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Orencia

Generic Name: abatacept (a BAY ta sept)
Brand Names: Orencia

What is Orencia?

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Orencia is a man-made protein that prevents your body's immune system from attacking healthy tissues such as joints.

Orencia is used to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, to slow the progression of joint damage, and to improve physical function.

Orencia is usually given after other arthritis medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms. Orencia is sometimes given together with other arthritis medications.

Orencia may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Orencia

Before receiving Orencia, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis or any other breathing disorder, or if you have any type of infection. Before you receive Orencia, your doctor may require you to have a skin test to make sure you do not have tuberculosis.

It may be easier for you to get sick or have infections while you are receiving Orencia. Avoid being near people who are sick. Tell your doctor at once if you develop any type of infection, including flu symptoms, or if you have wheezing, coughing, or other breathing problems, or a wound that will not heal.

Do not use Orencia if you are allergic to abatacept, or if you are also using anakinra (Kinaret), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), or infliximab (Remicade).

Vaccines or flu shots may not work as well if you receive them during your treatment with Orencia.

Some people receiving Orencia have developed certain types of cancer. However, it is not known whether Orencia causes cancer. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk of developing cancer.

Before receiving Orencia

Do not use Orencia if you are allergic to abatacept, or if you are also using any of the following other medications:

anakinra (Kineret);
etanercept (Enbrel);
infliximab (Remicade); or
adalimumab (Humira).

If you are switching to Orencia from one of the medications listed above, watch for new signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding, or unusual weakness. If you develop any of these symptoms, call your doctor.

Before receiving Orencia, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

a history of tuberculosis;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD);
any type of infection such as the flu or an infected skin wound; or
a history of infections that come and go.

If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive Orencia.

Before you receive Orencia, your doctor may require you to have a skin test to make sure you do not have tuberculosis.

FDA pregnancy category C. Orencia may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Orencia passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Some people who have received Orencia have developed cancer, but it is not known if Orencia causes cancer. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk of developing cancer.

How is Orencia given?

Orencia is given as an injection into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional will give you this medicine through an IV needle. Orencia is given slowly and it will take at least 30 minutes for you to receive the entire dose.

Before you receive this medication, your doctor may require you to have a skin test to make sure you do not have tuberculosis.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

In most cases, this medicine is given every 2 weeks for the first month, and then every 4 weeks after that.

You may need to use other medicines with Orencia to treat your arthritis. Follow your doctor's instructions about all medications you are using.

Orencia can cause unusual results with certain blood glucose tests used by diabetics. If you check your blood sugar on the day of your Orencia injection, your results may show a "false-positive" rise in blood glucose. Ask your doctor about the most reliable glucose testing methods to use while you are being treated with Orencia.

Orencia can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Orencia. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your Orencia injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of an Orencia overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while receiving Orencia?

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

You should not receive any vaccinations, including flu shots, while you are receiving Orencia. Vaccines may not work as well if you receive them during your treatment with Orencia.

Orencia side effects

Some people receiving an Orencia injection have had a reaction to the infusion (within 1 hour of when the medicine is injected into the vein). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, itchy, light-headed, or numb, or if you have a severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, chest tightness, or trouble breathing. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
night sweats, weight loss;
a wound that won't heal;
burning or pain when you urinate;
wheezing, cough, or other breathing problems;
skin rash, itching, or flushing (redness or warmth under your skin); or
feeling like you might pass out.

Less serious Orencia side effects may include:

headache;
runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;
nausea; or
dizziness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Orencia?

There may be other drugs that can affect Orencia. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Orencia.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum 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.