Orencia 

Orencia.

Orencia (abatacept) is a protein that prevents your body’s immune system from attacking healthy tissues such as joints. The immune system helps your body fight infections. In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes the body’s own cells for invaders and attacks them.Orencia is a prescription medicine used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and to prevent joint damage caused by these conditions. This medicine is for adults and children at least 2 years old.

Orencia is also used to treat active psoriatic arthritis in adults. Orencia is not a cure for any autoimmune disorder and will only treat the symptoms of your condition. Before using Orencia, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis (TB), if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.Also tell your doctor if you have a weak immune system, any type of infection (including skin infection or open sores), COPD, diabetes, a history of hepatitis, or if you have scheduled to receive any vaccinations.

Children using this medication should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment with Orencia. Serious infections may occur during treatment with Orencia. Contact your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, night sweats, tired feeling, weight loss, or painful warmth or redness of your skin.

You should not use Orencia if you are allergic to abatacept.

Before using Orencia, tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.

To make sure  its safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a weak immune system;
• any type of infection including a skin infection or open sores;
• infections that go away and come back;
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
• diabetes;
• hepatitis; or
• if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.

Using it may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). This risk may be greater in older adults. Talk to your doctor about your specific risk.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of abatacept on the baby.