Orencia Drug Interactions

There are a number of medications that should not be taken with Orencia. Drug interactions may occur if the rheumatoid arthritis medication is taken together with "live" vaccinations, TNF inhibitors, or anakinra. Drug interactions with Orencia may potentially increase your risk of developing an infection or other side effects.

 

Orencia Drug Interactions: An Overview

Orencia® (abatacept) can potentially interact with a few other medications, particularly other medications that affect the immune system. Some of these medicines that may lead to Orencia interactions include:
 
o Chickenpox vaccine (varicella vaccine)
o FluMist (the nasal vaccine for influenza; the injected vaccine is not live)
o MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
o Smallpox vaccine
o BCG vaccine (used in some countries for tuberculosis)
  • TNF inhibitors (also known as TNF antagonists), such as:

Orencia Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when Orencia is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Anakinra (Kineret)
Taking Orencia with anakinra can increase your risk of getting an infection or other side effects. In general, these two medications should not be taken together.
(Orencia Drug Interactions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;