Efgartigimod alfa-fcab

Generic name: Efgartigimod Alfa-fcab
Drug class: Immune globulins

Usage of Efgartigimod alfa-fcab

Efgartigimod alfa-fcab injection is used to treat a nerve and muscle problem called myasthenia gravis in patients who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Efgartigimod alfa-fcab side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Bladder pain

bloody or cloudy urine

cough

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty in moving

fever

frequent urge to urinate

joint pain

lower back or side pain

muscle aches, cramps, pain, or stiffness

sneezing

sore throat

swollen joints

Incidence not known

Difficulty in breathing or swallowing

fast heartbeat

large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

skin itching, rash, or redness

swelling of the face, throat, or tongue

trouble breathing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

headache

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Efgartigimod alfa-fcab

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic Reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of efgartigimod alfa-fcab injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of efgartigimod alfa-fcab injection in the elderly.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Adenovirus Vaccine, Live

Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live

Cholera Vaccine, Live

Dengue tetravalent vaccine, live

Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live

Influenza virus vaccine, Live

Measles virus vaccine, live

Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live

Poliovirus Vaccine, Live

Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

RubElla Virus Vaccine, Live

Smallpox Monkeypox Vaccine, Live Non-Replicating

Smallpox Vaccine

Typhoid Vaccine, Live

Varicella virus vaccine, live

Yellow Fever Vaccine

Zoster Vaccine, Live

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Efgartigimod alfa-fcab

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins. The medicine must be given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for at least 1 hour. It is usually given once a week for 4 weeks.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Warnings

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Call your doctor right away if you start to have a cough that would not go away, weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, flu-like symptoms (eg, runny or stuffy nose, headache, blurred vision, or feeling generally ill), painful or difficult urination, or sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips. These may be signs that you have an infection.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs, itching of the skin, rash, or trouble breathing after using this medicine.

While you are being treated with efgartigimod alfa-fcab, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccines should not be given with efgartigimod alfa-fcab.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.