Allina Health

Aflibercept (a-FLIB-er-sept)

Treats neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Brand Name(s):

Eylea

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• This medicine is usually given as a single shot into the eye once every 4 weeks (once a month) for the first 3 months, then once every 8 weeks.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have glaucoma or other eye problems.
• This medicine may increase your risk of blood clots. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain; trouble breathing, walking, or talking; or sudden headache or weakness. Make sure your doctor knows if you have a history of blood clot problems, heart attack, or stroke.
• The pressure inside your eye could get too high after you are given this medicine. Your doctor may need to monitor your eye, especially during the first hour after the injection. Tell your doctor right away if you feel sudden or severe eye pain or a headache, have blurry vision, or see halos around lights.
• Tell your doctor right away if your eye becomes red, painful, or sensitive to light. If you see flashes or sparks of light or have a change in vision, call your doctor.
• This medicine may cause temporary blurred vision. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not able to see well.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Bleeding in your eye
• Blurred vision, seeing floating spots
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, or coughing up blood
• Eye redness, sensitivity to light, pain, or vision change
• Numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body
• Pain in your lower leg (calf), trouble walking or talking
• Sudden or severe eye pain or headache
• Swelling, redness, severe pain, or itching of your eyes or eyelids

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Watery eyes, or feeling that something is in your eye

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088