Table 3.
Dose | Initial Response/Peak Response | Response Rate | Adverse Effects | Comments | Average Wholesale Price58 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prednisone (Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)a | |||||
0.5–2.0 mg/kg daily for 3–4 weeks | 4–14 days/7–28 days | 70–80% | Insomnia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, mood disorders, weight gain, dizziness, edema | Requires dose tapering | $22.40 for 100 20-mg tablets |
Dexamethasone (Par Pharmaceutical)a | |||||
40 mg daily for 4 consecutive days every 2–4 weeks, 1–4 cycles | 2–14 days/4–28 days | Up to 90% | Same as prednisone, but less frequent | Faster onset of action than prednisone | $98.85 for 100 6-mg tablets |
Intravenous Immune Globulin (Gammagard liquid, Baxalta, Inc.)b | |||||
1 g/kg daily for 1–2 days | 1–3 days/2–7 days | Up to 85% | Infusion-related reactions, nephrotoxicity | First-line if corticosteroids are contraindicated or produce suboptimal response | $783.80 for 50-mL vial (100 mg/1 mL) |
Anti-D Immune Globulin (WinRho SDF, Aptevo Biotherapeutics LLC)b | |||||
50–75 mcg/kg | 1–3 days/3–7 days | 70–80% | Hemolysis | Only in D-positive patients; monitor patients for 8 hours after administration | $514.35 for 1.3-mL vial (300 mcg) |
Cost represents lowest average wholesale price for generic drug available at the time of writing.
Representative product commonly used in clinical practice.