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an-tee-hee-moe-FIL-ik FAK-tor
Commonly used brand name(s):
In the U.S.
Available Dosage Forms:
Therapeutic Class: Antihemophilic Agent
Antihemophilic factor (AHF) is a protein produced naturally in the body. It helps the blood form clots to stop bleeding.
Hemophilia A, also called classical hemophilia, is a condition in which the body does not make enough AHF. If you do not have enough AHF and you become injured, your blood will not form clots as it should, and you may bleed into and damage your muscles and joints. One type of AHF is used to treat another condition called von Willebrand disease, in which there is a risk of bleeding. AHF also may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
The AHF that your doctor will give you is obtained naturally from human or pig blood or artificially by a man-made process.
AHF obtained from human blood has been treated. It is not likely to contain harmful viruses such as hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus (non-A, non-B hepatitis); or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The man-made and pork AHF products do not contain these viruses.
AHF is available only with your doctor's prescription.
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For antihemophilic factor, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to antihemophilic factor or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
antihemophilic factor has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
antihemophilic factor has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of AHF. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.
Some medicines given by injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using antihemophilic factor at home, your health care professional will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will have a chance to practice preparing and injecting it. Be certain that you understand exactly how the medicine is to be prepared and injected.
To prepare antihemophilic factor:
Use antihemophilic factor right away. It should not be kept longer than 3 hours after it has been prepared, as directed on the package or by your doctor.
A plastic disposable syringe and filter needle must be used with antihemophilic factor. The medicine may stick to the inside of a glass syringe, and you may not receive a full dose.
Do not reuse syringes and needles. Put used syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant disposable container, or dispose of them as directed by your health care professional.
The dose of antihemophilic factor will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of antihemophilic factor. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Some AHF products must be stored in the refrigerator and some in the freezer. However, some of them may be kept at room temperature for short periods of time. Store antihemophilic factor as directed by your doctor or by the manufacturer.
If you were recently diagnosed with hemophilia A, you should receive hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines to reduce even further your risk of getting hepatitis A or B from antihemophilic factor.
It is recommended that you carry identification stating that you have hemophilia A, and what medicine you are using. If you have any questions about what kind of identification to carry, check with your health care professional.
After a while, your body may build up a defense (antibody) against antihemophilic factor. Tell your doctor if antihemophilic factor seems to be less effective than usual.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Some side effects will have signs or symptoms that you can see or feel. Your doctor may watch for others by doing certain tests.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rareCheck with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rareSome side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less commonOther side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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