Starting VPRIV (velaglucerase alfa)Your first 90 days with gaucher disease: the steps, the dates and who to call

How you take it

An infusion into a vein that takes 60 minutes, once every other week. Your doctor sets the dose by weight.

Before your first dose

• A lab test or a genetic test that confirms Gaucher disease. Your insurance may ask for the report.
• You and your doctor fill out the VPRIV Start Form. Then Takeda Patient Support, the drugmaker's support program, calls you. Its number is 1-866-888-0660.
• Your insurance approves the medicine. While it decides, a program called QuickStart may give up to 2 free doses if you qualify.
• The first infusion is booked at a place that is ready to treat a serious allergic reaction.
• If you had allergy symptoms at an earlier infusion, your doctor may give allergy medicine before the next one.
• If you are switching from imiglucerase, VPRIV starts 2 weeks after your last infusion of it.

The first 90 days

1. Before the first infusionStart Form sent, insurance check
2. While the plan reviewsInsurance review, free first doses may apply
3. Day 1Day 1: first infusion, at an infusion center
4. Day 15Infusion 2, two weeks later
5. Day 29Infusion 3
6. Day 43Infusion 4
7. Day 57Takeda says home infusion may become an option later, if infusions go well
8. Day 71Infusion 6
9. Day 85Infusion 7