Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through an IV catheter that is placed into one of your veins or as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach or thighs. You or your caregiver may be trained to prepare and inject this medicine at home. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

If this medicine is given through a vein in your arm, it must be injected by your doctor slowly and your IV will need to stay in place for 1 hour.

If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

This medicine is available in three forms: a vial (glass container), a prefilled syringe, or an autoinjector. The prefilled syringe and autoinjector are the dosage forms you can use at home.

Check the liquid in the prefilled syringe or autoinjector. It should be colorless or slightly yellow. Do not use the medicine if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Do not shake.

Allow the medicine to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before you use it. Do not warm it in any other way.

Do not remove the needle cap from the prefilled syringe or the ring cap from the autoinjector until you are ready to use it.

You might not use all of the medicine in each prefilled syringe or autoinjector. Use each prefilled syringe and autoinjector only one time. Do not save an open syringe or autoinjector.

You may also receive other medicines to help prevent allergic reactions from the injection.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (solution):
    • For systemic lupus erythematosus:
      • Adults—200 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin once a week, preferably on the same day each week.
      • Children—Should not be used in this age group.
    • For lupus nephritis:
      • Adults—At first, 400 milligrams (mg) (two 200-mg injections) injected under your skin once a week for 4 doses, then 200 milligrams once a week, preferably on the same day each week.
      • Children—Should not be used in this age group.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Store this medicine in its original container until you are ready to use it. Keep it refrigerated until 30 minutes before use. Do not use and do not place this medicine back in the refrigerator if it has been left out for more than 12 hours.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.