Advate

Advate is a prescription medication used to prevent bleeding episodes in children and adults with hemophilia A (cogenital factor VIII deficiency). 

Advate belongs to a group of drugs called clotting factors. It works by replacing a protein in the blood that is needed to control bleeding that people with hemophilia A are missing.

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Advate include fever, headache, cough, and infection of the nose and throat.

Advate is a prescription medication used to prevent and control bleeding in adults and children with hemophilia A, a genetic disorder that increases bleeding and is caused by a missing or defective protein called factor VIII clotting factor. This medication is approved to prevent bleeding during surgery. Advate is also approved to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes.

This medication is not approved to treat von Willebrand disease. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Baxter Healthcare Bioscience Division

• Baxter Healthcare Corporation

Serious side effects have been reported with Advate. See the "Advate Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Advate include the following:

• cough
• headache
• joint pain
• sore throat
• fever
• stomach pain
• diarrhea
• chills
• runny nose or congestion
• nausea or vomiting

This is not a complete list of Advate side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Advate including the following:

Hypersensitivity Reactions. Advate can cause serious allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider immediately about any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, which include the following:

• dizziness
• numbness or tingling
• rash
• flushing
• swelling in the face
• hives
• itching
• trouble breathing
• vomiting

Neutralizing antibodies. Your body may form inhibitors to factor VIII, known as antibodies. Antibodies are proteins made by the body as a natural part of the immune system in response to something it recognizes as foreign. If your form these inhibitors, Advate may not work properly. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for development of these inhibitors with blood tests.

Do not take Advate if you:

• are allergic to Advate or to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to mice or hamsters

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Advate, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Advate, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Advate or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had any medical problems
• are allergic to mice or hamsters
• have been told that you have inhibitors to factor VIII
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Advate falls into category C. No studies have been done in animals, and no well-controlled studies have been done in pregnant women. Advate should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Advate comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. Advate is given as an infusion over a period of 5 minutes or less.

If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Advate, contact your healthcare provider for instructions on when to receive your next dose.

Advate may also be administered at home. You should be trained on how to do infusions by your healthcare provider or hemophilia treatment center.

The dose and duration of treatment of Advate your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• your weight
• your age
• the severity of factor VIII deficiency
• the location of the bleeding
• your overall clinical condition
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Advate when being used for control and prevention of bleeding episodes is 10 to 50 IU per kg of body weight, depending on the severity and location of the bleed. The frequency of dosing will be determined by your doctor until the bleeding is resolved.

The recommended dose of Advate when being given during surgery to prevent bleeding is 30 to 60 IU per kg of body weight given as a single dose before surgery. The dose may need to be repeated which will be determined by your doctor.

The recommended dose of Advate when being used for routine prevention of bleeding is 20 to 40 IU per kg body weight every other day (3 to 4 times weekly). 

Your doctor will perform blood tests to measure your level of factor VIII and may adjust your dose or frequency based on the results.

If you administer too much Advate, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away, or get emergency treatment

If Advate is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory. Your doctor will order lab tests to check your levels of factor VIII to determine your dose and frequency of Advate.