ADVATE [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Plasma/Albumin-Free Method] is a medicine used to replace clotting factor VIII that is missing in people with hemophilia A. ADVATE is used to prevent and control bleeding in people with hemophilia A. Your doctor may give you ADVATE when you have surgery.
ADVATE is not used to treat von Willebrand's Disease.
>Important Risk Information for ADVATE therapy
You should not use ADVATE if you are allergic to mice or hamsters or any ingredients in ADVATE.
You should tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical problems, take any medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines and dietary supplements, have any allergies, including allergies to mice or hamsters, are nursing, are pregnant, or have been told that you have inhibitors to factor VIII.
You could have an allergic reaction to ADVATE. Call your doctor right away and stop treatment if you get a rash or hives, itching, tightness of the throat, chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing, light-headed, dizziness, nausea, or fainting.
Your body may form inhibitors to factor VIII. An inhibitor is part of the body’s normal defense system. If you form inhibitors, it may stop all factor VIII products including ADVATE from working properly. Consult with your doctor to make sure you are carefully monitored with blood tests to check for the development of inhibitors to factor VIII.
Side effects that have been reported with ADVATE include: cough, sore throat, unusual taste, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, fever, dizziness, hot flashes, chills, sweating, joint swelling, itching, hematoma, and swelling of legs.
Call your doctor right away about any side effects that bother you or if your bleeding does not stop after taking ADVATE.
Please see ADVATE full Prescribing Information (PDF).
After using ADVATE therapy, dispose of the empty vial, reconstitution device, and syringe in a sharps container.