Ravulizumab is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria is a rare blood disorder wherein your immune system attacks the red blood cells and platelets. It is characterised by red, brown or dark urine during late night or early morning.
This medicine is also used to treat atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (a condition that occurs when small blood vessels become inflamed and damaged which causes clot formation in the vessels of the body) and generalised myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness).
Ravulizumab may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Ravulizumab injection is to be given intravenously (into the vein) as an infusion. It is delivered directly into the bloodstream via the blood vessel.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of treatment depending on the type and severity of your condition and your response to the medication.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Ravulizumab.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Ravulizumab if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
Alert your doctor if you have meningococcal infection (severe infection affecting the linings of the brain, which causes inflammation of the brain and can spread throughout the body and blood) or have not been vaccinated against meningococcal infection as Ravulizumab may not be suitable for you.
Inform your doctor if you have an active infection.
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant. It is important that you do not get pregnant while being treated with this medicine. You must use proven birth control methods during Ravulizumab therapy and up to 8 months after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor. You should not breastfeed during treatment and up to 8 months after the last dose.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving this medicine to a child. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Inform your doctor if you are going to have a medical procedure called plasmapheresis (a procedure wherein the liquid part of the blood or plasma is separated from the blood cells) or if you are receiving treatment that manages immune system disorders. Your doctor may give you an additional dose of this medicine after the procedure or treatment.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
Regular monitoring of signs and symptoms of infection (particularly meningococcal infection) and infusion reaction may be needed during treatment.
Ravulizumab may cause any of the following side effects: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, joint pain, muscle pain and spasms, back pain, rash, itchy skin, and tiredness.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- fever with or without high heart rate, chills, muscle aches with flu-like symptoms, headache with stiff neck or back, confusion, eye sensitivity to light
- signs and symptoms of infusion reactions e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth, chest pain, feeling faint or passing out
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in the refrigerator, between 2-8°C. Do not allow Ravulizumab to freeze. If frozen, this medicine will become ineffective and should not be used.
Protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
Sign Out
