Uses of Abatacept Injection
Abatacept injection 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.
Side Effects of Abatacept Injection
headache
runny nose
nausea
dizziness
heartburn
arm or leg pain
Some side effects of abatacept injection can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
hives
itching
swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
difficulty breathing or swallowing
shortness of breath
fever, chills, and other signs of infection
dry cough that doesn’t go away
weight loss
night sweats
frequent urination or sudden need to urinate right away
burning during urination
cellulitis (red, hot, swollen area on the skin)
Abatacept injection may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer including lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells that fight infection). People who have had severe rheumatoid arthritis for a long time may have a greater than normal risk of developing these cancers even if they do not use abatacept. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.
Abatacept may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before using abatacept injection:
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to abatacept injection 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 while taking abatacept injection.
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 the 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 before prescribing abatacept injection. 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 injection, 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.
Dosage
Abatacept comes as a powder to be mixed with sterile water and infused (injected slowly) intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse. It is usually given in a doctor’s office every 2 weeks for the first three doses and then every 4 weeks. It will take about 30 minutes for you to receive your entire dose of abatacept injection.
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.
Other
Be sure to schedule appointments with your doctor well in advance so that you will be able to receive abatacept injection on schedule and at times that are convenient for you.
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.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
