What it is used for
- Treating familial or non-familial high cholesterol or mixed dyslipidaemia
- Reducing cardiovascular risk in adults with established cardiovascular disease
- Use with a statin or another medicine, or when a statin is not tolerated, as decided by a clinician
How it is used
- Inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm after training and follow your clinician's schedule
- Allow the pen or syringe to reach room temperature as directed by the leaflet without heating it
- Inspect the solution and do not use it if discoloured, cloudy or containing particles
- Rotate injection sites and avoid skin that is sore, infected or bruised
- Do not change the regimen or stop other cholesterol medicines without consulting your clinician
Possible side effects
- Pain, redness, itching or swelling at the injection site
- Cold- or flu-like symptoms
- Itching or skin rash
- Rarely, a severe allergic reaction with swelling or breathing difficulty
Who should not use it
- Allergy to alirocumab or any ingredient in the product
Before and while using it
- Get urgent help for swelling of the face or throat, breathing difficulty or a severe rash
- Continue diet and other lipid-lowering medicines as advised
- Cholesterol testing is needed to assess response and select the appropriate regimen
- Make sure you understand how to use the pen or syringe before self-injecting
Medicine interactions
- No important medicine interactions are known, but tell your clinician about all cholesterol medicines and supplements
- Do not mix it with another medicine in the same syringe
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy because information is limited
- Discuss breastfeeding with your doctor because transfer into milk and effects on the baby are not well established
How to store it
- Keep refrigerated in its carton to protect from light, and do not freeze or shake
- Follow the leaflet if stored outside the refrigerator and keep pens and syringes away from children
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.