Why is this medicine prescribed?
Alirocumab injection is used to
- lower cholesterol (a fat-like substance that can build up and clog blood vessels causing heart attacks or strokes or other health problems)
- reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
Alirocumab injection is in a class of medications called proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor monoclonal antibodies. It lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood, which helps keep cholesterol from blocking blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.
Are there other uses for this medicine?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Alirocumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled syringe and a prefilled dosing pen to inject subcutaneously (under the skin) once every 2 or 4 weeks. Use alirocumab injection exactly as directed.
After 4 to 8 weeks of therapy, your doctor may increase your dose depending on your response to this medication.
Alirocumab injection helps to control cholesterol levels, but does not cure these conditions. Continue to use alirocumab injection even if you feel well. Do not stop using alirocumab injection without talking to your doctor.
Alirocumab injection comes in prefilled dosing pens and prefilled syringes that contain enough medication for one dose. If your doctor tells you that you need to use more than one pen or syringe for your dose, use the pens or syringes one right after the other into different injection sites. It may take up to 20 seconds to inject the medication. Always inject alirocumab in its own prefilled dosing pen or syringe; never mix it with any other medication. Dispose of used needles, syringes, and devices in a puncture-resistant container; never re-use a prefilled pen or syringe. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container.
You can inject alirocumab into your thigh, upper arms, or stomach, but not within 2 inches of your navel (belly button) or near your waistline. Use a different spot for each injection. Do not inject into an area where the skin is sore, red, bruised, swollen, sunburned, hard, hot, infected, or injured in any way or into areas with visible veins, scars, rashes, or stretch marks.
Remove the prefilled syringe or prefilled dosing pen from the refrigerator and allow it to warm to room temperature for about 30 to 40 minutes before using it. Do not put the prefilled syringe or prefilled dosing pen back in the refrigerator after it has been warmed to room temperature.
Before you use alirocumab injection, look at the solution in the prefilled syringe or pen closely. The medication should be clear to pale yellow and free of floating particles. Do not shake the prefilled syringe or prefilled dosing pen containing alirocumab injection.
You will be given the Medication Guide. Read the information carefully and ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before using alirocumab injection,
- tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any medical conditions.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using alirocumab injection, call your doctor.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. You can also visit the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) website for additional dietary information at:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdfWhat should I do if I forget to take a dose?
If you inject alirocumab injection every 2 weeks, inject the missed dose of alirocumab injection as soon as you remember it if it is within 7 days of the missed dose and resume your original schedule. However, if it is longer than 7 days from the missed dose, skip this dose, and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose.
What should I do in case of overdose?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help . If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What side effects can this medicine cause?
Alirocumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- redness, itching, swelling, pain, or tenderness at the injection site
- flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, or chills
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop using alirocumab injection and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- itching, rash, hives
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
Alirocumab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online ( https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch ) or by phone ( 1-800-332-1088).What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it in the refrigerator, but do not freeze it. Alirocumab injection may also be kept at room temperature up to 77° F (25° C) in the original carton for up to 30 days. After 30 days, alirocumab must be discarded. Keep alirocumab injection protected from light in the original carton.
Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to alirocumab injection.
Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.