What is Avacopan?
Avacopan can be used in combination with other medications (including glucocorticoids) to treat adults who have granulomatosis polyangiitis. (Previously known as Wegener’s granulomatosis). Avacopan is used to treat adults who have microscopic polyangiitis.Avacopan can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Avacopan
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
Avacopan can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Signs of liver disease include loss of appetite, stomach pain, swelling of your legs, drowsiness or confusion, or yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Signs of a serious infection include fever, cold symptoms (runny or sore nose), flu symptoms (cough and tiredness), earache, headache, painful urination, or cold sores on the mouth or throat.
Avacopan can cause the following side effects:
- Tiredness;
- Rash;
- Headache, dizziness;
- Burning or prickling feeling;
- Increase in blood creatinine
- Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain,
- Severe headache, blurred sight, or pounding in the neck or ears
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
If you experience a loss of appetite, stomach pain or swelling, swelling of your legs, easy bruising, drowsiness or confusion, or jaundice, call your doctor immediately.
Prior to using this drug
If you have an allergy to avacopan or its inactive ingredients, then it is best not to use avacopan.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Liver problems or abnormal liver function tests
- Hepatitis C;
- If you have an infection,
Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or considering becoming pregnant. Also, if you plan to breastfeed or are currently breastfeeding, Speak to your doctor to find out the best way to breastfeed your baby while taking avacopan.
How do I take Avacopan?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication. Your doctor may change your dose if you take certain medicines. Follow the instructions on the medication.You may get hepatitis C or B again. You may require liver function tests prior to starting treatment with avacopan. These tests are also necessary during the course of avacopan use and several months afterwards.Take three capsules of Avacopan with food twice a day, in the morning and evening.Do not open, crush, chew on or break the capsule.Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Info on dosage
Adult dose for vasculitis:Dosage: 30 mg twice daily with food.
Comments:
Before starting treatment, obtain liver function tests to screen for hepatitis B.
Consider monitoring WBC before beginning therapy.
This drug is prescribed in conjunction with other standard therapies, such as glucocorticoids.
Use: In combination with glucocorticoids, as an adjunctive therapy for adult patients with severe anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take the missed dose. Use your next dose as usual. Do not take two doses in one go.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
Aviod this
If your doctor prescribes any restrictions regarding food, beverage, or activity, follow their instructions.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications at the same time. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, causing side effects or making them less effective.Other medications, such as vitamins and herbal remedies, may interact with avacopan. Inform your doctor of all the other medications you take.
