Empliciti (Elotuzumab)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Empliciti Used For?
Empliciti is a specialized cancer treatment designed to help your immune system fight multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.
Primary Uses
Empliciti treats multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow) in adults when used together with other medicines. It’s prescribed when you’ve already tried one or more other treatments before. Multiple myeloma affects plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) that grow out of control in your bone marrow, causing damage to bones and kidneys.
How It Works
Empliciti is a monoclonal antibody that works by attaching to a specific protein called SLAMF7 found on multiple myeloma cancer cells and certain immune system cells. When Empliciti binds to this protein, it stimulates your immune system to attack and destroy the cancer cells.
Important: Empliciti is not recommended for children and people under 18 years of age.
How to Take Empliciti
Empliciti is given as an intravenous infusion (IV drip) by experienced healthcare professionals in a medical setting. You cannot take this medication at home.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is 10 mg of elotuzumab per kilogram of your body weight. You’ll receive Empliciti in 28-day treatment cycles combined with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. For the first 2 cycles, you’ll get Empliciti weekly (days 1, 8, 15, and 22). After that, you’ll receive it every 2 weeks (days 1 and 15). Before each infusion, you’ll be given medicines to prevent allergic reactions, including antihistamines, dexamethasone, and paracetamol.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Since Empliciti is given by healthcare professionals, missing a dose is unlikely. If any medicine in your treatment plan is delayed or interrupted, your doctor will decide how to continue your treatment safely.
Treatment Duration: Your doctor will continue treatment until your disease progresses or unacceptable side effects occur.
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:
- weight decrease
- low white blood cell count
- cough
- chest pain
- night sweats
- mood changes
- decreased feeling of sensitivity, especially in the skin
- painful skin rash with blisters (shingles, herpes zoster)
- allergic reactions (hypersensitivity)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- infusion reactions (fever, chills, high blood pressure)
- infections (fever, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, pain when urinating, painful skin rash)
- liver problems (tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, yellowing of skin or eyes, stool color changes, confusion, stomach swelling)
- new cancers
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings you need to know before starting Empliciti treatment.
Who Should Not Take Empliciti
Do not use Empliciti if you are allergic to elotuzumab or any of the ingredients listed in the medication. Signs of allergic reactions include shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, rash, itching, or hives.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions before starting treatment. People with multiple myeloma who receive Empliciti with lenalidomide and dexamethasone have a risk of developing new cancers and serious infections. Your doctor will monitor you regularly for these complications.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
You should not use Empliciti if you are pregnant unless specifically recommended by your doctor. The effects on unborn babies are unknown. You must use effective contraception during treatment. When used with lenalidomide, you must follow the pregnancy prevention program. It’s unknown if Empliciti passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
Cancer Risk: People receiving Empliciti with lenalidomide and dexamethasone have a risk of developing new cancers. Your doctor will monitor you for this during treatment.
Drug Interactions
Empliciti is used in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. You must read the information for all medicines used with Empliciti.
Important: Tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking, including vitamins and supplements bought without prescription.
- lenalidomide (used in combination)
- dexamethasone (used in combination)
- other medicines may affect how Empliciti works
Alcohol & Driving
Empliciti is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery under normal circumstances.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings are mentioned in the prescribing information. However, discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor as you’ll be taking other medications in combination.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Empliciti is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, if you experience an infusion reaction, do not drive, cycle, or use machines until the reaction completely stops.
Storage
Empliciti is stored and handled by healthcare professionals in medical facilities. It comes as a sterile white to off-white powder that must be prepared for infusion by trained staff.
Overdose Information
Since Empliciti is given by healthcare professionals in a medical setting, overdose is very unlikely. If an overdose were to occur, your doctor would monitor you closely for side effects and provide appropriate treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Empliciti works by stimulating your immune system to attack cancer cells. Your doctor will monitor your response to treatment and continue therapy until your disease progresses or unacceptable side effects occur.
No, Empliciti must be given as an intravenous infusion by experienced healthcare professionals in a medical facility. It cannot be taken at home.
Before your first infusion, you’ll receive medicines to prevent allergic reactions including antihistamines, dexamethasone, and paracetamol. Most infusion reactions occur during or after the first dose, so you’ll be closely monitored.
For the first 2 cycles (28 days each), you’ll receive Empliciti weekly on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. After that, you’ll receive it every 2 weeks on days 1 and 15 of each cycle.
Empliciti is used in combination with lenalidomide (taken by mouth) and dexamethasone (given both by mouth and intravenously). You must read the information for all these medicines.
Contact your doctor immediately if you develop fever, shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, pain or burning when urinating, cough, or a painful skin rash, as these may be signs of serious infection.
Yes, your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver function and monitor you for new cancers, infections, and other side effects throughout your treatment.
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.