About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered alglucerase to help treat your illness. The drug will be added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter into your vein for 1-2 hours. Your doctor will determine how often you will receive this medication.

Alglucerase is an enzyme used to help treat the signs and symptoms of Type 1 Gaucher's disease. Alglucerase is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

Storing your medication

• Your health care provider will probably give you a several-day supply of alglucerase at a time. Discard any unused medication.
• Alglucerase needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature.
• Do not allow alglucerase to freeze.

Your health care provider may provide you with directions on how to prepare each dose. Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly. Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of the reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Signs of infection

If you are receiving alglucerase in your vein, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:

• tenderness
• warmth
• irritation
• drainage
• redness
• swelling
• pain

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