IMPORTANT
P
A
T
C
O
r
E N C I A
J
only
(abatacept)'
The information below does not take the place of talking with your healthcare professional. Only your health-
care professional knows the specifics of your condition and how ORENCIA® may fit into your overall therapy.
Talk to your healthcare professional if you have any questions about ORENCIA (pronounced oh-REN-see-ah).
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
RA is a disease of the immune system which causes
joint pain and damage, and impacts the ability to
perform daily activities.
ABOUT ORENCIA
ORENCIA (abatacept) is a prescription medicine that is
used to treat adults with
moderate-to-severe RA who
have not been helped enough by other medicines for RA.
ORENCIA has been shown to:
• Improve signs and symptoms of RA
• Slow the progression of joint damage
• Help improve physical function
ORENCIA
should
not
be
taken
with
other
biologic
medicines for RA such as Enbrel®, Humira®, Remicade‘,
or Kineret®.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ORENCIA
You should not receive ORENCIA if you have ever
had an allergic reaction to ORENCIA.
BEFORE YOU START ORENCIA
Tell your healthcare professional if you:
• Are taking another biologic medicine for RA. Taking
ORENCIA
with
another
biologic
medicine
may
increase your risk of getting a serious infection.
• Take or are planning to take any medicines including
prescriptions, hormones, over-the-counter medicines,
vitamins and herbal supplements.
• Have an infection that won't go away or are prone
to infections as it could put you at risk for serious
side effects from ORENCIA.
• Have had tuberculosis or have been in contact with
someone who has it. Fell your healthcare professional
right away if you develop a dry cough that does not
go away, weight loss, fever, or night sweats.
• Have
or
have
had
viral
hepatitis.
Before
you
use
ORENCIA, your doctor may examine you for hepatitis.
• Have a history of chronic lung disease. ORENCIA can
worsen symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD).
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Є2008 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
ORENCIA is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Enbrel. Humira. Remicade, and Kineret are trademarks of their respective companies.
• If you are scheduled to have surgery.
• Have been recently vaccinated or are scheduled to
receive a vaccination.
• Have diabetes and are using a blood glucose monitor.
You
may get
falsely
high
blood glucose
readings
with certain types of blood glucose monitors the day
you receive an infusion of ORENCIA (abatacept).
• Are
pregnant
or
are
planning
to
become
pregnant.
It is not known if ORENCIA can harm your unborn baby.
• Are breast-feeding. You will need to decide to either
breast-feed or receive treatment with ORENCIA, but
not both.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW ABOUT
SIDE EFFECTS WITH ORENCIA
Like all medicines that affect your immune system,
ORENCIA can cause serious side effects including:
• Serious
infections
including
pneumonia.
The
chance of serious infections is higher if you take
ORENCIA with other biologic medicines for RA.
Call
your
healthcare professional
immediately
if
you feel sick or get any infection during treatment
with ORENCIA.
• A llergic reactions including hives, swollen face,
eyelids, lips, tongue, throat or trouble breathing.
• M alignancies. There have been rare cases of certain
kinds of cancer in patients receiving ORENCIA. The
role of ORENCIA in the development of cancer is
not known.
The more common side effects with ORENCIA are:
headache,
upper
respiratory
tract
infection,
sore
throat and nausea.
HOW ORENCIA WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU
ORENCIA
will
be
given
to
you
by
a
healthcare
professional by intravenous (IV) infusion. A needle
will be placed in a vein in your arm. The infusion
will take about 30 minutes.
QUESTIONS?
Ask your doctor or other healthcare professional.
Call 1-800-ORENCIA (toll free) or visit
www. O RENC1A. com.
Based on 1186240A3
1/08
Printed in USA
B5-B0001C-01-08
427US08LB00601
January/08
