This is a summary of the most important iformation about Orencia.
For details, talk to your healthcare professional.
What Is Orencia?
Orencia is a medicine that is used to treat adults with moderate to severe
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have not been helped by other
medicines for RA. RA is a disease that causes pain and joint
inflammation (tenderness and swelling). RA can also cause joint
damage. Your healthcare professional has decided to treat you with
Orencia because your disease is still active even though you may
have tried other treatments.
Who Should Not Be Treated With Orencia?
You should not receive Orencia if you have ever had an allergic reaction to
Orencia.
What Are The Risks?
The following are the major potential risks and side effects of
Orencia therapy. However, this list is not complete.
The following are the major possible risks and side effects of
Orencia therapy:
- Serious infections.
- Patients taking Orencia are at increased risk for developing
infections including pneumonia, and other infections caused by
viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Call your healthcare professional
immediately if you feel sick or get any infection during
treatment with Orencia.
- Allergic reactions.
- These reactions are usually mild or moderate and include hives,
swollen face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, or trouble breathing.
- Malignancies.
- There have been rare cases of certain kinds of
cancer in patients receiving Orencia. The role of Orencia in the development
of cancer is not known.
- Some common side effects that may occur with Orencia include:
- headache
- upper respiratory tract infection
- sore throat
- nausea
What Should I Tell My Healthcare
Professional?
Before you start taking Orencia, tell your healthcare professional if you:
- are taking a TNF blocker to
treat RA. You may have a higher chance of getting a serious
infection if you take Orencia with other biologic medications
for RA.
- have any kind of infection
including an infection that is in only one place in your body
(such as an open cut or sore), or an infection that is in your
whole body (such as the flu). Having an infection could put you
at risk for serious side effects from Orencia. If you are
unsure, please ask your healthcare professional.
- have an infection that
won’t go away or a history of infections that keep coming back.
- have had tuberculosis (TB),
a positive skin test for TB, or if you recently have been in
close contact with someone who has had TB. If you develop any of
the symptoms of TB (a dry cough that doesn’t go away, weight
loss, fever, night sweats) call your healthcare professional
right away. Before you start Orencia, your healthcare
professional may examine you for TB or perform a skin test.
- are scheduled to have
surgery.
- recently received a
vaccination or are scheduled for any vaccination.
- are trying to become
pregnant or are already pregnant. It is not known if Orencia can
harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding. Orencia
can pass into breast milk. You will need to decide to either
breastfeed or receive treatment with Orencia, but not both.
Can Other Medicines Or Food Affect Orencia?
Orencia and certain other medicines may interact with each other. Tell your healthcare
professional about all the medicines you take including
prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them
with you to show your healthcare professional.
Taking Orencia with TNF blocker medications (Enbrel, Humira, Remicade) is not
recommended.
How Should I Receive Orencia?
- Orencia will be given to
you by a healthcare professional using an IV. This means the
medicine will be given to you through a needle placed in a vein
in your arm. It will take about 30 minutes to give you the full
dose of medicine.
- You will receive your first
dose of Orencia followed by additional doses at 2 and 4 weeks
after the first dose. You will then receive a dose every 4
weeks.
Date Approved: 12/23/05
Date Reviewed
Date Updated: 02/15/2006