Edaravone Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Edaravone Injection is a prescription antioxidant medicine given into a vein to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It may help slow the decline in physical function, support daily activities, and help maintain mobility in people with ALS. It is given as an infusion by a healthcare provider in specific treatment cycles. As with any medicine, it carries possible side effects and precautions that should be discussed with your doctor.

What is Edaravone Injection

Edaravone injection is a prescription medicine given into a vein to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease), a condition in which the nerves that control muscle movement slowly die, causing muscles to shrink and weaken.

Edaravone Injection uses

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Helps slow the decline in physical function in ALS
• Helps maintain daily activities in ALS
• Supports mobility in ALS patients
• Helps manage ALS disease progression

Benefits of Edaravone Injection

• Helps treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• May slow decline in physical function.
• Helps preserve daily activity abilities.
• May help maintain mobility.
• Supports ALS management.

How Edaravone Injection works

Edaravone is thought to work as an antioxidant that reduces harmful molecules in the body called free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and may play a role in the development and progression of ALS. However, the exact way it helps ALS is not fully known.

Edaravone Injection dosage

Edaravone is given as an infusion into a vein by a healthcare provider; it takes about one hour to receive the full dose. It is usually given in treatment cycles: daily for the first 14 days of the first cycle, followed by a drug-free period, then daily for 10 days out of each 14-day period in later cycles, followed by drug-free periods. Your doctor will decide how often you receive treatment based on how your body responds. Your doctor may stop the infusion right away if you show any signs of an allergic reaction during treatment. No changes to your normal diet are needed unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection

Side effects of Edaravone Injection

Common

• Bruising (contusion)
• Problems walking or gait disturbance
• Headache
• Red, itchy, or scaly rash (dermatitis/eczema)

Serious

• Severe allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, wheezing, dizziness, or fainting
• Allergic reactions related to sulfite content, which can include asthma-like breathing problems in people sensitive to sulfites
• Respiratory failure, respiratory disorder, or low blood oxygen (hypoxia)

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use edaravone if you have had an allergic reaction to it or to any of its ingredients in the past.
• Edaravone contains sodium bisulfite, which can cause serious or life-threatening allergic reactions, including asthma attacks, especially in people with asthma.
• Tell your doctor if you have asthma or a sulfite allergy before starting treatment.
• Hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions have been reported after edaravone use, sometimes after the infusion has ended.
• It is not known if edaravone will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, since animal studies showed possible harm to the fetus.
• It is not known if edaravone passes into breast milk. Talk with your doctor about whether to continue breastfeeding or continue the medicine.
• Kidney problems are not expected to significantly change how the body handles edaravone, so no dose change is needed for kidney impairment.
• No dose change is needed for mild or moderate liver problems; there is no specific dosing advice for severe liver impairment.
• It is not known whether drinking alcohol affects edaravone.

Storage

• Store at room temperature according to the product label.
• Protect from light.
• Do not freeze.
• Keep in the original packaging until use.
• Keep out of reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing, or if you feel like you might pass out.
• Tell your doctor right away during or after your infusion if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have a headache, chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or facial swelling.
• If you think you have used too much edaravone, seek emergency medical help or contact a poison control center right away.

Alternatives

• Edaravone oral suspension
• Tofersen
• Riluzole