Rest and Activity
Always follow the doctor's instructions about helping to manage fatigue
Here are patient tips for caregivers to keep in mind during Campath® (alemtuzumab) therapy. By encouraging patients to take the following actions, you're doing your part to help with their treatment.
Remind patients to:
- Get enough rest and sleep—but not too much
- Too much rest can make them weaker
- Try short naps (1 hour) instead of long ones
- Stay as active as possible
- Exercise regularly, like walking several times a week
- Talk to the doctor before starting an exercise program
- Follow a healthy diet
- Eat a balanced diet that includes protein
- Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day
- Manage energy
- Schedule activities when energy levels are highest, and rest between them
- At home or work, take on only what can be managed comfortably and let others help
Questions? Call a CamCare™ nurse at 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).
