abatacept, an antirheumatic agent. ▪ INDICATIONS: This drug is used to treat acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to other disease-modifying agents. It may be used in combination with other disease-modifying antirheumatic agents. It may not be used with tumor necrosis factor antagonists or anakinra. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Tuberculosis and known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibit its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Adverse effects of this drug include headache, asthenia, dizziness, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea, rash, flushing, urticaria, pruritus, and wheezing. Life-threatening side effects include anaphylaxis, malignancies, and angioedema. Common side effects include hypertension, hypotension, injection site reaction, pharyngitis, cough, rhinitis, and upper respiratory tract infection.
