(a BAY ta sept) Brand: Orencia
• You must not use abatacept if you are allergic to it, or if you are also using anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), natalizumab (Tysabri), rituximab (Rituxan), or tocilizumab (Actemra).
• Till using abatacept, speak your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.
• Also speak your doctor if you have a weak immune system, any type of infection (including skin infection or open sores), COPD, diabetes, a history of hepatitis, or if you have scheduled to receive any vaccinations.
• Children using this medicine must be current on all childhood immunizations till starting treatment with abatacept.
• Serious infections may occur during treatment with abatacept. Contact your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, night sweats, weary feeling, weight loss, or painful warmth or redness of your skin.
• Using abatacept may magnify your risk of developing determined types of cancer such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). This risk may be greater in older adults. Conversation to your doctor about your specific risk.
• Abatacept is a man-made protein that prevents your body's immune system from attacking healthy tissues such as joints. The immune system helps your body fight infections. In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for invaders and attacks them.
• Abatacept is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and to prevent joint hurt caused by these conditions. It is also used to treat arthritis in children who are at least 6 years old.
• Abatacept is not a cure for any autoimmune mess and will only treat the symptoms of your condition.
• Abatacept may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use abatacept if you are allergic to it, or if you are also using anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), natalizumab (Tysabri), rituximab (Rituxan), or tocilizumab (Actemra).
• Till using abatacept, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.
• To create certain you can safely use abatacept, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· a weak immune system;
· any type of infection including a skin infection or open sores;
· COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
· diabetes;
· if you have ever had hepatitis; or
· if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.
• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether abatacept will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
• If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to estimate any effects of abatacept on the baby.
• It is not known whether abatacept passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using abatacept.
• Children using this medicine must be current on all childhood immunizations till starting treatment with abatacept.
• Using abatacept may magnify your risk of developing determined types of cancer such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). This risk may be greater in older adults. Conversation to your doctor about your specific risk.
• Till you start treatment with abatacept, your doctor may perform trials to create certain you do not have tuberculosis or another infections.
• Abatacept is injected under the skin, or into a vein through an IV. You may be shown how to use injections at house. Do not self-inject this medication if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, syringes, IV tubing, and another items used to inject the medicine.
• Abatacept should be given slowly when infected into a vein, and the IV infusion can take at least 30 minutes to complete.
• This medicine is generally given each 1 to 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions.
• You may need to mix abatacept with a liquid (diluent) till using it. If you are using the injections at house, be certain you understand how to properly mix and store the medication.
• Do not shake the medicine bottle or you may ruin the medication. Prepare your doze in a syringe only when you are ready to give yourself an injection. Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.
• Every single-use vial (bottle) or prefilled syringe of this medication is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medication left in it after injecting your dose.
• Use a disposable needle only once. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Hold this container out of the reach of children and pets.
• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using abatacept.
• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking this medicine, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for different months after you stop using abatacept. Visit your doctor regularly.
• This medicine can reason false results with determined blood glucose trials, showing tall blood sugar readings. If you have diabetes, conversation to your doctor about the excellent way to check your blood sugar while you are using abatacept.
• Autoimmune disorders are often treated with a combination of various drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medicine manual or patient instructions provided with every medicine. Do not change your doses or medicine schedule without your doctor's advice.
• Store this medicine in the refrigerator. Do not freeze and protect from easy. Hold the medication in original carton to protect it from easy. Do not use abatacept if the expiration date on the medication label has passed.
• Abatacept that has been mixed with a diluent may be stored in a refrigerator or at room temperature and used within 24 hours.
• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your abatacept dose.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using abatacept, and for at least 3 months after your treatment ends. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from malady. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.
• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• Some people receiving an abatacept injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medication is injected into the vein). Speak your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, light-headed, itchy, or have a severe headache or trouble breathing within 1 hour after receiving the injection.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Serious infections may occur during treatment with abatacept. Stop using abatacept and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:
· fever, chills, night sweats, flu symptoms, weight loss;
· feeling very tired;
· dry cough, sore throat; or
· warmth, pain, or redness of your skin.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these another serious side effects:
· trouble breathing;
· stabbing chest pain, wheezing, cough with yellow or green mucus;
· pain or burning when you urinate; or
· signs of skin infection such as itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, indigestion; or
· headache, dizziness;
· cool symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough;
· back pain.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• There may be another drugs that can interact with abatacept. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about abatacept.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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