How long should you take Repatha?
Why do you need to take Repatha (evolocumab) long term?
Repatha is a medicine that is designed to be taken long term to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Repatha works while you are using Repatha so if you stop taking it, and once all of the medicine has has left your body, then it will stop having its beneficial effect. It is NOT the type of medicine that can fix a health issue after a short treatment course.
What does Repatha do? and why do you need to take it for a long time?
- Repatha reduces the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
- If you have high circulating cholesterol levels this increases formation of fatty deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis) which increases your risk of cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or coronary revascularization.
- By taking Repatha you reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood so it slows the formation of the fatty deposits in the arteries.
- The accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries is a process that happens over time. If you want to prevent the slow, consistent future build-up of the fatty deposits then you need to take Repatha regularly and long term.
- If you stop taking Repatha and once all of the Repatha has left the body the LDL-C levels will start to increase once again causing fatty deposits to accumulate in the arteries.
- In the FOURIER clinical trial for Repatha the median length of time patients were on Repatha was 24.8 months and 5% of the participants were on it for 36 months.
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Who takes Repatha?
- Adult patients who have established cardiovascular disease take Repatha long term to reduce their risk of future cardiovascular events.
- Adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) take Repatha alone or in addition to change in diet or with other LDL-C lowering medications to lower LDL-C.
- Patients 10 years or older who have HeFH take Repatha in addition to change in diet and with other LDL-C lowering medications to lower LDL-C.
- Patients that are 10 years or older with who have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) take Repatha with other LDL-C lowering therapies to lower LDL-C.
Bottom line:
- Repatha needs to be taken long term to achieve the full beneficial effect.
- If you stop using Repatha and once all the Repatha has left the body, it will no longer be effective and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels will start to increase once again.
References
- Evolocumab and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1615664
- Repatha Medicine information: https://www.drugs.com/pro/repatha.html
- Updated Repatha Prescribing [Accessed September 29, 2021] information: https://www.pi.amgen.com/~/media/amgen/repositorysites/pi-amgen-com/repatha/repatha_pi_hcp_english.pdf
Read next
What is the difference between Leqvio and Repatha?
Leqvio and Repatha are both injectable medicines that are used for the treatment of high cholesterol, by specifically lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Although they both inhibit PCSK9 they work by different mechanisms. Repatha is a monoclonal antibody that binds directly to PCSK9 in the liver preventing it from binding to LDL receptors. Leqvio blocks the PCSK9 protein by interfering with the translation of PCSK9 messenger RNA. Both have the same result – and that is freeing up LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells which allows LDL cholesterol to be removed from the blood.
Continue reading
What is the best time of day to take Repatha?
You can inject Repatha at any time of the day, but usually people prefer injecting Repatha during daylight hours because it takes 30 to 45 minutes for it to warm up to room temperature, and you need to be able to easily see what you are doing while you are injecting it. Continue reading
How long can Repatha be kept unrefrigerated?
Repatha can be left unrefrigerated for up to 30 days at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) as long as it is kept in its original box and is not kept somewhere that gets hotter than 77°F (25°C), for example, a car glove box. This makes it easier to take your medicine with you when you’re on the go. Do not put Repatha back in the refrigerator once you have taken it out. Continue reading
See also:
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Drug information
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