Ravulizumab
Generic name: ravulizumab [ RAV-ue-LIZ-ue-mab ]
Brand name: Ultomiris
Dosage form: intravenous solution (10 mg/mL; 100 mg/mL)
Drug class:Selective immunosuppressants
What is ravulizumab?
Ravulizumab is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) in adults and children at least 1 month old.
Ravulizumab is also used to treat a rare chronic blood disease called atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in adults and children at least 1 month old. ravulizumab is not for use in treating HUS that is related to Shiga toxin E. coli.
Ravulizumab is available only under a special program. You must be registered in the program and understand the risks and benefits of this medicine.
Ravulizumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, headache, confusion, neck or back stiffness, vomiting, rash, or your eyes are more sensitive to light.
You will need to receive certain vaccinations before you start using ravulizumab.
Read the Patient Safety Card about serious infections and the symptoms to watch for. Keep this card with you at all times while using ravulizumab and for at least 8 months after your last dose.
Before taking this medicine
You should not be treated with ravulizumab if you are allergic to it, if you have a meningococcal infection (such as meningitis or sepsis), or if you are not currently vaccinated against meningitis (unless the risks of delaying treatment outweigh the risks of developing meningitis).
You will need to receive a vaccine to protect against meningococcal infections at least 2 weeks before you start using ravulizumab. If your child is treated with ravulizumab, make sure he or she is vaccinated against pneumonia and influenza type B (Hib).
If you need to start receiving ravulizumab before you are vaccinated, you may be given antibiotic medicine to take during the first 2 weeks of ravulizumab treatment.
Tell your doctor if you have recently had any symptoms of infection (fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether ravulizumab will harm an unborn baby. However, having PNH during pregnancy may cause complications in the baby or the mother, including blood clots, infections, bleeding, miscarriage, premature delivery, o...
