Raptiva Side Effects

The psoriasis drug Raptiva has been linked to serious, potentially fatal side effects. The manufacturer of Raptiva, Genentech, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both acknowledge the "normal" and most common possible Raptiva side effects that patients may experience:

headache
chills
fever
nausea
muscle aches
back pain
swelling of the arms or legs (peripheral edema)

These particular side effects are usually experienced within the first 48 hours after a patient receives a Raptiva injection, and they often gradually stop within the first few weeks of Raptiva treatment.

The Most Dangerous Raptiva Side Effects

However, much more severe and even life-threatening Raptiva side effects have been documented — whether Raptiva (efalizumab) was used as directed by Genentech or a pharmacist (i.e., not in overdose or incorrect dose treatment), including:

low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)
very low red blood cell counts (leading to anemia)
infections
worsening or new forms of psoriasis
worsening or new arthritis
disorders that affect the nervous system
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain disease that usually results in death or severe disability

PML and Other Raptiva Infections

It is the last side effect listed above — PML — and other similar infections that have caused the greatest concern about Raptiva treatment. As a psoriasis drug, Raptiva may decrease the activity of a patient's immune system in order to slow or stop the formation of psoriasis plaques. However, this same effect may leave the patient vulnerable to disorders that damage his or her immune system — such as PML and other infections.

PML is an infection that attacks the brain and the central nervous system (CNS). The symptoms of this extremely dangerous disease include:

vision problems (e.g., blurry, double vision, fading vision)
memory loss
loss of coordination (from CNS damage)

FDA Issued a Warning Linking Raptiva and PML

The FDA issued a Raptiva warning, Feb. 19, 2009, following three confirmed deaths from Raptiva-caused PML. The deaths have sparked concern among members of the healthcare industry. In fact, Raptiva sales have been suspended in Europe following a series of Raptiva injuries and deaths, and according to some, the same may happen in the U.S.

Nervous System Damage

If you have been treated with Raptiva and you experience any of the above-listed symptoms or the following side effects, contact your doctor immediately — they may be a sign of nervous system damage:

sudden onset of numbness or tingling in body parts such as feet, legs, arms, hands
weakness in the legs, arms or face
a new or sudden change in speech, walking, balance, strength