Voluven 6% Injection 1's

Your doctor may use VOLUVEN 6% INJECTION in carefully selected patients to help manage the following condition:

• Acute hypovolaemia (low blood volume): VOLUVEN 6% INJECTION may be used to restore blood volume after sudden blood loss when crystalloid fluids alone are not considered sufficient. HES is not intended for routine fluid maintenance, and its use is restricted because of important safety concerns.

When used only in appropriate patients under close medical supervision, VOLUVEN 6% INJECTION may provide the following benefits:

• Helps restore blood volume: Hydroxyethyl starch helps expand the volume of fluid within the bloodstream, which can support circulation when blood volume has fallen.
• Provides volume support when crystalloids alone may not be sufficient: HES is a colloid fluid that may be considered in specific situations where the treating team determines that crystalloid fluids alone are insufficient. Its use requires careful assessment because evidence about its benefits compared with other volume-replacement options is debated.
• Supports circulation during acute hypovolaemia: By increasing the volume within the circulation, the infusion can help support blood pressure and blood flow to vital organs while the underlying cause of the low blood volume is treated.

• Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
• VOLUVEN 6% INJECTION is administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
• Do not self-administer.

• Follow your fluid instructions: Follow the fluid-intake advice given by your healthcare team, particularly if you have heart or kidney problems.
• Stay hydrated as advised: Do not deliberately increase or restrict your fluid intake unless your healthcare team recommends it for your condition.
• Monitor urine output: If you are recovering outside the hospital, report a sudden decrease in urine production to your healthcare team.
• Avoid medicines that can affect the kidneys unless advised: Do not take over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxen without discussing them with your doctor, particularly after receiving HES.

• Know why it is being used: VOLUVEN 6% INJECTION is not a routine fluid for everyday hydration or fluid maintenance. It is used only in carefully selected patients with low blood volume when the treating team considers it appropriate.
• Know about sepsis: Do not receive HES if you have sepsis or septic shock (a severe infection-related condition that causes dangerously low blood pressure and organ problems). HES has been associated with increased risks of kidney injury and death in patients with sepsis.
• Tell your doctor about kidney problems: HES can cause or worsen kidney injury. Tell your healthcare team if you have kidney disease or reduced kidney function. HES is contraindicated in patients with kidney impairment under relevant restrictions.
• Understand the ICU warning: HES is not prohibited simply because a patient is in an intensive care unit. However, it should not be used in critically ill patients because of the increased risk of serious kidney injury and death.
• Know the regulatory restrictions: HES use has been significantly restricted because of safety concerns. Regulatory agencies have issued strong warnings and restrictions because of risks including kidney injury, excess bleeding, and death.
• Expect close monitoring: Your healthcare team may check your blood pressure, urine output, kidney function, blood counts, and blood clotting tests. These checks help identify kidney problems, changes in blood volume, or problems with bleeding and clotting.
• Tell your healthcare team about other medicines: Some medicines can increase the risk of kidney problems when combined with HES. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medicines before treatment.
• Report concerning symptoms: Tell your healthcare team promptly if you develop difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, swelling, very little urine, unusual bleeding, or other sudden changes during or after the infusion.