Repatha (Evolocumab)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Repatha Used For?
Repatha is a prescription medicine that helps lower cholesterol levels in your blood. It’s a protein-based medication that works differently from traditional cholesterol pills.
Primary Uses
Repatha treats high cholesterol in adults who can’t control their levels with diet and exercise alone. It’s also used with other cholesterol medicines in adults with heart disease to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain heart procedures. For people 12 years and older with a rare inherited form of high cholesterol (homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia), Repatha can be used along with other treatments.
How It Works
Repatha lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while potentially raising HDL (good) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries and form plaque, which can narrow arteries and block blood flow to vital organs like your heart and brain. By lowering these levels, Repatha helps protect against heart disease.
Good to know: You should continue following your cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise routine as directed by your doctor while taking Repatha.
How to Take Repatha
Repatha is given as an injection under your skin. After proper training from your doctor or nurse, you can learn to give yourself these injections at home.
Dosage Instructions
For adults with high cholesterol and heart disease: either 140 mg every two weeks or 420 mg once monthly. For homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: starting dose is 420 mg once monthly, which may be increased to 420 mg every 2 weeks after 12 weeks. If you receive apheresis treatment, your doctor may start you on 420 mg every two weeks. The 420 mg dose can be given as three 140 mg injections within 30 minutes, or using the automated mini-doser device.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take your missed dose as soon as you remember, then contact your doctor to schedule your next dose. Your doctor will tell you when to take your next injection and you should follow that schedule exactly.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Always follow the injection instructions provided in your medication pack.
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:
- Flu or flu-like symptoms (high temperature, runny nose, cough, chills)
- Sore throat or sinus infections
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Common cold symptoms
- Nausea
- Back pain
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Injection site reactions (redness, bruising, pain, swelling, bleeding)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of serious allergic reaction: shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of face, mouth, lips, tongue, throat or other body parts
- Skin rash with itching, including rash over whole body or hives
Important Warnings
Before starting Repatha, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and other medications you’re taking.
Who Should Not Take Repatha
Don’t use Repatha if you’re allergic to evolocumab or any other ingredients in the medicine, or to medicines made using Chinese Hamster Ovary cell technology. Always check the ingredient list to make sure you can safely use this medicine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and all medicines you take for other conditions. Your doctor needs this information to determine if Repatha is right for you.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Repatha hasn’t been tested in pregnant women, so it’s unknown if it will affect your unborn baby. If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. It’s not known if Repatha passes into breast milk, so your doctor will help you decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop using Repatha.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take, including those bought without a prescription.
- Other cholesterol-lowering medicines (can be used together unless they don’t work well)
- All prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins and supplements
Alcohol & Driving
While Repatha doesn’t have known effects on driving ability, you should take some precautions.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Discuss any concerns about alcohol consumption while using Repatha.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Repatha affects you. As a general precaution, avoid driving soon after you have an injection, even though Repatha has no known effects on driving ability.
Storage
Store Repatha in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. Don’t freeze or shake the medicine. Keep it in the original carton to protect from light. You can take it out of the refrigerator to reach room temperature (up to 25°C) before injection to make it more comfortable. Once removed from refrigeration, it must be used within 30 days if stored at room temperature.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve used too much Repatha, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you don’t feel unwell or have symptoms of poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your doctor will monitor your progress through regular appointments to see how well Repatha is working for you. The medication works to lower cholesterol levels, but the timeline can vary between individuals.
No, don’t stop using Repatha or lower your dose without checking with your doctor first. Your doctor needs to monitor your treatment and make any necessary adjustments.
Take your missed dose as soon as you remember, then contact your doctor who will tell you when to schedule your next dose. Follow that schedule exactly as your doctor instructs. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Repatha should not be given to children under 18 years, except for children over 12 years with a rare inherited form of high cholesterol called homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. It hasn’t been studied in children under 12 years.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. While the medication information doesn’t specify restrictions, it’s important to discuss alcohol consumption with your healthcare provider.
Store in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. Don’t freeze or shake. Keep in the original carton to protect from light. You can let it reach room temperature before injection for comfort, but once removed from refrigeration, use within 30 days.
Always remind any doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or nurse you visit that you’re using Repatha. This helps them provide the best care and avoid any potential interactions with other treatments.
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.