- EMPLICITI patient
EMPLICITI™ (elotuzumab) 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.
APPOINTMENT BRING
SOMETHING TO DO RECEIVE
EMPLICITI
How long does each EMPLICITI infusion take?
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How long does each EMPLICITI infusion take?
- Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each infusion of EMPLICITI to help reduce the risk of infusion reactions.
- The length of each EMPLICITI infusion will depend on your body weight and how many times you have received EMPLICITI in the past. After the first 2 times, all other EMPLICITI infusions will take about an hour.*
- If infusion reactions occur or become worse, it may take more time to receive your
EMPLICITI infusion. - *Based on a weight of 165 pounds.
What if I miss my appointment?
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.
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?
TAKE NOTES KNOW YOUR
MEDICATIONS KEEP A
SCHEDULE
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.
Download your EMPLICITI Treatment Calendar now.
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). REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) 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.
Selected Important Facts About EMPLICITI
Infections may develop in patients who receive EMPLICITI with REVLIMID and 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 of the signs and symptoms of an infection.
Please read Important Facts below, including other serious side effects.
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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 complete response, very good partial response, and partial response.
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Progression-free survival:
The length of time during and after the 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.