Severe Side Effects
These types of effects are very rare, may be life-threatening, and require an immediate medical checkups, in order to prevent the effects from getting worse. Such effects are:
- Allergic reactions: as usual, there are different ways individuals react to drugs. The same is applicable to ocrevus. Allergies like skin rash and itching, redness of the skin, troubled breathing, and swelling of the tongue, lips, eyelids, throats, and legs.
- Infusion problems: this mostly occurs 24 hours after an ocrevus infusion. The signs of such problems are headache, increased heart rate, pain, and swelling of the mouth.
- Cancer
- Swelling of the colon ( colitis)
- Leukoencephalopathy
- Fatigue [5]
Dosage
Firstly, several blood tests need to be done by the doctor in order to confirm a condition in which an ocrevus is needed. It is also used to confirm if there are conditions in the body that will prevent the individual from using the medication.
The first dose is split into two and they are administered fortnightly. The other doses are infused once every six months. These doses are to be given slowly for about 2 to 5 hours. While taking these infusions, some other medications may be prescribed by the doctor based on the individual’s health history, in order to prevent side effects.