Alefacept, Injection a-LE-fa-sept

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: immunosuppressant

Generic and brand names: alefacept, injection; Amevive

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis (scaly patches on the skin). This medicine can be injected in one of two ways:

• into the muscle (IM)
• into the vein (IV)

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or steroid medicine
• problems with infections that keep coming back

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• take immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic), azathioprine (Imuran), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), or if you are receiving phototherapy
• have any kind of infection
• are scheduled to have any kind of vaccination such as flu shots, pneumonia, polio, or measles vaccines
• receive phototherapy

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while receiving this medicine or within 8 weeks after stopping the injections, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

The injections are given once a week by your healthcare provider. You will receive these shots for 12 weeks. Depending on how well you respond to this medicine, your healthcare provider may recommend another course of treatments.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may increase your risk of developing cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms such as lumps, swollen glands, or spots on your skin that are new or change appearance.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. If your T-cell lymphocytes (white blood cells) drop below normal, you may not receive your weekly shot. Keep all appointments for these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Do not have any vaccines such as flu, pneumonia, or measles, without getting your healthcare provider's approval first. If you develop an unexplained fever, severe fatigue, muscle or joint pain, or unusual bruising or bleeding, contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away): Chest pain; unexplained fever; severe fatigue; muscle or joint pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; trouble breathing; swollen glands; stomach pain; changes in the skin such as new sores, spots, lumps, or moles; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements; ongoing vomiting or loss of appetite.

Other: Dizziness, headache, nausea, shivering, sore throat; cough, pain or irritation at the injection site.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic), or if you are receiving phototherapy
• other medicines that affect the immune system such as natalizumab (Tysabri) and trastuzumab (Herceptin)
• vaccines

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.