• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• If you have an allergy to corticotropin, pork, or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Brittle bones, herpes infection of the eye, scleroderma, serious infection, or ulcer disease.
• Corticotropin stimulates the body to produce an important chemical.
• It calms the brain.
• It prevents or reduces irritation and swelling.
• This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or into the fatty part of the skin.
• Your healthcare provider may teach you how to give the shot.
• Before injection, bring to room temperature.
• Wash hands before and after use.
• Throw away needles in needle/sharp disposal box and return box to healthcare provider when full.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood sugar as directed by healthcare provider.
Created: 2006-10-13 11:40:48.0
Modified: 2010-03-25 14:08:23.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• This medicine is used to check the adrenal gland's function.
• This medicine is used to relieve allergy symptoms.
• This medicine is used to treat Addison's disease.
• This medicine is used to treat arthritis.
• This medicine is used to treat asthma.
• This medicine is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• This medicine is used to treat diseases where the anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant properties are needed.
• This medicine is used to treat infantile spasms.
• This medicine is used to treat inflamed areas of the body.
• This medicine is used to treat leukemia.
• This medicine is used to treat lymphoma.
• This medicine is used to treat myasthenia gravis.
• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.
• Wear disease medical alert identification.
• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.
• Avoid exposure to chickenpox and measles.
• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine can increase blood sugar.
• If you have glaucoma or cataracts, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you are being treated for any infection, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have tuberculosis, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• High blood sugar. Usually reverses when stopped.
• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Weight gain.
• Mood changes.
• Change in body fat distribution.
• Weakened bones with long-term use.
• Muscle weakness.
• Skin changes (acne, stretch marks, slow healing, hair growth).
• Cataracts or glaucoma with long-term use.
• For females, vaginal yeast infection. Report itching or discharge.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• Feeling extremely tired, weak, or irritable; trembling; having a fast heartbeat, confusion, sweating, or dizziness if you missed a dose or recently stopped this medicine.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Significant weight gain.
• Sudden change in vision.
• If exposure to chickenpox has occurred and you have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
