Orencia

Uses of Orencia

Orencia is a medicine that is often used in combination with methotrexate (a medicine that acts on the immune system) to treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (an immune system disease causing damage and inflammation in the joints) in adults using it in combination with methotrexate when other medicines including methotrexate or a ‘tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blocker’ have not worked well enough.

Highly active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis, used in combination with methotrexate in adults who have not previously been treated with methotrexate.

Moderate to severe active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (a rare childhood disease causing inflammation of many joints), in adolescents and children from 2 years of age in whom other medicines have not worked well enough. It is used in combination with methotrexate, or on its own in patients who cannot take methotrexate.

Psoriatic arthritis (arthritis combined with psoriasis, a condition causing red, scaly patches on the skin) in adults in whom treatment with other medicines, including methotrexate, has not worked well enough. It is used alone or in combination with methotrexate for patients who do not need other medicines by mouth or by injection to control their psoriasis.

Precautions and Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Using abatacept with a TNF antagonist, other biologic RA/PsA therapy, or JAK Inhibitors can increase the risk of infections and serious infections.

Hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis have occurred.

Serious infections have been reported. Patients with a history of recurrent infections or underlying conditions predisposing to infections may experience more infections. Discontinue if a serious infection develops.

Screen for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection before starting abatacept therapy. Patients testing positive should be treated for TB  before starting abatacept treatment.

You should be screened for viral hepatitis before starting abatacept.

Update vaccinations before starting treatment. Live vaccines should not be given concurrently or within 3 months of discontinuation. Abatacept may blunt the effectiveness of some immunizations.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients may develop more frequent respiratory adverse events.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation in patients treated for aGVHD prophylaxis.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, become pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, as it is not known if abatacept can harm your unborn baby.  If you take abatacept during pregnancy, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of abatacept on the baby.

ell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if abatacept passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you use abatacept.

Dosage

The Orencia dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the type and severity of the condition you’re using Orencia to treat
• your weight

Typically, your doctor will start you on the usual dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• fever
• nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain
• headache
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, or cough.