Arzerra

What is Arzerra?

Arzerra is an anti-monoclonal antibody that alters the immune system in the body. Monoclonal antibodies focus on and destroy certain cells within the body. This could help defend healthy cells from harm.Arzerra will treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). In certain patients, atumumab can be administered in combination with chlorambucil or fludarabine in conjunction with cyclophosphamide as a treatment for patients suffering from chronically relapsed CLL.Arzerra can be prescribed when other medicines have been tried but with no results.

Warnings

If you are at risk of developing certain factors for Hepatitis B, Arzerra could cause the condition to return or worsen, which could lead to the liver failing or even death. It is necessary to have frequent blood tests to assess the function of your liver.Arzerra can cause a serious virus infection of the brain, which could result in death or disability. Consult your physician immediately when you notice any changes in your mental health, such as diminished vision or difficulties walking or speaking.To ensure that Arzerra does not have adverse consequences, your blood cells, kidney function, and liver function could be examined for a period of time even after you have stopped taking Arzerra. Make sure you don't skip any follow-up appointments with your physician.Before you take Arzerra in the future, inform your doctor that you suffer from COPD that is severe or has hepatitis.

Before you take this drug

To ensure that Arzerra is safe for you, inform your doctor if you ever experience:

• An active or chronic illness;
• A condition in which you've taken an immunosuppressant drug;
• Hepatitis B.

It is possible to require antiviral medication if you're diagnosed with any risk of contracting hepatitis. Follow your doctor's instructions for dosing extremely carefully.It is important to be up-to-date on all vaccinations prior to using Arzerra. Discuss with your doctor if you have received any vaccines in the last four weeks.Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant, or plan to become pregnant in the near future.Ofatumumab can harm a newborn baby. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while taking Arzerra.If you take Arzerra during your pregnancy, ensure that any physician taking care of your baby knows that you were using the medication during your pregnancy. Exposure to ofatumumab while in the womb can affect the schedule of vaccinations for your baby during the first six months of his life.Utilising Arzerra during pregnancy can alter your immune system and the newborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are pregnant while taking the medicine.It is unclear if atumumab is absorbed into breast milk or whether it can harm the nursing infant. Consult your physician if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Similar/related drugs

Imbruvica, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, Rituxan, Calquence, and Venclexta

How to take Arzerra?

Arzerra is injected as an injection into the vein. The healthcare provider will administer this injection. It is possible to receive additional medication to prevent an allergic reaction to the injection. You might need to begin taking these medicines for up to two hours prior to the beginning of your atumumab treatment.Your doctor will run blood tests to confirm that you don't have any issues that could hinder you from using Arzerra.Arzerra is usually administered as an eight-day cycle. You might need to use Arzerra only for the first one or two weeks of every cycle. The schedule of your dosing can change with subsequent doses. Your doctor will decide the length of time you will be treated with atumumab.Arzerra is best administered slowly. One infusion could take many hours to finish.Be sure to read and follow the Instructions for Use that are included along with your medication. Consult your physician or pharmacist to clarify any of the directions.Make an injection only once you are ready to administer it. Avoid using any medicine that appears cloudy, changes colour, or contains articles. Contact your pharmacist to inquire about the latest medication.You'll require regular medical tests when you use Arzerra, and your next dose could be delayed depending on the results.If you've had any experience with the virus hepatitis B or C, taking Arzerra could cause the virus to be active or worse. It is possible that you will require frequent tests for liver function while taking the medication and for a few months following its discontinuation.

What happens if I miss the dose?

Contact your doctor for advice in the event that you don't make an appointment to receive the Arzerra injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should be avoided?

It is not recommended to get a vaccine while taking Arzerra. Some vaccines might not function in the same way and might not be able to fully protect you against diseases. Some vaccines may not be suitable for you if you use Arzerra. Vaccines include shots for influenza measles, mumps rubella (MMR), rotavirus, yellow fever, typhoid varicella (chickenpox), and the herpes virus (shingles).

Side effects of Arzerra

See a doctor immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms that indicate an allergic reaction, Arzerra: hives, breathing problems, and swelling of your lips, face, and tongue.Certain side effects can occur after the injection, or up to 24 hours afterward. Contact your physician immediately in case you feel dizzy and fatigued, nauseated, lightheaded, or if you feel cold, feverish, and sweaty. You may also feel itchy or experience a face rash, headache or muscle pain, back and stomach discomfort, irregular heartbeats, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, irritation, and swelling inside your throat.Ofatumumab can cause serious brain infections that could cause disability or even death. Consult your physician right away when you experience difficulties with speech, thinking, or vision issues, as well as muscle movement. These symptoms may begin gradually and then get worse.

Contact your doctor immediately. If you suffer from:

• Redness, pain, or itching at the site of the injection;
• Upper stomach pain, right side nausea or loss of appetite discoloration of your skin or eyes, feeling unwell;
• An infection of the lung, such as chills, fever, cough, mucusy mucus, chest discomfort, or feeling short of breath;
• Lower blood-cell counts (fever, chills, fatigue, lips sores or skin abrasions, easily bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold feet, and hands being lightheaded or sluggish;
• Indications of a tumour cell's breakdown fatigue, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a  quick and moderate heartbeat, as well as tingling in your feet, hands, and around the mouth.

The treatment you receive for cancer could be delayed or discontinued permanently when you experience certain negative side effects.

Common Arzerra side effects may include:

• The potential for side effects of an infusion
• Inflammation when the injection was administered.
• High fever, low blood cell count;
• Cold symptoms like nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and a sore throat
• Chest tightness and cough trouble breathing lung infection
• Diarrhoea, nausea;
• The rash
• Headache, tiredness.

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects, and other effects may also be present. Contact your physician for advice regarding medical effects. Report any side effects directly to the fda at 1-800-fda-1088.

Interaction with other drug

Discuss with your doctor any other medications you take, particularly:

• Medications that can weaken your immune system, such as cancer medicines or steroids. They also have medicines to avoid rejection of organ transplants.

This list isn't complete. Other medications can be incompatible with atumumab. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.Some interactions with drugs are not listed here. are listed here.