Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch)

Additional information

Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch)'s dosage depends on the condition being treated. It may be administered up to 50 mL/kg/day. However, your doctor or pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. It will be given to you by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinical setting. It is injected into the veins (intravenously IV) as an IV infusion only. The initial 10-20 mL will be slowly infused while observing for possible anaphylactoid reaction (severe allergic reactions). 
 
WARNING: Voluven is not a substitute for red blood cells or clotting factors in plasma (liquid component of blood). This medication may cause anaphylactoid reactions (allergic reactions), symptoms include mild influenza-like symptoms, bradycardia (slow heartbeat), tachycardia (fast heartbeat), bronchospasm (spasm of the airways causing difficulty breathing), noncardiac pulmonary edema (swelling of lungs). Use with caution in patients with liver impairment, and avoid in patients with kidney impairment. Such solutions have been associated with mortality and kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy in critically-ill patients, including patients with sepsis (a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs).
 
In addition to its desired action, Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch) may cause some side effects, notably:
It may cause itching and skin rash. 
It may cause an increase in the level of amylase (an enzyme produced primarily by the pancreas) in the blood. 
It may cause anemia (low red blood cell count), and abnormal blood test results, such as decrease of hematocrit (the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood) or plasma proteins.
 
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to hydroxyethyl starch or any component of the formulation. Do not use in critically ill adult patients, including patients with sepsis, due to increased risk of mortality and kidney replacement therapy, kidney failure with oliguria (peeing less than usual) or anuria (failure of the kidneys to produce urine), not related to hypovolemia (low blood volume), dialysis (a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly), any fluid overload condition, severe hypernatremia (high blood sodium level), or severe hyperchloremia (high blood chloride level). Patients with intracranial bleeding (bleeding inside the brain), severe liver disease, or pre-existing coagulation or bleeding disorders should not use Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch). 
 
Taking Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch) during pregnancy may be harmful for the baby. Women of childbearing potential should use an effective contraceptive method. Pregnant women should not use this product. If you're planning a pregnancy or become pregnant or breastfeeding, contact your family doctor.
 
A treatment with Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch) requires regular monitoring by a doctor. Be sure to see your doctor for all regularly scheduled appointments.Voluven 6% (Hydroxyethyl Starch)