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|Abatacept

Abatacept

Abatacept is used for:

Treating moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have not been helped by other medicines. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Abatacept is selective costimulation modulator. It works by stopping the immune system from attacking healthy tissues in the body.

Do NOT use Abatacept if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Abatacept
• you are using anakinra or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers (eg, etanercept)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Abatacept :

Some medical conditions may interact with Abatacept . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have an infection (including an infection that will not go away), tuberculosis (TB), or a positive skin test for TB, or you have recently been in close contact with someone who has had TB
• if you are at risk for developing an infection or have a history of infections that keep coming back
• if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• you are scheduled for surgery, or you recently received a vaccination or are scheduled for a vaccination

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Abatacept . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• TNF blockers (eg, etanercept) because the risk of serious infection may be increased
• Anakinra because the risk of side effects may be increased
• Live vaccinations because their effectiveness may be decreased by Abatacept

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Abatacept may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Abatacept :

Use Abatacept as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Abatacept comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Abatacept refilled.
• This medicine is usually administered as an injection at your doctor"s office, hospital, or clinic. If you are using Abatacept at home, carefully follow the injection procedures taught to you by your health care provider.
• If you miss a dose of Abatacept , contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will establish a new dosing schedule.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Abatacept .

Important safety information:

• Abatacept may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Abatacept . Using Abatacept alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Abatacept may lower your body"s ability to fight infection. Prevent infection by avoiding contact with people with colds or other infections. Notify your doctor of any signs of infection, including fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
• Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Abatacept .
• Do not receive a live vaccine during or within 3 months after stopping therapy with Abatacept . Talk to your doctor before receiving any vaccinations while you are using Abatacept .
• You may need to have a TB skin test before you begin using Abatacept . Contact your doctor with any questions you may have about whether you should receive a TB skin test before using Abatacept .
• Rarely, patients using Abatacept have developed cancer. It is unknown if Abatacept may have contributed to the development of cancer. Contact your doctor with any questions or concerns.
• Use Abatacept with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially risk of infection or cancer.
• Use Abatacept with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Abatacept , discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Abatacept during pregnancy. It is unknown if Abatacept is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while using Abatacept .

Possible side effects of Abatacept :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; headache; mild pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site; nausea; sore throat; stomach upset; stuffy nose.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chills, fever, or persistent sore throat; flu-like symptoms; increased cough; increased, decreased, or painful urination; night sweats; severe or persistent dizziness; shortness of breath; unexplained weight loss; unusual lumps or growths; wheezing.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Abatacept is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Abatacept at home, store Abatacept as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Abatacept out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Abatacept , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Abatacept is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Abatacept . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.