Elotuzumab

Elotuzumab is a prescription medication used, with two other medications, to treat multiple myeloma, type of blood cancer. It is given to patients who have received one to three prior therapies. 

It belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. These work by helping certain cells in the immune system attack cancer cells.

This medication is available as a solution that is injected into the vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. It is typically given once a week for the first two cycles and every two weeks, thereafter. 

Common side effects of elotuzumab include pneumonia, fever, and respiratory tract infection. 

Elotuzumab is a prescription medication used to treat multiple myeloma (type of blood cancer) in combination with the medications Revlimid and dexamethasone in people who have received one to three prior treatments.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Elotuzumab may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Empliciti

Serious side effects have been reported with elotuzumab. See the "elotuzumab Precautions" section.

Common side effects of elotuzumab include the following:

• fatigue
• diarrhea
• fever
• constipation
• cough
• numbness, weakness, tingling, or burning pain in your arms or legs
• sore throat or runny nose
• upper respiratory tract infection
• decreased appetite
• pneumonia

This is not a complete list of elotuzumab side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with elotuzumab including the following:

• infusion reactions. Infusion reactions can occur during your treatment or within 24 hours after your infusion. Your healthcare provider will give you medications before each elotuzumab infusion to reduce the risk of a reaction. If you have a severe infusion reaction, your healthcare provider may stop your treatment completely. Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: fever, chills, rash, trouble breathing, dizziness, or light-headedness.
• infections. People with multiple myeloma who receive elotuzumab with Revlimid and dexamethasone may develop infections that can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an infection: fever, flu-like symptoms, cough, shortness of breath, burning with urination, or a painful skin rash.
• risk of new cancers. People with multiple myeloma who receive elotuzumab with Revlimid and dexamethasone have a risk of developing new cancers. Your healthcare provider will check you for new cancers during your treatment with elotuzumab.
• liver problems. Elotuzumab may cause liver problems. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver during treatment with elotuzumab. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience the following signs and symptoms: tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin or eyes, color changes in your stools, confusion, or swelling of the stomach area.

Do not take elotuzumab if you are allergic to elotuzumab or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of elotuzumab, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking elotuzumab, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to elotuzumab or to any of its ingredients
• have an infection
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Elotuzumab has not been studied in pregnant women. It is not known if elotuzumab can harm an unborn baby. Revlimid may cause birth defects or death of an unborn baby.

Before receiving elotuzumab with Revlimid and dexamethasone, females and males must agree to instructions in the Revlimid REMS program, which has specific requirements about birth control, pregnancy testing, blood donation, and sperm donation that you need to know.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if elotuzumab passes into breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with elotuzumab, Revlimid, and dexamethasone because of the potential for serious side effects.

Take elotuzumab exactly as prescribed.

Elotuzumab is available as a solution that is injected in the vein (IV) as an infusion by a healthcare professional.

Before every elotuzumab infusion, you will receive medicines to help reduce the risk of infusion reactions.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Your elotuzumab treatment schedule is divided into cycles that are 28 days (four weeks) long. A cycle includes the number of days you are on treatment and also the time you spend resting in between treatments.

Elotuzumab with Revlimid and dexamethasone is usually given with the following schedule:

• Cycles 1 and 2 (28 days per cycle), you will receive elotuzumab one time every week
• Cycles 3 and up (28 days per cycle), you will receive elotuzumab one time every two weeks

Your healthcare provider will decide how many treatments of elotuzumab you will receive.

If elotuzumab is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

If you miss any appointments, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.