Bridion

Bridion is a prescription medication used to reverse the effects of certain neuromuscular blocking drugs used during surgery. Bridion belongs to a group of drugs called antidotes. These work by helping patients recover from medications used for intubation or ventilation during surgery.

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

Common side effects include vomiting, low blood pressure, and pain.

Bridion is a prescription medication used to reverse the effects of the neuromuscular blocking medications rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide, which are used during certain types of surgery in adults.

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

• Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

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

Common side effects of Bridion include the following:

• low blood pressure (hypotension)
• vomiting
• pain
• headache
• nausea

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

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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

• toremifene (Fareston)
• hormonal contraceptives (birth control) containing an estrogen or progestogen. Bridion will make hormonal contraceptives less effective. If a hormonal contraceptive is taken on the same day that you receive Bridion, you will need to use an effective back-up method of birth control (such as condoms or spermicides) for the next 7 days.

This is not a complete list of Bridion drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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

Anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:

• chest pain
• swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• rash

Marked bradycardia. Bridion may cause a severe slow heartbeat that could be serious. Your doctor will closely monitoring your heart rate if you receive Bridion.

Respiratory monitoring during recovery. If you need to receive Bridion, your doctor will take steps to make sure you are able to breathe, including putting you on a ventilator (a machine that helps you breathe) until you are able to adequately breathe on your own.

Your doctor will not use Bridion if you are allergic to Bridion or to any of its ingredients.

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 Bridion, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Bridion or to any of its ingredients
• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• are taking hormonal contraceptives (birth control)
• have heart problems
• have problems with your lungs or breathing
• take any medications that increase your risk of bleeding, such as warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or dabigatran (Pradaxa)

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.

There have been no studies that have been done in pregnant women with Bridion. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and some babies were harmed. If you receive Bridion, talk to your doctor about the potential risks associated with pregnancy.

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

It is not known if Bridion crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or not to use this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Bridion.

Bridion comes in injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a trained healthcare professional. Bridion is administered as a single injection. Your doctor will closely monitor you to determine dosing and timing of Bridion administration.

The dose of Bridion that your doctor gives you will be based on your weight and which medication was used for intubation or ventilation during surgery. Your doctor will closely monitor you during your recovery.

If Bridion 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.