Increlex

Generic Name: mecasermin (ME ka SER min)
Brand Names: Increlex

What is Increlex?

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Increlex is a man-made form of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a substance that is normally produced in the body. IGF-1 is important for the growth of bones and muscles.

Increlex is used to treat growth failure in children whose bodies do not make enough IGF-1 or with growth hormone (GH) gene deletion who have developed neutralizing antibodies to GH.

Increlex may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information about Increlex

Your child should not use Increlex if he or she is allergic to mecasermin, or if the child has cancer or has finished growing and his or her bone growth plates are closed. Increlex is not for use in children who have growth hormone deficiency, malnutrition, underactive thyroid, or those who are taking long-term steroid medications.

Before your child receives Increlex, tell the doctor if your child has diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, a curved spine (scoliosis), or if the child has ever had an allergic reaction to a preservative called benzyl alcohol.

Increlex is given as an injection under the skin. You will be shown how to inject the medicine at home. Make sure you fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Do not give this medication as an IV injection directly into a vein. Use a different place on your child's upper arm, thigh, or buttocks each time you give your child a Increlex injection. Give the Increlex injection 20 minutes before or after the child eats a meal or snack. Skip the dose if the child's meal or snack will be missed. Increlex can cause low blood sugar, which may be worse if the child does not eat before or after the injection. Call your child's doctor at once if your child has a serious side effect such as blurred vision, headache or pain behind the eyes (sometimes with vomiting), pain in the hip or knee, walking with a limp, seizures, or swollen tonsils (snoring, breathing problems during sleep, ear pain, feeling of fullness in the ears, muffled hearing). Increlex can cause side effects that may impair thinking, reactions, or physical abilities. The child should avoid driving or doing anything else that requires alertness or coordination for the first 2 or 3 hours after a Increlex injection.

Take care not to let your child's blood sugar get too low while using Increlex. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them

Before using Increlex

If your child has certain conditions, he or she may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before your child receives Increlex, tell the doctor if your child has:

diabetes;
kidney disease;
liver disease;
a curved spine (scoliosis); or
a history of allergic reaction to a preservative called benzyl alcohol.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Increlex is harmful to an unborn baby. This medication should not be used during pregnancy without the advice of a doctor. It is not known whether Increlex passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. This medication should not be used while breast-feeding a baby without the advice of a doctor.

How should I use Increlex?

Increlex is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give your child this injection. You and your child may be shown how to inject the medicine at home. Do not use this medicine at home if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Do not give this medication as an IV injection directly into a vein.

Use a different place on your child's upper arm, thigh, or buttocks each time you give your child a Increlex injection. Your care provider will show you the places on your body where you can safely inject the medication. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. The doctor may also want you to check the child's blood sugar before meals until the correct dose is determined.

Increlex is usually given twice per day. Give the Increlex injection 20 minutes before or after the child eats a meal or snack. Skip the dose if the child's meal or snack will be missed. Increlex can cause low blood sugar, which may be worse if the child does not eat before or after the injection.

Take care not to let your child's blood sugar get too low while using Increlex. Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them:

hunger, weakness, nausea, irritability, tremors;
drowsiness, dizziness, headache, blurred vision;
confusion, trouble concentrating;
sweating, fast heartbeat;
seizure (convulsions); or
fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.

Call your child's doctor if hypoglycemia symptoms do not get better after eating or drinking a sugar source.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your child will need to be checked on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your child's doctor.

Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

Store new unopened vials (bottles) of Increlex in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Throw away any Increlex that has become frozen.

Once you have opened a vial and started using it, the medication will keep for up to 30 days if stored in the refrigerator.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Be sure the child receives a meal or snack either 20 minutes before or after the injection. If it is almost time for your child's next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think your child has received too much of this medicine. An overdose of Increlex can cause hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include extreme weakness, blurred vision, sweating, trouble speaking, tremors, stomach pain, confusion, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What should I avoid while using Increlex?

Increlex can cause side effects that may impair thinking, reactions, or physical abilities. The child should avoid driving or doing anything else that requires alertness or coordination for the first 2 or 3 hours after a Increlex injection.

Increlex side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your child's doctor at once if your child has a serious side effect such as:

blurred vision, headache or pain behind the eyes, sometimes with vomiting;
pain in the hip or knee, walking with a limp;
seizure (convulsions); or
swollen tonsils - snoring, breathing problems during sleep, ear pain, feeling of fullness in the ears, muffled hearing.

Less serious Increlex side effects may include:

headache;
dizziness;
vomiting;
mild joint pain;
thickening of facial skin;
easy bruising; or
pain, redness, bruising, or skin changes where the medication was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Increlex?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Increlex. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Increlex.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.