Krystexxa: Cost, side effects, dosage, uses, and more
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Krystexxa to treat chronic (long-term) gout in adults. It’s used when other treatments haven’t worked.
Krystexxa has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Krystexxa precautions” section.
Krystexxa is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.
A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.
As with all medications, the cost of Krystexxa can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Krystexxa or help understanding your insurance coverage, a program called Amgen By Your Side is available. This program can help determine your cost assistance options, including whether you qualify for the Amgen Commercial Co-Pay Program. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-469-4297 or visit the program website.
Krystexxa is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
Krystexxa can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur during Krystexxa treatment. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of Krystexxa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while receiving Krystexxa and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Krystexxa. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Krystexxa’s prescribing information.
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects from Krystexxa can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
* Krystexxa has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Krystexxa precautions” section.
For some people, Krystexxa can cause an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. Krystexxa has a boxed warning for anaphylaxis. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. (To learn more, see the “Krystexxa precautions” section.)
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should continue treatment.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Krystexxa, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Krystexxa is a solution given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It comes in two forms containing 8 milligrams (mg) of pegloticase each. These are:
The recommended dosage of Krystexxa for gout is 8 mg every 2 weeks. Your doctor may also prescribe
15 mg of oral methotrexate and supplements of folic acid or folinic acid. You’ll start taking these 4 weeks before beginning Kyrstexxata treatment and take them once per week during treatment.
Krystexxa can also be given alone without methotrexate and folic acid or folinic acid if they are not suitable for you.
Krystexxa is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection into your vein over time. It’s given at a hospital, clinic, or infusion center by your doctor or another healthcare professional.
Your doctor will monitor you for infusion or allergic reactions during and after your infusion, as these reactions can become serious. Krystexxa has boxed warnings for these reactions. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Krystexxa precautions” section.
To help prevent these reactions, your doctor will give you premedications before your infusion. These may include an antihistamine and a corticosteroid.
Below is information about the condition Krystexxa is approved to treat.
Krystexxa is approved to treat chronic (long-term) gout in adults. It’s used when other treatments haven’t worked.
Gout occurs when your blood has too much of a waste product known as uric acid. The uric acid forms crystals in certain joints, especially the base of the big toe. It can also affect joints in the forefoot, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, and elbows.
The crystals irritate the joint, causing intense inflammation and pain. This is known as a gout flare or attack. Symptoms include:
Certain treatments can help flare-ups go away, but when they no longer work, gout can become refractory. Krystexxa is used to treat this type of long-term gout. For this purpose, Krystexxa may be prescribed on its own or with other drugs, such as oral methotrexate and supplements of folic acid or folinic acid.
Krystexxa is not recommended to treat high levels of uric acid that don’t cause symptoms.
Krystexxa is not approved for use in children. The drug has not been studied in children.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Krystexxa.
No, Krystexxa is not a chemotherapy drug. Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells. Krystexxa is an enzyme (a type of protein) used to break down uric acid, which is what causes gout (the condition Krystexxa is used to treat).
However, methotrexate, a drug that your doctor may prescribe with Krystexxa treatment, is a chemotherapy drug that’s used to treat certain cancers. It’s also considered an immunosuppressant when it’s used to treat certain autoimmune diseases.
If you have questions about what type of drugs Krystexxa or methotrexate are, talk with your doctor.
Yes, if your doctor recommends it. Krystexxa has been studied in people with chronic kidney disease with gout, and it’s been found effective. Dose adjustments of Krystexxa are not typically needed for people with kidney disease.
For some people, kidney disease can lead to gout. This is because the kidneys don’t work as well as they should to remove uric acid from the body, and too much uric acid in the blood can cause gout.
If you have kidney disease and gout, talk with your doctor about whether Krystexxa is the right treatment option for you. There may be other factors that your doctor will consider to determine whether this drug is right for you.
Krystexxa is used to treat chronic (long-term) gout in adults. It’s used when other treatments haven’t worked.
The drug contains the active ingredient pegloticase, which is an enzyme that breaks down uric acid. Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid, which can collect in the joints and certain organs, causing pain and swelling.
By breaking down uric acid, Krystexxa can help your body get rid of excess uric acid through your kidneys and urine. This helps ease the symptoms of gout.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how Krystexxa works. To learn more about Krystexxa for gout, see the “Krystexxa uses” section.
Before starting Krystexxa treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Krystexxa. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
* Your doctor may prescribe methotrexate with Krystexxa treatment. For details, see the “Krystexxa uses” section.
Alcohol is not known to interact with Krystexxa. But it may not be safe to consume alcohol if you have gout, the condition Krystexxa is approved to treat. If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while receiving Krystexxa, talk with your doctor.
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It’s not known whether Krystexxa should be given during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before receiving this medication.
It’s not known whether Krystexxa should be given while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before receiving this medication.
Below are warnings and precautions that you should consider before receiving Krystexxa.
This drug has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
Anaphylaxis is a serious and life threatening allergic reaction that can occur during an infusion of Krystexxa. For this reason, Krystexxa is given in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, clinic, or infusion center.
To reduce the risk of this reaction, your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you premedications, such as an antihistamine and a corticosteroid, before your infusion. They’ll also monitor you for symptoms during and after your infusion. Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Symptoms may also develop after you leave the hospital, clinic, or infusion center. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Infusion reactions were common with Krystexxa treatment, especially when it was given alone without methotrexate. For this reason, Krystexxa is given in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, clinic, or infusion center.
Your doctor will closely monitor you for infusion reactions during and after your Krystexxa treatment. Be sure to tell them if you experience any of the symptoms listed. If a reaction occurs, they may slow down your infusion or stop and restart it at a lower rate.
Symptoms may also develop after you leave the hospital, clinic, or infusion center. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
If you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, your doctor won’t prescribe Krystexxa. With G6PD deficiency, you don’t have enough of the G6PD enzyme, which affects your red blood cells.
Life threatening blood cell problems have been reported in people with G6PD deficiency who were given Krystexxa. These include hemolysis (destroyed red blood cells) and methemoglobinemia (buildup of an abnormal form of hemoglobin in the blood).
Before starting Krystexxa treatment, your doctor will order tests to determine whether you have G6PD deficiency.
Before starting Krystexxa treatment, discuss your health history with your doctor. Krystexxa may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Krystexxa, see the “Krystexxa side effects” section.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.