Inomax 800 ppm mol/mol, medicinal compressed gas

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

INOmax 800 ppm mol/mol, medicinal compressed gas

nitric oxide

Read this entire leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again. If you have any questions, consult your doctor.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, consult your doctor, even if they are adverse reactions not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet contents:

1. What INOmax is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before using INOmax
3. How to use INOmax
4. Possible adverse effects
5. Storage of INOmax
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What INOmax is and what it is used for

INOmax contains nitric oxide, a gas used for the treatment of:

newborns with respiratory failure associated with high blood pressure in the lungs,

a condition known as hypoxic respiratory failure. When inhaled, this gaseous mixture can improve blood flow through the lungs, which may help increase the amount of oxygen reaching the infant's blood.

newborns, infants, children and adolescents aged 0–17 years, and adults with pulmonary hypertension related to cardiac surgery. This gaseous mixture may improve cardiac function and increase blood flow in the lungs, which may help increase the amount of oxygen delivered to the blood.

2. What you need to know before starting to use INOMAX

Do not use INOmax:

• If you (as a patient) or your child (as a patient) are allergic (hypersensitive) to nitric oxide or to any of the components of INOmax (see section 6 “Additional Information” for the complete list of ingredients).

• If you have been informed that you (as a patient) or your child (as a patient) have abnormal circulation in the heart.

Take special care with INOmax

Inhaled nitric oxide is not always effective, so other treatments may sometimes need to be considered for you or your child.

Inhaled nitric oxide may affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen. This will be monitored through blood tests and, if necessary, by reducing the dose of inhaled nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide may react with oxygen and form nitrogen dioxide, which can cause irritation of the airways. Your doctor or your child’s doctor will monitor nitrogen dioxide levels, and if elevated levels are detected, the INOmax treatment will need to be appropriately reduced.

Inhaled nitric oxide may have a slight effect on your platelets (components that help blood to clot) or those of your child, so any signs of bleeding or bruising should be monitored. If you notice any signs or symptoms that could be associated with bleeding, inform your doctor immediately.

There is no documented effect of inhaled nitric oxide in newborns with a malformation in which the diaphragm is incomplete, known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

In newborns with specific heart malformations, what doctors call congenital heart disease, inhaled nitric oxide may worsen circulation.

Cases of fluid retention in the lungs have been reported with nitric oxide in patients suffering from a disease caused by a blocked or narrowed vein in the lungs. If you (as a patient) or your child (as a patient) experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately.

Children

INOmax should not be administered to premature infants with < 34 weeks of gestation.

Use of INOmax with other medicines:

Your doctor will decide when to treat you or your child with INOmax and other drugs, and will carefully monitor the treatment.

Inform your doctor if you (as a patient) or your child (as a patient) are taking or have recently taken or used any other medications, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Some medicines may affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen, such as prilocaine (a local anaesthetic used to relieve pain during minor painful procedures, such as suturing or minor surgical or diagnostic procedures) or glyceryl trinitrate (used to treat angina). Your doctor will check that the blood contains sufficient oxygen when these medicines are being used.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The use of INOmax during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Before starting treatment with INOmax, inform your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.

Driving and use of machines

Not relevant

INOmax contains nitrogen.

3. How INOMAX is given

Your doctor will determine the correct dose of INOmax and will administer INOmax to your lungs or to those of your child through a system designed for delivery of this gas. This delivery system will ensure that the correct amount of nitric oxide is administered by diluting INOmax with a mixture of oxygen and air immediately before administration.

For your safety or that of your child, the systems intended for administration of INOmax are equipped with devices that continuously measure the amounts of nitric oxide, oxygen, and nitrogen dioxide (a chemical formed when nitric oxide mixes with oxygen) being delivered to the lungs.

Your doctor will determine how long the treatment with INOmax should last.

INOmax is administered at doses of 10–20 ppm (parts per million) (maximum dose: 20 ppm in children and 40 ppm in adults) in the gas you or your child inhale. The lowest effective dose will be sought.

Treatment typically lasts approximately 4 days in newborns with pulmonary failure associated with pulmonary hypertension. In children and adults with pulmonary hypertension associated with cardiac surgery, INOmax is usually administered for 24–48 hours. However, INOmax treatment may be prolonged.

If you or your child receive more INOmax than you should

An excessive amount of inhaled nitric oxide may affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen. This will be assessed by blood tests, and if necessary, the dose of INOmax will be reduced and medications such as vitamin C or methylene blue may be given. In some cases, a blood transfusion may be considered to improve oxygen-carrying capacity.

If you stop INOmax treatment

Treatment with INOmax must not be stopped suddenly. Sudden interruption of INOmax treatment without prior dose reduction has been shown to cause hypotension or rebound pulmonary hypertension (a sudden increase in pressure in the lung arteries).

At the end of treatment, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount of INOmax given to you or your child, allowing the circulation in the lungs to adjust to oxygen/air without the need for INOmax. This process may take one or two days before you or your child have completely stopped receiving INOmax.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine may cause adverse effects, although not everyone gets them. Your doctor will carefully examine you or your child to identify any adverse effects.

Very common adverse effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 patients) associated with INOmax treatment include:

• Low platelet count.

Frequent adverse effects (affecting more than 1 in 100 patients) associated with INOmax treatment include:

• Hypotension, lung collapse, or lack of air in the lungs.

Uncommon adverse effects (affecting between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 patients) that may be observed are:

• Increased methaemoglobin, and therefore reduced oxygen-carrying capacity.

Adverse effects observed but with unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data) are:

• Bradycardia (low heart rate) or excessively low oxygen levels in the blood (oxygen desaturation/hypoxemia) due to sudden interruption of treatment.

• Headache, dizziness, dry throat, or breathing difficulties following accidental exposure to nitric oxide in the environment (e.g., equipment leaks or gas cylinder leaks).

You should inform the medical staff directly if you experience headache while being near your child during INOmax administration.

If you consider any of the adverse effects you experience to be severe, or if you notice any adverse effects not listed in this leaflet, even after you or your child have left the hospital, inform your doctor.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they are possible adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly through the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of INOmax

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the label following EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the stated month.

Treatment with INOmax must only be administered and handled by hospital personnel.

• INOmax cylinders must be stored securely to prevent falls and potential damage.
• INOmax must only be handled and administered by personnel specifically trained in the use and handling of INOmax.

Regulations regarding the handling of pressurized gas cylinders must be observed.

Storage must be supervised by hospital specialists. Store gas cylinders in well-ventilated rooms or ventilated shelters, protected from rain and direct sunlight.

Protect gas cylinders from impact, falls, corrosion, flammable materials, moisture, and sources of heat or ignition.

Storage in the pharmacy department

Gas cylinders must be stored in a well-ventilated, clean, and locked area, designated exclusively for the storage of medicinal gases. Within this area, there must be a separate dedicated installation for storing nitric oxide gas cylinders.

Storage in the medical department

The gas cylinder must be placed in a location equipped with appropriate equipment to ensure it remains upright.

Do not dispose of the gas cylinder when empty. Empty gas cylinders will be collected by the supplier.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of INOmax

The active substance in INOmax is nitric oxide 800 ppm mol/mol. A 2-litre gas cylinder filled to 155 bar absolute contains 307 litres of gas at a pressure of 1 bar at 15°C.

A 10-litre gas cylinder filled to 155 bar absolute contains 1535 litres of gas at a pressure of 1 bar at 15°C.

The other ingredient is nitrogen.

Presentation and pack contents of INOmax

Inhalation gas

Aluminium gas cylinders of 2 litres and 10 litres (identified by an aquamarine-coloured shoulder and white body), filled to a pressure of 155 bar, equipped with a stainless steel positive (residual) pressure valve with a specific outlet connection.

INOmax is available as aluminium gas cylinders of 2 litres and 10 litres.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Linde Healthcare AB
Rättarvägen 3
169 68 Solna
Sweden

Manufacturer

Linde France
Z.I. Limay-Porcheville
3 avenue Ozanne
78440 Porcheville
France

For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet: MM/YYYY

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu