| Psoriasis
Treatment (Part 19) Psoriasis Shampoo
You experience symptoms
of infection
Even if they seem minor. If you develop an infection
or symptoms of an infection, you should contact your
doctor. If your doctor gives you treatment for an infection,
it should be taken right away and as prescribed. Treatment
with efalizumab should be stopped if you develop a serious
infection. If the infection is serious you might have
to stop taking efalizumab. Symptoms can include fever,
feeling tired and/or a cough. Other symptoms could include
a raised, hot, red area of skin that is spreading. If
you feel unwell but do not have a fever, it is still
important to tell your doctor. Since efalizumab can
suppress your immune system, your body may not respond
to an infection with a fever as it would normally. |
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If your doctor gives you treatment
for infections, it is very important that you take it
right away and as prescribed.
If your body weight changes. The
amount of efalizumab is based on your weight. If your
body weight changes significantly, your doctor might
change your dose.
If you need to receive a vaccine.
You should not have any live vaccines while taking efalizumab,
as the safety of having a live vaccine while on this
medication has not been established.
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If you develop cancer. If you
develop cancer, tell your doctor right away. Efalizumab
can suppress the immune system, which is important in
fighting cancer.
Helpful
Points While Taking Efalizumab
Use efalizumab exactly as prescribed
by your doctor.
Do not change your dose without
the approval of your doctor.
Use efalizumab the same day each
week; if you miss your dose, contact your doctor to
determine
when to take your next one.
If you take more than your regular
dose, contact your doctor right away.
See your doctor regularly while
on efalizumab.
What
Side Effects Can Efalizumab Cause?
Side effects are possible with
any medication, including biologic agents. In clinical
studies, efalizumab was well tolerated. The most frequent
side effects were:
Temporary, mild flu-like symptoms
(mild headache, fever and chills). These usually occurred
at the
time of the first injection and usually
disappeared as subsequent injections were given. By
the third
dose, such symptoms were not significantly
different from people receiving a placebo (no active
medication).
Rapid recurrence or flare of
psoriasis. A small percentage of patients developed
worsening of disease
after stopping efalizumab. This side
effect can be seen in patients who rapidly stop efalizumab
without introducing another medication.
There is some indication that this is more likely to
occur in
patients who have not had a good
response to treatment with efalizumab. Tell your doctor
right
away if you have any new psoriasis
lesions, rapidly worsening psoriasis or unusual rashes
while on or
off efalizumab. Psoriasis Shampoo
Low platelet count. Platelets
are the portion of your blood that helps to clot blood
or to stop
bleeding. Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)
are rarely seen in patients receiving efalizumab.
Your doctor may check your platelet
counts during treatment to be sure that they are at
a normal
level.
Cancer. Efalizumab is an immunosuppressant
and has the potential to increase your risk of cancer.
The role of efalizumab in the development
of cancer is unknown. In clinical trials, the incidence
of
cancer in patients treated with efalizumab
was low and similar to those taking a placebo.
Organ damage. In the clinical
research done to date, there was no significant damage
to major
organs, such as the liver or kidney.
Only 4 percent of patients who received efalizumab experienced
a shift of normal values in a measure
of one liver enzyme versus approximately 1 percent of
patients
who received a placebo. This percentage
is much lower with biologic agents than many of the
traditionally systemic agents (methotrexate,
cyclosporine) and is one of the major advantages of
biologics over traditional medications
used to treat psoriasis.
How Do
You Store Efalizumab?
The medication is supplied as
a powder in a single-use vial. It can be stored in its
original carton until
time of use.
It should be refrigerated (2°
to 8° C; 36° to 46° F) until used.
The vial should be protected
from exposure to light. Efalizumab should not be used
if it is beyond
the expiration date stamped on the
carton or vial label.
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