Darzalex SC (Daratumumab)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Darzalex SC Used For?
Darzalex SC is an anti-cancer medicine that belongs to a group of medicines called monoclonal antibodies. It works by attaching to specific abnormal blood cells in your body so your immune system can destroy them.
Primary Uses
Darzalex SC is used in adults who have multiple myeloma, which is a type of cancer that affects your bone marrow. It is also used in adults who have AL amyloidosis, a blood disorder where abnormal blood cells make excessive amounts of abnormal proteins that deposit in various organs, causing these organs to not function properly.
How It Works
As a monoclonal antibody, Darzalex SC works by attaching itself to specific abnormal blood cells in your body, allowing your immune system to recognize and destroy them.
How to Take Darzalex SC
Darzalex SC will be given to you by a doctor or nurse as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection) over approximately 3 to 5 minutes. It is given in the stomach area (abdomen), avoiding areas where the skin is red, bruised, tender, hard or scarred.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose of Darzalex SC is 1800 mg. Your doctor will determine your specific dose and schedule. Darzalex SC may be given alone or together with other medicines used to treat multiple myeloma or AL amyloidosis. Before each injection, you will be given medicines to help lower the chance of infusion-related reactions, including anti-histamines, corticosteroids, and fever-reducing medicines like paracetamol.
What If You Miss a Dose?
It is very important to go to all your appointments to make sure your treatment works. If you miss an appointment, make another one as soon as possible. It is important to have your follow-up doses at the appropriate times to get the best effects from your treatment.
Important: If you experience pain during the injection, the doctor or nurse may interrupt the injection and give you the remaining injection in another area of your abdomen.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- injection site reactions (redness, itching, swelling, pain, bruising, rash, bleeding)
- constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite
- muscle spasm, back pain, joint pain, chest muscle pain
- nerve damage causing tingling, numbness or pain
- flu, lung infection, bronchitis, airway infections
- COVID-19 infection, urinary tract infections, herpes
- low red blood cell count (anemia)
- low white blood cell count
- low platelet count
- high blood sugar, low blood calcium
- fever, feeling very tired or weak, dizziness, fainting
- headache, rash, dehydration, difficulty sleeping
- chills, itching, unusual skin sensations
- high blood pressure, swollen hands/ankles/feet
- fluid buildup in lungs causing shortness of breath
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- infusion-related reactions (chills, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, runny/blocked nose, breathing problems, chest discomfort, dizziness, itching, wheezing, eye pain, blurred vision)
- severe allergic reactions (swollen face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, hives)
- irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
- heart disorders (heart failure, heart attack)
- severe infection throughout the body (sepsis)
- inflamed liver (hepatitis)
- inflamed pancreas
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings and precautions to be aware of before and during treatment with Darzalex SC.
Who Should Not Take Darzalex SC
Do not use Darzalex SC if you are allergic to daratumumab or any of the ingredients listed. Darzalex SC should not be given to children or young people below 18 years of age as it is not known how the medicine will affect them.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have blood disorders with low levels of white blood cells or platelets, as this may become worse during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have ever had hepatitis B infection, as Darzalex SC could cause the hepatitis B virus to become active again. Your doctor will check you for signs of this infection before, during and for some time after treatment.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor before treatment if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. Women being given Darzalex SC should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant during treatment. If you are breastfeeding, discuss with your doctor as the medicine may pass into breast milk and its effects on the baby are unknown.
Hepatitis B Reactivation: Tell your doctor right away if you get increasingly tired or get yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes, as these may be signs of hepatitis B reactivation.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Darzalex SC and affect how it works. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including vitamins or supplements bought without a prescription.
Blood Test Interference: If you need to have a blood test, tell the person doing the test that you are using Darzalex SC as it can affect blood test results, especially blood transfusion matching tests.
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- lenalidomide and dexamethasone
- bortezomib and dexamethasone
- pomalidomide and dexamethasone
- carfilzomib and dexamethasone
- bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (for AL amyloidosis)
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Darzalex SC affects you.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings were mentioned in the source material.
Driving and Operating Machinery
You may feel tired after taking Darzalex SC which may affect your ability to drive or use machines. Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how the medication affects you.
Storage
Darzalex SC is usually stored in the hospital, clinic or pharmacy. Unopened vials should be stored in a refrigerator (2 to 8 degrees Celsius) and brought to room temperature (15 to 30 degrees Celsius) before use. The unpunctured vial may be stored at room temperature for a maximum of 24 hours. Do not freeze or shake. Store in the original package to protect from light. If prepared in a syringe, it can be stored for up to 24 hours refrigerated followed by up to 12 hours at 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Overdose Information
This medicine will be given by your doctor or nurse, making overdose unlikely. In the unlikely event that you are given too much, your doctor will check you for side effects and provide appropriate treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The frequency of Darzalex SC injections depends on whether it is given alone or together with other medicines. Your doctor will determine the appropriate schedule for your specific treatment plan.
The injection takes approximately 3 to 5 minutes and is given under the skin in your abdomen area. You will receive medicines before and after each injection to help prevent infusion-related reactions.
Infusion-related reactions include chills, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, and breathing problems. These are most likely to happen with the first injection and usually occur on the day of injection, but delayed reactions can happen up to 3-4 days after.
Yes, but you must tell the person doing the blood test that you are using Darzalex SC, as it can affect the results of blood tests used to match your blood type for transfusions.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop fever or signs of bruising or bleeding, as Darzalex SC can decrease white blood cell counts which help fight infections and platelets which help blood clot.
Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant, as you and your doctor will need to decide if the benefit outweighs the risk to your baby.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists that you are using Darzalex SC. Also inform anyone performing blood tests, as the medication can affect test results.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.