Synagis Information and Uses

Synagis

Synagis Overview

Synagis (generic: palivizumab) is a prescription medication used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Synagis belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies which work by preventing the virus from replicating.

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given once a month for several months.

Common side effects of Synagis include fever, rash, and redness or swelling at the injection site.

Uses of Synagis

Synagis is a prescription medication that is used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in children at high risk for severe lung disease from RSV. Synagis is for children younger than 24 months of age at the start of dosing.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Synagis

Synagis may cause serious side effects including:

Severe allergic reactions (may occur after any dose of Synagis). Such reactions may be life-threatening or cause death.
- See “Drug Precautions” for a list of signs and symptoms.
Unusual bruising or groups of tiny red spots on the skin.

Call your child’s healthcare provider or get medical help right away if your child has any of the serious side effects listed above after any dose of Synagis.

Common side effects of Synagis include:

fever
rash

Other possible side effects include skin reactions around the area where the shot was given (like redness, swelling, warmth, or discomfort).

These are not all the possible side effects of Synagis. Tell your child’s healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers your child or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Synagis Interactions

Tell your child’s healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your child’s healthcare provider if your child takes a blood thinner medicine.

Synagis Precautions

Your child should not receive Synagis if they have ever had a severe allergic reaction to it. Signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction could include:

severe rash, hives, or itching skin
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
closing of the throat, difficulty swallowing
difficult, rapid, or irregular breathing
bluish color of skin, lips, or under fingernails
muscle weakness or floppiness
a drop in blood pressure
unresponsiveness

Inform MD

Tell your child’s healthcare provider about:

any reactions you believe your child has ever had to Synagis.
any bleeding or bruising problems. Synagis is given by injection. If your child has a problem with bleeding or bruises easily, an injection could cause a problem.
any other medical problems.

Synagis is given as a monthly injection, usually in the thigh (leg) muscle, by your child’s healthcare provider. Your child’s healthcare provider will prescribe the amount of Synagis that is right for your child (based on their weight).
Your child’s healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions on when Synagis will be given.
- “RSV season” is a term used to describe the time of year when RSV infections most commonly occur (usually fall through spring in most parts of the country). During this time, when RSV is most active, your child will need to receive Synagis shots. Your child’s healthcare provider can tell you when the RSV season starts in your area.
- Your child should receive their first Synagis shot before the RSV season starts to help protect them before RSV becomes active. If the season has already started, your child should receive their first Synagis shot as soon as possible to help protect them when exposure to the virus is more likely.
- Synagis is needed every 28-30 days during the RSV season. Each dose of Synagis helps protect your child from severe RSV disease for about a month. Keep all appointments with your child’s healthcare provider.
If your child misses an injection, talk to your healthcare provider and schedule another injection as soon as possible.
Your child may still get severe RSV disease after receiving Synagis; talk to your child’s healthcare provider about what symptoms to look for. If your child has an RSV infection, they should continue to get their scheduled Synagis injections to help prevent severe disease from new RSV infections.
If your child has certain types of heart disease and has corrective surgery, your healthcare provider may need to give your child an additional Synagis injection soon after surgery.