Abatacept Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 2, 2020.

Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis

IV:
-Less than 60 kg, give 500 mg
-If 60 to 100 kg, give 750 mg
-If greater than 100 kg, give 1000 mg
Administer as a 30-minute IV infusion; repeat the dose 2 and 4 weeks after the initial dose, then every 4 weeks thereafter.

SUBCUTANEOUS:
125 mg subcutaneously once a week with or without an IV loading dose
-For patients initiating therapy with an IV loading dose, begin therapy with a single IV infusion (as per body weight categories listed above) followed by the first 125 mg subcutaneous injection administered within a day of the IV infusion.

Comments:
-Patients transitioning from IV therapy to subcutaneous therapy should administer the first subcutaneous dose instead of the next scheduled IV dose.
-This drug should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists or used concomitantly with other biologic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy, such as anakinra.
-This drug may be administered alone or with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs other than TNF antagonists.

Use: For reducing signs, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis

Usual Adult Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

IV:
-Less than 60 kg, give 500 mg
-If 60 to 100 kg, give 750 mg
-If greater than 100 kg, give 1000 mg
Administer as a 30-minute IV infusion; repeat the dose 2 and 4 weeks after the initial dose, then every 4 weeks thereafter.

SUBCUTANEOUS:
125 mg subcutaneously once a week (without an IV loading dose)

Comments:
-Patients transitioning from IV therapy to subcutaneous therapy should administer the first subcutaneous dose instead of the next scheduled IV dose.
-This drug should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists or used concomitantly with other biologic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy, such as anakinra.
-This drug may be administered alone or with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs other than TNF antagonists.

Use: For the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Usual Pediatric Dose for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

IV:
6 years and older:
-If less than 75 kg: 10 mg/kg IV
-If 75 kg to 100 kg: 750 mg IV
-If greater than 100 kg: 1000 mg IV
-Maximum dose: 1000 mg
-Administer once as a 30-minute IV infusion; repeat at 2 and 4 weeks after the initial dose, then every 4 weeks thereafter

SUBCUTANEOUS:
2 years and older:
The subcutaneous injection should be given without an IV loading dose:
-If 10 kg to less than 25 kg: 50 mg subcutaneously once a week
-If 25 kg to less than 50 kg: 87.5 mg subcutaneously once a week
-If 50 kg or more: 125 mg subcutaneously once a week

Comments:
-Patients transitioning from IV therapy to subcutaneous therapy should administer the first subcutaneous dose instead of the next scheduled IV dose.
-This drug should not be administered concomitantly with TNF antagonists or used concomitantly with other biologic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy, such as anakinra.
-This drug may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with methotrexate.
-The safety and efficacy of the auto-injector for subcutaneous injection has not been studied in patients under 18 years of age.

Use: For pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dose Adjustments

-No dosage adjustment is recommended in geriatric patients.
-No dosage adjustment is required when this drug is used in combination with other drugs (e.g., disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, NSAIDs) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
-Patients transitioning from IV to subcutaneous therapy should administer the first subcutaneous dose instead of the next scheduled monthly IV dose.

Precautions

-Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below 6 years of age have not been established.
-Safety and efficacy for uses other than juvenile idiopathic arthritis have not been established.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:
IV infusion:
-Infuse over 30 minutes via an infusion set and a sterile, non-pyrogenic, low-protein binding filter with a pore size of 0.2 to 1.2 microns.
Subcutaneous administration:
-Subcutaneous administration is only indicated for adults.
-The first dose should be given under medical supervision. Patients can then self-inject after the treating physician is assured that the patient or caregiver's injection technique is satisfactory.
-Injection sites should be rotated and not administered into tender, bruised, red, or hard areas of skin.

Monitoring:
-When transitioning from TNF blocking agents to this drug, patients should be monitored for signs of infection.
-Patients who develop a new infection while undergoing treatment should be monitored closely and treatment discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection.
-Adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and COPD should be monitored for worsening of respiratory status.
-Patients should be monitored for hypersensitivity reactions before and after administration.

General:
-This drug may be used as monotherapy or concomitantly with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) other than tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists.

Frequently asked questions

• What are the new drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer