Step-by-Step Actemra Pen Instructions for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Step-By-Step Actemra Pen Injection Instructions

Actemra (tocilizumab) is a biologic medication used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. It works by blocking interleukin-6 (IL-6), a protein that causes inflammation. Actemra comes in an intravenous infusion for hospital administration or as a convenient self-injectable pen for use at home.

Who is Actemra Typically Prescribed For?

Actemra is FDA-approved for:

• Adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis
• Children ages 2 and older with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Adults with giant cell arteritis or cytokine release syndrome

It is often prescribed when other RA medications like DMARDs or TNF inhibitors have not been sufficiently effective in relieving painful RA symptoms.

How Often is Actemra Injected?

The standard Actemra dose for rheumatoid arthritis is 162 mg injected under the skin by self-administered pen once every week. Some patients start with once every other week doses. Your rheumatologist will advise on the frequency appropriate for your condition.

Tips for Self-Injecting Actemra Pens at Home

Learning to self-inject prescription medications can seem scary. But Actemras prefilled, single-use auto-injector pen is designed to make giving yourself injections at home as straightforward as possible once you get the hang of it.

Watch an Instructional Video

Before your first injection, we recommend you watch an instructional Actemra video. Seeing the process makes it look simpler. You can find useful videos on the Actemra website or YouTube.

Understand the Pen Parts

Familiarize yourself with the different components of the ActPen injection pen. It contains:

• Medicine reservoir that holds the 162 mg dose of medication
• Purple start button to trigger injection once pressed against skin
• Yellow skin sensor that only releases medication when fully pressed against skin
• Medicine dispensing window so you can confirm injection completed
• Needle hidden inside that automatically inserts when pen pressed to skin

Prepare Your Injection Materials

Make sure you have:

• Actemra pen removed from refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to use
• Alcohol swabs
• Puncture-proof container to safely discard pen after use
• Optional ice pack to place on injection site if desired

Choose Your Injection Site

You can inject Actemra medication from an auto-injector pen into several injection sites including:

• Front of thighs
• Abdomen, except within 2 inches of navel
• Outer area of upper arms

Rotate the location each week to allow proper healing and prevent skin irritation in one area.

Prepare the Injection Site

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before preparing injection materials. Use an alcohol wipe to clean skin at the chosen injection site location to prevent infection.

Remove Needle Cap

Pull needle cap straight off auto injector pen. Do NOT twist the cap. There will be a loud click when cap separates from pen - thats normal.

Position Pen Over Injection Site

Hold pen comfortably like you would hold a pencil. Place needle end straight down (90 degrees) onto cleaned skin at injection location.

Push and Hold Against Skin

With steady downward pressure, press purple start button on pen. A second click signals start of medication release. Keep holding pen pushed down against skin for 10+ seconds total until yellow bar is visible to confirm full dose.

Properly Discard Pen

Pen can be removed from skin once yellow bar fully appears in medicine window. Use puncture-proof container to discard pen right away after single use. Recapping needles raises injury risk.

Understanding Common Actemra Side Effects

While extremely effective for controlling rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation, Actemra does come with some potential side effects to monitor.

Injection Site Reactions

Redness, swelling, itching or irritation of skin around the injection site is common. Apply ice for relief or hydrocortisone cream if very irritated. Call doctor if severe.

Respiratory Infections

Actemra works by suppressing parts of the immune system, so upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, bronchitis or pneumonia are occasional side effects about which to be aware.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, acid reflux, abdominal pain or constipation may occur as digestive side effects of Actemra.

Headache

Be sure to stay very well hydrated while on Actemra, as headaches are a frequent complaint if folks do not drink enough fluids.

There are other less common side effects possible as well. Always talk to your doctor if something feels off while taking Actemra so it can be promptly addressed.

Actemra Pen vs Prefilled Syringe

Rheumatoid arthritis patients needing regular injections of Actemra medication have two options: use the ActPen auto-injector pen or administer via prefilled syringes. Understanding the pros and cons can help choose the right method.

Ease of Use

In surveys, a majority of patients report Actemra pens are easier and less painful to self-inject at home than syringes.

Portability

The small ActPen pens easily fits in pockets or purses for use anywhere with less components to carry than syringes.

Visual Feedback

The ActPen offers the helpful yellow indicator bar to confirm full dose delivered. There is no similar visual reassurance with standard syringes.

Safety Features

The skin sensor on ActPens only releases medication when fully pushed against skin to prevent accidental injection or waste from dosing issues.

Disposal and Storage

Since the ActPen is self-contained, you simply discard in puncture-proof container after single use rather than disposing sharps and vials separately as with syringes.

Cost Considerations

The biggest disadvantage of Actemra pens is cost. Prefilled syringes generally cost significantly less than the convenient auto-injector pens. Check insurance coverage.

For most rheumatoid arthritis patients able to self-inject, Actemras auto-injector pen offers the easiest, safest and most convenient administration method.

Tips for Traveling With Actemra Medication

One major benefit of the Actemra auto-injector pen is that its compact size makes travel easy while maintaining RA treatment. However, there are still some special considerations when traveling with injectable medications.

Have Prescription Paperwork

Carry paperwork detailing your Actemra prescription in case security or customs questions why you have medical injectors and needles. A physicians note explaining the medication is for treatment of your rheumatoid arthritis may also prove helpful.

Know Refrigeration Requirements

Store Actemra pens refrigerated between 36F to 46F whenever possible. However, if traveling, they can be left unrefrigerated for short periods when necessary. Be aware of allowable room temperature times to avoid wasting damaged medication.

Bring All Supplies

Pack plenty of alcohol wipes, backup pens, sharps containers for pen disposal while traveling, ice packs and other injection supplies with you. Dont count on easily finding needed medical products abroad or away from home.

Follow Airport Security Rules

Pack your Actemra auto-injectors and supplies in carry-on bags, never checked luggage, so they stay at proper temperatures. Alert airport security you have essential medications and medical devices before scanning.

Consider Travel Insurance

Expensive specialty medications means investigating travel insurance makes sense when taking Actemra abroad. Make sure lost medication coverage is included in any policies if planning international trips.

While traveling with injectable RA medication requires some special planning, the Actemra pen makes sticking with your vital treatment while on the go much more feasible.

Actemra Dosage and Schedule

Actemra comes in single-dose auto-injector pens for rheumatoid arthritis patient self-administration. Understanding the right Actemra dosage and injection scheduling specific to your RA will ensure efficacy and safety.

Standard Weekly Actemra RA Dosage

The FDA-approved dosage of Actemra for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis is:

• 162 mg injected subcutaneously once every week

Some patients do initially start with a lower 162 mg dose once every other week when first prescribed Actemra before increasing injection frequency to weekly.

Higher Dosages May Be Needed

For some RA patients who do not respond sufficiently to the standard weekly dosage after 3 months, your doctor may recommend a dosage increase to:

• 162 mg injected under the skin every week PLUS
• 162 mg injected every other week

So a total of two 162 mg Actemra injections on alternating weeks. Speak to your rheumatologist if your symptoms do not adequately improve on the normal dosage schedule.

Monitoring for Side Effects

More frequent medical tests are required with higher dosages to screen for rare but potentially serious side effects involving cholesterol increases, liver damage and lowered white blood cell counts.

Maintaining Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission

If Actemra gets your rheumatoid arthritis into remission with no active inflammatory symptoms, your doctor may lower your injection dosage after 6 months of stable disease control to save costs.

Finding your optimal personal Actemra dosage and number of weekly injections can take some adjusting under medical supervision. But most RA patients see relief with the standard prefilled single-dose pen treatment schedule.

Covering Costs of Expensive Actemra Medication

While extremely helpful for controlling symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, Actemra is an expensive biologic medication, often retailing over $4,000 per monthly prescription.

Compare Medicare Part D Plans

Compare offerings from various Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans during open enrollment periods. Look for plans covering the specific cost of Actemra pens under tier 4 or 5 specialty drugs.

Enroll in Manufacturer Discounts

Genentech offers co-pay assistance cards for eligible patients where you pay just $5 per Actemra prescription. An free Actemra patient assistance program is also available based on financial and medical qualifications.

Search for Copay Coupons

Check sites like GoodRX and WellRx to locate any available coupons for Actemra to use at the pharmacy to lower copays. Compare prices between local pharmacies too.

Apply for Third Party Charity Programs

Independent non-profit organizations like the HealthWell Foundation, PAN Foundation and Rheumatology Research Foundation offer assistance paying expensive RA medication copays for those meeting requirements.

Actemra provides proven rheumatoid arthritis relief, so explore every option available if prescription costs pose a barrier to consistently taking this beneficial medication.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.