RECEIVING EMPLICITI
Randy J., EMPLICITI patient, and his son.
Randy takes EMPLICITI +
Revlimid® (lenalidomide) + dexamethasone.
STARTING YOUR TREATMENT
How will I receive EMPLICITI?
EMPLICITI is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion by your healthcare team. An IV infusion is when medicine is given directly into the bloodstream through a vein—usually in the arm, hand, or through an IV port.
How do I know if EMPLICITI is working?
Immunotherapy is different from traditional chemotherapies because it works with your immune system. Your healthcare team can determine how your body is responding to EMPLICITI in several ways—for example, they may check the amount of M proteins in your blood, or for a change in size or number of bone lesions.
Your healthcare team will monitor you closely to make sure you are responding to treatment.
What are some treatment tips for EMPLICITI?
You will be taking other medications as well as EMPLICITI. Filling out personalized treatment calendars along with your healthcare team may help you keep track of the medicine you’re taking each day.
If you miss your EMPLICITI infusion, call your healthcare team right away to schedule another time to get an infusion.
EMPLICITI keeps working between your treatments to help your immune system fight the disease. That’s why it is very important to keep every appointment on the day it is scheduled. To make the most of your treatment plan, you should continue receiving EMPLICITI for as long as your healthcare provider prescribes the medication.
A TREATMENT ROUTINE THAT CAN FIT YOURS
Your treatment schedule will depend on your treatment plan and the other medications you will be taking in combination with EMPLICITI.
Choose a medication combination below to learn more about the treatment schedule for your therapy.
View the treatment schedule for EMPLICITI + Pomalyst (pomalidomide) + dexamethasone.
View the treatment schedule for EMPLICITI + Pomalyst (pomalidomide) + dexamethasone.
SEE SCHEDULEView the treatment schedule for EMPLICITI + Revlimid (lenalidomide) + dexamethasone.
View the treatment schedule for EMPLICITI + Revlimid (lenalidomide) + dexamethasone.
SEE SCHEDULEWhat do I need to know about my treatment schedule?
Your EMPLICITI treatment schedule is divided into cycles that are 28 days
(4 weeks) long. A cycle is a set number of days you are on treatment and also includes the time you spend resting in between treatments.
EMPLICITI is usually given one time every week for cycles 1 and 2 (28-day cycles). After the first two cycles, EMPLICITI is given once every four weeks when used with Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone. Pomalyst and dexamethasone are also given during these cycles as part of the treatment.
- Before each infusion, your healthcare provider will give you medicines to help reduce the risk of an infusion reaction. Your healthcare provider will also decide how many treatments you will receive.
- Take your dose of dexamethasone exactly as prescribed. Keep in mind the dose of oral dexamethasone may vary based on whether EMPLICITI is given that day and on your age.
How long does each EMPLICITI infusion take?
The length of each EMPLICITI infusion will depend on your body weight and how many times you have received EMPLICITI in the past.
If infusion reactions occur or become worse, it may take more time to receive your EMPLICITI infusion.
What do I need to know about my treatment schedule?
Your EMPLICITI treatment schedule is divided into cycles that are 28 days
(4 weeks) long. A cycle is a set number of days you are on treatment and also includes the time you spend resting in between treatments.
EMPLICITI is usually given one time every week for cycles 1 and 2 (28-day cycles), and one time every 2 weeks for cycles 3 and up (28-day cycles) when used with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone. Revlimid and dexamethasone are also given during these cycles as part of the treatment.
- Before each infusion, your healthcare provider will give you medicines to help reduce the risk of an infusion reaction. Your healthcare provider will also decide how many treatments you will receive.
- Take your dose of dexamethasone exactly as prescribed. Keep in mind the dose of oral dexamethasone may vary based on whether EMPLICITI is given that day.
How long does each EMPLICITI infusion take?
The length of each EMPLICITI infusion will depend on your body weight and how many times you have received EMPLICITI in the past.
If infusion reactions occur or become worse, it may take more time to receive your EMPLICITI infusion.
Selected Important Facts About EMPLICITI
What should I discuss with my healthcare team before starting EMPLICITI?
Talk to your healthcare team about all of your medical conditions, including if you have an infection.
Let your healthcare team know as soon as possible if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if EMPLICITI can harm an unborn baby. However, Revlimid and Pomalyst may cause birth defects or death of an unborn baby. It is not known if EMPLICITI passes into breastmilk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with EMPLICITI + Revlimid + dexamethasone or with EMPLICITI + Pomalyst + dexamethasone.
Before receiving EMPLICITI + Revlimid + dexamethasone, or EMPLICITI + Pomalyst + dexamethasone, females and males must agree to the instructions in the Revlimid REMS® program or the Pomalyst REMS® program, depending on which combination was prescribed for you. The programs have specific requirements about birth control (contraception), pregnancy testing, blood donation, and sperm donation that you need to know.
Talk to your healthcare team to learn more about Revlimid or Pomalyst.
Interactions with other drugs may affect the way EMPLICITI works in your body.
Talk to your healthcare team about all the medicines you take, including:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter medicines
- vitamins
- herbal supplements
Please read Important Facts below.
What’s important is the attitude that you take. I had a very positive attitude, and I still do."
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PATIENT STORIES
What’s important is the attitude that you take. I had a very positive attitude, and I still do."
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Randy J., EMPLICITI patient, and his family. Randy takes EMPLICITI + Revlimid® (lenalidomide) + dexamethasone.
What are some possible EMPLICITI side effects?
Read about the common and serious side effects.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTSImportant Facts About EMPLICITI® (elotuzumab)MORE IMPORTANT FACTS
Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone or in combination with Pomalyst® (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone may cause the following serious side effects: Infusion reactions, infections, risk of developing new cancers (malignancies), and liver problems. There are also other serious risks associated with Revlimid and Pomalyst to females and males of reproductive potential, including possible serious birth defects or death of an unborn baby, and specific requirements regarding birth control, pregnancy testing and blood and/or sperm donation. For more information, please read the Important Facts throughout this website or by expanding this section. Your healthcare team will work with you to manage any side effects you may experience throughout your treatment with EMPLICITI.
This is a summary of important information that you need to know about EMPLICITI. Your healthcare team can work with you to help answer any questions you may have about EMPLICITI.
Keep this information in a safe place, so you can refer to it before and during your treatment. Look out for these icons as you read:
What is EMPLICITI?
EMPLICITI is a prescription medicine used with other medications to treat the following types of adult patients with multiple myeloma:
People who have received 1-3 prior treatments for their multiple myeloma may receive:
(elotuzumab) Revlimid®
(lenalidomide) dexamethasone
People who have received at least 2 prior treatments, including Revlimid and a proteasome inhibitor, may receive:
(elotuzumab) Pomalyst®
(pomalidomide) dexamethasone
Remember to read the safety information for the other medications you are receiving.
The safety and effectiveness of EMPLICITI have not been studied in children.
What are the possible side effects of EMPLICITI?
EMPLICITI may cause side effects, some of which can be serious. Your healthcare team will work with you to manage any side effects you may experience throughout your treatment with EMPLICITI.
Serious side effects
Infusion reactions can happen during your EMPLICITI infusion or within 24 hours after your infusion. Symptoms of an infusion reaction may include:
- fever
- chills
- rash
- chest pain
- trouble breathing
- dizziness
- light-headedness
Before every EMPLICITI infusion, your healthcare team will give you medications to help lower your chances of having an infusion reaction. If you have an infusion reaction while receiving EMPLICITI, your healthcare provider will slow or stop your infusion and treat your reaction. If you have a severe infusion reaction, your healthcare provider may decide to stop all your EMPLICITI infusions.
Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of the above symptoms after your infusion with EMPLICITI.
Infections may occur in patients who receive EMPLICITI + Revlimid + dexamethasone or EMPLICITI + Pomalyst + dexamethasone and can be serious. Symptoms of an infection may include:
- fever
- flu-like symptoms
- cough
- shortness of breath
- burning with urination
- painful skin rash
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any signs or symptoms of an infection.
Developing new cancers (malignancies) is a risk in patients who receive EMPLICITI with Revlimid + dexamethasone or EMPLICITI with Pomalyst + dexamethasone. Your healthcare provider will check you for new cancers during your treatment with EMPLICITI.
Talk to your healthcare team to learn more about your risk of developing new cancers if you receive EMPLICITI.
Liver problems may occur. Symptoms of liver problems include:
- tiredness
- weakness
- loss of appetite
- yellowing of your skin or eyes
- color changes in your stools
- confusion
- swelling of the stomach area
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver during your treatment with EMPLICITI.
Talk to your healthcare team if you have any signs or symptoms of liver problems.
The most common side effects
The most common side effects of EMPLICITI when used with Revlimid + dexamethasone include:
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- fever
- constipation
- cough
- numbness, weakness, tingling, or burning pain in your arms or legs
- sore throat or runny nose
- upper respiratory tract infection
- decreased appetite
- pneumonia
The most common side effects of EMPLICITI when used with Pomalyst + dexamethasone include:
- constipation
- high blood sugar
These are not all of the possible side effects of EMPLICITI.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You can report any side effects you experience to the FDA by calling
1-800-FDA-1088.
What should I discuss with my healthcare team before starting EMPLICITI?
Talk to your healthcare team about all of your medical conditions, including if you have an infection.
Let your healthcare team know as soon as possible if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if EMPLICITI can harm an unborn baby. However, Revlimid and Pomalyst may cause birth defects or death of an unborn baby. It is not known if EMPLICITI passes into breastmilk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with EMPLICITI + Revlimid + dexamethasone or with EMPLICITI + Pomalyst + dexamethasone.
Before receiving EMPLICITI + Revlimid + dexamethasone, or EMPLICITI + Pomalyst + dexamethasone, females and males must agree to the instructions in the Revlimid REMS® program or the Pomalyst REMS® program, depending on which combination was prescribed for you. The programs have specific requirements about birth control (contraception), pregnancy testing, blood donation, and sperm donation that you need to know.
Talk to your healthcare team to learn more about Revlimid or Pomalyst.
Interactions with other drugs may affect the way EMPLICITI works in your body.
Talk to your healthcare team about all the medicines you take, including:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter medicines
- vitamins
- herbal supplements
Please read the Patient Information in the Full Prescribing Information.
689US1803829-03-01 04/19
Unless otherwise indicated as an EMPLICITI patient, individuals depicted are models used for illustrative purposes only.
The information provided on this website is not a substitute for talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider is the best source of information about your disease.
EMPLICITI, the related logo, and Access Support are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Pomalyst, Pomalyst REMS, Revlimid, and Revlimid REMS are registered trademarks of Celgene Corporation.
© 2019 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. All rights reserved.
689US1803829-01-01 12/18
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Dexamethasone:
A steroid used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, often in combination with other medications. To learn more about dexamethasone, ask your healthcare team.
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Immunotherapy:
A type of treatment that works with your immune system to help control certain cancers. It is different because it is not surgery, radiation, or traditional chemotherapy.
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Intravenous (IV) infusion:
When medicine is given directly into the bloodstream through a vein—usually in the arm, hand, or through an IV port.
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M protein:
A type of protein made by myeloma cells. M protein levels may be used to estimate the extent of myeloma disease, and measuring them is one way to evaluate response to myeloma treatments.
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Natural Killer (NK) Cell:
A type of white blood cell that helps fight infection or disease and can be important for destroying cancerous cells.
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Overall response rate:
The percentage of patients who responded to treatment—for example, patients whose level of M protein was lowered by a certain amount. Overall response rates include stringent complete response, complete response, very good partial response, and partial response.
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Progression-free survival:
The length of time during and after treatment of a disease that a patient lives with the disease but it does not get worse.
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REVLIMID
(ALSO KNOWN AS LENALIDOMIDE):An oral medication with anti-myeloma effects. It is used in combination with other medications. To learn more about Revlimid, ask your healthcare team.
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Pomalyst (also known as pomalidomide):
An oral medication with anti-myeloma effects. It is used in combination with other medications. To learn more about Pomalyst, ask your healthcare team.