Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada)

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take alemtuzumab. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use with this medicine may either raise the chance of an infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• Make sure you are up to date with all your vaccines at least 6 weeks before treatment with alemtuzumab. Talk with your doctor.
• Certain kidney problems have happened with this medicine. These problems can lead to kidney failure, dialysis, or transplant, and can be life-threatening. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in the amount of urine passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• People taking alemtuzumab may have a higher chance of getting an infection caused by the listeria bacteria. Avoid foods that may be a source of listeria or make sure that the food you eat that may contain listeria is heated well. Foods that may be a source of listeria include deli meat; unpasteurized milk and cheese products; or undercooked meat, seafood, or chicken. Talk with your doctor.
• All females taking this medicine must have an HPV screening each year. Talk with your doctor.
• You will need a TB (tuberculosis) test before starting alemtuzumab (lemtrada).
• Hepatitis B or C testing may be done. A hepatitis B or C infection may get worse during care. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not give to a child younger than 17 years of age.
• If you are a female, use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine and for 4 months after your last dose.
• If you get pregnant while taking alemtuzumab or within 4 months after your last dose, call your doctor right away.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.
• Other drugs may be given to help with infusion side effects.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds; coughing up blood; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; vaginal bleeding that is not normal; bruises without a reason or that get bigger; or any bleeding that is very bad or that you cannot stop.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Redness or white patches in mouth or throat.
• Swollen gland.
• Signs of lung or breathing problems like shortness of breath or other trouble breathing, cough, or fever.
• Signs of thyroid problems like a change in weight without trying, feeling nervous and excitable, feeling restless, feeling very weak, hair thinning, low mood (depression), neck swelling, not able to focus, not able to handle heat or cold, period (menstrual) changes, shakiness, or sweating.
• Signs of thyroid cancer like new lump or swelling in the neck, pain in the front of the neck, cough that does not go away, change in voice that does not go away like hoarseness, or trouble swallowing or breathing.
• Change in color or size of a mole.
• Low mood (depression).
• Night sweats.
• If you are planning to harm yourself or the want to harm yourself gets worse.
• Swelling in the arms or legs.
• A skin lump or growth.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time this medicine is refilled. If you have any questions about alemtuzumab, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about alemtuzumab. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using alemtuzumab.

Review Date: October 4, 2017