Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Why am I using Primacor?
Primacor contains the active ingredient Milrinone Lactate. Primacor is used for the
short term treatment of severe congestive heart failure.
What should I know before I use Primacor?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Primacor or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Primacor and affect how it works.
How do I use Primacor?
Primacor is usually given to you in hospital. It is given to you as a series of injections.
What should I know while using Primacor?
|
Things you should do
|
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Primacor.
|
|
Things you should not do
|
You should not use Primacor if you are allergic to milrinone, similar medicines, or
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
|
|
Driving or using machines
|
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Primacor
affects you.
|
|
Drinking alcohol
|
NA
|
|
Looking after your medicine
|
If you need to store Primacor make sure it is in a cool dry place where the temperature
does not exceed 30°C.
Do not refrigerate.
|
Are there any side effects?
Effects you may feel during the Primacor injection include an irregular heartbeat,
low blood pressure, light headedness, dizziness, chest pain, headaches, skin rashes.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient:
Milrinone Lactate
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Primacor. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Primacor.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
Why am I using Primacor?
Primacor contains the active ingredient milrinone lactate.
Primacor 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.
Primacor also helps to maintain the output of blood from the heart in patients following
heart surgery.
Primacor helps improve the efficiency with which your heart pumps blood around your
body.
Primacor works by increasing the force by which your heart muscles work and opening
up your blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely.
What should I know before I use Primacor?
Warnings
Do not use Primacor if:
you are allergic to milrinone lactate, or any of the ingredients listed at the end
of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you have certain severe problems (obstructive aortic or pulmonary valvular disease).
you are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks
and benefits involved.
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions
take any medicines for any other condition
suffer from kidney disease
already suffer from another heart condition
are allergic to other drugs used to treat congestive heart failure.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Primacor 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 Primacor can harm your baby or whether it is found in breast
milk.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Primacor.
How do I use Primacor?
How much to take / use
Primacor 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
The Primacor 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.
Primacor is not recommended for use in children.
When to take / use Primacor
Primacor is usually given to you in hospital. It is given to you as a series of injections.
If you use too much Primacor
If you think that you have used too much Primacor, you may need urgent medical attention.
Too high a dose of Primacor may cause low blood pressure. If this occurs, the dose
of Primacor may be reduced or the infusion temporarily stopped.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26) in Australia, or
phone the National Poisons Centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764766) in New Zealand, or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
What should I know while using Primacor?
Things you should do
Call your doctor straight away if you:
do not feel well while Primacor is being given to you.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Primacor.
Things you should not do
You should not use Primacor if you are allergic to milrinone, similar medicines, or
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Primacor
affects you.
Looking after your medicine
Primacor will usually be stored and administered at the hospital.
If you need to store Primacor make sure it is in a cool dry place where the temperature
does not exceed 30°C.
Do not refrigerate.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
This is not all the information available on Primacor. If you have any more questions
or are not sure about anything ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Primacor 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.
Less serious side effects
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems in Australia and
https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/reporting/ in New Zealand. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information
on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Primacor contains
|
Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
|
Milrinone Lactate 1 mg/mL
|
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
Glucose
Water for Injections
Lactic acid
Sodium hydroxide
|
|
Potential allergens
|
Not Applicable
|
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Primacor looks like
Primacor is a clear colourless to pale yellow solution.
A box contains 10 ampoules.
Primacor 10mg/10mL injection: AUST R 10372
Who distributes Primacor
Primacor is supplied in Australia by:
sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
12-24 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park, NSW 2113
Freecall No: 1800 818 806
Primacor is supplied in New Zealand by:
sanofi-aventis new zealand limited
James & Wells Tower
56 Cawley Street
Ellerslie, Auckland
Freecall No: 0800 283 684
This leaflet was last revised in May 2021.
primacor-ccdsv7-cmiv3-28may21