Corifact

1 What is Corifact?

Brand: Corifact, Tretten

Generic: Intravenous Factor XIII

Brand name:

Corifact and Tretten.

Intravenous Factor XIII is a hemostatic medication used to prevent bleeding in Factor XIII-deficient patients. Normally, Factor XIII is a naturally occurring protein that is produced in the human body. It prevents bleeding through promoting blood clotting.

Tretten® and Corifact™ are man-made proteins that mimic natural Factor XIII. This medication comes in powder form for solutions. It is to be administered by a doctor or healthcare professional.

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2 What to Know Before Using

Discuss the benefits and risk of using intravenous Factor XIII with your doctor prior to treatment. Also, it is important that you consider other factors that may affect the effectiveness of this medication.

  • Make sure you are not allergic to this medication or any of its ingredients.
  • Inform your physician if you have allergies to food dyes, preservatives, and/or animals.
  • Age-related factors may put young and old patients at risk although not enough evidence has been found regarding this.
  • If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, discuss the implications of using intravenous Factor XIII with your doctor. The same goes if you are breastfeeding.
  • If you are using coagulation Factor VIIa, inform your healthcare team. Although using both medications is not recommended, the situation may require it. In this case, your physician can change the dosing and/or timing.
  • You need to take precautionary measures if you have a history of blood clots, stroke, and any bleeding problem. Discuss this with your physician in more detail.
  • As for alcohol consumption and tobacco use, it is generally not recommended. Talk to a healthcare professional about this if you need any clarification.

3 Proper Usage

This medication comes with an information leaflet. Make sure you study this carefully and talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional if you have concerns.

It is administered using a needle that is directly placed in one of your veins. Intravenous Factor XIII is usually given by a physician or healthcare professional in the hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office.

The timing depends on your current condition and lab results. However, it is usually administered once a month.

If you miss a dose, get in touch with your physician immediately.

4 Precautions To Take

Go to all your doctor and lab appointments, so that your condition is regularly monitored and side effects can be avoided or treated. Watch out for signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction or to this medication.

Intravenous Factor XIII can cause anaphylaxis, which is a serious and life-threatening condition. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following: difficulty with swallowing, cough, dizziness, increased heart rate, trouble breathing, chest tightness, fever, chills, swelling (face, hands, tongue, or throat,), runny nose or sneezing, itching, and lightheadedness or faintness after you receive the medicine.

Since Intravenous Factor XIII is a clotting agent, you are prone to developing blood clots. Again, if you have a history of blood clots, inform your doctor.

Also, get in touch with your physician immediately if you or someone in your family has sudden or severe headache, vision or speech problems, shortness of breath, chest pain, or weakness or numbness while you are receiving this medicine.

Corifact™ is derived from human blood which puts patients at risk of acquiring blood-borne viruses although it is low. Blood and blood donors pass through a rigorous screening process. Your physician can talk to you in more detail if you have concerns regarding virus transmission.

5 Potential Side Effects

Using intravenous Factor XIII can have effects that need immediate medical attention and those that do not.

Call your physician right away if you experience the following signs and symptoms.

The common side effects that need immediate medical attention include epistaxis, bruising, the collection of blood under the skin, fever, and skin pain, itching, swelling or redness.

Less common signs and symptoms include chest pain, dizziness or fainting, cough, hives, pain (chest, groin, legs, and especially in the calves), swelling (of the eyelids, face, lips, and/or tongue), red, scaly, swollen, or peeling areas of the skin, severe and sudden headaches, shortness of breath, skin discoloration, swelling, warmth, prominent superficial veins and tenderness over the affected area, and unusual tiredness or weakness.

Side effects that don’t need immediate medical attention include difficulty moving, joint pain, muscles aches, headaches, and a general feeling of discomfort. However, talk to your physician if these persist and/or become bothersome.

Your healthcare team can also help you find ways to prevent the manifestation of these common side effects.

If you experience signs and symptoms that are not listed here, call your physician.

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