Key takeaways

  • Haegarda helps prevent sudden swelling due to hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults and children ages 6 years and older. It works by raising levels of C1-INH, which is a protein that regulates swelling.
  • Common side effects include injection site reactions, dizziness, and a runny or stuffy nose.
  • A program called Haegarda Connect is available that may help lower the price of Haegarda injections.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Haegarda to prevent sudden, painful swelling in people with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Drug details

You’ll find key information about Haegarda here:

  • Drug class: complement inhibitor
  • Drug form: powder that’s mixed with sterile water to make a solution, which is given as a subcutaneous injection
  • Generic or biosimilar available? no
  • Prescription required? yes
  • Controlled substance? no

Haegarda contains the C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) protein, which is found naturally in human blood. Haegarda is a biologic medication that’s not available as a biosimilar. (Biologics and biosimilars are drugs made from living cells. Biosimilars are like a generic version of biologics.)

Haegarda can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while using Haegarda. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Haegarda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Haegarda and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects of Haegarda can include:

  • injection site reactions
  • dizziness (see “Side effect details”)
  • a runny or stuffy nose (see “Side effect details”)

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

This is a partial list of mild side effects from Haegarda. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or check Haegarda’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Haegarda aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

Side effect details

You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Here’s some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause.

Dizziness

It’s possible to feel dizzy while you’re using Haegarda. If you have dizziness that’s bothersome while you’re using Haegarda, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to help reduce this side effect.

Runny or stuffy nose

You may have nasopharyngitis, which is a runny or stuffy nose, while you’re using Haegarda. Nasopharyngitis is also called the common cold.

If you have nasopharyngitis while you’re using Haegarda, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help relieve your symptoms.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Haegarda can cause an allergic reaction, also called a hypersensitivity reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

When using Haegarda, make sure you have epinephrine available to you to treat a severe hypersensitivity reaction. In case of an emergency, you or a caregiver should understand how to administer epinephrine. Talk with your doctor to learn more about using epinephrine with Haegarda.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep using the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling, chest tightness, or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Haegarda, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

As with all medications, the cost of Haegarda can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

  • Specialty pharmacy: It’s important to note that you’ll have to get Haegarda at a specialty pharmacy. This type of pharmacy is authorized to carry specialty medications. These are drugs that may be expensive or may require help from healthcare professionals to be used safely and effectively.
  • Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Haegarda, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. A program called Haegarda Connect is available, which may offer copay assistance for people with commercial insurance. It may also offer cost savings to people who don’t have insurance coverage on Haegarda. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-423-4273 or visit the program website.
  • Generic or biosimilar version: Haegarda is available only as a brand-name medication. It doesn’t come in a biosimilar form. Biosimilars are like a generic version of a biologic, and they can be less expensive than brand-name versions.

The Haegarda dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Haegarda to treat
  • your weight
  • any other medical conditions you may have

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Haegarda comes as a powder inside vials that each contain either 2,000 or 3,000 units of the drug.

Haegarda powder is mixed with sterile (germ-free) water before it’s given as an injection with a syringe. The drug comes in kits that contain the correct amount of sterilized water needed for each dose.

You’ll take Haegarda as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin). Your doctor will show you how to administer the drug to yourself.

Dosage for hereditary angioedema

The recommended dosage of Haegarda to prevent hereditary angioedema attacks is 60 units of drug per kilogram (kg) of body weight. This dose is given twice weekly (once every 3 to 4 days).

For example, if a person weighs 145 pounds (66 kg), the dose of Haegarda would be about 4,000 units. (One kg is about equal to 2.2 pounds.)

Children’s dosage

Haegarda’s recommended dosage for children ages 6 years and older is the same as that for adults (see “Dosage for hereditary angioedema” just above).

About using Haegarda

You’ll find information about key dosage issues here:

  • When to use: Haegarda should be used twice weekly (once every 3 to 4 days). You should try to give your doses at about the same time each day, and on the same days every week.
  • If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose of Haegarda, contact your doctor or healthcare professional to find out what you should do. If it’s almost time for your next dose, they may recommend skipping the missed dose and taking your next dose as usual. Do not inject more than one dose of Haegarda at a time. Doing so could increase your risk of side effects from the drug.
  • Length of use: Haegarda is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Haegarda is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
  • How long Haegarda takes to work: Haegarda starts working right away to prevent HAE attacks. However, it may take several doses of the drug before your C1-INH levels become steady.

Haegarda overdose

Do not use more Haegarda than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, taking more than needed may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you use too much Haegarda

If you think you’ve used too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Haegarda to treat certain conditions.

Haegarda for hereditary angioedema

Haegarda is FDA approved to prevent hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adults and children ages 6 years and older.

HAE is a genetic disorder. It causes episodes of sudden, painful, and severe swelling, which are also called HAE attacks. Swelling related to HAE most commonly occurs in the:

  • airway
  • arms and legs
  • eyes
  • face
  • gastrointestinal tract (stomach, large intestine, or small intestine)
  • lips

Swelling caused by HAE can go away on its own, but it may last for several days. Swelling in your gastrointestinal tract may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. However, swelling in your airway can be life threatening and may require rescue treatments (drugs that are used to treat HAE attacks as they’re happening). Haegarda is not a rescue treatment.

With HAE, you may have low levels of a protein called C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). Or you may have C1-INH that doesn’t work properly.

Haegarda contains the C1-INH protein, which is found naturally in human blood. This protein plays an important role in your body’s regulation of swelling. Haegarda works to prevent HAE attacks by increasing C1-INH protein levels in the body.

In clinical studies, Haegarda was effective at reducing the number of HAE attacks people had per month and how often people had to use their rescue treatment.

Haegarda and children

Haegarda is used in children ages 6 years and older. Be sure to discuss administration instructions with your child’s doctor so you know how and when to give the injections.

Haegarda is approved to prevent hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. With HAE, your blood vessels and capillaries (tiny blood vessels) leak fluid into the areas surrounding them. This causes the swelling and pain that occur during an HAE attack.

With HAE, you may have low levels of a protein called C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). Or you may have C1-INH that doesn’t work properly.

Haegarda mechanism of action

Haegarda contains the C1-INH protein, which is found naturally in human blood. This protein plays an important role in your body’s regulation of swelling.

Haegarda works by raising the levels of C1-INH in your body. Higher levels of C1-INH can prevent HAE attacks by keeping your blood vessels and capillaries from leaking.

You should inject Haegarda according to your doctor’s or healthcare professional’s instructions. You should not inject Haegarda unless you’ve received training from a healthcare professional.

Haegarda comes as a powder inside vials. You’ll mix the powder with sterile (germ-free) water before it’s given as an injection. The drug comes in kits that contain the correct amount of sterilized water needed for each dose. You’ll use a syringe and needle to inject the drug.

You’ll give Haegarda as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin). Your doctor will show you (or a caregiver) how to administer the drug at home. Haegarda’s manufacturer provides step-by-step instructions on how to mix and inject Haegarda.

Other drugs are available that can manage hereditary angioedema (HAE). Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Haegarda, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Some drugs treat HAE attacks, while others, such as Haegarda, prevent HAE attacks. Examples of other drugs that may be used to manage HAE include:

Note: Some of the drugs listed here are prescribed off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition.

* C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) is a protein that’s found naturally inside your body. With HAE, you may have low levels of C1-INH, or you may have C1-INH that doesn’t work properly. Haegarda contains the C1-INH protein.

Haegarda and Berinert both contain C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), a protein found naturally in human blood.

Both drugs are used to help manage hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults and children ages 6 years and older, but they’re used in different ways:

  • Haegarda is used twice weekly to prevent HAE attacks. But the drug should not be used to treat HAE attacks when they’re occurring. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin).
  • Berinert is a single dose given to treat HAE attacks as they’re happening. The drug hasn’t been studied for use in preventing HAE attacks. It’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection given into a vein over a period of time). You may receive Berinert from a healthcare professional. Or if your doctor thinks it’s appropriate and you’ve received training, you can administer the drug to yourself.

Haegarda and Berinert can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones, too. For example, Berinert may cause an unpleasant taste that lasts for a long time, and increased pain related to HAE attacks. These side effects haven’t been reported with Haegarda.

These drugs haven’t been directly compared in clinical studies. But separate studies have found both Haegarda and Berinert to be effective in managing HAE.

Both Haegarda and Cinryze contain C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), which is a protein that’s found naturally in human blood.

Haegarda and Cinryze are both approved to prevent hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adults and children ages 6 years and older. They each come as powders that are mixed with sterile water before they’re given as injections every 3 to 4 days. But the type of injection is different:

  • Haegarda is given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin). Your doctor will show you how to administer the drug to yourself.
  • Cinryze is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection given into a vein over a period of time). You may receive Cinryze from a healthcare professional. Or if your doctor thinks it’s appropriate and you’ve received training, you can administer the drug to yourself.

These drugs haven’t been directly compared in clinical studies. But separate studies have found both Haegarda and Cinryze to be effective in preventing HAE attacks.

Haegarda is used to prevent hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. You may use other drugs to manage HAE along with Haegarda.

Haegarda with rescue medications

Even with treatment to prevent HAE attacks, the attacks may still occur. Haegarda should not be used to treat HAE attacks when they’re happening. Instead, your doctor will prescribe a rescue medication for you to use when HAE attacks occur.

Examples of rescue treatments for HAE attacks include:

If you have questions about the rescue medication that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

* C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) is a protein that’s found naturally inside your body. Haegarda also contains the C1-INH protein, but is not used as a rescue treatment.

Haegarda with epinephrine

When using Haegarda, make sure you have epinephrine available to you to treat a severe allergic reaction that may occur with Haegarda. (For more information about allergic reactions, see the “Haegarda side effects” section.)

In case of an emergency, you or a caregiver should understand how to administer epinephrine. Talk with your doctor to learn more about using epinephrine with Haegarda.

There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and Haegarda. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the risks of drinking while you’re using Haegarda.

Haegarda isn’t known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, or foods. However, that doesn’t mean that interactions aren’t possible.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.

Before using Haegarda, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help prevent potential interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s not known whether Haegarda is safe to use during pregnancy. This drug hasn’t been specifically studied during pregnancy.

However, one clinical study of Haegarda did include four pregnant people. These people received Haegarda for up to 8 weeks during their first 3 months of pregnancy. All of them delivered healthy babies. And they didn’t report any problems during pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Haegarda.

It’s not known whether Haegarda is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control options while you’re using Haegarda.

For more information about using Haegarda during pregnancy, see the “Haegarda and pregnancy” section.

It’s not known whether Haegarda is safe to use while breastfeeding or if the drug can pass into human breast milk.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Haegarda.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Haegarda.

Will I be able to give injections of Haegarda to myself?

Yes, you’ll most likely be able to give injections of Haegarda to yourself. It may take some time for you to become comfortable giving the injections to yourself. But self-administration will become easier over time.

Your doctor will show you how to inject your doses of Haegarda. Don’t try to self-administer the drug unless you’ve received training from your doctor.

Can I use Haegarda if I’m having an attack of hereditary angioedema?

No, Haegarda should not be used to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks. Instead, the drug is used twice per week to prevent attacks from occurring.

To treat HAE attacks while they’re happening, you’ll use a rescue medication. For information on rescue medications for HAE, see the “Haegarda use with other drugs” section.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about the rescue medication that’s best for you.

Is Haegarda safe for older people to use?

Yes, in general, Haegarda is safe for older people to use. Haegarda has been studied in people up to 72 years of age. And these studies showed that Haegarda was just as safe and effective in older people as it was in younger people.

If you have questions about using Haegarda given your age, talk with your doctor.

Will Haegarda cure HAE?

No, Haegarda won’t cure HAE. But Haegarda has been shown to effectively help prevent HAE attacks. The drug does this by increasing levels of a protein called C1-INH in your body. For more information about how Haegarda works, see the “How Haegarda works” section.

Haegarda will continue working to prevent HAE attacks as long as you keep using the drug.

Before using Haegarda, talk with your doctor about your health history. Haegarda may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

  • having risk factors for blood clots (such as a limited ability to move around, a history of stroke, or taking certain medications, such as birth control pills)
  • history of viral infections
  • allergic reaction to Haegarda or any of its ingredients
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Haegarda, see the “Haegarda side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.