Alefacept (Systemic)

Brand Names : Amevive

Before Using This Medicine

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

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to alefacept. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Alefacept has not been studied in pregnant women. Alefacept has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies. Alefacept should be used with caution in pregnant women and should be used only if clearly needed. Discuss this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether alefacept passes into breast milk. Mothers who are taking this medicine and wish to breast feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of alefacept in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people and it may not be known if they work the same way they do in younger adults. Elderly people may have more age related problems than younger people and may need less of this medicine.

Other 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. When you are taking alefacept it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Immunosuppressive agents (medicines used to lower the body's natural immunity) or
• Phototherapy (use of light for therapy) - these can cause your immune system to be weakened and should not be used at the same time as alefacept.

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 health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

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

• Infection, moderate to severe - alefacept could make your infections worse; your doctor may want to stop this medicine if you get an infection

• Lymphopenia (small amount of white blood cells) - this medicine could make this condition worse; your doctor may want to stop this medicine if your white blood cell counts are too low

• Cancer, history of - this medicine should not be used in patients with a history of cancer and it should be used with caution in patients at risk for cancer