How Assistance Works
Streamlining our patient’s specialty pharmacy experience with unmatched full-service convenience
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1. Check Your Coverage/Benefits Verification
Our team of expert billers finds the best avenues of coverage that minimize out-of-pocket costs.
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2. Transfer Prescription to AmeriPharma™
We process your prescription by working with your previous pharmacy or prescriber, making the transition quick and easy.
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3. Prior Authorization
Our team of specialists obtains approval from your insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours.
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4. Copay Assistance & Financial Aid
We secure financial aid and decrease copays, out-of-pocket expenses, and high deductibles. To date, AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care has secured $55 million in financial assistance for our patients.
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5. Nursing Care Coordination
AmeriPharma™ puts your schedule and home environment first when scheduling and coordinating one of our specialized nurses for your in-home infusions.
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6. Delivery Coordination
Medications are always delivered in strict compliance with the specific requirements for shipping. Next-day and overnight cold-chain deliveries are coordinated around your schedule.
What Is Gammagard?
Immunoglobulin is a product composed of antibodies, which are proteins produced by the body to protect and aid in the fight against infection. Gammagard is one of the most frequently used immunoglobulin products. It is made from the blood of thousands of donors.
Human plasma antibodies can be isolated from donated blood and used to make this medication. Gammagard, also known as immune globulin and Gammagard liquid IV, is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. It has been used for several years to treat and manage Alzheimer’s disease.
Gammagard can also be used to treat primary immunodeficiency, which is characterized by an insufficient number of antibodies. Antibodies collected from healthy individuals are used to replace these missing antibodies. Gammagard is indicated for patients with this condition who are 2 years and older.
Gammagard is a 10% IgG solution (100 milligrams/ml) that is free of sucrose, added sugars, sodium, preservatives, and proline. As a result, this medication is ideal for individuals allergic to these additives.
Gammagard Treatment
Beta-Amyloid proteins, abbreviated as Aβ, are synthesized throughout the human body. When these proteins aggregate and form plaques in the brain, a neurodegenerative process can begin. This results in memory loss and cognitive impairment, as seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Immune globulins have the ability to mitigate Aβ toxicity in the brain.
According to one report, patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease treated with Gammagard liquid have a higher level of Aβ antibodies in their serum and a lower level of clumped Aβ proteins in their brains.
Additionally, for over a year and a half, these patients’ MMSE (Mini-Mental State Exam) scores have remained stable. Another study reported improved changes in the level of human plasma cytokines in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. MRI scans revealed a reduction in the heart’s enlargement.
The FDA has also approved Gammagard to treat immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases, including primary immunodeficiency (PI) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).
PI occurs when the body’s immune system is deficient and does not produce enough antibodies. Immunoglobulin therapy is required to keep patients with PI healthy.
MMN occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s nerves. Gammagard is used to maintain muscle strength in adult patients with MMN.
Copay and Financial Assistance
AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care alleviates financial burdens for patients and their families
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Advanced software locates funding sources to match you with top-dollar foundation programs
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One of our copay assistance specialists will assist with the application process
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Automatic updates will be sent to you and your physician on the status of the funding
Gammagard Dosing
IV (Intravenous) Administration for Primary Immunodeficiency (PI)
Dose:
300 – 600 mg/kg every 3 to 4 weeks. The dose will be adjusted based on the patient’s clinical response.
Initial infusion rate:
0.5 ml/kg/hr (0.8 mg/kg/min) for 30 minutes.
Maintenance infusion rate:
Every 30 minutes, increase (if tolerated) up to 5 ml per kg per hour (8 mg per kg per minute).
IV (Intravenous) Administration for Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN)
Dose:
0.5 to 2.4 grams/kg/month. The dose will be adjusted based on the patient’s clinical response.
Initial infusion rate:
0.5ml/kg /hr (0.8 mg/kg/min).
Maintenance infusion rate:
If tolerated, the infusion rate can be increased to 5.4 ml/kg/hr (9 mg/kg/min).
SubQ Administration for PI
Dose:
The initial dose is 1.37 times the number of previous intravenous doses, divided by the number of weeks between intravenous doses. The maintenance dose is based on the clinical response of the patient.
Initial infusion rate:
- 40 kg body weight and greater: 30 ml/site at 20 ml/hr/site.
- Under 40 kg body weight: 20 ml/site at 15 ml/hr/site.
Maintenance infusion rate:
- 40 kg body weight and greater: 30 ml/site at 20 to 30 ml/hr/site.
- Under 40 kg body weight: 20 ml/site at 15 to 20 ml/hr/site.
Gammagard Side Effects
Common general side effects include:
- Light headache
- Migraine
- Redness
- Warmth
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Chills
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Upper abdominal pain
- Muscle cramps and weakness
- Sore throat
Common injection site side effects:
- Mild to moderate pain
- Swelling
- Itchiness
- Bruising
- Redness
- Low-grade fever
- Warmth
Severe side effects include:
- Allergic reaction
- Brain swelling
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Blood clots
- Heart and lung complications
- Infection
- Aseptic meningitis syndrome
- Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells)
- Transfusion-related acute lung injury (symptoms typically occur within 1 to 6 hours of treatment)
Get Started in Minutes
Fill out your information and one of our specialists will call you ASAP.
How Much Can You Save?
Speak with a copay assistance specialist
(877) 778-0318
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Insurances Accepted
We accept Medicare, multi-state Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, and most private insurances. Call us to find out more about your coverage.
