Aflibercept (Injection)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 17, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Eylea

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Ophthalmologic Agent

Uses for aflibercept

Aflibercept injection is used to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a disorder of the retina in the eye that causes blurred vision or blindness. Aflibercept works by changing the amount of blood that gets to the retina.

Aflibercept injection is also used to treat macular edema after retinal vein occlusion. It is also used to treat diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy. Macular edema is swelling in the back of the eye and may cause vision loss. Retinal vein occlusion is a blockage of a blood vessel in the eye. Swelling can occur when the blood vessel is blocked.

Aflibercept is to be given only by your doctor.

Before using aflibercept

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For aflibercept, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to aflibercept or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of aflibercept injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of aflibercept injection in the elderly.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of aflibercept. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood clots, history of or
• Detached retina (eye disorder) or
• Endophthalmitis (inflammation of the eye) or
• Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or
• Heart attack, history of or
• Stroke, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Eye infection or
• Eye swelling, active—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Proper use of aflibercept

An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) w...