Actemra
Actemra is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist.
Actemra is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) has been used and did not work well; To treat adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA); For slowing the rate of decline in lung function in adults with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) (also known as scleroderma-associated ILD).
Actemra Info
Actemra can be administered by subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion. Intravenous infusions are given over 60 minutes every 4 weeks.
The recommended dosage of ACTEMRA for adult patients given as a 60-minute single intravenous drip infusion is 4 mg per kg every 4 weeks followed by an increase to 8 mg per kg every 4 weeks based on clinical response.
Intravenous
60
Minutes
Every
4
Weeks
Actemra Side Effects
The most common side effects of Actemra include:
- Upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections)
- Headache
- Increased blood pressure.
Actemra changes the way your immune system works. This can make you more likely to get infections or make any current infection worse. Some people have serious infections while taking Actemra, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body.
If you have or are a carrier of the hepatitis B virus (a virus that affects the liver), the virus may become active while you use Actemra. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests before you start treatment with Actemra and while you are using Actemra.
Patient Assistance Programs
There are several programs patients can sign up for that will assist in treatment costs:
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