Medical Helium
A Member of The Linde Group
Medical Helium Medicinal gas, compressed
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Medical Helium Helium 99.95%
Medicinal gas, compressed
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet as you may need to read it again.
- If you have further questions, ask your healthcare professional (doctor, nurse or pharmacist).
- This medicine has been prescribed for you.
- Do not pass it on to others as it may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your healthcare professional immediately.
This leaflet gives you information about:
1. What Medical Helium and what it is used for
2 What you need to know before you use Medical Helium
3. How to use Medical Helium
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Medical Helium cylinders
6. Contents of the cylinder and other information
1. WHAT MEDICAL HELIUM IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Medical Helium is a medicinal gas, supplied in cylinders filled to a high pressure.
Medical Helium is a very light gas and flows through openings in the lungs with obstructions much more easily than other medical gases. Medical Helium will always be given to you with Medical Oxygen.
Medical Helium is used:
• to help the flow of Oxygen into the lungs if you are suffering from breathing diseases such as bronchitis
• to assist you to breathe if part of the lung fails to expand
• with other medical gases for lung function testing.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE MEDICAL HELIUM
Medical Helium is only given to you in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Ensure that your healthcare professional is aware of any medical conditions that you may have.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Medical Helium will not affect you or your baby if used during pregnancy or whilst breast feeding.
Driving and using machines
You may drive and use machines after using Medical Helium providing that your healthcare professional considers that you are both fit and capable.
3. HOW TO USE MEDICAL HELIUM Instructions for use
Your healthcare professional will ensure that your Medical Helium supply is suitable for your use and that the equipment has been set up correctly so that you receive the right amount of gas.
When you are given your Medical Helium, it will be mixed with Medical Oxygen and possibly other medical gases. It will be supplied via a facemask or a mouthpiece with a nose clip placed over your nose.
If you have any further questions on how this product is used, ask your healthcare professional.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Medical Helium may cause side effects although not everybody gets them.
Medical Helium will cause breathing difficulties if it is given to you with too little or no Medical Oxygen. This can eventually result in unconsciousness or death.
There are no side effects when Medical Helium is administered correctly with an adequate supply of Medical Oxygen (at least 21 %).
As your healthcare professional is responsible for administration of the gas mixture, they will immediately stop the supply of Medical Helium if you have not been given enough Medical Oxygen.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any of these side effects, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, contact your healthcare professional immediately. You can also report side effects directly to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via the Yellow Card Scheme www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard and to BOC Healthcare. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Medical Helium cylinders
Medical Helium is supplied in the following size cylinders:
|
Cylinder Size |
Cylinder Contents (Litres) |
|
F |
1200 |
Medical Helium cylinders are colour coded brown.
Shoulder of cylinder viewed from above
5. HOW TO STORE MEDICAL HELIUM
Expiry date
Medical Helium should not be used after the expiry date stated on the batch label on the cylinder.
Product should be used in strict rotation so that cylinders with the earliest expiry date are used first.
Body of cylinder viewed from the side
Cylinder storage
Cylinders should be securely stored, in a well ventilated, dry and clean area, away from oils, greases, flammable materials and sources of extreme temperature.
The healthcare professional in the hospital or clinic will be responsible for making sure the cylinders are stored correctly
DO NOT SMOKE or have a naked flame near your Helium cylinder.
NEVER use oil based moisturising creams with your cylinder equipment.
All cylinders require separate pressure regulators to be fitted to the cylinder valve before use.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
BOC Ltd
The Priestley Centre
10 Priestley Road
The Surrey Research Park
Guildford
Surrey
GU27XY
Tel 0800 111333
6. CONTENTS OF THE CYLINDER AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Medical Helium contains:
Your Medical Helium cylinder contains 99.95% Helium. This leaflet was last revised in There are no other ingredients. 08/2016
BOC: Living Healthcare