What is Hextend?
Hextend is made from natural starch sources. This medicine can increase the amount of blood plasma lost due to severe injuries or bleeding. Plasma is required to circulate the red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout your body.Hextend can be used to treat or even prevent hypovolemia. This is a decreased blood plasma volume (also called "shock") that may result from a serious injury, surgery, or severe blood loss.This medication guide does not list all possible uses for Hextend.
Side effect of Hetend
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
If you:
- Wheezing (or gasping for air), rapid breathing, shivering, and anxiety
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Slow breathing and a weak pulse
- Chest pain, fever, or cough.
- Easy bruising or bleeding that won't stop
Some of the rare but serious side effects may include:
- Severe headache; vision or speech problems; mental changes
- Eyelids that droop, facial tremors or tremors, trouble swallowing, or
- Severe skin reaction: fever, sore neck, swelling of your face or tongue Burning in your eyes. Skin pain. Then a reddish or purple skin rash spreads, especially on the face and upper body, causing blistering and peeling.
Hextend may harm your kidneys. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: swelling, rapid or unusual weight gain, nausea, or vomiting.
Hextend side effects may include:
- Itching on the skin or mild
- Mild headache
- Muscle pain;
- Swollen glands, mild flu symptoms
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Contacting the FDA in regards to adverse events can be done at 800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
This medication should not be taken if you suffer from a bleeding disorder or a blood clotting disorder. You may also not take it if your condition is congestive heart failure or kidney disease.Hextend may harm your kidneys. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: swelling, rapid or unusual weight gain, nausea, vomiting, or feeling short of breath; red or pink-colored urine; difficult or painful urination; or little or no urinating.
Before you take this drug
This medication should not be given to you if:
- A bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
- Kidney disease
- Congestive heart failure;
- Hypovolemia is not the cause of urination issues (a decrease in blood plasma volume).
Tell your doctor, if possible, before receiving Hextend if you:
- Liver disease
- A history of cardiovascular disease
- If you have an allergy to corn,
FDA pregnancy class C There is no information on whether Hextend can harm an unborn child. You should tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant while taking this medication.It is unknown if hetastarch can pass into breast milk or if it will harm a baby who is nursing. You should tell your doctor if you're breastfeeding a child.It may not be possible in an emergency to inform your caregivers of your health condition or whether you are breastfeeding or pregnant. Be sure to tell any doctor who is caring for you or your baby that you've received Hextend.
How to take Hextend?
Hextend can be injected through an IV into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider.During treatment with Hextend, your vital signs, such as breathing, blood pressure and oxygen levels, kidney functions, and others, will be closely monitored. You will need to have your blood tested every day during treatment.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You are unlikely to miss a Hextend dose because you will be receiving it in a clinical environment.
What happens if I overdose?
Overdoses are unlikely because Hextend will be administered by a healthcare provider in a medical environment.
What should be avoided?
If your doctor prescribes any restrictions regarding food, beverage, or activity, follow their instructions.
Interaction with other drug
Hetastarch may interact with other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal products. Inform your healthcare providers of all the medicines you are taking and those you plan to take.
