Managing Side Effects
What to do if your friend or loved one has side effects at home
Because side effects can be severe, you should call the doctor or nurse right away and tell them about new symptoms. Stay alert for symptoms of infection and report them at once. These may include the following:
- Fever—temperature over 100.4°F (38°C)
- Cough or sore throat, even if the patient has no fever
- A wound that does not heal or looks infected (redness or pus)
If the patient gets an infection, be sure to follow the doctor's or nurse's instructions about rest, medication, and other treatments.
To help support you and the patient during times when side effects may occur, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has created CamCare™. CamCare is a nursing support line staffed by oncology-certified nurses who have a great deal of experience taking care of patients receiving Campath. If you or the patient need additional support beyond that provided by the primary healthcare provider, these nurses are available to assist you 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year.
To reach a CamCare™ nurse, call 1-800-473-5832. Click here to learn more about 24-hour CamCare™ nursing assistance.
Campath is indicated as a single agent for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL).
WARNING: CYTOPENIAS, INFUSION REACTIONS, and INFECTIONS
Cytopenias: Serious, including fatal, pancytopenia/marrow hypoplasia, autoimmune idiopathic thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia can occur in patients receiving Campath. Single doses of Campath greater than 30 mg or cumulative doses greater than 90 mg per week increase the incidence of pancytopenia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1)].
Infusion Reactions: Campath administration can result in serious, including fatal, infusion reactions. Carefully monitor patients during infusions and withhold Campath for Grade 3 or 4 infusion reactions. Gradually escalate Campath to the recommended dose at the initiation of therapy and after interruption of therapy for 7 or more days [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (2) and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.2)].
Infections: Serious, including fatal, bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoan infections can occur in patients receiving Campath. Administer prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and herpes virus infections [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (2.2) and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.3)].
The most commonly reported adverse reactions are infusion reactions fever, chills, hypotension, urticaria, nausea, rash, tachycardia, dyspnea), cytopenias (neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia), and infections (CMV viremia, CMV infection, other infections). In clinical trials, the frequency of infusion reactions was highest in the first week of treatment. Other commonly reported adverse reactions include vomiting, abdominal pain, insomnia and anxiety. The most commonly reported serious adverse reactions are cytopenias, infusion reactions, and immunosuppression/infections. See "Warnings and Precautions," and "Adverse Reactions" sections of full Prescribing Information.
Please see Full Prescribing Information (PDF).
