Alefacept Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 14, 2024.

Applies to alefacept: intramuscular powder for solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

You may get infections more easily while you are receiving this medicine. Avoid people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor right away if you start to have signs of an infection such as a cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, fever or chills, shortness of breath, or flu-like symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, or feeling generally ill.

A small number of people who used this medicine developed cancer. This was rare and most of the cases were skin cancer. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had cancer before. Talk about this risk with your doctor.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling), and severe itching. These reactions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, hives or welts, itching, hoarseness, redness of the skin, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat after you receive the medicine.

You should contact your doctor right away if you develop constant nausea, a loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, abdominal or stomach pain, yellow eyes or skin, easy bruising, dark urine, or pale stools. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Female patients: Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are receiving this medicine or within 8 weeks after your last dose.

While you are being treated with alefacept injection and after you stop using it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Alefacept may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are using a medicine that weakens your immune system, such as a steroid or cancer medicine. Make sure your doctor knows if you are also receiving phototherapy (light or laser therapy) for your psoriasis.

Serious side effects of alefacept

Along with its needed effects, alefacept may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking alefacept:

Other side effects of alefacept

Some side effects of alefacept may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to alefacept: intramuscular powder for injection, intravenous powder for injection.

General adverse events

General side effects including chills (6%), dizziness, headache, and accidental injury have been reported. Postmarketing reports of sepsis and opportunistic infections (viral, fungal, and bacterial) have been received.^[Ref]

Chills have been reported to occur predominantly with intravenous administration.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including coronary artery disorder (<1%) and myocardial infarction (<1%) have been the adverse reactions which most commonly resulted in clinical intervention.^[Ref]

The total percentage of alefacept-treated patients hospitalized for cardiovascular events was 1.2%.^[Ref]

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects including malignancies have been reported. Postmarketing reports of malignancies including skin, solid organ, lymphomas and leukemias have also been received.^[Ref]

Twenty five of the 1,357 patients who received alefacept were diagnosed with a total of 35 treatment-emergent malignancies. Six cases were basal cell and seventeen cases were squamous cell cancers of the skin. Three cases of lymphoma have been reported; one was classified as non-Hodgkin's follicle-center cell lymphoma and two were classified as Hodgkin's disease.^[Ref]

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects including dose-dependent reductions in circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts have been reported.^[Ref]

Local

Local side effects including injection site pain and injection site inflammation have been reported.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea have been reported. Postmarketing reports of clostridium difficile colitis have been received.^[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including pharyngitis and increased cough have been reported. Postmarketing reports of pharyngitis have also been received.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including pruritus have been reported. Postmarketing reports of cellulitis have been received.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including myalgia have been reported.^[Ref]

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including postmarketing reports of asymptomatic transaminase elevation, fatty infiltration of the liver, hepatitis, and severe liver failure have been received.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including postmarketing reports of urinary tract infection have been received.

See also:

Further information

Alefacept side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer