Berinert (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adults and children. Berinert comes as an infusion that you give yourself or receive from a healthcare professional.

Berinert is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat attacks of HAE in adults and children.

Berinert is a biologic that belongs to a drug class called C1 esterase inhibitors. Berinert is not available in a biosimilar version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Berinert, including its strength and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Berinert, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Berinert provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When injecting Berinert, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

The information below describes Berinert’s typical dosages and other details about the drug.

Berinert form

Berinert comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. The powder is mixed with a liquid to form a solution for intravenous (IV) infusion. You’ll give yourself the IV infusion or you’ll receive it in a hospital or clinic.

Berinert strength

Each vial of Berinert contains 500 international units (IU) of active drug. The powder is mixed with 10 milliliters (mL) of sterile water to make a solution of 50 IU per mL.

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for HAE

Doctors may prescribe Berinert to treat HAE.

If your doctor prescribes Berinert for you, your dose will be based on your body weight in kilograms (kg).*

The typical dose of Berinert is 20 IU/kg. For example, if you weigh 155 lb (about 70 kg), your dosage will be 1,400 IU. You’ll likely need to use more than one vial of Berinert to get your total dose.

For information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

* For reference, 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb).

Children’s dosage

Berinert is approved to treat HAE in children.

The dosage for children is the same as the adult dosage. Your child will receive 20 IU/kg. For example, if your child weighs 40 lb (about 18 kg), their dosage will be 360 IU.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.

Long-term treatment

Berinert may be prescribed long term. It’s meant to be administered as needed to treat HAE attacks. If you and your doctor determine that Berinert is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely administer it whenever you have an HAE attack.

Before you start Berinert, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

There are two ways that Berinert is given. Either you’ll give yourself a Berinert IV infusion at home, or you’ll go to a hospital or clinic to receive it from a healthcare professional.

For the first step of the infusion, the powder form of Berinert is mixed with sterile water to make a solution. Then the solution is prepared for infusion. The infusion is given at a rate of 4 mL per minute.

For detailed information on how to infuse Berinert, explore the step-by-step instructions, including a video, on the manufacturer’s website. For questions about how to administer Berinert, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

It’s important that you don’t inject more Berinert than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, injecting more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you inject more than the recommended amount of Berinert

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve injected too much Berinert. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Berinert.

Is the dosage of Berinert similar to the dosage of Ruconest?

There are similarities and differences. The forms and how often you inject or receive each drug are similar. Berinert and Ruconest (C1 esterase inhibitor [recombinant]) are both IV infusions that are given or received as needed for HAE attacks.

However, the dosages for the two drugs are different. This is because the C1 esterase inhibitor in the drugs comes from different sources. The C1 esterase inhibitor in Berinert comes from human plasma, while the C1 esterase inhibitor in Ruconest is made from rabbit DNA.

Your doctor will prescribe the product and dosage that are right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Berinert to start working?

For HAE attacks that involve the throat, Berinert starts to work in about 15 minutes. For attacks involving the face or GI tract, it starts to work in about 48 minutes. For all types of attacks, it may take anywhere from 5 to 8.5 hours for symptoms to fully resolve.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Berinert treatment.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Berinert for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Berinert without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Berinert that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Berinert. For information about other aspects of Berinert, refer to this article.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.