Treat GCA Your Way
ACTEMRA offers a range of treatment method options for your GCA symptoms. These options give you the ability to take your medicine in a way that may be convenient for you. Whichever treatment method option you prefer, your ACTEMRA is the same. ACTEMRA is available to treat GCA as:
- Subcutaneous (SC) injection: This medicine may be injected under your skin. It is given at home by you or a caregiver. ACTEMRA SC is available in a prefilled syringe or the ACTEMRA ACTPen® autoinjector
- The ACTEMRA prefilled syringe is a single-dose needle that is manually injected
- The ACTPen autoinjector is a prefilled, single-dose, pen-like autoinjector that keeps the needle tip shielded before the injection, allowing you to inject by holding down a button
- After you've reviewed the FDA-approved Instructions for Use, you can also watch a step-by-step video to learn how to use the prefilled syringe or ACTPen autoinjector
- Intravenous (IV) infusion: This medicine is a liquid solution placed into your vein with a needle. It is given at your healthcare provider’s office or an infusion center
What to know about ACTEMRA SC injections
Before you decide if the ACTERMRA SC injection is the option for you, learn more about it:
You'll be trained by your healthcare provider or nurse. You or your caregiver should inject for the first time during a training session. That way, you can get comfortable with the injection process.
Medicine is injected under the skin into fatty tissue (for example, in the belly or upper thigh) but not deeper, into the muscle
Prefilled syringe:
Total injection time is about 35 minutes
- The syringe needs 30 minutes to warm
- It takes about 5 minutes to prepare, inject, and dispose of syringe
ACTPen autoinjector:
Total injection time is about 50 minutes
- The ACTPen autoinjector needs 45 minutes to warm up
- It takes about 5 minutes to prepare, inject, and dispose of the ACTPen autoinjector
Your healthcare provider will tell you if you should give yourself an ACTEMRA SC injection once a week or once every 2 weeks
Serious allergic reactions may occur. Please seek immediate medical attention if you start to experience any serious allergic reaction, including:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Swelling of lips, tongue, or face
- Chest pain
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Moderate or severe abdominal pain or vomiting
What to know about ACTEMRA IV infusions
Before you decide if the ACTEMRA IV infusion is the option for you, learn more about it:
IV infusions are given to you at your healthcare provider’s office or in an infusion center
Liquid medicine is given by needle directly into your vein
You’ll sit in a comfortable chair or lie down on a cot or bed
Your IV infusion will last about 1 hour
Infusion reactions may occur. A healthcare provider or nurse will be there to monitor you
Receive Free Resources
Get your free ACTEMRA Travel Pack and sharps disposal container by calling 1-800-ACTEMRA (1-800-228-3672).
ACTEMRA Patient Support Line
Have questions about ACTEMRA?
Call 1-800-228-3672 to talk with a team member about ACTEMRA.
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A biologic is a type of medicine developed using processes that are similar to what happens in your body naturally. Biologics can be used to interact with certain parts of your body, like your immune system. They can also fight inflammation in certain diseases, like GCA.
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An inflammation of the blood vessels. The cause is often unknown.
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When a part of the body becomes swollen and painful.
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A flare is a sudden worsening of your disease. It can happen after you haven’t experienced symptoms for a long time. It’s also known as a relapse.
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A chemical messenger that tells the immune system to attack harmful bacteria and viruses. When your body produces too much IL-6, it causes the immune system to attack healthy cells.
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A decrease or disappearance in signs and symptoms.
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Under the skin.
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A sample of cells taken from the body in order to examine them more closely. A healthcare professional will recommend a biopsy when a test suggests an area of tissue in the body isn’t normal.
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A genetic predisposition means that a person may be more likely to develop a disease based on their genes. However, they may not see any symptoms unless something in the environment triggers the disease.
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Steroids, including cortisone and prednisone, are a type of medicine used temporarily to reduce inflammation.
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Biologics, a type of DMARD, are a class of arthritis treatments designed to target your immune system.
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The immune system is a complex network of organs and cells that protects the body from foreign substances such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.