Medication side effect

Can Alirocumab cause arthralgia?

PCSK9 Inhibitor [EPC]

Yes — arthralgia has been reported as a side effect of Alirocumab in FDA adverse-event reports (FAERS) and product labeling. It is among the more frequently reported events for this medication. These are voluntary reports, so they show what's been reported, not how often it happens.

Reported adverse reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are also discussed in the other sections of the labeling: Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Common (>5% of patients treated with PRALUENT and more frequently than placebo) adverse reactions in adults with: Primary hypercholesterolemia : injection site reactions, and influenza. ( 6 ) Established CV disease: myalgia. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Regeneron at 1-844-734-6643 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Adults with Hypercholesterolemia The data in Table 1 are derived from 9 primary hypercholesterolemia placebo-controlled trials that included 2,476 adult patients treated with PRALUENT 75 mg and/or 150 mg every 2 weeks, including 2,135 exposed for 6 months and 1,999 exposed for more than 1 year (median treatment duration of 65 weeks). The mean age of the population was 59 years, 40% of the population were female, 90% were White, 4% were Black or African American, 3% were Asian, and 3% other races; 6% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of PRALUENT-treated patients, and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients, are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in >2% of PRALUENT-Treated Adult Patients and ≥1% More Frequently Than with Placebo Adverse Reactions Placebo (N=1,276) % PRALUENT 75 mg every 2 weeks and 150 mg every 2 weeks combined (N=2,476) % Injection site reactions Includes erythema/redness, itching, swelling, pain/tenderness 5 7 Influenza 5 6 Diarrhea 4 5 Myalgia 3 4 Muscle spasms 2 3 Contusion 1 2 Adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 5.3% of patients treated with PRALUENT and 5.1% of patients treated with placebo. The most common adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation in patients treated with PRALUENT were allergic reactions (0.6% versus 0.2% for PRALUENT and placebo, respectively) and elevated liver enzymes (0.3% versus <0.1%). In an analysis of ezetimibe-controlled trials in which 864 patients were exposed to PRALUENT for a median of 27 weeks and 618 patients were exposed to ezetimibe for a median of 24 weeks, the types and frequencies of common adverse reactions were similar to those listed above. Adverse Reactions in a Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial in Adults In a CV outcomes trial in which 9,451 patients were exposed to PRALUENT for a median of 31 months and 9,443 patients were exposed to placebo for a median of 32 months, common adverse reactions (greater than 5% of patients treated with PRALUENT and occurring more frequently than placebo) included myalgia (6% PRALUENT, 5% placebo). Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Patients with HeFH In a 24-week placebo-controlled clinical trial in which 101 pediatric patients aged 8 to 17 years with HeFH were exposed to PRALUENT and 52 pediatric patients with HeFH were exposed to placebo [see Clinical Studies (14.3) ], the safety profile of PRALUENT observed in this population was consistent with the safety profile observed in adults with HeFH. Other Adverse Reactions Local Injection Site Reactions In a pool of placebo-controlled trials evaluating PRALUENT 75 mg and/or 150 mg administered every 2 weeks in adults, local injection site reactions including erythema/redness, itching, swelling, and pain/tenderness were reported more frequently in patients treated with PRALUENT (7.2% versus 5.1% for PRALUENT and placebo, respectively). Few patients discontinued treatment because of these reactions (0.2% versus 0.4% for PRALUENT and placebo, respectively), but patients receiving PRALUENT had a greater number of injection site reactions, had more reports of associated symptoms, and had reactions of longer average duration than patients receiving placebo. In a 48-week placebo-controlled trial evaluating PRALUENT 300 mg every 4 weeks and 75 mg every 2 weeks in adults, in which all patients received an injection of drug or placebo every 2 weeks, local injection site reactions were reported more frequently in patients treated with PRALUENT 300 mg every 4 weeks as compared to those receiving PRALUENT 75 mg every 2 weeks or placebo (16.6%, 9.6%, and 7.9%, respectively). Three patients (0.7%) treated with PRALUENT 300 mg every 4 weeks discontinued treatment due to local injection site reactions versus no patients (0%) in the other 2 treatment groups. In a CV outcomes trial in adults, local injection site reactions were reported in 3.8% of patients treated with PRALUENT versus 2.1% patients treated with placebo, and led to permanent discontinuation in 26 patients (0.3%) versus 3 patients (<0.1%), respectively. In the trial of pediatric patients with HeFH, local injection site reactions were reported in 5% of patients treated with PRALUENT versus 0% patients treated with placebo; no patients discontinued treatment due to injection site reactions. Hypersensitivity Reactions in Adults Hypersensitivity reactions were reported more frequently in adult patients treated with PRALUENT than in those treated with placebo (8.6% versus 7.8%). The most common hypersensitivity reaction was pruritus (1.1% versus 0.4% for PRALUENT and placebo, respectively). The proportion of patients who discontinued treatment due to allergic reactions was higher among those treated with PRALUENT (0.6% versus 0.2%). Serious allergic reactions, such as hypersensitivity, nummular eczema, and hypersensitivity vasculitis were reported in patients using PRALUENT in controlled clinical trials. Liver Enzyme Abnormalities in Adults In the hypercholesterolemia trials in adults, liver-related disorders (primarily related to abnormalities in liver enzymes) were reported in 2.5% of patients treated with PRALUENT and 1.8% of patients treated with placebo, leading to treatment discontinuation in 0.4% and 0.2% of patients, respectively. Increases in serum transaminases to greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 1.7% of patients treated with PRALUENT and 1.4% of patients treated with placebo. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of PRALUENT. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Hypersensitivity reactions: Angioedema Influenza-like illness

Warnings

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hypersensitivity reactions: hypersensitivity vasculitis, angioedema, and other hypersensitivity reactions requiring hospitalization, have been reported with PRALUENT treatment. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue treatment with PRALUENT, treat according to the standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions, including hypersensitivity vasculitis, angioedema, and other hypersensitivity reactions requiring hospitalization, have been reported with PRALUENT treatment. If signs or symptoms of serious hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue treatment with PRALUENT, treat according to the standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. PRALUENT is contraindicated in patients with a history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to alirocumab or any excipient in PRALUENT [see Contraindications (4) ] .

Frequently asked questions

Is arthralgia a side effect of Alirocumab?

Yes — arthralgia has been reported as a side effect of Alirocumab in FDA adverse-event reports (FAERS) and/or its labeling. These are voluntary reports, so they show what's been reported, not how often it happens.

How common is arthralgia with Alirocumab?

arthralgia is among the more frequently reported events for Alirocumab in FAERS. Reporting volume isn't a true incidence rate — check the prescribing information for documented frequencies.

What should I do if I have arthralgia while taking Alirocumab?

Don't stop a prescribed medication on your own. Tell your prescriber or pharmacist — they can tell you whether it's expected, whether it needs attention, and what to do next.

Informational only, drawn from FDA adverse-event reporting (FAERS) and labeling — not medical advice, and not proof a medication caused an effect. Talk to your clinician or pharmacist about any side effect.

Look up another medication

Powered by Eleplan

Tracking a side effect is easier when the whole plan is in one place.

Log symptoms, keep every medication and its history, and prep questions for your next visit — with Ellie, your AI care assistant, on top of it all. Free to start.