BOB
REAL LEQEMBI PATIENT,
AND HIS WIFE, CYNTHIA
Understanding potential side effects
When considering a new treatment, it’s okay to have questions about potential side effects—
especially because each person reacts differently to treatment. So, make sure to talk to your
healthcare provider about how you’re feeling.
Take a look below to understand a bit more about some of the potential side effects of LEQEMBI and
how
your healthcare provider will monitor you throughout treatment.
What is ARIA?
ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities) is a potential side effect of treatments like LEQEMBI. ARIA does not usually cause any symptoms, but serious symptoms can occur. ARIA can be fatal.
ARIA commonly shows up as temporary swelling in areas of the brain that usually goes away over time. Small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the brain can occur. Less often, larger areas of bleeding in the brain can occur.
Most people with ARIA don’t have any symptoms. However,
some people may notice:
–headache
–confusion that gets worse
–dizziness
–vision changes
–nausea
–difficulty walking
–seizures
–difficulty speaking
–muscle weakness
Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room
right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Understanding the role your genes play
A gene called ApoE4 may put people at higher risk for ARIA. Your healthcare provider can test to see if you have this gene. By understanding your risk, you can better prepare for treatment with LEQEMBI.
Monitoring for ARIA
Your healthcare provider will check for ARIA with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans before you start LEQEMBI and about 1 week before your 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 14th infusions. Your exact MRI schedule will be determined by your healthcare provider and may include additional MRIs.
What are the possible serious allergic reactions?
LEQEMBI can cause serious allergic reactions, including:
•swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
•itchy bumps on the skin, also known as hives
•difficulty breathing
What are infusion-related reactions?
Infusion-related reactions are a possible side effect of LEQEMBI. These include:
- fever
- flu-like symptoms (chills, body aches, feeling shaky, and joint pain)
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- fast or slow heart rate, or feeling like your chest is pounding
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- changes in blood pressure
What are Injection-related reactions?
Injection-related reactions may occur with LEQEMBI injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection with LEQEMBI IQLIK). These include:
• redness, swelling, heat, pain, itching, rash, bruising, and blood collection under the skin at the injection site
• headache, fatigue, or fever may also be observed after an injection
Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms during or after an injection.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of LEQEMBI include:
• infusion-related reactions
• ARIA
• headaches
Help your healthcare providers
stay informed
Use the treatment wallet card to help inform
providers that you are taking LEQEMBI and that
there is important information to be aware of.
The doctors check
for ARIA with
MRIs regularly.
That really helped us make the decision
to go forward.
caring for her husband, Bob