Ask the experts

The 3 people you are about to meet are experts in their fields. They each work to help treat psoriasis sufferers with RAPTIVA. Here, they answer common questions from some of their patients.

  • Meet Dr. Alan Menter
    Leading Dermatologist and Chief, Division of Dermatology
    Baylor University Medical Center
    Dallas, Texas
  • Dr. Alan Menter discusses how to take RAPTIVA, how soon a RAPTIVA patient will see results, how long RAPTIVA should be taken, common side effects of RAPTIVA, what to do if you experience a flare-up, and other important information about RAPTIVA.
  • Meet Ellen
    Registered Nurse
  • Ellen, a Registered Nurse, discusses how and where to self-inject RAPTIVA, whether injecting RAPTIVA is painful, how often RAPTIVA should be taken, what to do with syringes after injections, lab tests RAPTIVA patients will need and other important information for RAPTIVA patients.
  • Meet Laura
    RAPTIVA Access SolutionsTM Senior Manager
  • Laura, RAPTIVA Access Solutions Senior Manager, provides helpful advice to RAPTIVA patients and healthcare professionals on RAPTIVA Access Solutions. RAPTIVA Access Solutions provides caregivers, reimbursement support, patient assistance and informational resources for both patients and their health care professionals. Laura discusses how to get started in the program, what patients' insurance covers, what to do if patients change insurance carriers, the role of a Specialty Pharmacy and the special support offered by RAPTIVA Access Solutions representatives.

Meet Dr. Alan Menter

  • "RAPTIVA is an excellent treatment for psoriasis and it's one that I prescribe regularly to my patients who are serious about improving the condition of their skin. In fact, I've used it in over a hundred patients over the past year."
  • Dr. Alan Menter
  • Leading Dermatologist and Chief, Division of Dermatology
  • Baylor University Medical Center
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Q: How do I take RAPTIVA?
  • A: "RAPTIVA is a once-weekly injection you give yourself once a trained nurse shows you how to do it. If you are hesitant about giving yourself an injection, please don't worry. Once your dermatologist prescribes RAPTIVA for you, a trained nurse will help you through your first few injections. The nurse will come to your home, or you can learn right at your dermatologist's office-whichever is your preference."
  • Q: How soon may I expect to see results after I start taking RAPTIVA?
  • A: "During the first month of RAPTIVA therapy, you may start to notice relief from the symptoms of psoriasis, such as less redness, less itching, and fewer psoriasis plaques. Remember that RAPTIVA is hard at work on the inside, working against the T-cells to give you noticeably clearer skin. But it may take some time."
  • "Once you've been on therapy for a few months, you should notice a significant decrease in the redness, and a reduction of the plaques in your skin. So how long should you continue to take RAPTIVA? As I've said before, psoriasis is a chronic condition. It is a lifelong condition. So while symptoms may come and go, the condition does not go away."
  • Q: How long should I take it?
  • A: "Like all chronic conditions, to control your psoriasis, you will need to use medicines over the long-term. It's no different with RAPTIVA. RAPTIVA is proven to provide significant improvement, which is sustained over time with constant use. And, it can be used long-term. So, as long as you keep taking RAPTIVA, you should keep seeing noticeable results in your symptoms and in your skin. In fact, a study showed that people who continued to use RAPTIVA continued to see sustained results at 6 months or even at 1 year. In other words, the psoriasis kept getting better and better over this period of time."
  • Q: What are the common side effects of RAPTIVA?
  • A: "As with other medicines, RAPTIVA has some side effects. The most common side effects with RAPTIVA are headaches, chills, fever, nausea and muscle aches. And these flu-like symptoms usually happen within the first 48 hours following the first 2 weekly RAPTIVA injections. However, these symptoms usually go away by the third injection. Most people do not find the symptoms bothersome enough to stop taking RAPTIVA. If, however, these symptoms become uncomfortable for you, this can be treated. Talk to your dermatologist - it's easy to treat. He or she can tell you what to do."
  • Q: Will I experience flares?
  • A: "When you give RAPTIVA at least 3 months to work, and you keep taking RAPTIVA for the long-term, you're doing all you can to control your psoriasis. But sometimes your psoriasis may flare up. Or as my patients describe it, they have a worsening of psoriasis. This is a problem that is part of having psoriasis. If, however, you experience a flare-up, please do not stop taking RAPTIVA. Contact your dermatologist right away. He or she may recommend using a cream or ointment for a short period of time to get you over this flare of psoriasis."
  • A: "In rare cases, some patients have experienced more severe flares with RAPTIVA. If you experience a flare, talk to your dermatologist about how to manage it. Don't stop taking RAPTIVA without first talking to your dermatologist."

Meet Ellen, Registered Nurse

  • "My role as a registered nurse in the psoriasis clinic is to help orient all the new patients who come into our clinic. We help teach them about psoriasis, we select proper therapies and treatments, and we do a lot of patient education."
  • Ellen, Registered Nurse
  • Q: How can I learn how to inject myself?
  • A: "You should receive injection training from a healthcare provider prior to injecting RAPTIVA on your own. This can be done either at your doctor's office or at your home by arrangement through your Specialty Pharmacy. You will also receive a Getting Started Kit within a week after getting your RAPTIVA prescription. At the time you receive your first shipment, you should make sure your training has been scheduled. Remember to bring your Getting Started Kit and one tray of RAPTIVA to your training session. After completing your training-with a healthcare provider's approval-you can inject yourself."
  • Q: Will the injections be painful?
  • A: "RAPTIVA has to be self-injected. You may be concerned about that, but you don't have to be. The needle is small and it goes in under the surface of your skin. All you'll feel is a little pinch."
  • Q: Where can I give myself an injection?
  • A: "In choosing an area of the body for the injection, avoid skin involved with psoriasis if possible. If you're injecting yourself, some possible injection sites would include the outer areas of the upper legs, or the stomach area around your belly button. If someone else is giving you an injection, they can also use the back of your upper arms or buttocks. It's important to change the injection site each time you take RAPTIVA to lower your chances of soreness and redness at the injection site."
  • Q: How often should I take RAPTIVA?
  • A: "RAPTIVA is indicated to be taken once weekly and should be taken as prescribed by your doctor. You should not change your dosing schedule without speaking with your healthcare provider."
  • Q: What do I do with the syringes after my injections?
  • A: "Place the used syringe, with the attached needle, in a puncture-resistant container, like a sharps container. You can buy a sharps container at any local pharmacy. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to properly dispose of the container once it is filled. There may be special local and state laws for disposing of used needles and syringes. Do not throw filled containers of sharps into the household trash, and do not recycle them. And remember to never re-use a needle."
  • Q: What kind of lab tests will I need while on RAPTIVA?
  • A: "Platelets, which help your blood clot, are monitored by a simple blood test. With RAPTIVA, testing is recommended because low platelet counts were found in a small number (0.3%) of patients during clinical trials. So don't be alarmed if your doctor tests your blood levels once you've started taking RAPTIVA. In general, tests are given once a month at first and less often throughout treatment. If you are taking RAPTIVA, and notice unusual or easy bruising or bleeding, call your doctor right away."
  • Q: What other important considerations should I know about RAPTIVA?
  • A: "The most common side effects with RAPTIVA are headaches, chills, fever, nausea, and muscle aches. These flu-like symptoms usually go away a few days after the first or second injection."
  • "You can feel confident in knowing that RAPTIVA has a safety profile with a low incidence of serious side effects. RAPTIVA is an immunosuppressive agent. Many immunosuppressive agents can decrease the activity of the immune system, and have the potential to increase the risk of infection and cancer. However, the role of RAPTIVA in the development of cancer is currently not known. Low platelet counts - what we call thrombocytopenia - have been infrequently observed (in less than 0.3% of patients in clinical trials) during therapy. Call your doctor right away if you notice any unusual or easy bruising or bleeding. Low blood counts, or anemia, may also occur, so call your doctor right away if you feel weak, light-headed, or notice a change of color to your skin, eyes, or urine."
  • "Some patients have had a serious worsening or what we call new forms of psoriasis while taking RAPTIVA, or after stopping RAPTIVA. In addition, some patients have had worsening or new arthritis while taking RAPTIVA or after stopping RAPTIVA. Please see your healthcare provider before receiving any vaccines while taking RAPTIVA."
  • "Remember to monitor any new symptoms you may experience while taking RAPTIVA and discuss any concerns with your doctor."
  • "If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider and ask about the RAPTIVA pregnancy registry. Or find out more by calling 1-877-RAPTIVA to enroll."
  • Please see Important Safety Information for full safety information.

Meet Laura, RAPTIVA Access Solutions Senior Manager

  • "Part of what makes treating psoriasis with RAPTIVA such a positive experience for so many patients, is the support they receive through our RAPTIVA Access Solutions and network resources, as well as programs like Clearly YouSM."
  • Laura, RAPTIVA Access Solutions Senior Manager
  • Q: What is RAPTIVA Access Solutions?
  • A: "RAPTIVA Access Solutions is a reimbursement resource offered by Genentech that provides information to patients and their healthcare professionals."
  • Q: How do I get started with RAPTIVA Access Solutions?
  • A: "First, your dermatologist's office will probably fill out a Statement of Medical Necessity, or SMN form. This is the equivalent of a prescription. Your dermatologist's office will then fax this important form to RAPTIVA Access Solutions along with the Patient Authorization and Notice of Release of Information forms. That's all it takes to get things started."
  • Q: Will my insurance cover RAPTIVA?
  • A: "The majority of insurance plans do cover the cost of treatment with RAPTIVA. But everyone's insurance is different. If you experience issues with your insurance, RAPTIVA Access Solutions can provide you with reimbursement information and assistance."
  • Q: How long does it take for RAPTIVA Access Solutions to work with my insurance?
  • A: "The time it takes to get an authorization in place for RAPTIVA really varies depending on your insurance coverage. The majority of cases won't take more than 2 to 3 weeks."
  • "There are times when insurance companies will deny coverage for RAPTIVA. There is an appeal process that RAPTIVA Access Solutions will help physicians and patients to navigate so that the decision is appealed. If the appeal is not successful, then the patients are rendered uninsured because they don't have coverage for RAPTIVA. Patients who are uninsured or rendered uninsured by payor denial can apply to the Genentech® Access to Care Foundation for possible access to RAPTIVA."
  • Q: What if my insurance changes?
  • A: "There are times in your life where a change in your insurance coverage or loss of insurance coverage may impact your ability to access needed medications."
  • "After informing your treating physician and dispensing pharmacy, keep RAPTIVA Access Solutions in mind as well. We're always here to provide support through those types of challenges. In fact, you'll receive calls from us from time to time just to see if things are going smoothly with your insurance coverage."
  • Q: How will I get my RAPTIVA?
  • A: "Once RAPTIVA Access Solutions has confirmed your insurance coverage, it may also start working for you with one of the Specialty Pharmacies in our network. A Specialty Pharmacy is not like your typical neighborhood pharmacy; a representative will call you every month to arrange shipment of your RAPTIVA right to your doorstep, or your RAPTIVA will be shipped automatically to your doctor's office - whichever you prefer. Your Specialty Pharmacy will also ask how you are doing with your treatment, or answer any questions you may have."
  • Q: What exactly is a Specialty Pharmacy?
  • A: "We call pharmacies with special resources like injection training and personal follow-up calls 'Specialty Pharmacies.' Working with a Specialty Pharmacy offers you more than just medicine. You get education and support from people who know about psoriasis. Working with a Specialty Pharmacy is another helpful resource provided by Genentech to ensure that you have a successful experience with RAPTIVA."
  • Q: What other resources are available to help me once I'm on RAPTIVA?
  • A: "Clearly YouSM is a program offered exclusively to those taking RAPTIVA. As a member of this program, you'll have access to tools and information that can help you get the most out of your treatment with RAPTIVA. Clearly YouSM is a personalized program, providing you with a resource for both education and encouragement. Visit www.ClearlyYou.com to join."
  • Q: Have more questions about Clearly YouSM?
  • A: "Call the Clearly YouSM Nurse Helpline at 1-866-4CLRLYU (1-866-425-7598) Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET. Voice messages left after hours will be returned the following business day."

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