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|FluMist

FluMist

FluMist is used for:

Preventing infection by certain flu viruses in healthy people between 5 and 49 years of age.

FluMist is a vaccine. It works by helping the body to develop antibodies against certain strains of flu virus. Your immune system responds to the vaccine and helps protect you from the flu without causing you to be sick with the flu. This vaccine only protects against infection from certain flu viruses for one flu season (usually between December and March).

Do NOT use FluMist if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in FluMist
• you are allergic to eggs or egg products
• you have a nerve condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome
• you are between 5 and 17 years of age and also taking aspirin
• you have or suspect you have an immunodeficiency disease (eg, agammaglobulinemia, HIV), have cancer (eg, leukemia, lymphoma) or a weakened immune system, or are taking medicines that weaken the immune system such as corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), radiation treatment, or alkylating agents (eg, cyclophosphamide)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using FluMist :

Some medical conditions may interact with FluMist . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a respiratory tract infection, a fever, recent illness or infection, asthma or other breathing problems, heart problems, diabetes, kidney problems, blood problems, or a weakened immune system

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with FluMist . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Antiviral medicines (eg, amantadine, rimantadine), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), cyclosporine, or tacrolimus because the actions and side effects of FluMist may be increased
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) or theophyllines because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if FluMist may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use FluMist :

Use FluMist as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• FluMist comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully.
• FluMist will be prepared and given by a qualified health care provider.
• FluMist is for use in the nose only. Do not inject. Sit upright with head tilted back. Remove the rubber tip from the sprayer. Insert the sprayer into the nostril and depress the plunger. Remove from the nostril and remove the dose divider clip. Insert the sprayer into the other nostril and depress the plunger to give the other half of the dose.
• Thaw the medicine before using. The medicine may be thawed in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C), or by holding it in the palm of the hand, supporting the plunger rod with the thumb. Do not roll the medicine between the palms if thawing the medicine in the hand.
• Children between 5 and 8 years of age receiving FluMist for the first time will need 2 doses. Children older than 8 years of age should receive 1 dose.
• For best results, FluMist is given before the start of the flu season (usually December to March).
• If you miss a dose of FluMist , contact your doctor right away.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use FluMist .

Important safety information:

• FluMist may cause weakness or tiredness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to FluMist .
• After receiving FluMist , you may "shed" the flu virus through the nose for up to 3 weeks. For this reason, avoid close contact (same household) with people who have a weakened immune system, such as those receiving cancer chemotherapy or those with HIV infection.
• FluMist should not be given to anyone who has an illness with fever or a respiratory illness until 3 days after symptoms have ended.
• FluMist should not be given until 48 hours after the use of antiviral medicine (eg, amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir) has stopped. Antiviral medicines should not be given until 2 weeks after FluMist was received, unless otherwise directed by your health care provider.
• FluMist should be delayed until at least 2 weeks after you have received an inactivated vaccine (a vaccine in which the virus or organism is killed) and at least 30 days after receiving a live vaccine. Tell your health care provider if you have received or plan to receive a vaccination within 30 days of receiving FluMist .
• FluMist may not provide 100 percent protection for everyone from the flu.
• FluMist may cause false results in some laboratory tests. Nasal or oral samples used for certain tests will test positive for the flu virus.
• FluMist is not recommended for use in patients 50 years of age or older.
• FluMist is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 5 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using FluMist during pregnancy. Pregnant women who will be in their second or third trimester during the flu season should not receive this vaccine. It is unknown if FluMist is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using FluMist , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of FluMist :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Chills; cough; diarrhea; ear infection; fever; headache; muscle aches; nasal congestion; runny nose; sore throat; stomach pain; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); tingling sensation in the legs; unusual tiredness or weakness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store FluMist in a non-frost-free freezer before use at 5 degrees F (−15 degrees C) or below. Avoid storage in a frost-free refrigerator because the temperature may at times be warmer than 5 degrees F (−15 degrees C). Thaw before using. FluMist may be thawed in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C) for up to 24 hours. After thawing the medicine, do not refreeze. Keep FluMist out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about FluMist , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• FluMist is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about FluMist . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.