Ocrelizumab
Generic name: ocrelizumab [ OK-re-LIZ-ue-mab ]
Brand name: Ocrevus
Dosage form: intravenous solution (300 mg/10 mL)
Drug class:CD20 monoclonal antibodies
What is ocrelizumab?
Ocrelizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody.
Ocrelizumab intravenous infusion is a prescription medicine used to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis in sdults.
Ocrelizumab is also used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults (including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease).
Warnings
Some side effects may occur during the ocrelizumab infusion or up to 24 hours later. Tell your caregiver if you feel dizzy, nauseated, itchy, or have chest tightness, throat irritation, or trouble breathing.
Ocrelizumab affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, cough, mouth sores, skin sores or blisters, itching, tingling, burning pain, or problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement.
If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse while you are using or after you stop using ocrelizumab. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.
Before taking this medicine
You should not be treated with ocrelizumab if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
active infection with hepatitis B.
Your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have hepatitis B or other infections.
You should not receive any "live" or "live-attenuated" vaccine within the 4 weeks before you start treatment with ocrelizumab. If you need a "non-live" vaccine, you should receive it at least 2 weeks before you start treatment with ocrelizumab.
Also tell your doctor if:
you have any type infection;
you are a carrier of hepatitis B; or
you have ever used medicine that can weaken your immune system.
Using ocrelizumab may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk.
It is not known whether ocrelizumab will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
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.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask...
