What it is used for
- Treating moderate or severe active rheumatoid arthritis with appropriate accompanying medicines
- Treating active psoriatic arthritis in selected patients
- Treating polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in suitable children or adolescents
- Slowing joint damage and improving function when previous treatments are insufficient
How it is used
- The hospital team gives the intravenous infusion, or a trained patient injects the syringe or pen under the skin according to the specialist's plan
- Rotate subcutaneous sites and do not inject into red, painful, bruised or hardened skin
- Do not shake the syringe or pen and do not use solution that is discoloured or contains particles not permitted by the leaflet
- Never switch between infusion and injection or stop treatment yourself, and tell the team about infection before the next dose
- Attend infection screening and requested blood, liver and rheumatology follow-up
Possible side effects
- Nose, throat or sinus infection
- Headache or nausea
- Injection-site reaction or redness
- Infusion reaction or allergy
- Serious infection such as pneumonia or sepsis
Who should not use it
- A severe or uncontrolled infection such as sepsis or an opportunistic infection
- Allergy to abatacept or any product ingredient
Before and while using it
- Fever, persistent cough, breathlessness, burning urine or an infected wound needs prompt contact with the team
- Screening for tuberculosis and viral hepatitis is needed before treatment because latent infection can reactivate
- It is not normally combined with another biological or similarly potent immunosuppressant because infection risk rises
- New weakness or change in vision, speech or balance can indicate progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and needs urgent assessment
- Breathing symptoms can worsen in people with chronic obstructive lung disease and require monitoring
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment and for the leaflet-specified period afterwards; responses to other vaccines may be weaker
Medicine interactions
- Tumour-necrosis-factor inhibitors, other biologics or potent immunosuppressants increase infection risk and are not normally combined with it
- Live vaccines can cause infection, so every vaccination must be coordinated with the team
- Maltose-containing formulations may interfere with selected glucose meters during infusion, depending on the exact product
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Tell the rheumatology specialist if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy; information is limited and they decide need and the infant's vaccination plan
- Breastfeeding is not usually recommended during treatment and for the leaflet-specified period after the final dose
How to store it
- Keep syringes or pens refrigerated in the outer carton, protected from light, and never freeze or shake them; the hospital stores infusion vials
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.