Glucerna Product Information

Glucerna is an enteral nutritional supplement used to replace vital nutrients in users no longer able to produce them naturally. The medication is usually prescribed to users that suffer from one of the following medical problems: AIDS, cancer, kidney problems, liver problems, surgery, and severe trauma. Glucerna is available without a prescription, but t is strongly recommended to be used under the supervision of a doctor.

Before Using

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any type of food or medication before beginning treatment with Glucerna. There have not been studies done on women who are pregnant or breast-feeding while using this medication, so use with extreme caution to ensure there is no harm done to your baby. Extreme caution should also be taken when giving enteral feedings to children as they may not be able to properly digest the feeding once it has been administered.

Precautions

To prevent the possibility of infection due to bacteria, it is important that Glucerna be handled properly prior to ingestion. The medication should never be administered for more than 12 hours at room temperature before being discarded. If the medication is being administered through a tube, make sure that the enteral feeding is not too thick for the tube being used. It is strongly recommended that all doses be administered in a sterile medical setting to prevent complications.

Side Effects

Side effects include seizures, confusion, dry mouth, decreased urination, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, tingling and swelling in the extremities, shortness of breath, respiratory problems, weak pulse, nervousness, constipation, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. While these are considered the most common side effects associated with using the medication, they only affect a small number of users.

Use

Always use this medication exactly as it was prescribed to you by your doctor and never in dosages that exceed the recommendations on the label. The medication can be administered either by mouth or through a feeding tube and should always be stored at room temperature and away from sources of moisture. The medication should never be frozen or refrigerated as it can cause the sample to become unsafe for ingestion.

Warning

If you experience any of the above side effects, contact your doctor immediately for an adjusted treatment method.

If an overdose is suspected, contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 and head directly to the nearest emergency room.

Glucerna is meant for the treatment of the above ailments only and should never be used recreationally.