Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine can increase your risk for serious infections, including meningococcal infection, gonorrhea, pneumonia, and flu-like infection. You will need to be vaccinated against meningococcal infection at least 2 weeks before you start treatment with this medicine. You may also be given antibiotic medicine to prevent infections if you are to use this medicine right away. Avoid people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor right away if you develop headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever, a stiff neck or back, a rash, confusion, muscle aches, or if your eyes have become sensitive to light.

You will be given a patient safety card that lists the symptoms of infection and what to do if you have them. Carry the card with you at all times during treatment and for 11 months after treatment. Show the card to any doctor who treats you.

When this medicine is stopped, you may develop hemolysis (red blood cell breakdown). Your doctor will need to monitor you closely for at least 20 weeks after you stop using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, a fast heartbeat, itching, rash, or redness, or swelling of the face, throat, or tongue.

This medicine may cause infusion-related or injection-related reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site, fever, chills or shaking, dizziness, trouble breathing, itching or rash, lightheadedness or fainting after receiving this medicine.