Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Darzalex Faspro

Descriptions


Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer) in patients who can receive autologous stem cell transplant (transplant that uses their own stem cells).

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in patients who cannot receive autologous stem cell transplant.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with lenalidomide and dexamethasone to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in patients who cannot receive autologous stem cell transplant. It is also used together with lenalidomide and dexamethasone to treat relapsed (cancer that has come back) or refractory (cancer that did not respond to treatment) multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least 1 previous treatment.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone to treat newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who can receive autologous stem cell transplant.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with bortezomib and dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least 1 previous treatment.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is used together with pomalidomide and dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least 1 previous treatment (eg, lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor).

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is also used together with carfilzomib and dexamethasone to treat relapsed (cancer that has come back) or refractory (cancer that did not respond to treatment) multiple myeloma in patients who have received 1 to 3 previous treatment.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is also used alone to treat multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least 3 previous treatments or in patients who did not respond to previous treatments. These previous treatments include a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent.

Daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection is also used together with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone to treat newly diagnosed light chain amyloidosis.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Heart disease or
  • Lung or breathing problems, history of or
  • Neutropenia (low number of white blood cells) or
  • Thrombocytopenia (low number of platelets)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Hepatitis B infection, active or history of or
  • Herpes zoster infection (shingles), history of—May reactivate these conditions.

Proper Use

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before receiving this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach area for at least 3 to 5 minutes.

This medicine is given alone or in combination with other medicines. Your doctor will decide on how often and how many treatments you will receive.

This medicine should come with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have questions.

You may receive an antiviral medicine to prevent shingles at least 1 week after starting treatment with this medicine and continue for 3 months after treatment.

You may also receive other medicines (eg, allergy medicine, fever medicine, steroid) 1 to 3 hours before receiving this medicine and after treatment to help prevent unwanted reactions to the injection.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before receiving this medicine. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment and for at least 3 months after your last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while receiving the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, cough, dizziness or lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, fever, itching, nausea or vomiting, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, or trouble breathing after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions at or near the injection site. Tell your doctor right away if you have bruising, itching, redness, or swelling of the skin after you receive the injection. These reactions may occur more than 24 hours after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

This medicine may cause serious heart problems (eg, cardiac toxicity) in patients with light chain amyloidosis (AL). Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, fast or irregular heartbeat, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or trouble breathing.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

  • If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
  • Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
  • Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
  • Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
  • Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
  • Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are receiving daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj combination injection. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests (eg, tests to determine your blood type). These effects may last up to 6 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor or other trained health professional that you are receiving this medicine before you receive a blood transfusion.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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:

More common

  1. Bladder pain
  2. bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
  3. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  4. bloody or cloudy urine
  5. blue lips and fingernails
  6. blurred vision
  7. body aches or pain
  8. burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
  9. chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
  10. cold sweats
  11. confusion
  12. cough
  13. coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
  14. dark urine
  15. diarrhea
  16. difficult or labored breathing
  17. difficult, burning, or painful urination
  18. dizziness or lightheadedness
  19. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  20. ear congestion
  21. facial swelling
  22. fainting
  23. fast or irregular heartbeat
  24. fever or chills
  25. frequent urge to urinate
  26. headache
  27. increased sweating
  28. itching
  29. loss of appetite
  30. loss of taste or smell
  31. loss of voice
  32. muscle or body pain
  33. nausea or vomiting
  34. nervousness
  35. painful blisters on the trunk of the body
  36. pale skin
  37. pounding in the ears
  38. rapid weight gain
  39. runny or stuffy nose
  40. sore throat
  41. stomach pain, severe
  42. stuffy or runny nose
  43. swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
  44. tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over the affected area
  45. tingling of the hands or feet
  46. trouble breathing
  47. unsteadiness or awkwardness
  48. unusual bleeding or bruising
  49. unusual tiredness or weakness
  50. unusual weight gain or loss
  51. weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
  52. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  1. Bloating
  2. difficulty swallowing
  3. hives
  4. indigestion
  5. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  6. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

Some side effects 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:

More common

  1. Back pain
  2. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  3. constipation
  4. diarrhea
  5. difficulty in moving
  6. loss of appetite
  7. muscle pain or stiffness
  8. pain in the joints
  9. rash
  10. sleeplessness
  11. stomach pain
  12. trouble sleeping
  13. unable to sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

Portions of this document last updated: Sept. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/daratumumab-and-hyaluronidase-fihj-subcutaneous-route/precautions/drg-20489593