What is Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)?
Anti-thymocyte globulin is a sterilised substance comprised of the cells of rabbits that have been infused by white blood cells derived from human beings.Anti-thymocyteglobulin decreases your immune system. Your immune system plays an integral part in protecting you against infections. The immune system also has the ability to combat and "reject" a transplanted organ like a liver or kidney. It is due to the fact that our immune system views the transplanted organ as an intruder.Anti-thymocyteglobulin is used in conjunction with other drugs to stop your body from restraining a kidney transplant.Anti-thymocyte globulin can also be used to treat conditions not mentioned in this guideline.
Side effects of Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)
Contact a medical professional immediately. If you notice any of the following symptoms or warning signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, and tongue,
Infections that can be fatal or even deadly could occur while using anti-thymocyte globulin. Stop using anti-thymocyteglobulin and consult your doctor when you show symptoms of an infection, like:
- Fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
- Ulcers in the throat and mouth;
- High heart rate; shallow and rapid breathing;
- Fatigue, or a feeling of tiredness and fatigue
- Feeling like you might pass out.
Contact your physician immediately in the event of serious side effects, including:
- White spots inside your mouth or on your lips.
- Simple bleeding, unusual bruises (nose, vagina, mouth, or rectum), or either red or purple small spots on your skin;
- Glands that are swollen, rash or itching, or joint pain;
- Burning or pain during urination;
- Dry cough, wheezing, or feeling breathless;
- Chest pain or feeling heavy and pain that is spreading to the shoulder or arm; sweating; a general feeling of discomfort;
- Excessive levels of potassium (slow heart rate, low pulse muscles becoming weak, tingly sensation).
Less severe side effects can be:
- Headache, dizziness;
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain;
- Swelling in your feet or hands swelling in your feet or hands
- Swelling, pain, or redness at the site where the injection was administered.
This list does not represent all potential side effects. Other side effects could occur. Reach out to your physician if experiencing adverse side effects and report them directly or call the FDA's hotline at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report.
Similar/related drugs
furosemide, Lasix, Azthioprine, Imuran, Thymoglobulin, and Azasan
Warnings
It is not recommended to use this medication if you have an allergy to rabbit proteins or if you've ever suffered reactions to anti-thymocyteglobulin.To ensure that you are able to safely take anti-thymocyteglobulin, inform your physician that you have an active or persistent infection, or a severe disease known as sepsis.Sometimes fatal and serious infections can occur when you are treated with anti-thymocyte globulin. Consult your physician right away in case you are experiencing symptoms of infection, such as chills, fever and body aches, flu-like symptoms, throat and mouth ulcers, a rapid heart rate, fast and shallow breathing, fatigue, sensation, or a feeling that you could pass out.Do not get any "live" vaccine while using anti-thymocyte globulin. The vaccine might not work in the same way during this period, and it may not completely safeguard you against disease.
Before you take this drug
This medication is for you if you have an allergy to rabbit proteins or if you've ever experienced reactions to anti-thymocyteglobulin.
To ensure that you are able to safely take anti-thymocyte globulin, consult your doctor if you suffer from any of the following ailments:
- An ongoing or chronic illness an ongoing or chronic infection
- Sepsis is a serious infection that can be referred to as
FDA classification for pregnancy C It isn't known whether anti-thymocyteglobulin can affect a newborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are expecting or planning to become pregnant while taking this drug.It is unclear if anti-thymocyteglobulin gets into breast milk or whether it can harm the nursing infant. Do not breastfeed when you are using anti-thymocyte globulin.The use of anti-thymocyteglobulin could increase your chances of developing certain kinds of cancer, including lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). Consult your physician regarding your risk.
How to Take Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)?
Anti-thymocyte globulin injections are made into the vein using an IV. The injection will be administered in a hospital or clinic. Anti-thymocyte globulin should be administered slowly. The IV infusion could take up to 6 hours to finish.You could be prescribed other medicines to prevent adverse side effects or allergic reactions.Anti-thymocyte Gulin may reduce blood cells, which help your body fight off infections. This makes it more likely for you to become sick when you are around people who are sick. Your blood might require frequent testing. Visit your doctor regularly.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Renal Transplant:
Acute rejection 1.5 mg/kg intravenously daily over 4–7 days. The initial dose is taken before reperfusion of the donor kidney.
Treatment for chronic rejection 1.5 mg/kg daily IV for 7–14 days
Comments:
Use this medication in conjunction with immunosuppressants.
Take the first dose for an interval of at least 6 hours. Repeat the dose on the days following, at a minimum of 4 hours.
Premedication using corticosteroids, acetaminophen, or an antihistamine for one hour prior to every infusion is recommended to lower the frequency and severity of the reactions that occur during infusion.
Provide prophylactic antifungal and antibiotic therapy when clinically recommended. Prophylactic antiviral therapy is recommended for those who are cytomegalovirus-positive (CMV) prior to transplantation as well as for patients with CMV seronegative who are scheduled to receive a kidney from a CMV-positive donor.
Monitor patients for adverse reactions both before and after the infusion.
Use: To prevent or treat rejection in patients undergoing kidney transplants; this medication is used in conjunction with immunosuppression.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Consult your doctor for the appropriate treatment in the event that you don't make an appointment to receive your anti-thymocyteglobulin injection.
What happens if I overdose?
Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.The symptoms of an overdose could include some of the more serious side effects that are listed in this guideline for medication.
What should be avoided?
Don't receive any "live" vaccines while using anti-thymocyte globulin. The vaccine might not work in the same way at this point and could not completely safeguard you from illness. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccines.
Interaction with other drug
Inform your doctor of any other medications you take, particularly those that weaken the immune system.There could be other drugs that interfere with anti-thymocyteglobulin (rabbit). Discuss with your physician every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you take. It comprises vitamins, minerals, and natural products as well as prescription medications prescribed by other physicians. Don't begin using an entirely new drug without consulting your physician.
