STARTING IV INFUSIONS OF ACTEMRA FOR GIANT CELL ARTERITIS (GCA) TREATMENT
Before starting treatment, your healthcare provider should review the ACTEMRA Medication Guide with you. He or she should discuss how treatment will work and any possible side effects you may experience.
Before treatment
Here are some tips for your first IV infusion appointment:
- Arrive a little bit early to take care of any paperwork
- Bring your insurance card every time you get an IV infusion
- Wear comfortable clothing, if possible
- Your IV infusion will last about 1 hour. You may want to bring music, a book, or some games to help you pass the time
- Write down any questions you have for your healthcare provider or IV infusion specialist. Since they’ll be around to monitor you, this is a great time to get answers
Weighing In
If you are taking ACTEMRA as an IV infusion, the dose is based on your weight, so before every infusion, you’ll be weighed.
If your weight changes, you and your healthcare provider will decide if a change in dose is necessary.
During your IV infusion
Monitoring
A healthcare provider or nurse should always be on hand during your ACTEMRA IV infusion to monitor you and to respond to any reactions and answer any questions you may have. It’s important to pay close attention to how you’re feeling during and after an IV infusion. ACTEMRA may lead to serious allergic reactions, including death, which may happen even if they have not happened before. Let your healthcare provider or nurse know if you’re experiencing:
- 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
After your IV infusion
Note how you’re feeling after each ACTEMRA IV infusion. Tell your healthcare provider or nurse right away if you’re experiencing any reactions during or after treatment.
Blood tests
Before you start on ACTEMRA IV infusions, your healthcare provider will do a variety of blood tests. The chart below shows how often these tests will occur after you start treatment.
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.