Patient Information for Wainua
WAINUA
[way-noo’-ah]
(eplontersen) injection, for subcutaneous use
What is WAINUA?
WAINUA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretinmediated amyloidosis.
It is not known if WAINUA is safe and effective in children.
Before you take WAINUA, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if WAINUA can harm your unborn baby. Changes in vitamin A levels and vitamin A supplementation related to use of WAINUA may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant while taking WAINUA.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if WAINUA can pass into your breast milk or harm your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while you are using WAINUA.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-thecounter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
- Vitamin A or beta-carotene supplements.
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take any of these medicines. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take WAINUA?
- Read the detailed INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE that come with your WAINUA single-dose autoinjector.
- Your healthcare provider will show you or your caregiver how to inject WAINUA the first time.
- If you or your caregiver have any questions, ask your healthcare provider.
- WAINUA is injected under your skin (subcutaneously) in your stomach area (abdomen), or the front of your upper legs (thighs) by you or a caregiver. A caregiver may also give you an injection of WAINUA in the outer area of your upper arm.
- Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on when to inject WAINUA.
- WAINUA should be injected 1 time on the same day of each month.
- If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible. Then inject WAINUA 1 month from the date of your last dose to get back on a monthly dosing schedule. If you have questions about your schedule, ask your healthcare provider.
What are the possible side effects of WAINUA?
WAINUA may cause side effects, including:
- Low vitamin A level. Low vitamin A level is a serious, but common side effect of treatment with WAINUA. Your healthcare provider should tell you to take vitamin A supplements while using WAINUA. Do not take more than the amount of vitamin A your healthcare provider has recommended. Call your healthcare provider if you develop eye problems such as difficulty seeing at night or in low lit areas (night blindness), or dry eyes. If you develop eye problems while receiving treatment with WAINUA, your healthcare provider should send you to see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist).
The most common side effects of WAINUA include decreased vitamin A and vomiting.
These are not all of the possible side effects of WAINUA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800- FDA-1088.
How should I store WAINUA?
- Store WAINUA in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) in the original carton.
- WAINUA can also be kept at room temperature that is no higher than 86°F (30°C) in the original carton for up to 6 weeks.
- Do not let WAINUA reach temperatures above 86°F (30°C).
- If you do not use WAINUA kept at room temperature within 6 weeks, throw it away.
- Do not freeze.
- Do not expose WAINUA to heat.
- Protect from light.
Keep WAINUA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of WAINUA.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information Leaflet. Do not use WAINUA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give WAINUA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about WAINUA that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in WAINUA?
Active ingredient: eplontersen sodium.
Inactive ingredients: dibasic sodium phosphate, anhydrous; monobasic sodium phosphate, dihydrate; sodium chloride; water for injection, and may include hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment.
This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
WAINUA
[way-noo’-ah]
(eplontersen) injection, for subcutaneous use Single-dose autoinjector 45 mg/0.8 mL
This INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE contains information on how to inject WAINUA using the autoinjector.
Read this INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE before you start using your WAINUA autoinjector and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. Your healthcare provider should show you or your caregiver how to use the WAINUA autoinjector the right way. If you or your caregiver have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Important information
- WAINUA is injected under the skin (subcutaneous use) only.
- Each autoinjector contains 1 single-dose and can only be used 1 time.
- Do not remove the clear cap until you are ready to inject WAINUA (See Step 5).
- Do not share your autoinjector with anyone.
- Do not use if the autoinjector appears damaged.
Storage information
- Store the autoinjector in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) in the original carton.Do not freeze.
- If needed the autoinjector can be stored at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) in the original carton for up to 6 weeks.
- If you do not use the autoinjector kept at room temperature within 6 weeks, throw it away.
- Keep the autoinjector in the carton until ready to use.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Do not store the autoinjector with the clear cap removed.
Keep WAINUA and all medicine out of the reach of children.
WAINUA overview
Single-dose autoinjector
Other supplies (not included)
Alcohol wipe
Sharps container
Cotton ball or gauze
Small bandage Plunger
Preparing to inject WAINUA
Step 1 Remove from the refrigerator
a) Remove the autoinjector from the refrigerator.
b) Keep the autoinjector in the original carton and let the autoinjector come to room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting.
Wait
Do not try to speed up the warming process using other heat sources, such as a microwave or hot water.
Step 2 Inspect the medicine
a) Check the expiration (EXP) date.
b) Check the medicine through the viewing window. The WAINUA medicine should be clear and colorless to yellow. There should be no particles. It is normal to see air bubbles in the solution.
Do not use the autoinjector if the:
- clear cap is missing or not attached.
- expiration (EXP) date has passed.
- medicine looks cloudy, discolored, or has particles.
- autoinjector appears damaged.
Step 3 Choose the injection site
a) Choose an injection site on the stomach (abdomen) or the front of the thigh.
b) Only caregivers may choose the back of upper arm.
Do not inject:
- within 2 inches (5 cm) of the belly button (navel).
- into skin that is bruised, tender, red, or hard.
- into scars or damaged skin.
Step 4 Wash hands and clean the injection site
a) Wash your hands with soap and water.
b) Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe in a circular motion. Let the skin air dry.
Do not touch the cleaned skin before injecting.
Injecting WAINUA
Step 5 Remove and throw away the clear cap
a) Hold the autoinjector by the middle with the clear cap facing away from you.
b) Remove the clear cap by pulling it straight off. Do not twist it off. The For all For caregivers only needle is inside the orange needle shield.
c) Throw away (dispose of) the clear cap in the trash or sharps container.
Do not remove the clear cap until right before you inject.
Do not recap the autoinjector.
Do not push the orange needle shield against the hand or finger.
Step 6 Begin injection
a) Hold the autoinjector in 1 hand. Place the orange needle shield at a 90-degree angle against your skin. Make sure you can see the viewing window.
a) Place
b) Push firmly and hold the autoinjector straight against the skin. You will hear a click as the injection starts.
b) Push
You may hear a second click. This is normal. The injection is not finished.
c) Hold the autoinjector against the skin for 10 seconds to make sure the full dose has been given.
c) Hold
Do not move, turn, or change the angle of the autoinjector during the injection.
Step 7 Finish injection
a) Check that the orange plunger rod has moved down to fill the entire viewing window. If the orange plunger rod does not fill the viewing window, you may not have received the full dose.
a)
If this happens or if you have other concerns, contact your healthcare provider.
b) Remove the autoinjector by lifting it straight up. After removal from the skin, the orange needle shield locks into place and covers the needle.
b)
c) There may be a small amount of blood or liquid where you injected. This is normal.
If needed, press a cotton ball or gauze on the area and apply a small bandage.
Do not reuse the autoinjector.
Throwing Away WAINUA
Step 8 Throw away (dispose of) autoinjector
a) Put the used autoinjector in a sharps container right away after use.
Do not throw away the autoinjector in your household trash.
Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
Do not reuse the autoinjector or clear cap.
Do not throw away (dispose of) your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
If you do not have an FDA-cleared sharps container, you may use a household container that is:
- made of a heavy-duty plastic,
- can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out,
- upright and stable during use
- leak-resistant, and
- properly labelled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container.
When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away used autoinjectors.
For more information about safe sharps disposal, and specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA's website at: https://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
For more information, go to https://www.wainua.com or call 1-800-236-9933. If you still have questions, contact your healthcare provider.
This Instructions for use has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.