FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Acthar.

Acthar Support & Access Program

Learn about our reimbursement and support program »

Call us today at 1-888-435-2284

Share Your Story

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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Medication Guide

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

Download the Medication Guide here

Treating Infantile Spasms

If children are thought to have IS, they may be sent to an epilepsy center to be diagnosed. Once infantile spasms is confirmed, treatment should be started as soon as possible. The American Academy of Neurology and Child Neurology Society specify that successful treatment must stop both spasms and hypsarrhythmia.

Acthar is one clinically proven therapy that has been shown to stop spasms and hypsarrhythmia.

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.

How will Acthar help?

Approved by the FDA, Acthar was proven to stop spasms and hypsarrhythmia. In one clinical study, 87% of children had no spasms and no hypsarrhythmia by week 2. Some parents reported that their children’s spasms disappeared as early as day 1 following the start of treatment. On average, children responded to treatment at day 3.

Acthar is proven to:

Stop spasms
Stop hypsarrhythmia

How is Acthar given?

Acthar is given by an intramuscular injection (into the muscle). Your doctor or nurse will provide detailed instructions about how and when to give Acthar to your child. In addition, Questcor has an injection guide you can download and a step-by-step injection video to guide you through the injection.

Contact your doctor or nurse if you have any questions about using Acthar.

How do I get Acthar for my child?

Questcor, the makers of Acthar, wants to make sure that all children who need Acthar can get it. We know that working with your insurance company and paying for medication can be difficult at times, so Questcor started the Acthar Support & Access Program (A.S.A.P.) to help. A.S.A.P helps make sure your child can get Acthar quickly, answers insurance questions, and offers assistance for uninsured or underinsured patients. Your doctor or nurse will work directly with A.S.A.P. to help you get started with Acthar. A.S.A.P. works to make sure cost is not a problem:

95% of patients have had Acthar paid for by their insurance company
The other 5% have received free Acthar through Questcor’s Patient Assistance Program. In fact, Questcor has provided $124.4 million in free Acthar to needy patients and children’s hospitals since Sep 2007
On average, most patient copayments have been less than $20; if you are unable to afford your copay, no matter how big or small, help is also available through our copay assistance program for qualified patients

Because Acthar is only available through a Specialty Pharmacy and not your local pharmacy, A.S.A.P coordinates the shipment of Acthar to your home (or another location chosen by you and your doctor) in about 2 to 3 days. The Specialty Pharmacy will contact you to schedule this shipment of Acthar, so please provide your doctor with the best telephone number at which to reach you. If you miss the call from the Specialty Pharmacy, be sure to call back as soon as you can. If you have any questions about the delivery of Acthar, pick up the phone and call A.S.A.P at 1-888-435-2284.

To learn more about A.S.A.P.:
Call A.S.A.P. at 1-888-435-2284.
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm ET

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.