Efalizumab-treated patients experienced
a rapid improvement in their psoriasis.
Improvements
in the psoriasis were noted as early as two to four
weeks after starting the therapy
compared to placebo.
After 12 weeks of therapy,
22 to 39 percent of people had an excellent improvement;
52 to 61
percent of people achieved a good
improvement.
Administering
efalizumab for another 12 weeks led to an additional
improvement. Forty-four percent
of patients had an excellent improvement
(75 percent improvement), and 67 percent had a good
improvement (50 percent improvement).
This efficacy was maintained during a long-term study
where patients received efalizumab
as a weekly injection continuously for three years
In the initial studies of efalizumab,
the therapy was given for a 12-week period and then
discontinued. The medication worked very quickly, but
when stopped, psoriasis came back within two months.
Because of this, efalizumab needs to be given in a continuous
manner, over the long term, to control psoriasis. It
is important that you do not stop therapy without consulting
your doctor. If the medication is discontinued, it is
important that your doctor monitors you—most patients
will need to start another therapy to control their
psoriasis.
Some patients who discontinue
efalizumab quickly without starting another therapy
can develop a rapid reoccurrence (or flare) in their
psoriasis. In some cases, the psoriasis can be worse
than it was before starting the treatment with efalizumab.
In addition, patients can develop different forms of
psoriasis, such as pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis,
or new locations might become involved, such as the
palms or soles.
What You Should Tell the Doctor
Before Starting Efalizumab
Before taking Efalizumab,
you should tell your doctor if you:
are pregnant or plan on becoming
pregnant
are breast feeding
have had a recent severe infection
or are prone to chronic or severe infections
have, have had or have been exposed
to tuberculosis
have a history of immunosuppression
such as HIV/AIDS
have a history of cancer
have a history of allergy to
efalizumab or any of its components
are taking any other medications,
especially immunosuppressive agents, or herbal supplements
You should inform your doctor
if you are on any other immunosuppressant drugs or other
drugs that affect your immune system prior to starting
treatment. Efalizumab can decrease the activity of your
immune system, and the use of other immunosuppressive
agents could increase the risk of infection and cancer.
Who Should
Not Take Efalizumab?
persons who are allergic to efalizumab
or any of its components
persons who are pregnant or plan
on becoming pregnant
persons who are breast feeding
persons who have a serious infections,
or frequent recurrence of serious infections
persons who have problems with
their immune systems (e.g., HIV/AIDS)
persons who are unable to take
medications as directed by their doctor
persons with cancer (with the
exception of certain types of skin cancers which have
been treated)
What You Should Tell the Doctor
While Taking Efalizumab
You should inform your doctor if
any of the following occur.
You develop any bleeding from
the gums, bruising or small red spots on your skin (petechiae),
which indicates a decrease in your platelet counts (thrombocytopenia).
Your doctor may monitor your blood (platelet) count
during your therapy. In general, your blood count might
be measured monthly while starting therapy, then measured
every three months.
You become pregnant. If
you do become pregnant, call your doctor.
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