Adult Dosing

Postexposure prophylaxis of varicella

• <2 kg: 62.5 IU IM
• 2.1-10 kg: 125 IU IM
• 10.1-20 kg: 250 IU IM
• 20.1-30 kg: 375 IU IM
• 30.1-40 kg: 500 IU IM
• >40 kg: 625 IU IM

Note:

• Administer as soon as possible following varicella zoster virus (VZV) exposure, ideally within 96 hours for greatest effectiveness
• There is no convincing evidence that established infections with VZV can be modified by administration
• There is no indication for the prophylactic use in immunodeficient children or adults when there is a past history of varicella, unless the patient is undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Pediatric Dosing

Postexposure prophylaxis of varicella

• <2 kg: 62.5 IU IM
• 2.1-10 kg: 125 IU IM
• 10.1-20 kg: 250 IU IM
• 20.1-30 kg: 375 IU IM
• 30.1-40 kg: 500 IU IM
• >40 kg: 625 IU IM

• Postexposure prophylaxis of varicella
• Indicated for reducing the severity of chicken pox (varicella zoster virus) infections in high risk individuals
• High risk groups include
• Immunocompromised children and adults
• Newborns of mothers with varicella shortly before or after delivery
• Premature infants
• Infants less than one year of age
• Adults without evidence of immunity
• Pregnant women

• Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the product
• Anaphylactic or hypersensitivity reactions to human immune globulin preparations
• IgA-deficient patients with antibodies against IgA and a history of hypersensitivity

• N/A

Renal Dose Adjustment

• Renal impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

Hepatic Dose Adjustment

• Hepatic impairment: Dose adjustments not defined

• Thrombotic events have been reported during or following treatment with immune globulin products; individuals at risk include those with history of atherosclerosis, multiple cardiovascular risk factors, advanced age, impaired cardiac output, coagulation disorders, prolonged periods of immobilization, and/or known/suspected hyperviscosity
• Consider baseline assessment of blood viscosity in patients at risk including patients with cryoglobulins, fasting chylomicronemia/markedly high triacylglycerols (triglycerides), or monoclonal gammopathies
• For IM administration only; patients with severe thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate IM injections, only administer if the expected benefits outweigh the potential risks
• Severe hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions may occur following administration
• Products made from human plasma may contain infectious agents, such as viruses, that can cause disease (eg, viruses, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease [vCJD] agent)

Pregnancy Category:C

Breastfeeding: Safety unknown; due to the potential for possible serious adverse reactions in nursing infants a decision should be made for discontinuation of breastfeeding or discontinuation of the drug taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

• CNS: Headache, fatigue, chills
• GI: Nausea
• DERM: Rash
• CV: Thrombosis
• HYPERSENSITIVITY: Injection site pain

• Immunoglobulin; provides passive immunization for nonimmune individuals exposed to varicella zoster virus, thereby reducing the severity of varicella infections
• Metabolism: Unknown
• Excretion: Unknown
• Half-life: Unknown
• Half-life: 26.2 days

US Trade Name(s)

• Varizig

US Availability

Varizig

• PWDR for INJ: 125 IU (6 mL vial)

Canadian Trade Name(s)

• N/A

Canadian Availability

• N/A

UK Trade Name(s)

• N/A

UK Availability

• N/A

Australian Trade Name(s)

• N/A

Australian Availability

• N/A

Immunologic

Immunoglobulins