What is evolocumab?
- Repatha is used along with diet, exercise and maximum tolerated doses of statins to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (and inherited disorder that causes high levels of LDL) or adults with heart problems related to excess cholesterol in the body.
- Repatha is also used along with diet and other LDL-lowering treatments, for example, statins, ezetimibe (Zetia) and LDL apheresis, to reduce cholesterol in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited disorder that causes high levels of LDL).
What brand names are available for evolocumab?
Repatha
Is evolocumab available as a generic drug?
No
Do I need a prescription for evolocumab?
Yes
What are the side effects of evolocumab?
The most common side effects associated with Repatha
treatment include
- injection site reactions,
- back pain,
- symptoms of the
common cold, and - flu-like
symptoms.
Other side effects include
- diarrhea,
- muscle
pain, - muscle spasm,
- fatigue,
- urinary tract infections (UTIs),
- cough,
- allergic reactions,
- hypertension,
- headache,
- dizziness,
- joint pain,
- nausea,
- confusion,
and - pancreatitis
A more serious side effect is:
- Hypersensitivity reactions: Repatha should not be used in patients with a
history of serious hypersensitivity reactions to the product. Hypersensitivity
reactions include itching,
rash, and
hives, have occurred.
Repatha should be discontinued if signs or symptoms of serious
allergic reactions
occur.
QUESTION
In the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease.
See Answer
What is the dosage for evolocumab?
- The recommended subcutaneous dose for patients with heterozygous
familial hypercholesterolemia or adults with heart problems related to excess
cholesterol in the body is either 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg once monthly. - The recommended subcutaneous dosage in patients with homozygous familial
hypercholesterolemia is 420 mg once monthly. LDL cholesterol levels should be
measured 4 to 8 weeks after starting Repatha since response to therapy will
depend on the degree of LDL-receptor function. - LDL cholesterol levels should be measured within 4 to 8 weeks of starting
therapy to assess response to treatment, and a decision should be made whether
or not to adjust the dose. - Repatha should only be injected subcutaneously into the thigh, abdomen, or
upper arm. Injection sites should be rotated among different sites to prevent or
reduce injection site reactions and irritation. Repatha should not be
co-administered with other injectable drugs at the same injection site.
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Which drugs or supplements interact with evolocumab?
No clinically significant drug-drug
interactions are known for Repatha.
Is evolocumab safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
- There is no data on the use of Repatha in
pregnant women. - It is not known if Repatha is secreted in human milk or
whether it can cause harm to the
nursing
infant.
What else should I know about evolocumab?
What preparations of evolocumab are available?
Single-use pre-filled syringe and single-use pre-filled Sureclick autoinjector, each designed to deliver 1 ml of 140 mg/ml solution.
How should I keep evolocumab stored?
Repatha should be stored in the refrigerator at 2 C to 8 C (36 F
to 46 F) and protected from light. It should not be frozen.