PL 15929/0006 - July 07 - revised

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start to use this medicine.

•    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

•    If you have further questions, please ask your doctor or your pharmacist.

•    This medicine has been prescribed for you personally and you should not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

In this leaflet:

1.    What Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is and what it is used for.

2.    Before you use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

3.    How to use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

4.    Possible side effects.

5.    Storing Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

The name of your medicine is Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%. Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is supplied as a pure gas containing 21% Oxygen and 79% Helium. It does not contain any other ingredients.

1.    What is Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% and what it is used for.

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is a mixture of two colourless, odourless gases, oxygen and helium, supplied in a pressurised gas cylinder with a valve to control the outflow of the gas.

Oxygen is essential for life. Oxygen breathed in with air goes into your lungs where it is taken into your blood. The blood carries the oxygen to all your body tissues. The tissues take the oxygen from the blood so that they can work properly.

It is used whenever you are not getting enough oxygen into your blood due to blockages in your lungs. Helium prevents your lungs from collapsing should you have respiratory disease, chest wounds or rib fractures.

Helium prevents your lungs from collapsing and helps oxygen go into your lungs if obstructions develop.

The gas mixture may also be used to test how well you are breathing.

2.    Before you use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

Do not smoke or allow those near you to smoke during treatment with Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%.

Do not allow naked flames near you when you are using Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%.

Pregnancy

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% can be used if you are pregnant.

Breast-feeding

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% can be used if you are breast- feeding.

Driving and using machines.

The use of Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% treatment will not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Using other medicines.

Interactions with other medicines are unlikely when Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is used as directed.

Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken any other medicine - even those not prescribed.

3. How to use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

Always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor. Do not stop treatment or change your treatment without consulting your doctor first.

You will normally use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% by breathing the gas in through a mask.

Only use the equipment supplied to you for use with your Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

All equipment used with the Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% should be kept clean and dry. Do not use oil or grease on any equipment that is used with Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%.

Your doctor or nurse will decide how much Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% you need.

Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with Medical Liquid Oxygen will last.

If you forgot to use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

Take your Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% as soon as you remember, do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten treatment.

If you use more Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% than you should:

It should not be possible to take too much Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% as this gas mixture contains the same amount of oxygen as normal air.

4.    Possible side effects

Like all medicines Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% can have side effects.

After treatment you may notice a change in the pitch of your voice. This occurs because helium allows sound to travel differently than it does in air. The effect is short lived and harmless.

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet please inform your doctor or your pharmacist.

5.    Storage of Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79%

•    Keep Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% out of the reach and sight of children.

•    Do not smoke where Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is stored.

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% containers should be stored:

•    in a well ventilated place,

•    under cover

•    kept clean and dry.

•    where they will not be exposed to extremes of temperature.

Return any used cylinders to Air Liquide.

Use by date

Do not use Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% after the expiry date on the label.

The Marketing Authorisation Holder for Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium

79% is Air Liquide Limited, Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, West Midlands, B46 1JY

Medical Oxygen 21%/Helium 79% is manufactured by Air Liquide in the UK.

This leaflet was last approved on 11/2008