Atgam
Atgam treats a condition called aplastic anemia by using antibodies from horses to target and destroy certain immune cells, helping your bone marrow make healthy blood cells again.
Form
infuusiokonsentraatti, liuosta varten
Strength
50 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Anti t-lymphocyte immunoglobulin (Equine) (hATG)
Manufacturer
Pfizer Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose based on your body weight. The total dose is 160 mg per kg of body weight for treatments that suppress the immune system. This might be given as 16 mg/kg daily for 10 days, 20 mg/kg daily for 8 days, or 40 mg/kg daily for 4 days.
Method
Atgam is given as a slow drip (infusion) into a vein by a doctor or nurse.
Important
The highest daily dose you can receive is 40 mg per kg of body weight.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Low white blood cell count
- •Skin rash, redness, itching, or irritation
- •Pain in joints, back, chest, muscles, hands, feet, or sides
- •Fever, chills, headache
- •Infections (bacterial or viral)
- •High or low blood pressure
- •Diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
- •Swelling in arms or legs
- •Abnormal liver test results
- •Breakdown of red blood cells
- •Swollen lymph nodes
- •Dizziness, fainting, feeling unwell
- •Seizures
- •Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- •Fast or slow heart rate
- •Swelling and pain from a blood clot in a vein
- •Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, temporary stop in breathing
- •Hives
- •Nosebleed
- •Cough
- •Fluid in the lungs
- •Stomach or intestinal bleeding
- •Mouth sores, swelling, or pain
- •High blood sugar
- •Abnormal kidney function or kidney failure
RARE
- •Agitation
- •Redness, swelling, or pain at the infusion site
- •Swelling around the eyes
- •Low platelet count
- •Painful swelling of the brain or blood vessels
- •Trouble moving, stiff muscles
- •Confusion, tremors
- •Heart failure
- •Blood clot in bowel vessels, hole in the bowel
- •Throat spasm, hiccups
- •Excessive sweating, night sweats
- •Wound opening
- •Poor cell development
- •Lack of strength or energy
Important Warnings
- Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to the active substance (horse anti-human T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin) or any other ingredient in this medicine, or to any other horse gamma globulin product.
- Tell your doctor right away if you notice signs of a serious infection like fever, sweating, chills, muscle pain, cough, shortness of breath, warm or red skin, body sores, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
- Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as widespread rash, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, low blood pressure, or weakness.
- Tell your doctor right away if you get serum sickness, which is an allergic reaction causing fever, body aches, joint pain, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
- Tell your doctor right away if the top layer of your skin starts to peel off anywhere on your body.
Show 2 more warnings
- Avoid using Atgam if you are pregnant, and if you can become pregnant, use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 10 weeks after your last dose.
- Be careful when driving or using machines, as this medicine may affect your ability to do so.