What is Ocrelizumab?
The Ocrelizumab medicine is recommended to cure primary progressive multiple sclerosis and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adult patients (consisting of clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive condition). The medicine may also be used for purposes not mentioned in this concise medication directory.
What are the common conditions in which Ocrelizumab prescribed?
The drug is primarily suggested to treat the following health conditions:
- Primary or progressive multiple sclerosis
- Relapsing form of multiple sclerosis in adults
How should I take Ocrelizumab?
Your doctor will undertake blood examinations to ensure that you do not carry any conditions that may prevent the safe administration of this drug. This drug is directly injected into the vein, which will be rendered to you by the clinician.
The initial doses of the medicine are separated into 2 inoculations received with a gap of 14 days. The subsequent doses are given on a half-yearly basis.
Dispense the medicine unhurriedly and the injection may go on for 2 to 3.5 hours till completion.
Other medications are prescribed to prevent the intense side effects of the medicine. After getting the medicine, you will be kept under medical surveillance to ensure that you do not have any allergic responses to the infusion.
This medicine impacts your immunity, so you get vulnerable to acquiring serious infections. The doctor may ask you to undertake regular medical tests.
In case you ever experienced Hepatitis B, this pathogenic virus may activate or worsen the treatment course with this drug, or after you stopped receiving it.
Regular liver function tests will be carried out when getting this infusion until several months after the last dose as well.
Ocrelizumab dosing details
Typical Adult Dosage for Multiple Sclerosis:
- Starting dosage: 300 mg IV ensued 2 weeks later by a second 300 mg IV infusion
- Maintenance dosage: 600 mg IV every 6 months
SUGGESTED INJECTIONS RATES:
- INFUSION 1: (300 mg of this drug in 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection): Start at 30 mL/hr and raise by 30 mL/hr every 30 minutes to a maximum of 180 mL/hr; duration of 2.5 hours or more.
- INFUSION 2 (TWO WEEKS LATER): (300 mg of this drug in 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection): Start at 30 mL/hr and increase by 30 mL/hr every 30 minutes to a maximum of 180 mL/hr; duration of 2.5 hours or more.
FOLLOWING INJECTIONS:
- SELECTION 1 (600 mg of this drug in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection): Begin at 40 mL/hr and raise by 40 mL/hr every 30 minutes to a maximum of 200 mL/hr; duration of 3.5 hours or more.
OR - SELECTION 2 if no previous grave injection reaction (600 mg of this drug in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection): Begin at 100 mL/hr for the first 15 minutes and increase to 200 mL/hr for the next 15 minutes; increase to 250 mL/hr for the next 30 minutes; increase to 300 mL/hr for the remaining 60 minutes; span of 2 hours or longer
Uses:
- For relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), consisting of clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease
- Primary progressive MS
When should you not take Ocrelizumab?
Do not get any “live” or “live-attenuated” inoculation within 28 days before starting the treatment with this drug. If you urge a “non-live” inoculation, get it at least 28 days before starting the treatment with this med.
Further, inform your doctor, if:
- you have any kind of infection;
- you are a carrier of hepatitis B; or
- you have ever used medicine that may weaken your immunity
Using this drug may escalate the risk of evolving specific types of cancer, like breast cancer. For more risks and dangers, you may consult your doctor.
It is yet undiscovered that this drug harms the foetus. Avoid this med if you are pregnant or have doubts that you are planning to become pregnant soon.
When taking this drug, prefer to utilize really effectual birth control methods until 6 months after your last dose.
In case you get pregnant, acquaint your doctor if you received the infusion during this time, particularly before your child has received any childhood vaccines.
If you are pregnant, you will need to tell your baby’s doctor if you used ocrelizumab during pregnancy, especially before the baby receives any childhood vaccines.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of ocrelizumab on the baby.
You may experience certain side effects during the infusion or until a day later. If you feel very dizzy, nausea, chest congestion, throat irritation, difficulty in breathing or itching.
This medicine impacts your immunity, so you get vulnerable to acquiring serious infections.
The doctor may ask you to undertake regular medical tests. In case you notice symptoms like fever, chills, cough, mouth sores, skin sores or blisters, itching, tingling, burning pain, or problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement, urgently visit your doctor.
Do not receive this drug if you are allergic to it, if you ever had hepatitis B infection. The doctor may undertake regular tests to ensure you do not carry hepatitis B or other serious infections.
Avoid suckling your baby while using this drug.
The drug is not sanctioned to be attempted on those less than 18 years old.
Store at room temperature in a cool and dry spot.
What are the possible side effects of Ocrelizumab?
If you experience symptoms of allergic response to the medication such as hives, shallow breath, inflammation in your face or throat, seek immediate medical attention.
Certain side effects may show up either during the infusion or 24 hours after it. Inform your healthcare provider if you experience any of the below:
- Feeling dizzy and nausea
- Fever, itchy, skin rashes, headache,
- Warm and tingling sensation
- Fast or thumping heartbeats
- Troubled breathing and fatigue
- Irritation in throat
- Congestion in chest
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Rapid heartbeats, fatigue
- headache, nausea, light-headedness
- skin rashes, itchy, hives
- fever, chills, cough
- throat ache or irritation
- wheezing, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath
- flushing (abrupt warmth, redness, or tingly sensation)
- skin sores, blisters, pus, or oozing
- cold sores or fever blisters on or about your lips
- nerve distress and pain (tingling, burning pain, “pins and needles” sensation)
- mood or behaviour fluctuations, confusion, memory issues
- weakness on one side of your body; or
- speech problems, vision, or muscle movement
Treatment with this drug may be deferred or lastingly stopped if you get specific side effects.
Usual side effects may comprise:
- skin infections;
- reactions to an injection; or
- Cold signs like blocked nose, sneezing, strep throat
Avoid getting a “live” vaccine during Ocrelizumab treatment or within 28 days before you initiate using this med. Live vaccines comprise measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
Avoid receiving a “non-live” infusion when using this drug, or within 14 days prior to starting this treatment. Non-live vaccines comprise hepatitis A, polio, rabies, and a yearly flu injection.
What to do if I miss the dose?
In case you miss your appointment of receiving the injection, acquaint your doctor.
Common Drug Interaction with Ocrelizumab
Apprize your clinician about all the medicines you take to treat multiple sclerosis. Other medications may interact with this medicine, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
This is not the complete list of drug interactions. Inform your doctor about the medicines you currently use, and started or stopped using recently.
Bottom line
Ocrelizumab is a medicine recommended treating kinds of ailments related to multiple sclerosis. Being a strict prescriptive medicine, it should not be taken without doctor’s consultation. Strictly follow all the instructions while using this drug else serious consequences may ensue.
