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Acthar Support & Access Program

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Share Your Story

If you have been treated with Acthar for MS exacerbations and are willing to share your experience, please contact us and let us know your story.

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Understanding MS Exacerbations

Information on symptoms, diagnosis, resources, and more.

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Seeing a Physician

Meeting With Your Physician

Acthar Physicians It is important for you to find a doctor who makes you feel comfortable and with whom you can communicate. The goal of multiple sclerosis treatment should be to keep you as healthy as possible, and your doctor should be your partner in achieving this goal.

As part of your responsibility in this partnership, you should prepare for appointments with your doctor by being ready to describe your symptoms and to discuss any issues that you have related to the current state of your disease and to the treatment that you are receiving. Prepare a written, prioritized list of questions and concerns so that you do not forget anything. You also should prepare a list of all of the medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking for your doctor. Review your medical coverage prior to meeting with your doctor so that you are clear what treatments are covered by your insurance.

It is important that you are completely frank with your doctor. Be prepared to discuss anything that concerns you, including problems with your mood, sexual function, thinking and memory, and bladder and bowel function. All of this information is of interest to your doctor. Report all symptoms, even if you are not sure if they are related to multiple sclerosis. Your doctor can help you to determine which symptoms are important.

Finding a Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Facility

The National MS Society maintains a listing by state of clinical facilities that have collaborative agreements with the society. The affiliation of each facility is periodically reviewed and approved by an advisory committee composed of multiple sclerosis experts. This listing can be found on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website.

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. Blood pressure should be checked during treatment, and your doctor 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 warnings, precautions, and adverse events related to Acthar, please refer to the full Prescribing Information and discuss this information with your healthcare provider.

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