Taking Hemlibra
Taking Hemlibra
Hemlibra must be taken regularly to help prevent bleeds. This type of treatment is called prophylaxis (pronounced pro-fi-lax-is)
Hemlibra is given by an injection under the skin. This is called a subcutaneous injection. This may be different to what you’re used to. Your doctor or nurse will help you and the person who looks after you learn how to give subcutaneous injections.
They will also tell you how often to take your Hemlibra. It’s important that you try not to forget any injections, so that you have a better chance of preventing bleeding.
You, or the person who looks after you, should record your treatment in the Haemtrack® app.
REMEMBER, you don’t need to take additional Hemlibra when you want to play sports!
Get into a routine with Hemlibra
Using your weight, your doctor or nurse will work out how much Hemlibra you should take.
For the first 4 weeks, you take a loading dose once a week (3.0 mg/kg).
From week 5, you then carry on taking a maintenance dose. This will be either:
- once every week (1.5 mg/kg)
- once every 2 weeks (3.0 mg/kg)
- once every 4 weeks (6.0 mg/kg)
Your doctor or nurse will decide how often you should be weighed. This is a time when you are growing fast, so they need to make sure you are taking enough Hemlibra. Even if your weight does increase, do not change your dose of Hemlibra without talking to your doctor or nurse.
You must stop taking bypassing agents the day before you start taking Hemlibra. Before you start taking Hemlibra, you and the person who looks after you should read the leaflet contained in the box with your medicine, the guide for patients/carers and the patient alert card.
If you need to have any laboratory or blood tests, tell the healthcare team that you are taking Hemlibra. Taking this medication can interfere with some of these tests, giving wrong results.
Preparing for Hemlibra injections
Make sure you (or the person giving the injection) wash your hands well with soap and water before preparing and injecting Hemlibra.
Take the Hemlibra out of the fridge and remove from the box. Check the expiry date and check the liquid in the vial is clear and colourless or slightly yellow. Do not use the vial if the liquid is cloudy, hazy, discoloured or contains any visible particles. Ask an adult to help you if necessary.
Before use, allow the vial(s) to reach room temperature for about 15 minutes on a clean flat surface away from direct sunlight.
For each injection, choose a different area of the body to the one you used last time. Each injection should be at least 2.5cm away from the area you used for your last injection. This also applies if your dose is given with more than one subcutaneous injection of Hemlibra.
Clean the chosen area using an alcohol wipe and let the skin dry for about 10 seconds.
Where to inject Hemlibra
Hemlibra injections should only be given into certain parts of your body:
- Your thigh (front and middle)
- Your stomach area, except for 5cm around the belly button
- The outer area of your upper arm (only if someone else is giving the injection)
These sites are recommended because they have an easily accessible area of fatty tissue just below the skin.
Self administration is not recommended for children below 7 years of age.
Your doctor or nurse can help you decide if you can inject Hemlibra yourself.
In a study of infants, 8 out of 10 injections were given in the thigh.1
Avoid injecting into:
- Areas that could be irritated by a belt or waistband
- Moles and scars
- Skin that is bruised, tender, red, hard or broken
- The navel and 5cm around it
Hemlibra injections
You or the person who looks after you can also watch this video to help you remember how you were shown to inject Hemlibra by your doctor or nurse.
The acronym PARIS can help you to remember each step correctly and make injecting Hemlibra more comfortable.
pinch
Pinch the skin at the selected injection site.
angle
Angle the needle at 45° to 90° and insert with a quick, firm action.
Do not hold or push on the plunger while inserting the needle.
release
Release the pressure between the pinched skin whilst holding the syringe still, in the same position.
inject
Inject all the prescribed dose slowly by gently pushing the plunger all the way down.
slide
Slide the needle gently out from the injection site at the same angle as inserted.
