Auvi-Q

Auvi-Q is a prescription medication used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions in adults and children. Auvi-Q belongs to a group of drugs called sympathomimetic agents. They relax muscles in the airways and tighten the blood vessels, reversing severely low blood pressure and symptoms of allergic reaction.

This medication comes in an injectable form and is injected in the thigh during a serious allergic reaction.

Common side effects of Auvi-Q include fast and irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nausea. 

Seek emergency medical attention, even after Auvi-Q use, to treat severe allergic reactions.

Auvi-Q is a prescription medication used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

Auvi-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency medical help right away after using Auvi-Q.

It is not known if Auvi-Q is safe and effective in children who weigh less than 16.5 pounds (7.5 kg).

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

• Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC

Serious side effects have been reported with Auvi-Q. See the “Auvi-Q Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Auvi-Q include the following:

• fast or irregular heartbeat 
• sweating 
• nausea or vomiting
• anxiety
• restlessness
• shakiness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• breathing problems
• paleness

This is not a complete list of Auvi-Q side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• diuretics such as acetazolamide (Diamox), amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HCTZ), metolazone (Zaroxolyn), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium, Dyazide, Maxzide)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as trimipramine (Surmontil), amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), protriptyline (Vivactil), and clomipramine (Anafranil)
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar), and rasagiline (Azilect)
• anti-arrhythmia medications such as procainamide (Procanbid, Procan), disopyramide (Norpace, Rythmodan), lidocaine (Xylocaine, Lidoderm), phenytoin (Dilantin), mexiletine (Mexitil), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), dronedarone (Multaq), digoxin (Lanoxin), and adenosine (Adenocard)
• antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and tripelennamine
• beta blockers such as metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor), carvedilol (Coreg), bisoprolol (Zebeta), betaxolol (Kerlone), nebivolol (Bystolic), and propranolol (Inderal)
• ergotamine or dihydroergotamine
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• levothyroxine
• phentolamine

This is not a complete list of Auvi-Q drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Auvi-q including the following:

• injection-related complications. Auvi-Q should only be injected into the thigh. Do not inject in a vein, buttock, fingers, toes, hands or feets. Call your healthcare provider if you accidentally inject Auvi-Q or inject Auvi-Q in any spot except the thigh.
• serious infections at the injection site. Call your healthcare provder if you have signs or symptoms of an infection including redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness at the injection site.
• allergic reaction associated with sulfite. Your healthcare provider will evaluate if Auvi-Q is right for you.
• heart pain or other heart problems in persons with heart disease. Call your healthcare provider if you use Auvi-Q.

Auvi-Q can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Auvi-Q affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Auvi-Q, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Auvi-Q, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Auvi-Q or to any of its ingredients
• have any heart problems or high blood pressure
• have diabetes
• have thyroid problems
• have a history of depression
• have Parkinson's disease
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Auvi-Q crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Auvi-Q.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions on how to use Auvi-Q. Auvi-Q has a voice instruction system that will walk you through how to inject Auvi-Q. 

Auvi-Q is injected just under the skin (subcutaneously) or into the muscle (IM) into the middle of the outer thigh during a severe allergic reaction. Auvi-Q may be injected through clothing if needed.

Auvi-Q is a single use injector. The needle will not be visible after the injection.

Only use Auvi-Q if the solution is clear. Do not use Auvi-Q if the solution is discolored, cloudy, or has particles in it.

Call 911 or seek emergency medical attention, even after Auvi-Q use, to treat severe allergic reactions.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Auvi-Q is based on your weight. The recommended dose of Auvi-Q for treatment of a severe allergic reaction is:

• 0.3 mg for patients weighing 66 pounds (30 kg) or more
• 0.15 mg for patients weighing 33 to 66 pounds (15 to 30 kg)
• 0.1 mg for patients weighing 15.6 to 33 pounds (7.5 to 15 kg)

If you take too much Auvi-Q, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Always carry Auvi-Q with you in case you have a severe allergic reaction. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need additional Auvi-Q cartons for school or work.
• Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
• Do not expose Auvi-Q to extreme cold or heat.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.