Olaratumab

What is olaratumab?

Olaratumab is a prescription medicine that is used to treat soft tissue sarcoma.

Description

Olaratumab is a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal blocking antibody that binds specifically to human plateletderived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR-α). LARTRUVO has an approximate molecular weight of 154 kDa. LARTRUVO is produced in genetically engineered mammalian NS0 cells.

Before taking olaratumab, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to olaratumab; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take olaratumab or for 3 months after your last dose.

This medicine may interact with other drugs or health problems.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take olaratumab with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take olaratumab?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take olaratumab. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• This medicine may affect being able to father a child. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• Women must use birth control while taking olaratumab and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.

How is olaratumab best taken?

Use olaratumab as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.
• Other drugs will be given with olaratumab to help avoid side effects.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

What are the side effects of olaratumab that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly infusion reactions have happened with olaratumab. Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain, flushing, shortness of breath, very bad dizziness, or you pass out.

What are some other side effects of olaratumab?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Hair loss.
• Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
• Stomach pain.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Back, bone, joint, or muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Anxiety.
• Dry eyes.
• Diarrhea, throwing up, upset stomach, and feeling less hungry are common with olaratumab. If these happen, talk with your doctor about ways to lower these side effects. Call your doctor right away if any of these effects bother you, do not get better, or get very bad.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out olaratumab?

• If you need to store olaratumab at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

SRC: NLM .