Lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte (equine)

Lymphocyte immune globulin anti-thymocyte (also known as equine anti-thymocyte immune globulin) is a medicine that weakens your body's immune system. The immune system helps your body fight off infections, but it can also attack a transplanted organ like a liver or kidney, treating it as if it were a harmful invader.

Lymphocyte immune globulin is used to treat or prevent organ rejection after a kidney transplant. It is also used to treat aplastic anemia, a condition where your bone marrow does not make enough new blood cells.

Lymphocyte immune globulin may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

You will get this medicine in a hospital or clinic to quickly address any serious side effects that may happen. Inform all your healthcare providers about your medical conditions, allergies, and all the medicines you are taking.

You should not receive lymphocyte immune globulin if you are allergic to it.

To ensure lymphocyte immune globulin is safe for you, inform your doctor if you have:

• liver or kidney disease; or
• if you have received a vaccine in the past 6 months.

It is not known if lymphocyte immune globulin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known if lymphocyte immune globulin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Lymphocyte immune globulin is made from certain blood products from horses and may contain viruses and other infectious agents. These blood components are tested and treated to decrease the risk of containing infectious agents, but there is still a small chance it could transmit disease. Discuss the risks and benefits of using this medication with your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; chest pain, back pain; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Tell your caregivers immediately if you experience:

• fast heartbeat, difficulty breathing;
• feeling light-headed, as if you might faint;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (from the nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin, coughing up blood or vomiting that looks like coffee grounds;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• low white blood cell counts—fever, swollen glands, skin sores, rash or itching, muscle or joint pain, feeling very weak or tired.

Common side effects of lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte may include:

• fever, chills, night sweats, or other signs of infection;
• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• pain at the injection site;
• red or itchy skin;
• abnormal liver or kidney function tests;
• dizziness, headache, confusion; or
• redness, swelling, warmth, irritation, or tenderness in the veins of your arms or legs.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before you are treated with lymphocyte immune globulin, your doctor may perform a skin test to make sure you are not allergic to lymphocyte immune globulin.

Lymphocyte immune globulin is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Lymphocyte immune globulin is sometimes given daily and sometimes given every other day. The medicine is injected slowly, and can take at least 4 hours to complete.

You may be given other medicines to suppress your immune system while you are receiving lymphocyte immune globulin. Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

While using lymphocyte immune globulin, you may need frequent blood tests.

Because you will receive lymphocyte immune globulin in a clinical setting, it is unlikely that you will miss a dose.

Since lymphocyte immune globulin, anti-thymocyte is administered by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to happen.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine for at least 6 months after your last dose of lymphocyte immune globulin. The vaccine may not be as effective during this time and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Other drugs may interact with lymphocyte immune globulin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform each of your health care providers about all medicines you are currently using and any medicines you begin or stop using.