Praluent: Side Effects, Cost, Dosage, and More - Healthline

Like most drugs, Praluent may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Praluent may cause. These lists don't include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that the side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Praluent. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here's a short list of some of the mild side effects that Praluent can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Praluent's prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Praluent that have been reported include:

• common cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat
• flu-like symptoms, such as body ache, fatigue (low energy), and fever
• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• diarrhea
• cough
• muscle spasm (tightening that you can't control)
• blocked sinuses, which may cause headache or pain in your face
• bruising
• muscle pain*
• injection site reaction*

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Praluent can occur, but they aren't common. If you have serious side effects from Praluent, call your doctor right away. But if you think you're having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Praluent that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the possible side effects of Praluent.

Muscle pain

It's possible that you'll have muscle pain as a side effect of treatment with Praluent.

This side effect wasn't very common in studies. It's important to point out that many people who took Praluent in these studies were also taking a statin medication (a different type of drug used to lower cholesterol). Statins can also cause muscle pain as a side effect.

What might help

If you have muscle pain while taking Praluent, tell your doctor. They may be able to suggest ways to treat or ease your side effects. If you have muscle pain that doesn't go away or is bothersome to you, they may recommend that you stop taking Praluent.

Injection site reaction

Injection site reaction is a possible side effect of Praluent. This is a side effect at the area where you inject a Praluent dose. An injection site reaction caused by Praluent can include itching, pain, redness or discoloration, swelling, and tenderness.

In studies, injection site reaction was among the most common side effects of Praluent. People who took a 300-milligram (mg) dose every 4 weeks were more likely to have an injection site reaction than people who took a 150-mg dose every 2 weeks.

What might help

To help prevent an injection site reaction, you should rotate injection sites with each dose. You should also avoid giving injections into skin that appears red or discolored, tender, hard, or injured. (See the "How is Praluent administered?" section below for details.)

If injection site reactions are bothersome to you or keep happening, tell your doctor. They'll likely suggest you stop taking Praluent, and they can discuss other treatments for your condition.

High liver enzyme levels

Treatment with Praluent may cause high liver enzyme levels as a side effect. This wasn't common in studies, though.

High liver enzyme levels don't cause symptoms in most people. But they are sometimes a sign of liver damage.

Liver damage can cause symptoms such as:

There was no serious liver damage or liver injury reported in studies of Praluent. People with preexisting severe liver problems weren't included in these studies, though. It isn't known whether having existing liver problems can increase your risk of liver problems with Praluent.

What might help

While you're taking Praluent, your doctor may monitor your liver enzyme levels using blood tests. Your doctor can give you more information on how often you'll have these tests while you're taking Praluent.

If you have symptoms of liver damage during treatment with Praluent, tell your doctor right away. They can advise if it's safe for you to continue with Praluent treatment.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Praluent. Mild allergic reactions were common in studies.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Praluent. But if you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.