These resources provide valuable information on Repatha® and on cholesterol management that you can read on your own or discuss with your healthcare team.
Repatha® (evolocumab injection) is a medicine that helps to lower levels of cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of several fatty substances found in the bloodstream. Your total cholesterol is made up mainly of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), or “good” cholesterol.
LDL-C can build up in the walls of the arteries, forming plaque, which can lead to a narrowing of the arteries, slowing or blocking blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke and could cause other health problems. HDL-C helps keep the bad cholesterol from building up in the arteries and protects against heart disease. Triglycerides, another type of fat found in the bloodstream, play an important role in the body but can increase the risk of heart disease if levels are too high.
Repatha® is used:
You should stay on your cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine.
Evolocumab, the active ingredient of Repatha®, works by helping the liver’s ability to remove LDL-C, or “bad” cholesterol, from the blood. Evolocumab also lowers the level of the fatty substances called triglycerides, and raises the level of HDL-C, often referred to as “good” cholesterol.
Repatha® is given as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneous, or SC). You can take Repatha® every two weeks with the 140 mg/mL single-use prefilled SureClick autoinjector, or once monthly with the 420 mg/3.5 mL (120 mg/mL) automated mini-doser.
It is important that you do not try to inject Repatha® until you have received training with a healthcare professional on how to properly use the SureClick autoinjector or the automated mini-doser.
If your doctor has prescribed Repatha® along with a statin or other cholesterol-lowering medicine, follow your doctor’s instructions on how to take these medicines together.
For the prevention of cardiovascular events and primary hyperlipidemia in adult patients (including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia [HeFH] and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) and HeFH in pediatric patients (aged 10 years and older), the usual dose of Repatha® is 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg once monthly.
For homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adult patients, the usual dose of Repatha® is 420 mg, either once monthly or every two weeks. If you are on apheresis you may initiate treatment with 420 mg every 2 weeks to correspond with your apheresis schedule.
Like all medicines, Repatha® can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking Repatha®.
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here, or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
HDL-C=high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C=low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Please note: Your Repatha® package may be different from that shown.
Do you have questions?
Connect with the Amgen Canada Medical Information team for help by phone at 1-866-502-6436 or email at medinfocanada@amgen.com.