Alirocumab (Subcutaneous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 29, 2021.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Praluent

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antihyperlipidemic

Pharmacologic Class: Monoclonal Antibody

Uses for alirocumab

Alirocumab injection is used together with a proper diet and other medicines (eg, ezetimibe, statin medicine) to treat patients with primary hyperlipidemia (including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia) or with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), who need additional lowering of their bad cholesterol (LDL). It is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and unstable angina (chest pain) requiring hospitalization in adults with existing heart or blood vessel disease. Alirocumab is a PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9) inhibitor.

Alirocumab is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using alirocumab

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 alirocumab, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to alirocumab 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 alirocumab 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 alirocumab injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of alirocumab than younger adults.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

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.

Proper use of alirocumab

Alirocumab is given as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach, thighs, or upper arms.

Alirocumab may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using alirocumab at home, your doctor will teach you...