Muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT®3)

Purpose:
Muromonab-CD3 may be given immediately following liver transplant to prevent rejection. It may also be used to treat rejection.

How to take:

• This medication is given only in the IV form. It is generally given once per day for 5 to 14 days.

• To reduce side effects, the patient may receive TYLENOL® or BENADRYL® before treatment with OKT3.

• The transplant team will determine the dosage appropriate for the patient based on weight, how the transplant is functioning, white blood cell count, platelet count, and the possible side effects of Muromonab-CD3.

Precautions:

• The patient should notify his transplant team at the first sign of wheezing, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, difficulty swallowing, rash, or itching.

• The transplant team may change the dosages of other medications during the course of treatment with Muromonab-CD3.

• The benefits of taking Muromonab-CD3 if a patient is pregnant or breast feeding must be weighed against the potential hazards to her, her fetus, or her infant. She should consult her transplant team immediately if she thinks she's pregnant.

Principal side effects:

These include, but are not limited to, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, headache, rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness, and high or low blood pressure. The most uncomfortable side effects generally occur only during the first few doses or in the first 1 to 4 days.