JEN: Hi, I’m Jen, an advanced practice provider. I assist patients with certain medications and today I'm here with Sam, one of my patients. We’ll be talking about the ENTYVIO pen and its instructions for use. It is designed to deliver an accurate, premeasured dose of medication. I’ll explain each step in 3 chapters, including gathering supplies for ENTYVIO, preparing to inject ENTYVIO, and injecting ENTYVIO.
Ok, are you ready to get started?
SAM: I sure am.
JEN: Great.
JEN: Let’s get started by getting supplies ready for your patient. First, you’ll want to take ENTYVIO from the fridge. Remember, you want to keep ENTYVIO refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F.
You’ll want to check the box to make sure none of the seals are broken. Do not use the pen if any of the seals on the box are broken.
SAM: OK, but what if it’s expired?
JEN: Yes, check that too. Do not use the pen if it is past the expiration date on the box or if it has been frozen.
Now, wait 30 minutes and let your pen come to room temperature.
Remember Sam, do not warm the pen in any other way or place it in direct sunlight. And keep the pen in its tray until you’re ready to inject.
SAM: OK, got it.
So should we prepare my supplies?
JEN: Yes, let’s get started.
SAM: OK.
JEN: We’ve placed all of our supplies on a flat, clean surface before the injection.
We’ve got alcohol pads, cotton balls...
SAM: Would gauze work as well?
JEN: Yes, gauze also works if you don’t he a cotton ball. And you’ll also need a sharps disposal container.
Now we can prepare your patient to inject ENTYVIO. Whenever you inject ENTYVIO, you want to make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Next, we’ll open the box and remove the pen and tray. Now we can peel the paper from the tray and lift the pen straight out. Remember, do not shake the pen, and do not remove the purple cap until you're ready to inject.
Inspect the pen. Just like checking the box, you will also want to double-check the expiration date on the pen hasn’t passed.
SAM: It looks good, it’s not past the expiration date.
JEN: Great. Now, let’s take a look at the medication window. Do you see any cloudiness or particles?
SAM: No, I don’t.
JEN: Excellent. Do not use the pen if the medicine is cloudy or has particles floating in it.
Now we’ll choose an injection site. You he a few options, but the front of the thighs or stomach areas are ideal. With a caregiver like me helping, you can also consider using the back of the upper arms. When injecting into the stomach, remember to oid the area about 2 inches around your belly button.
SAM: What about injecting into the same spot twice in a row?
JEN: Good question. Do not inject into the same spot you used for your last injection. You want to rotate injection sites as often as you can. Also do not inject into moles, scars, bruises, or skin that is tender, hard, red, or damaged.
Now you’ll want to use the alcohol pad you gathered earlier to clean the injection site. Make sure to let your skin dry, and do not touch or blow on the cleaned injection site before injection. And now it’s time to inject ENTYVIO.
When you are ready to inject, remove the purple cap from the ENTYVIO pen and throw it away in the sharps container.
SAM: Where’s the needle?
JEN: The needle is in the yellow needle shield.
Remember, do not put or press your thumb, fingers, or hand over the yellow needle shield. And, do not put the purple cap back on the pen because this could accidentally start the injection.
SAM: Got it.
JEN: Now hold the pen so that you can see the viewing window. Next place the yellow part of the pen flat on your skin at 90 degrees to the injection site. Remember, the needle is in the yellow needle shield so do not push down on the pen until you are ready to inject.
SAM: OK.
JEN: Now we’re going to start injecting ENTYVIO. Push the pen straight down and hold for at least 10 seconds. You may hear a first click when the injection starts. You may also hear a second click. But this is not the end of the injection. Continue to hold the pen with constant pressure until the viewing window fills with purple to make sure that you he received your full dose.
Lift the pen from your skin and the yellow needle shield will drop down and lock over the needle. The injection is now complete. However, when you lift the pen from the skin, you will see a small amount of gray in the viewing window. This is normal. But if you do not see the viewing window fill with purple, or if you look and the medicine is still coming out of the pen, this means you he not received your full dose. Call your pharmacy or healthcare provider right away.
SAM: OK.
JEN: And we’re all set. Great job, Sam. We’ve completed your injection of ENTYVIO. You may see a small amount of blood at the injection site. If you do, just press your skin with a cotton ball or gauze.
Now it’s time to throw away the ENTYVIO pen. Many specialty pharmacies he programs that can give patients FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers. When you’re done with your pens, drop them in the FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use.
SAM: Can’t I just throw it in my regular trash bin?
JEN: No, do not recycle it or throw away the pen in your household trash. Always use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container.
SAM: But what if I don’t he one?
JEN: You can use anything made of hey-duty plastic that can be closed with a tight seal.
It should also he a puncture-resistant lid that can prevent sharps from coming out. It should be stable and leak resistant. Label it with a warning of hazardous waste inside. You can use an empty laundry detergent container or something similar.
SAM: OK. I like that option.
JEN: Do you he any additional questions for me, Sam?
SAM: What happens if I plan on treling?
JEN: Actually, your pen can be left in its box at room temperature for up to 7 days. So, you can trel with it.
SAM: Oh, wow. That’s good to know. Okay, I think I am all set.
JEN: Great. Now you know how to inject ENTYVIO and you are fully prepared for your next dose.