What is in this leaflet
Please read this leaflet before you start taking this medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Milrinone GH.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of your treatment using Milrinone GH against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Milrinone GH is used for
The name of your medicine is Milrinone GH. It contains the active ingredient called milrinone.
Milrinone GH is used for the short-term treatment of severe congestive heart failure. This is a condition where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body. The symptoms of this condition include weakness, breathlessness, fluid build-up in the tissues and a blue discolouration of the skin.
Milrinone GH also helps to maintain the output of blood from the heart in patients following heart surgery.
Milrinone GH helps improve the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood around your body.
Milrinone GH works by increasing the force by which your heart muscles work and opening up your blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely.
Your doctor may have prescribed Milrinone GH for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Milrinone GH has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before Milrinone GH is given
When you must not use it
You should not use Milrinone GH if you are allergic to milrinone, similar medicines, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. The symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, asthma attack or hay fever.
You should not use Milrinone GH if you have certain severe problems (obstructive aortic or pulmonary valvular disease).
Milrinone GH should not be given if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved. It is not known whether Milrinone GH can harm your baby or whether it is found in breast milk.
Do not use Milrinone GH after the expiry date printed on the pack. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not use Milrinone GH if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should start using Milrinone GH, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
You must tell your doctor if:
- you suffer from kidney disease;
- you already suffer from another heart condition;
- you are allergic to other drugs used to treat congestive heart failure.
Taking other medicines
You should tell your doctor if you are using any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. These medicines may be affected by milrinone, or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Milrinone GH.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before Milrinone GH is given to you.
How Milrinone GH is given
Milrinone GH is usually given to you in hospital. It is given to you as a series of injections as follows:
Adults
Initial Dose
One injection given slowly over a 10 minute period.
Second Dose
Milrinone GH will be diluted with intravenous fluids and injected slowly into a vein. This “infusion” may last up to 48 hours. The dose used will depend upon the severity of your condition.
Milrinone GH is not recommended for use in children.
If you have any questions about how to use Milrinone GH, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much (overdose)
Too high a dose of Milrinone GH may cause low blood pressure. If this occurs, the dose of Milrinone GH may be reduced or the infusion temporarily stopped.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Milrinone GH. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while Milrinone GH is being given to you.
Milrinone GH helps most people with severe congestive heart failure, but it may have unwanted effects in some people.
All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not.
Effects you may feel while using Milrinone GH include:
- an irregular heartbeat;
- low blood pressure;
- light-headedness, dizziness;
- chest pain;
- headaches;
- skin rashes.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
After using Milrinone GH
Storage
Store unopened Milrinone GH ampoules in a cool dry place, where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not refrigerate.
Do not store Milrinone GH or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car on hot days. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using Milrinone GH or if it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Milrinone GH 10 mg/10 mL concentrated injection is a clear, colourless to pale yellow sterile solution, practically free from visible particles.
Milrinone GH concentrated injection comes in vials of 10 mL and is supplied in boxes containing 1 or 10 ampoules.
Not all pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
Each 10 mL ampoule of Milrinone GH concentrated injection contains 10 mg of milrinone (as lactate) as active ingredient.
Other ingredients
- Glucose
- Lactic acid;
- Sodium hydroxide
- Water for injections
Australian Registration Numbers
Milrinone GH 10 mg/10 mL:
AUST R 204795
Sponsor
Generic Health Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 2
19-23 Prospect Street
Box Hill, VIC, 3128
Australia
E-mail: ghinfo@generichealth.com.au
Telephone: +61 3 9809 7900
Website: www.generichealth.com.au
This leaflet was prepared in January 2021.
Published by MIMS March 2021