syringe markings
19. Remove the syringe from the needle leaving the needle in the vial without touching the tip of the syringe. Withdraw the needle, replace the needle guard and dispose in a closed container. For handling the vial see ?Injecting the solution?, step 32.
20. Take a new needle (one that is suitable for subcutaneous injection) and place it firmly onto the tip of the syringe.
Syringe containing your medicine being attached to a new needle
21. Remove the needle guard from the syringe needle and check for air bubbles in the syringe.
22. If you see any bubbles, pull the plunger slightly back; tap the syringe gently, with the needle pointing up, until the bubbles disappear. Push the plunger slowly back up to the correct dose.
23. Replace the needle guard and place the syringe with the needle on a flat surface.
Injecting the solution
24. Ensure the solution is at room temperature. If the solution is cold, warm the syringe between your palms.
25. Inspect the solution prior to administration: if the solution is discoloured or if you can see any solid particles in the liquid the solution MUST NOT be injected.
26. Select the injection site according to the recommendation of your doctor. It is very important that you vary the injection site each time you give the medicine.
27. Cleanse the injection site with an alcohol swab and wait for the area to dry.
28. Check that the correct dose of Valtropin solution is in the syringe. Hold the syringe in your hand as you would hold a pencil.
29. Squeeze a big skin fold between your thumb and index finger. Insert the needle into the pinched skin at a 45° to 90° angle with a quick, firm motion. This hurts less than pushing the needle in slowly.
30. Slowly (over a few seconds) inject the solution by gently depressing the plunger until the syringe is empty.
31. Withdraw the needle quickly and apply pressure over the injection site with a dry gauze or cotton pad for several seconds. If there is bleeding, cover the injection site with an adhesive plaster.
32. Dispose the used syringe in a closed container. Be sure to return the vial to the refrigerator. When empty, discard the vial as well. For shelf-life after reconstitution see section 5 ?How to store Valtropin?. If the powder is reconstituted with water for injections, then the vial is for single use only. Any unused solution should be discarded.
ANNEX IV
GROUNDS FOR ONE ADDITIONAL RENEWAL
GROUNDS FOR ONE ADDITIONAL RENEWAL
Based upon the data that have become available since the granting of the initial Marketing Authorisation, the CHMP considers that the benefit-risk balance of Valtropin remains positive, but considers that its safety profile is to be closely monitored for the following reasons:
Valtropin was approved in the EU on 24 April 2006, and was placed on the market in Germany on 6 January 2009. The placing on the market was temporarily ceased as of 1 June 2009 for economical reasons. 5 packs of Valtropin were sold in total during the 6 months of marketing in the EU. No post-authorisation adverse events have been reported thus far.
Therefore, in view of the very limited post-marketing safety data available for Valtropin, the CHMP is of the opinion that one additional five-year renewal on the basis of pharmacovigilance grounds is required.