Basiliximab

Basiliximab is a prescription medication used to prevent your body from rejecting a transplanted kidney. Basiliximab belongs to a group of drugs called immunosuppressants. These work by decreasing the activity of the body's immune system to prevent it from attacking the new kidney. 

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional. It is usually given as 2 doses, one before and one after the surgery.  

Common side effects of basiliximab include constipation, nausea, and stomach pain. 

Basiliximab is a prescription medication used to prevent your body from attacking and rejecting a transplanted kidney.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Basiliximab may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Simulect

Serious side effects have been reported with basiliximab. See the "Drug Precautions" section.

Common side effects of basiliximab include the following:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• heartburn
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• runny nose
• headache
• shaking of a part of the body that you cannot control
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• pain in the place where you received the injection

This is not a complete list of basiliximab side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

No basiliximab drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with basiliximab, including an increased risk of infection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs or symptoms of an infection such as a fever.

Also tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms, which may indicate a serious reaction to bBasiliximab:

• hives
• rash
• itching
• sneezing
• cough
• wheezing
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fast heartbeat
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• weight gain and swelling all over the body
• sore throat, fever, chills, or other signs of infection
• difficult or painful urination
• decreased urination

Basiliximab can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how basiliximab affects you.

Do not take basiliximab if you are allergic to basiliximab or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of basiliximab, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking basiliximab, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to basiliximab or to any of its ingredients
• have ever been treated with basiliximab
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X – are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Basiliximab falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with basiliximab. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if basiliximab crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using basiliximab.

Take basiliximab exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• how you respond to this medication

In adult patients, the recommended Simulect (basiliximab) regimen is two doses of 20 mg each. The first dose should be given within 2 hours prior to transplantation surgery. The recommended second dose should be given 4 days after transplantation.

If you take too much basiliximab, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If basiliximab is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Talk to your doctor about the risks associated with this medication.
• This medication should only be administered by a healthcare provider in a clinical setting.