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If your child has been treated with Acthar for IS and you are willing to share your experience, please contact us and let us know your story.

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Injecting Acthar

Learn how to store, inject, and dispose of Acthar.

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Medication Guide

Before administering Acthar to your child, please read the full Medication Guide.

Download the Medication Guide here

FAQs

What is Acthar?
How do I prepare Acthar for use?
How should I store Acthar?
Who should not use Acthar?
What are the most common side effects of Acthar?
What is the right dose?
If symptoms improve, can your child stop therapy?
What are the ingredients in Acthar?

What is Acthar?

Acthar is a prescription medication containing the hormone adrenocorticotropin
("a-DRE-no-cor-tico-tro-pin") that has been used for over 50 years to treat children with infantile spasms. Acthar may work by both helping the body produce natural hormones and by having a direct effect on the brain. It is designed to slowly release the medication into the body after it is injected.

Acthar Bottle

How do I prepare Acthar for use?

Acthar is ready to use. There is nothing to mix. It is important, however, that you allow the gel to become warmed to room temperature and liquefied before use. To help warm the vial, roll it between the palms of your hands for a few minutes.

How should I store Acthar?

Store Acthar in the refrigerator between 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C). Acthar should be warmed to room temperature before using.

Who should not use Acthar?

Acthar should not be used in patients with a skin condition called scleroderma, bone density loss (osteoporosis), infection throughout the body, eye infection called ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or a current stomach ulcer, heart problems, high blood pressure, or allergy to pig-derived proteins. Tell your doctor about any health problems or medicines. If you have one of these conditions, be sure to speak with your doctor before beginning treatment with Acthar.

What are the most common side effects of Acthar?

The most common side effects of Acthar include: infections, increased blood pressure, irritability and changes in behavior, changes in appetite and weight, diarrhea, and vomiting. Other adverse reactions reported in adults and children over 2 years of age include: abdominal bloating, anxiety, asthma, chest discomfort, congestive heart failure, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness of the face, fluid retention, flushing, headache, injection site pain, tiredness, muscle weakness, nervousness, rapid heart rate and lack of energy. Tell your doctor if there is any side effect that bothers you or your child or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Acthar. For more information, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist or call 1-800-465-9217

What is the right dose?

Your child's doctor will determine the correct dose and provide instructions on when and how often to inject Acthar.

If symptoms improve, can your child stop therapy?

It is important to complete the full course of Acthar therapy as instructed by your child's doctor. Suddenly stopping Acthar could make your child very ill. When it is decided that it is time to stop treatment with Acthar, you will be told how to reduce the dose and frequency of injections over time. It is important that you discuss stopping therapy with your child's doctor.

What are the ingredients in Acthar?

Active ingredient: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin).
Inactive ingredients: 16% gelatin. Also contains 0.5% phenol, not more than 0.1% cysteine (added), sodium hydroxide and/or acetic acid to adjust pH, and water for injection, q.s.

Full information on using Acthar: Storing, Preparing, and Injecting Acthar

Questcor

Uses

H.P. Acthar^® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) is an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) analogue used for:

Monotherapy treatment of infantile spasms (IS) in infants and children under 2 years of age.
The treatment of exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults.
For inducing a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.
The following: rheumatic disorders; collagen diseases; dermatologic diseases; allergic states; ophthalmic diseases and respiratory diseases.

Important Safety Information

Patients, parents, and caregivers should be aware of the important information about H.P. Acthar® Gel.

Acthar should never be given intravenously (into a vein). Acthar should not be used in patients with a skin condition called scleroderma, bone density loss (osteoporosis), infection throughout the body, eye infection called ocular herpes simplex, recent surgery, history of or a current stomach ulcer, heart problems, high blood pressure, or allergy to pig-derived proteins. Tell your doctor about any health problems or medicines.

Acthar may cause side effects similar to side effects that happen due to treatment with steroid medicines. Not all of these side effects have occurred with Acthar but they may occur. Acthar is a medicine that affects a patient’s immune system, and therefore patients may be more likely to get new infections, or inactive infections may become active. Acthar has effects on the adrenal gland. When a patient is taking Acthar, their adrenal gland may produce too much of a hormone called cortisol. This can cause symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome (upper body fat, rounded face, thin skin), which is more common in patients who take this medicine for a long time. When a patient stops taking Acthar after a long time, the body may not produce enough cortisol on its own (adrenal insufficiency). The doctor may prescribe a steroid medicine to protect the body until the adrenal gland recovers. Do not stop administering Acthar without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor may check your blood pressure during treatment and may instruct you to make some dietary changes. Patients should not receive certain vaccines during treatment with Acthar. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are safe for use. Acthar may hide (or mask) symptoms of other conditions or diseases and it may be more difficult for your doctor to diagnose other conditions or diseases in you or your child during treatment. The person receiving Acthar has an increased risk for bleeding from the stomach or having a stomach ulcer. Inform your doctor about any pain in the stomach area, bloody vomit, or bloody or black stools. While on Acthar changes in mood and behavior such as irritability, depression, or trouble sleeping, may occur.

Other side effects are possible. Acthar may make certain other medical conditions worse, such as diabetes (may increase blood sugar); cause eye problems, such as cataracts, increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma), and possible damage to the optic nerve; and cause allergic reactions to Acthar (seen as skin rash, swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat, and trouble breathing). Acthar may affect growth and physical development after long term use. Long term use of Acthar may cause an increase in the size of the heart, but this condition usually goes away after Acthar is stopped.

The most common side effects of Acthar in infants include: infections, increased blood pressure, irritability and changes in behavior, changes in appetite and weight, diarrhea, and vomiting. Other adverse reactions reported in adults and children over 2 years of age included: abdominal bloating, anxiety, asthma, chest discomfort, congestive heart failure, dizziness, shortness of breath, redness of the face, fluid retention, flushing, headache, injection site pain, tiredness, muscle weakness, nervousness, rapid heart rate and lack of energy. Tell your doctor if there is any side effect that bothers you or your child or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Acthar. For more information, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, or call 1-800-465-9217. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

For a full list of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse events related to Acthar, please refer to the full Prescribing Information. For parents and caregivers of IS patients please also see Medication Guide.

H.P. Acthar^® Gel and Questcor^® are registered trademarks of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.