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Important Info on Alefacept
from eMedTV.comWhen and How to Take It
Some general considerations to keep in mind during treatment with alefacept include the following:- Alefacept comes in the form of an injection. Your healthcare provider will inject it into a muscle (intramuscularly) once a week for 12 weeks. Various areas of the body may be used.
- Repeated courses may be given, provided that at least 12 weeks have passed and that blood tests show your CD4+ T-cells are within the normal range.
- Your healthcare provider should rotate the injection sites so that the same area is not injected twice in a row.
- For this medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Skipping doses or not finishing the 12-week course will likely reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Dosing Information
There is only one recommended dose for alefacept, regardless of your age or weight (see Alefacept Dosage for more information).Alefacept can potentially interact with a few other medications (see Drug Interactions With Alefacept).
The highest tested dose of this medication given to humans caused chills, headache, joint pain, and sinus infection within one day of dosing. It is unknown if other problems are also possible.
(Click Amevive Overdose for more information.)
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Alefacept?
If you miss a dose of alefacept, contact your healthcare provider to set up an appointment for your next dose as soon as possible.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD