Siltuximab
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about SYLVANT. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
If you have any concerns about using SYLVANT, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.
Keep this information handy. You can refer to it later if you have any questions.
Please also refer to Consumer Medicine Information documents of other medicines your doctor may have prescribed for use in combination with SYLVANT.
What SYLVANT is used for
SYLVANT is a prescription medicine used to treat multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) in patients who do not have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection.
Multicentric Castleman's disease causes non-cancerous growths (tumours) to develop in the lymph nodes in the body. This disease may also make you feel tired, sweat at night, have a tingling feeling, and a loss of appetite.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
How it works
SYLVANT contains the active ingredient siltuximab. SYLVANT blocks the action of a specific protein called "interleukin-6", which can cause inflammation. Blocking this protein helps to reduce the size of the affected lymph nodes and reduce the symptoms of the illness such as feeling tired. This should help you carry out your normal daily tasks.
Before you use SYLVANT
When you must not use it
Do not use SYLVANT if you know you are allergic to siltuximab or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives on the skin, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body.
Do not use it after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not use it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of being tampered with.
Before you start to use it
SYLVANT should be used with caution in some patients.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you are given SYLVANT if:
you have an infection at the moment.
you are due to have a vaccine or may need to have one in the near future - this is because some vaccines should not be given with SYLVANT.
you have high levels of fats in your blood (hyperlipidaemia) - this is because SYLVANT may increase these levels. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to correct this.
you had a risk of getting a hole or tear in the stomach or gut (gastrointestinal perforation) such as intestinal ulcers or diverticulitis. Signs of this include stomach pain getting worse, feeling sick (nausea), change in bowel habits and fever.
you have kidney disease.
you get any new health problems or any of them get worse.
If any of the above apply to you or you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before you are given SYLVANT.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
SYLVANT might interact with other medicines. Using SYLVANT with certain other medicines may result in greater or lesser effects or even side effects from these medicines. Tell your doctor about everything you are taking including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements so that your doctor can tell you whether you can continue the medicines you are taking or reduce the dose.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking:
theophylline, used to treat asthma
warfarin (a blood thinner), used to stop your blood from clotting
cyclosporin, used during and after organ transplants
oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you are given SYLVANT.
How SYLVANT is given
SYLVANT will be prepared and given to you by a healthcare professional. SYLVANT is administered as an intravenous infusion, which means that the medicine will be administered to you through a needle placed in a vein in your arm. The infusion will be given to you over a period of about 1 hour. SYLVANT will be given every 3 weeks. During the infusion with SYLVANT, you will be monitored for side effects.
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and do not stop receiving SYLVANT infusions without consulting your doctor first.
You will receive treatment until you and your doctor agree that you will no longer benefit from the treatment.
If you forget to use it
If you forget or miss your appointment to be given SYLVANT, make another appointment as soon as possible.
Overdose
As this medicine will be given to you by your doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will be given too much. If you think you or anybody else has been given too much SYLVANT, contact your doctor, pharmacist or the Poisons Information Centre who will advise you what to do. The side effects of having too much SYLVANT are not known.
While you are using SYLVANT
Things you must do
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant before using SYLVANT. SYLVANT is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
It is not known if SYLVANT may affect the baby of a pregnant or breast-feeding woman. You must not become pregnant while you are being treated with SYLVANT and for 3 months after your treatment has finished. You should use effective methods of contraception during this time.
It is not known if SYLVANT passes into breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take SYLVANT or breast-feed. You should not do both.
Tell all of your doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking SYLVANT before taking any new medicines that they may prescribe for you.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicines.
These include herbal treatments and those bought in a pharmacy or supermarket.
Allergic reactions
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you have a severe allergic reaction during or after the infusion. Signs include: difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, severe dizziness or light-headedness, swelling of the lips or skin rash.
Infections
You may be more likely to get infections while you are being treated with SYLVANT. These infections may be serious, such as pneumonia or blood poisoning (also called "sepsis").
Tell your doctor immediately, if you get any signs of infection during treatment with SYLVANT.
Signs include:
cough
flu-like symptoms
feeling unwell
red or hot skin
fever
Your doctor may stop giving you SYLVANT right away.
Things you must not do
Do not miss or stop the treatment without consulting your doctor first
Do not give SYLVANT to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
SYLVANT is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use tools or machines.
Side Effects
All medicines may have some unwanted side effects although not everyone will get them. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have about the risks of SYLVANT treatment.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are receiving SYLVANT.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
respiratory infections
itching
rash
These are mild side effects of SYLVANT but may require medical attention.
Other side effects from SYLVANT are a drop in number of white blood cells, low blood platelet count, high fat levels in your blood, abnormal kidney function test, swelling in the arms, legs, neck or face, high blood pressure, common cold, stomach pain or discomfort, and weight gain. If these or any other effects occur, talk to your doctor without delay.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice signs of severe allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction like difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, severe dizziness or light-headedness, swelling of the lips, or skin rash.
As with other medications similar to SYLVANT, allergic reactions may occur. These may be serious side effects of SYLVANT. You may need urgent medical attention and your doctor may need to stop your treatment.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some consumers.
Do not hesitate to report any other side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.
After using SYLVANT
Storage
SYLVANT must be stored in the refrigerator (2°C-8°C). Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
SYLVANT should not be used after the expiration date stated on the label and carton even if it is stored properly.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Product Description
What it looks like
SYLVANT is supplied in a vial as a powder for concentrate for solution for infusion. Each vial contains either 100 mg or 400 mg of siltuximab.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in SYLVANT is siltuximab. The other ingredients in SYLVANT are histidine, polysorbate-80, and sucrose.
