Generic name:  idecabtagene vicleucel
Dosage form: suspension for intravenous infusion
Drug class: Miscellaneous antineoplastics

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 1, 2021.

What is Abecma?

Abecma is for the treatment of multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least four kinds of treatment regimens that have not worked or have stopped working.

Abecma is a medicine made from your own white blood cells; the cells are genetically modified to recognize and attack your multiple myeloma cells.

Important information

Abecma may cause side effects that are life-threatening and can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following:

• difficulty breathing
• fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher)
• chills/shivering
• confusion
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• shaking or twitching (tremor)
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• severe fatigue
• severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

It is important that you tell your healthcare providers that you have received Abecma and to show them your Patient Wallet Card. Your healthcare provider may give you other medicines to treat your side effects.

How do I use Abecma?

Abecma is made from your own white blood cells, so your blood will be collected by a process called “leukapheresis”.

Your blood cells will be sent to a manufacturing center to make your Abecma. Based on clinical trial experience, it takes about 4 weeks from the time your cells are received at the manufacturing site and are available to be shipped back to your healthcare provider, but the time may vary.

Before you receive treatment, your healthcare provider will give you chemotherapy for 3 days to prepare your body.

When your treatment is ready, your healthcare provider will give the Abecma to you through a catheter (tube) placed into your vein (intravenous infusion). Your dose may be given in one or more infusion bags. The infusion usually takes up to 30 minutes for each infusion bag.

You will be monitored at the certified healthcare facility where you received your treatment daily for at least 7 days after the infusion.

You should plan to stay within 2 hours of this location for at least 4 weeks after receiving treatment. Your healthcare provider will check to see that your treatment is working and help you with any side effects that may occur.

What should I avoid after receiving Abecma?

• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other activities that could be dangerous if you are not mentally alert, for at least 8 weeks after you receive treatment. This is because the treatment can cause temporary memory and coordination problems, sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, and seizures.
• Do not donate blood, organs, tissues, or cells for transplantation.

Abecma side effects

The most common side effects are:

• fatigue
• fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher)
• chills/shivering
• severe nausea or diarrhea
• decreased appetite
• headache
• dizziness/lightheadedness
• confusion
• difficulty speaking or slurred speech
• cough
• difficulty breathing
• fast or irregular heartbeat

Abecma can cause a very common side effect called cytokine release syndrome or CRS, which can be severe or fatal. Symptoms of CRS include fever, difficulty breathing, dizziness or light-headedness, nausea, headache, fast heartbeat, low blood pressure, or fatigue. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop fever or any of these other symptoms after receiving treatment.

Abecma can increase the risk of life-threatening infections that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop fever, chills, or any signs or symptoms of an infection.

Abecma can lower one or more types of your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets), which may make you feel weak or tired or increase your risk of severe infection or bleeding. After treatment, your healthcare provider will test your blood to check for this. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get a fever, are feeling tired, or have bruising or bleeding.

Having Abecma in your blood may cause a false-positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test result by some commercial tests.

These are not all the possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Abecma?

Other drugs may interact with idecabtagene vicleucel, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

General information about the safe and effective use of Abecma

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider for information that is written for health professionals.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Abelcet

Generic name: amphotericin B lipid complex [ AM-foe-TER-i-sin-B-LIP-id-KOM-plex ]
Drug class: Polyenes

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 16, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is Abelcet?

Abelcet is an antifungal medicine that is used to treat serious, life-threatening fungal infections that cannot be treated with other antifungal medications.

Abelcet may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Tell your caregivers if you feel feverish, light-headed, or short of breath while you are receiving Abelcet.

Before taking this medicine

You should not be treated with amphotericin B if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;

• a blood cell transfusion; or

• an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using Abelcet.

How is Abelcet given?

Abelcet is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Abelcet must be given slowly, and the infusion can take about 2 hours to complete.

Your kidney and liver function and electrolytes will be checked frequently.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If Abelcet is given while you are in the hospital, you are not likely to miss a dose.

If you are receiving this medicine in an outpatient clinic, call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Abelcet injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Since Abelcet is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving Abelcet?

Follow your doctor''s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Abelcet side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel feverish, light-headed, or short of breath.

Abelcet may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• new or worsening cough, wheezing, trouble breathing;

• blue lips, blue colored fingers or toes;

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;

• slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop);

• kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; or

• low calcium level--muscle spasms or contractions, numbness or tingling;

• low magnesium--dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling; or

• low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects of Abelcet may include:

• fever, chills;

• nausea, vomiting; or

• abnormal kidney function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Abelcet?

Amphotericin B can harm your kidneys, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, cancer, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, bowel disorders, high blood pressure, or pain or arthritis (including Advil, Motrin, and Aleve).

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• corticotropin (ACTH);

• digoxin, digitalis;

• zidovudine;

• other antifungal medicine--clotrimazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole; or

• steroid medicine--dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Abelcet, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01.