What is Abatacept Injection?
Abatacept is used alone or in combination with other medications to reduce the pain, swelling, difficulty with daily activities, and joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) in patients who have not been helped by other medications. Abatacept is in a class of medications called selective costimulation modulators (immunomodulators). It works by blocking the activity of T-cells, a type of immu...
Brand Name
Orenci
Other Names
What is Abatacept Injection?
Abatacept is used alone or in combination with other medications to reduce the pain, swelling, difficulty with daily activities, and joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) in patients who have not been helped by other medications. Abatacept is in a class of medications called selective costimulation modulators (immunomodulators). It works by blocking the activity of T-cells, a type of immune cell in the body that causes swelling and joint damage in people who have arthritis.
How
Your doctor will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet to read before you receive each dose of abatacept. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor any questions you have.
Side Effects
headacherunny nosesore throatnauseadizzinessheartburnback painarm or leg painAbatacept may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
Precautions
Before using abatacept, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to abatacept or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anakinra (Kineret), adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel),and infliximab (Remicade). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have an infection anywhere in the body, including infections that come and go, such as cold sores, and chronic infections that do not go away, or if you often get any type of infection such as bladder infections. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema); any disease that affects your nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis; any disease that affects your immune system, such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had tuberculosis (TB; a lung infection that may not cause symptoms for many years and that may spread to other parts of the body) or if you have been around someone who has or has had tuberculosis. Your doctor may give you a skin test to see whether you are infected with tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a positive skin test for tuberculosis in the past. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using abatacept, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using abatacept.tell your doctor if you have recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccines. You should not have any vaccinations while you are using abatacept or for 3 months after you stop using abatacept without talking to your doctor.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
What If I Forget
If you miss an appointment to receive an abatacept infusion, call your doctor as soon as possible.
Storage
Your doctor will store the medication in his or her office.
Dietary Restrictions
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Miscellaneous
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Other Uses
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
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