Generalized lipodystrophy (GL) is a rare condition that results in having little to no fat tissue all over the body.
Not only does the condition affect your appearance, the lack of body fat results in a loss of leptin, an important hormone that helps the body function properly.
Leptin is important because it helps control certain metabolic processes in the body. Not having enough leptin can lead to health problems such as high triglycerides (fat in the blood) and high blood sugar.
This is where Myalept®, the only FDA-approved leptin replacement therapy, may be able to help. Talk to your doctor to see if Myalept is right for you.
Leptin helps control certain important metabolic processes in the body
Controlling how fat is broken down or stored. When fat is not used and stored properly in GL, it can collect as triglycerides in the blood.
Helping the body respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps manage levels of sugar in the blood. Without leptin, the body can develop insulin resistance, which may lead to diabetes in people with GL.
Leptin is a hormone normally present in the body. It helps control certain important metabolic processes in the body, including:
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People with GL have low levels of leptin, which causes health problems.
To track these problems, people with GL should be aware of 3 important measures:
- Triglyceride level. This is the amount of fat in the blood.
- Blood sugar level, also referred to as blood glucose level. This is the amount of sugar in the blood.
- A1C level. This is a measure of the average blood sugar level over the course of 2 to 3 months.
When blood sugar levels are too high, the risk of developing diabetes can increase in people with GL. Not having enough leptin can cause these levels to be higher than normal in people with GL. Blood tests ordered by your doctor can show the level of triglycerides and sugars in the blood.
What is Myalept?
Myalept® (metreleptin) is a leptin replacement therapy used with a doctor-recommended diet to treat problems caused by not having enough leptin (leptin deficiency) in people with generalized lipodystrophy.
- It is not known if Myalept is safe and effective when used to treat problems (complications) caused by partial lipodystrophy or to treat liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Myalept should not be used to treat people with HIV-related lipodystrophy or people with metabolic disease, including diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia, without signs or symptoms of congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy.
Important Safety Information
Myalept is only available through a restricted program called the Myalept Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Your doctor must be enrolled and certified in the program in order to prescribe Myalept.
Myalept may cause serious side effects, including:
- risk for developing certain proteins called neutralizing antibodies that may reduce how well your own leptin or Myalept works. Side effects of these antibodies may include infection, problems with blood sugar (including diabetes), or an increase in triglycerides.
- increased risk of a type of blood cancer called lymphoma.
You should not take Myalept if you:
- have general obesity not caused by a congenital leptin deficiency.
- are allergic to metreleptin or any of the ingredients in Myalept. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching (hives), swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, fainting or dizziness, rapid heartbeat.
Before using Myalept, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions including if you:
- have or have had problems with your blood cells, including low blood cell counts (especially your white blood cells), bone marrow, immune system, pancreas, swollen lymph nodes, lymphoma, high blood triglyceride levels, or use insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant as it is unknown if Myalept will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while using Myalept, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with a program to collect information about the outcomes of moms and babies exposed to Myalept during pregnancy. You can enroll in the Myalept program by calling 1-855-669-2537.
- are nursing or plan to nurse. You should not nurse while you take Myalept.
Other possible side effects
The most common side effects of Myalept include headache, low blood sugar, decreased weight, and/or abdominal pain.
You may get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if you take Myalept with other medicines used to lower blood sugar, such as insulin or sulfonylurea. Your doses of these medications may need to be lowered while you use Myalept. Tell your doctor right away if you experience shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, or a jittery feeling because these may be signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
For newborns and infants, mix Myalept with sterile water for injection (preservative-free) (WFI). Serious side effects including death have happened in newborns or infants who have received the preservative benzyl alcohol. Bacteriostatic water for injection contains benzyl alcohol and it should not be used to mix Myalept for newborns and infants.
Myalept may worsen symptoms caused by certain problems in your immune system (autoimmune disorder). Ask your doctor about what symptoms you should watch for that may require further testing.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Myalept. For more information, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Take Myalept exactly as your doctor instructs you.
Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is Myalept?
Myalept® (metreleptin) is a leptin replacement therapy used with a doctor-recommended diet to treat problems caused by not having enough leptin (leptin deficiency) in people with generalized lipodystrophy.
- It is not known if Myalept is safe and effective when used to treat problems (complications) caused by partial lipodystrophy or to treat liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Myalept should not be used to treat people with HIV-related lipodystrophy or people with metabolic disease, including diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia, without signs or symptoms of congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy.
Important Safety Information
Myalept is only available through a restricted program called the Myalept Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Your doctor must be enrolled and certified in the program in order to prescribe Myalept.
Myalept may cause serious side effects, including:
- risk for developing certain proteins called neutralizing antibodies that may reduce how well your own leptin or Myalept works. Side effects of these antibodies may include infection, problems with blood sugar (including diabetes), or an increase in triglycerides.
- increased risk of a type of blood cancer called lymphoma.
You should not take Myalept if you:
- have general obesity not caused by a congenital leptin deficiency.
- are allergic to metreleptin or any of the ingredients in Myalept. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching (hives), swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, fainting or dizziness, rapid heartbeat.
Before using Myalept, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions including if you:
- have or have had problems with your blood cells, including low blood cell counts (especially your white blood cells), bone marrow, immune system, pancreas, swollen lymph nodes, lymphoma, high blood triglyceride levels, or use insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant as it is unknown if Myalept will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while using Myalept, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with a program to collect information about the outcomes of moms and babies exposed to Myalept during pregnancy. You can enroll in the Myalept program by calling 1-855-669-2537.
- are nursing or plan to nurse. You should not nurse while you take Myalept.
Other possible side effects
The most common side effects of Myalept include headache, low blood sugar, decreased weight, and/or abdominal pain.
You may get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if you take Myalept with other medicines used to lower blood sugar, such as insulin or sulfonylurea. Your doses of these medications may need to be lowered while you use Myalept. Tell your doctor right away if you experience shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, or a jittery feeling because these may be signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
For newborns and infants, mix Myalept with sterile water for injection (preservative-free) (WFI). Serious side effects including death have happened in newborns or infants who have received the preservative benzyl alcohol. Bacteriostatic water for injection contains benzyl alcohol and it should not be used to mix Myalept for newborns and infants.
Myalept may worsen symptoms caused by certain problems in your immune system (autoimmune disorder). Ask your doctor about what symptoms you should watch for that may require further testing.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Myalept. For more information, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Take Myalept exactly as your doctor instructs you.
Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
