What Is Octagam Used For?
Octagam is used to boost your immune system in certain autoimmune and immune-related conditions. The extra antibodies help regulate immune responses and reduce harmful activity in your body in certain conditions, including:
- Primary Immunodeficiency (PI): Provides the antibodies your body can’t make, which protects you from infections
- Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (cITP): Helps increase your platelet count and lowers your risk of bruising or bleeding
- Dermatomyositis (DM): Reduces immune system attacks on your muscles and skin, helping relieve inflammation and improve movement
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): Helps calm immune system attacks on your nerves, building muscle strength and function
- Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN): Supports nerve health by slowing immune damage to motor nerves to regain or maintain strength
- Myasthenia Gravis (MG): Helps reduce immune interference with nerve-to-muscle signals and improves muscle control and energy
These are the most common conditions where Octagam is either FDA-approved or frequently used off-label by specialists. Your care team will decide if it’s the right fit based on your specific diagnosis and needs.
Octagam Prescribing Information
Octagam is available in two formulations: Octagam 5%, indicated for PI, and Octagam 10%, indicated for cITP and DM.
- For PI, the Octagam 5% dosage is 300 to 600 mg/kg administered every three to four weeks, and the infusion rate starts at 0.5 mg/kg/min. If tolerated, the rate may be gradually increased up to 3.33 mg/kg/min.
- The Octagam 10% dose for cITP is 2 g/kg divided into equal doses over 2 consecutive days. Begin the infusion at 1.0 mg/kg/min. If tolerated, slowly increase the rate up to 12.0 mg/kg/min.
- DM patients receive 2 g/kg of Octagam 10% divided into equal doses over two to five consecutive days every four weeks. Administer at an infusion rate of 1.0 mg/kg/min. If tolerated, the rate may be increased up to 4.0 mg/kg/min.