Amevive

Generic name: alefacept [ ah-LEH-fa-cept ]
Drug class: Selective immunosuppressants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 2, 2021.

What is Amevive?

Amevive is a protein that reduces specific actions of the immune system that are involved in causing psoriasis.

Amevive is used to treat plaque psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin) in adults.

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

Warnings

You should not use Amevive if you are allergic to alefacept, or if you have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Before using Amevive, tell your doctor if you have an active or chronic infection, liver disease, a history of cancer, or if you are receiving phototherapy or using drugs that weaken the immune system.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Amevive. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

Amevive can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood may need to be tested often. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Using Amevive may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk.

Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with Amevive. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, flu symptoms, mouth sores, swelling or warmth, skin redness or oozing, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, or cough with yellow or green mucus.

Before using Amevive

You should not use Amevive if you are allergic to alefacept, or if you have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

To make sure you can safely take Amevive, tell your doctor if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• an active or chronic infection;

• a history of cancer;

• liver disease;

• if you are receiving phototherapy (light therapy); or

• if you use drugs that weaken the immune system (such as cancer medicine, steroids, and medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection).

Using Amevive may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk.

FDA pregnancy category B. Amevive is not expected to harm an unborn baby. However, tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment or within 8 weeks after you stop using Amevive.

It is not known whether alefacept passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Amevive.

How should I use Amevive?

Use Amevive exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Amevive is usually given once every week for 12 weeks. Follow your doctor''s dosing instructions very carefully.

Amevive is injected into a muscle. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Amevive is a powder medicine that must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medicine.

Do not shake the mixed medicine or it may foam. Prepare your dose in a syringe only when you are ready to give yourself an injection. Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medication.

After mixing Amevive with a diluent, store in the refrigerator and use it within 4 hours. Do not freeze.

Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to give your injection (shot). Give each shot at least 1 inch away from where the last shot was injected. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row. Do not inject Amevive into skin that is tender, bruised, red, or hard (including an active psoriasis lesion).

Use a disposable needle only once. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Each single-use vial (bottle) of Amevive is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left in it after injecting your dose.

Amevive can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with Amevive. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Store Amevive in its original container in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Protect from light.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose of Amevive for Psoriasis:

7.5 mg once a week as an IV bolus or 15 mg once a week as an IM injection.

The recommended regimen is a course of 12 weekly injections. Retreatment with an additional twelve week course may be initiated provided that CD4+ T lymphocyte counts are within the normal range, and a minimum of a twelve week interval has passed since the previous course of treatment. Data on retreatment beyond two cycles are limited.

The CD4+ T lymphocyte counts of patients receiving alefacept should be monitored weekly before initiating dosing and throughout the course of the twelve week dosing regimen. Dosing should be withheld if CD4+ T lymphocyte counts are below 250 cells/microliter. The drug should be discontinued if the counts remain below 250 cells/microliter for one month.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Amevive.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Amevive. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

Amevive side effects

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

Stop using Amevive and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

• cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• swelling, warmth, redness, itching, or oozing from the skin;

• new skin lesions, or a sunburn-like skin rash; or

• worsening or no improvement of your skin condition.

Less serious Amevive side effects may include:

• sore throat, cough;

• dizziness;

• mild nausea;

• headache;

• itching;

• muscle pain;

• pain or swelling where the medicine was injected.

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 Amevive?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

• fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Fentora, Duragesic, Lazanda, Onsolis);

• levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid);

• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

• pimozide (Orap);

• sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);

• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);

• ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray);

• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), divalproex (Depakote), ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor); or

• heart rhythm medication such as disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), or quinidine (Quin-G).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Amevive. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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 Amevive 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: 4.01.

Amevive (Intramuscular)

Generic name: alefacept (intramuscular route) [ a-LEF-a-sept ]
Drug class: Selective immunosuppressants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 25, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Amevive

Uses for Amevive

Alefacept injection is used to treat chronic plaque psoriasis, which is a skin disease with red and white scales that don''t go away. This medicine is given to patients who have used other medicines that did not work well.

Alefacept is an immunosuppressant. It works on the immune system to treat the symptoms of plaque psoriasis.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Before using Amevive

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Alefacept injection is not to be used in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of alefacept injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have cancers or infections, which may require caution in patients receiving alefacept injection.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alfentanil
• Anifrolumab-fnia
• Astemizole
• Cisapride
• Cyclosporine
• Dihydroergotamine
• Ergotamine
• Fentanyl
• Infliximab
• Pimozide
• Quinidine
• Sirolimus
• Tacrolimus
• Terfenadine
• Warfarin

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Cancer, history of or
• HIV infection or AIDS—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Infection, active or
• Liver disease (including cirrhosis) or
• Lymphopenia (low white blood cells)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper use of Amevive

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

This medicine is usually given once a week for 12 weeks. If your doctor decides that you need a second set of injections, you must wait at least 12 weeks before starting the dosing cycle again. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.

You may not see improvement in your skin right away. Your psoriasis may continue to get better even after you have stopped receiving this medicine.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor about anything you do not understand.

Precautions while using Amevive

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

You may get infections more easily while you are receiving this medicine. Avoid people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor right away if you start to have signs of an infection such as a cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, fever or chills, shortness of breath, or flu-like symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, or feeling generally ill.

A small number of people who used this medicine developed cancer. This was rare and most of the cases were skin cancer. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had cancer before. Talk about this risk with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling), and severe itching. These reactions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, hives or welts, itching, hoarseness, redness of the skin, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat after you receive the medicine.

You should contact your doctor right away if you develop constant nausea, a loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, abdominal or stomach pain, yellow eyes or skin, easy bruising, dark urine, or pale stools. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Female patients: Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are receiving this medicine or within 8 weeks after your last dose.

While you are being treated with alefacept injection and after you stop using it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor''s approval. Alefacept may lower your body''s resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a medicine that weakens your immune system, such as a steroid or cancer medicine. Make sure your doctor knows if you are also receiving phototherapy (light or laser therapy) for your psoriasis.

Amevive side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Chills
• cough
• fever
• hoarseness
• lower back or side pain
• painful or difficult urination

Less common

• Body aches or pain
• congestion
• dryness or soreness of the throat
• runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• trouble with swallowing
• voice changes

Rare

• Arm, back, or jaw pain
• chest pain or discomfort
• chest tightness or heaviness
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• nausea
• pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Pain, swelling, bleeding, skin rash, or lumps at the injection site

Less common

• Difficulty with moving
• dizziness
• itching skin
• joint pain
• muscle aching or cramping
• muscle pains or stiffness
• swollen joints

Rare

• Headache

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer