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High-molecular weight dextran is a plasma volume expander derived from natural sources of sugar (glucose). It works by restoring blood plasma lost through severe bleeding. Severe blood loss can decrease oxygen levels, which can lead to organ failure, brain damage, coma, and possibly death. Plasma is needed to circulate red blood cells that deliver oxygen throughout the body.Dextran is used to treat hypovolemia (a decrease in the volume of circulating blood plasma), that can result from severe blood loss after surgery, injury, or other causes of bleeding. Dextran is also used to expand the inside of the uterus, making it easier for a doctor to see with a scope during a diagnostic procedure called hysteroscopy. Dextran may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not be given this medication if you are allergic to dextran, or if you have severe kidney or heart disease. If possible before you receive dextran, tell your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, a blood cell disorder, heart disease or congestive heart failure, kidney disease, a stomach or intestinal disorder, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), urination problems, a food or drug allergy, or if you are on a low-salt diet. In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially a blood thinner, steroid medication, digoxin, or a diuretic.
You should not be given this medication if you are allergic to dextran, or if you have severe kidney or heart disease. If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication. If possible before you receive dextran, tell your doctor if you have: a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; a blood cell disorder such as thrombocytopenia (lack of platelets); heart disease or congestive heart failure; kidney disease; a stomach or intestinal disorder; pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs); urination problems not caused by hypovolemia; a food or drug allergy; or if you are on a low-salt diet.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dextran is harmful to an unborn baby. If possible before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether dextran passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.
Dextran is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. For a hysteroscopy procedure, dextran is placed into the uterus using a small tube. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. A doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional will give you this medication. Your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely while you are receiving this medication.To be sure dextran is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with dextran.
Since dextran is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine. An overdose of dextran is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you are treated with dextran.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as: wheezing or tight feeling in your chest; urinating less than usual or not at all; swelling in your hands or feet; unusual bleeding, or any bleeding that will not stop; feeling like you might pass out; or burning, itching, swelling, or pain around the IV needle.
Less serious side effects may include: This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you receive dextran, tell your doctor if you are also using: a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); steroids (prednisolone and others); digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin); or a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), or triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with dextran. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
- Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about dextran.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision Date: 4/12/2009 4:40:03 PM.;
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