Welcome to Prolia.ca

Welcome to your step-by-step guide to injecting with the Prolia prefilled syringe.

This video is designed to help you administer your Prolia injection.

If you’ve been prescribed Prolia, you can give yourself your injection as long as you have been properly trained. Let’s walk through the steps for self-injection together.

When you bring your Prolia prescription home from the pharmacy, store it in your refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius until ready for use. Do not freeze Prolia.

Store Prolia in its original carton in order to protect it from light, and keep it out of the reach and sight of children.

When removed from the refrigerator, Prolia must be kept at room temperature, up to 25 degrees Celsius, in the original carton, and must be used within 30 days.

There are four steps when administering Prolia:

1. Preparing for administration
2. Getting ready to inject
3. Injecting with the syringe
4. And finishing and properly disposing of the used syringe

Before you get started, a quick note about the green safety guard you’ll see on the Prolia pre-filled syringe. For your safety, this safety guard should be manually activated after the injection is given.

Do not slide the green safety guard forward over the needle before administering the injection – it will lock in place and prevent injection. You would need to use another syringe that hasn’t been activated and is ready to use.

The prefilled syringe is not made with natural rubber latex. Now it’s time to prepare for your injection. First, take the Prolia carton out of the refrigerator. If the carton appears damaged or opened, do not use the syringe.

Carefully remove the syringe tray from the carton and set it on a clean, well-lit surface for 15 to 30 minutes before your injection to allow it to reach room temperature, about 25 degrees Celsius. This will make the injection more comfortable.

Don’t warm the syringe up in any other way. Allow it to gradually reach room temperature. Don’t leave the syringe in direct sunlight, or shake the syringe.

For safety reasons, don’t grab the plunger rod or the grey needle cap when removing the syringe from the carton.

Always hold the syringe by the syringe barrel. Don’t remove the grey needle cap until you’re ready to inject. Next, inspect the medicine and syringe. Make sure the medicine in the syringe is clear and colourless to light yellow.

Do not use if the solution is cloudy or discoloured; if any part appears cracked or broken; if the syringe has been dropped; if the grey needle cap is missing or not securely attached; or if the expiration date printed on the label has passed.

Do not use the syringe if it has been dropped on a hard surface. Part of the syringe may be broken even if you can’t see the break. In all cases, use a new syringe and call Amgen Medical Information at 1-866-502-6436.

Now, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and gather all the materials you will need for your injection.

On a clean, well-lit work surface, place:

• one prefilled syringe
• an alcohol wipe
• a cotton ball or gauze pad
• an adhesive bandage
• and a sharps disposal container.

Next, prepare and clean the injection site. You can use the upper thigh; the stomach area except for a 2-inch, or 5 centimetre, area right around the navel; or the outer area of the upper arm, but only if someone else is giving you the injection.

Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe. Let the skin dry. Do not touch this area again before injecting. Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red or hard. Avoid injecting into areas with scars or stretch marks.

Hold the prefilled syringe by the syringe barrel. When you’re ready to inject, pull the grey needle cap straight off and away from the body. Don’t twist or bend the cap or put it back on the syringe. Dispose of the cap in the sharps container.

Now you’re ready to inject Prolia. Pinch the skin at the injection site firmly between your thumb and fingers to create a firm surface.

It’s important that you keep the skin pinched while injecting. Holding the pinch, insert the needle into the skin at 45 to 90 degrees.

Using slow and constant pressure, push the plunger rod until it reaches the bottom, making sure to inject all the liquid. The syringe barrel should appear empty. Do not pull back the plunger rod while the needle is inserted.

When you’re done, gently pull the syringe off of the skin. When you remove the syringe, if it looks like the medicine is still in the syringe barrel, this means you have not received a full dose. Call your healthcare professional right away.

Before you finish, for your safety, pull the green safety guard until it clicks and locks into position to cover the needle. Keep your hands away from the needle at all times.

Dispose of the used syringe in the sharps container, never in the household trash. For instructions on how to dispose of your sharps container when full, and what kind of container may be used if you don’t have a sharps container, please see the Patient Medication Information leaflet that comes with your package.

It’s important to always keep the sharps container out of the reach of children. Do not reuse the syringe.

Finally, examine the injection site. If there is blood, press a cotton ball or gauze pad on the injection site. Do not rub the injection site. You can apply an adhesive bandage if you need to.

Prolia is administered every 6 months, so be sure to plan for your next injection when you complete your current one.

We hope this video has been helpful.

Visit www.Prolia.ca to learn more.

You will need the Prolia Drug Identification Number, or DIN, to access the website. The Prolia DIN is 02343541.