Orencia (Abatacept) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 9, 2012

Orencia

Rheumatoid Arthritis »

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) facts

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.
In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern.
Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
Damage to joints can occur early and does not correlate with the severity of symptoms.
The "rheumatoid factor" is an antibody that can be found in the blood of 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment of rheumato...

Read the Rheumatoid Arthritis article »

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ORENCIA
(abatacept) Lyophilized Powder for Intravenous Infusion

DRUG DESCRIPTION

ORENCIA (abatacept) is a soluble fusion protein that consists of the extracellular domain of human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) linked to the modified Fc (hinge, CH2, and CH3 domains) portion of human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1). Abatacept is produced by recombinant DNA technology in a mammalian cell expression system. The apparent molecular weight of abatacept is 92 kilodaltons.

ORENCIA (abatacept) is supplied as a sterile, white, preservative-free, lyophilized powder for parenteral administration. Following reconstitution with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, the solution of ORENCIA (abatacept) is clear, colorless to pale yellow, with a pH range of 7.2 to 7.8. Each single-use vial of ORENCIA provides 250 mg abatacept, 500 mg maltose, 17.2 mg monobasic sodium phosphate, and 14.6 mg sodium chloride for administration.

What are the possible side effects of abatacept (Orencia)?

Some people receiving an abatacept injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medicine is injected into the vein). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, light-headed, itchy, or have a severe headache or trouble breathing within 1 hour after receiving the injection.

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.

Serious infections may occur during treatment with abatacept. Stop using abatacept and call...

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What are the precautions when taking abatacept (Orencia)?

Before using abatacept, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD, current/recent/returning infection (e.g., tuberculosis, hepatitis virus), cut or open sore, cancer, immune system disorder (e.g., HIV infection, bone marrow disorder), diabetes (especially if you are checking your blood sugar level at home).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.

Do not have immunizations/vaccinations while...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 9/10/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.