abatacept
Brand names: Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$1383.49/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Orencia treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults.
Common side effects
Headache, Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold), Runny nose
Key warnings
Using Orencia with a TNF antagonist or other biologic medicines can raise your risk of serious infections.
How It Works
Orencia works by blocking the activity of certain immune cells called T cells. These T cells can cause inflammation and damage to your joints and other tissues. By blocking T cell activity, Orencia can help reduce inflammation and relieve your symptoms.
How to Take It
Orencia can be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion or as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. The dose depends on your weight and the condition being treated. If you get Orencia through IV, it will be given to you by a healthcare provider. If you use the subcutaneous injection, you will inject yourself once a week.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is not enough information about Orencia use in pregnant women to know if it is safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Orencia, take it as soon as you remember. Then, get back to your regular schedule.
Storage
Keep Orencia in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 189,045 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 133,227 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
133,227
Death-Related Reports
8,659
Hospitalization Reports
24,589
Top Indication
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 38,612 |
| 2 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 23,596 |
| 3 | PAIN | 21,295 |
| 4 | ARTHRALGIA | 20,151 |
| 5 | JOINT SWELLING | 19,709 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 14,200 |
| 7 | CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED | 13,791 |
| 8 | DRUG INTOLERANCE | 12,991 |
| 9 | RASH | 12,957 |
| 10 | OFF LABEL USE | 11,743 |
| 11 | ARTHROPATHY | 11,573 |
| 12 | ALOPECIA | 10,533 |
| 13 | SYNOVITIS | 10,151 |
| 14 | ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT | 10,008 |
| 15 | TREATMENT FAILURE | 9,693 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Using Orencia with a TNF antagonist or other biologic medicines can raise your risk of serious infections. Tell your doctor if you have any signs of infection, such as fever, cough, or sore throat. Orencia can also cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, swelling, or hives.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Abatacept: Increased risk of serious infection. 7.2 Biological Products In clinical studies in patients with RA, an increased risk of serious infections has been observed with the combination of TNF blockers with anakinra or abatacept, with no added benefit; therefore, use of IDACIO with abatacept or anakinra is not recommended in patients with RA [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 , 5.11 )] . Concomitant administration of IDACIO with other biologic DMARDS (e.g., anakinra and abatacept) or other TNF blockers is not recommended based upon the possible increased risk fo...
Mechanism: Both drugs lower your body's ability to fight germs. Taking them together increases your risk of getting a very serious infection without helping your symptoms more.
What to do: This combination is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about using a different treatment plan that only uses one of these drugs.
( 7.3 ) 7.1 Use with Anakinra, Abatacept, Rituximab, and Natalizumab An increased risk of serious infections has been seen in clinical studies of other TNF-blocking agents used in combination with anakinra or abatacept, with no added benefit. Therefore, the use of CIMZIA in combination with anakinra, abatacept, rituximab, or natalizumab is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] .
Mechanism: Both of these medicines weaken the immune system to treat inflammation, so taking them together makes it much harder for your body to fight off serious infections.
What to do: This combination is not recommended and should be avoided because it increases the risk of infection without providing extra benefits.
Live vaccines – Avoid concurrent administration with Enbrel ( 5.8 , 7.1 ) Anakinra – Increased risk of serious infection ( 5.12 , 7.2 ) Abatacept – Increased risk of serious adverse events, including infections ( 5.12 , 7.2 ) Cyclophosphamide – Not recommended for use with Enbrel. In clinical studies, concurrent administration of abatacept and Enbrel resulted in increased incidences of serious adverse events, including infections, and did not demonstrate increased clinical benefit [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] .
Mechanism: Both drugs lower your body's ability to fight off germs. Using them together makes your immune system too weak and greatly increases your risk of getting a serious infection.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medications together. Your doctor will help you find a single treatment that works without increasing your risk of infection.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Biologics, including abatacept and anakinra: Increased risk of serious infections ( 5.1 , 5.6 , 5.7 , 5.8 , 7.2 ). 7.2 Biologic Products for RA, PsA, AS, and pJIA An increased risk of serious infections has been seen in clinical RA studies of other TNF-blockers used in combination with anakinra or abatacept, with no added benefit; therefore, use of SIMPONI ARIA with other biologic products, including abatacept or anakinra, is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6 and 5.7) ] .
Mechanism: Both of these drugs weaken the immune system to treat inflammation. Using them together makes it much harder for your body to fight off serious infections without providing extra help for your condition.
What to do: This combination is not recommended. Talk to your doctor about using only one of these biologic treatments at a time.
An increased risk of serious infections was seen in clinical studies of other TNF blockers used in combination with anakinra or abatacept, with no added clinical benefit. Because of the nature of the adverse reactions seen with these combinations with TNF blocker therapy, similar toxicities may also result from the combination of anakinra or abatacept with other TNF blockers. Therefore, the combination of INFLECTRA and anakinra or abatacept is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] .
Mechanism: Both drugs weaken the immune system, which makes it much harder for the body to fight off serious infections. Using them together does not provide any extra health benefits.
What to do: This combination is not recommended. Your doctor should avoid prescribing these two medications at the same time to prevent dangerous infections.
Common Questions
Can I take Orencia with other medicines for my arthritis?
What should I do if I have a reaction to Orencia?
Can Orencia affect my blood sugar?
Do I need to be tested for TB before starting Orencia?
Can I get vaccines while taking Orencia?
What are the most common side effects of Orencia?
How often do I take Orencia?
How is Orencia supplied?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
How should I store Orencia?
What are the common side effects of abatacept?
Does abatacept interact with other medications?
What drug class is abatacept?
Is abatacept safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for abatacept
The FDA label for abatacept (sold under brand names such as Orencia) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the T-Cell Co-Stimulation Modulator class. Orencia treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold), Runny nose.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 189,045 voluntary reports. The database also lists 5 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 13, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages