Praluent (alirocumab) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed to lower high cholesterol levels and the risk of certain heart problems in adults. As with other drugs, Praluent can cause side effects, such as injection site reactions.

Praluent is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called monoclonal antibodies. Specifically, it’s a type of monoclonal antibody called a PCSK9 inhibitor. The drug isn’t available in a biosimilar version.

Praluent comes as a solution in a single-dose, prefilled pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of Praluent. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Praluent can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Praluent in clinical trials. These side effects can vary depending on which condition the drug is being taken to treat.

More common side effects in people taking Praluent for high cholesterol include:

More common side effects in people taking Praluent to reduce the risk of certain heart problems include:

  • chest pain not related to the heart
  • swelling of the nasal passages and back of the throat
  • muscle pain*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Praluent use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Praluent’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Praluent include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Praluent and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Praluent may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Praluent’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Praluent, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Praluent may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Can Praluent cause long-term side effects?

Praluent isn’t known to cause long-term side effects. They tend to be mild and temporary. However, some side effects, such as injection site reactions, may continue to happen.* Additionally, problems with allergic reactions may develop over time. You can read more about these side effects in the “Side effects specifics” section below.

If the side effects don’t go away, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Praluent is self-administered by subcutaneous injection. To learn more, see this article.

How long do side effects of Praluent typically last?

The side effects of Praluent are typically mild and temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. If you have side effects that last longer, talk with your doctor. Be sure to tell them about any new symptoms you experience after starting Praluent, especially if they become severe or don’t go away.

Is weight gain a side effect of Praluent?

It’s unlikely you’ll experience weight gain as a side effect of Praluent. It wasn’t reported in clinical trials of the drug.

If you’d like more information about weight gain and Praluent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Praluent may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Praluent.

Muscle pain

Muscle-related side effects were common in clinical trials of Praluent. These side effects included muscle pain and muscle spasms. A muscle spasm is an involuntary muscle movement, sometimes called a muscle cramp.

It’s not clear whether people who had muscle pain and spasms were also taking a statin drug in these trials. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that can cause serious muscle problems.

What you can do

If you have muscle pain or spasms while taking Praluent, talk with your doctor about it. They’ll help determine whether Praluent is the cause of your symptoms. They may recommend adjusting your dosage or switching to a different medication.*

Your doctor can suggest ways to help ease your symptoms. You can also check out these home remedies.

* To learn more about Praluent dosages, you can refer to this article.

Increased levels of liver enzymes

Praluent may cause increased liver enzymes. This side effect was reported in the drug’s clinical trials. It was a common reason for stopping the drug. Liver enzymes are special types of proteins made in the liver. High liver enzymes can be a sign of liver damage or problems with liver function.

In most cases, high liver enzyme levels don’t cause symptoms. However, if there’s liver damage, symptoms can include:

What you can do

Your doctor may check your liver enzyme levels from time to time while you’re taking Praluent. If you develop any of the symptoms listed above, talk with your doctor right away.

Injection site reactions

Praluent is given as a subcutaneous injection. Injection site reactions were one of the most common side effects reported in clinical trials of Praluent.

Symptoms at the site of the injection include:

  • itching
  • pain or tenderness
  • skin discoloration
  • swelling

In most cases, injection site reactions were mild. However, some people had to stop taking Praluent because of them.

What you can do

To help prevent injection site reactions, be sure you know how to give Praluent injections.* First, let Praluent come to room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes before injecting it. Also, be sure to pick a new site for each injection of Praluent.

You can inject it under the skin of your thigh or abdomen, avoiding the area within 2 inches (in) of your belly button. If a caregiver injects it, they can use the back of your upper arm. Take care to avoid skin that is bruised, tender, discolored, or hard.

Ask your doctor about ways to manage injection site reactions. They may suggest taking an over-the-counter pain reliever or applying a warm or cold compress.

* For details on how to administer Praluent, see this article.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Praluent can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Praluent. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Praluent. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. For Praluent, your doctor will consider whether you’ve ever had an allergic reaction.

Allergic reaction. Praluent can cause serious allergic reactions that require hospitalization. Due to this risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe Praluent if you’ve had an allergic reaction to any of its ingredients. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol with Praluent

There’s no known interaction between alcohol and Praluent.

However, long-term heavy consumption of alcohol can cause liver problems. And taking Praluent can also cause liver-related problems. (To learn more, see the “Side effects specifics” section above.) So drinking alcohol while taking Praluent may further increase the risk of liver damage.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about it. They can tell you what amount of alcohol, if any, is safe to consume during Praluent treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Praluent

There’s not enough information to know whether Praluent is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. However, your doctor will likely recommend that you do not take Praluent while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you can become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Praluent. They can help determine whether Praluent is right for you.

If you become pregnant while taking Praluent, tell your doctor right away. They’ll help determine whether to continue taking the drug. Also, consider enrolling in the drug’s manufacturer pregnancy safety registry. A pregnancy registry collects information on how a drug affects pregnancy. It also helps doctors find out how safe Praluent is for use during pregnancy. You can find more information by calling 844-734-6643.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, your doctor can advise you on whether Praluent is safe to take. They can also recommend other treatments for your condition.

Praluent has some common side effects, some of which are mild. However, serious side effects are possible. If you’d like to learn more about Praluent, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Praluent. For details about other aspects of Praluent, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Praluent compares with Repatha, read this article.
  • Dosage. For information about the dosage of Praluent, view this article.
  • A look at your condition. For details about the conditions Praluent treats, see our cholesterol and cardiovascular health hubs.

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 another 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.