Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor

Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor is a prescription medication used for chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults with emphysema caused by congenital alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency.

• Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor is available under the following different brand names: Aralast NP, Glassia, Prolastin C, Zemaira

Common side effects of Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor include:

• nausea,
• bloating,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• back pain,
• joint or muscle pain,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling),
• stuffy nose,
• sneezing,
• sore throat,
• cough, and
• mild itching

Serious side effects of Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• hives,
• wheezing,
• lightheadedness,
• fever,
• chills,
• body aches,
• flu symptoms,
• sores in the mouth and throat,
• pain or burning when you urinate,
• chest pain or tightness, and
• vision changes

Rare side effects of Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out. 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Injectable solution

• (3 mg/0.6 mg)/3 mL (single-dose prefilled syringe)

Nondepolarizing Neuromuscular Blockade Reversal

Adult dosage

• 60 mg/kg IV infusion every week

IV infusion rate

• Aralast NP, Prolastin C, Zemaira: Not to exceed 0.08 mL/kg/min
• Glassia: 0.04 mL/kg/min

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
• Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs.
• Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs.
• Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Selective IgA deficiencies (IgA less than 15 mg/dL) with known IgA antibodies
• Liver disease associated with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor?”

Cautions

• Patients at risk of circulatory overload
• D/C immediately if anaphylactic or severe anaphylactoid reaction
• Theoretical risk of pathogen transmission
• Report suspected infection
• Aralast to Alpha Therapeutic Corp. 1-888-675-2762 (US) or 1-323-225-9735 (international)
• Prolastin to Bayer Corp 1-800-288-8371
• Zemaira to ZLB Behring 1-800-504-5434

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Not known if distributed into breast milk, use caution