Palivizumab

What is palivizumab?

Palivizumab is an injection that helps the body's immune system fight the viral infection RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Palivizumab must be injected each month to infants who qualify, during the RSV season in provinces in Canada where it is available.

You may hear palivizumab called by its brand name, Synagis. Palivizumab comes in an injectable form, and is injected into a muscle.

Before giving palivizumab to your child

Tell your child's health-care provider if your child is allergic to palivizumab.

How will your child be given palivizumab?

• A health-care provider will inject palivizumab from a needle into your child's muscle, usually around the thigh area. Your child will receive this medicine in the doctor's office, hospital clinic, or in the nursing unit.
• Palivizumab is usually given once a month from November to April.

What are the possible side effects of palivizumab?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take palivizumab. Check with your child's health-care provider if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• fever
• irritability
• redness, bruising, or pain at the injection site
• rash

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction. Call your child's health-care provider right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• fast, irregular or difficulty breathing
• bluish color of fingernails, lips, skin, palms or nail beds
• swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat

What safety measures should you take when your child is using palivizumab?

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with palivizumab, or in some cases the dose of palivizumab or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your child's health-care provider and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, or natural products).

There is no medicine that can totally prevent your child from getting RSV disease. Remember that RSV can be spread by touching. You can stop the spread of RSV by washing your hands with soap and water before touching your child.

What other important information should you know about palivizumab?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the health-care provider or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• There is no need to delay your child's immunizations (vaccinations or shots) after they have had palivizumab. It does not interfere with your child's response to immunizations.
• You must write down the dates that your child got palivizumab and keep this information with your child's regular immunization card.
  

If your child receives too much palivizumab, call the Ontario Poison Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free.

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.