BOB
actual 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 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 is most commonly seen as temporary swelling in areas of the brain that usually resolves over time.
Some people may also have small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the brain and, infrequently,
larger areas of bleeding in the brain can occur.
Most people
with this type of swelling in the brain do not get symptoms—however,
some
people may have symptoms, such as:
Headache
Confusion that
gets worse
Dizziness
Vision problems
Nausea
Problems walking
Seizures
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 before your 5th, 7th, and 14th infusions. This gives them lots of opportunities to keep an eye on your brain health and manage your treatment.
What are the possible serious allergic reactions?
LEQEMBI can cause serious allergic reactions, including:
•swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
•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
- changes in your heart rate, or feeling like your chest is pounding
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of LEQEMBI include:
• infusion-related reactions
•
swelling in areas of the brain, with or without small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the
brain (ARIA)
• headache
Help your healthcare providers
stay informed
Use this wallet card at your appointments to help
inform providers that you are taking LEQEMBI.
The doctors check
for ARIA with
MRIs regularly.
That really helped us make the decision
to go
forward.
caring for her husband, Bob