Amvuttra (vutrisiran) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat nerve damage and weakened heart muscles related to a condition called ATTR amyloidosis. Amvuttra is given as an injection under your skin by a healthcare professional.

Amvuttra is used in adults to treat:

To learn more about Amvuttra’s uses, see the “What is Amvuttra used for?” section.

Amvuttra basics

Amvuttra is a brand-name medication that contains the active ingredient vutrisiran. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

Amvuttra is used in adults to treat:

ATTR amyloidosis is a rare condition that causes a buildup of harmful proteins in your body. Over time, these proteins can damage your nerves and organs.

This condition may be hereditary (hATTR), meaning it’s passed down through families. Or it may be acquired (nonhereditary), also called wild-type ATTR (wtATTR) amyloidosis. Amvuttra is used for polyneuropathy related to hATTR amyloidosis and for cardiomyopathy related to either hATTR or wtATTR amyloidosis.

Polyneuropathy from hATTR amyloidosis may cause symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or pain in your arms, hands, legs, and feet. Cardiomyopathy may cause swelling in your lower limbs, bloating, and changes in heart rate or rhythm.

Amvuttra works by targeting the process that makes harmful proteins in your body. To learn more, see the “What are some frequently asked questions about Amvuttra?” section.

If you have questions about using Amvuttra for your condition, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Amvuttra may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Amvuttra may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Amvuttra. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Amvuttra can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Amvuttra’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Amvuttra that have been reported include:

  • shortness of breath
  • pain in joints, arms, or legs
  • injection site reactions, such as bruising, pain, or warmth

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Amvuttra can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Amvuttra, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Amvuttra that have been reported include:

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Amvuttra can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Amvuttra.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Amvuttra, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Amvuttra that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Form and strength

Amvuttra comes as a liquid solution that’s given as an injection under your skin by a healthcare professional. It’s available in one strength of 25 milligrams in 0.5 milliliters of solution (25 mg/0.5 mL).

Recommended dosage

The recommended Amvuttra dosage is one 25-mg injection of Amvuttra every 3 months.

How Amvuttra is given

Your doctor will explain how Amvuttra will be given to you, how much you’ll be given, and how often.

A healthcare professional will inject Amvuttra under the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. You’ll receive these injections at your doctor’s office or a clinic.

To learn more about how you’ll receive Amvuttra, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

Questions about receiving Amvuttra

Below are some common questions about receiving Amvuttra.

  • What if I miss a dose of Amvuttra? If you miss an appointment to receive your Amvuttra injection, call your doctor’s office. They’ll help you reschedule your appointment and recommend next steps.
  • Will I need to use Amvuttra long term? Amvuttra is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
  • How long does Amvuttra take to work? Amvuttra begins to work after your first injection. It may take several months for the drug to reduce the symptoms of your condition. If you have questions about what to expect from treatment with Amvuttra, talk with your doctor.

Below is important information you should consider before using Amvuttra.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Amvuttra is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer of Amvuttra didn’t look at interactions in studies of the drug.

Before starting Amvuttra treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Amvuttra during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Amvuttra treatment.

Warnings

Amvuttra can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect determining whether Amvuttra is a safe treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Amvuttra. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • severe liver or kidney problems
  • previous allergic reaction to Amvuttra
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Amvuttra.

What is Amvuttra’s mechanism of action?

Amvuttra is used to treat polyneuropathy related to hATTR amyloidosis. This condition occurs because of an abnormal gene that leads to the buildup of harmful proteins in your body.

Amvuttra targets the process controlled by this abnormal gene and reduces the amount of harmful proteins your body makes. This is Amvuttra’s mechanism of action (how it works). The drug slows the buildup of harmful proteins and helps ease the symptoms of your condition.

To learn more about how Amvuttra works, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

How does Amvuttra compare with Onpattro?

Amvuttra and Onpattro are both used to treat polyneuropathy related to hATTR amyloidosis. Amvuttra is also used to treat cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscles) related to ATTR amyloidosis (ATTR-CM).

While these drugs work in similar ways, they have some key differences. Amvuttra contains the active ingredient vutrisiran, while Onpattro contains patisiran. Both drugs target the process in your body that makes harmful proteins.

Amvuttra is given as an injection under your skin every 3 months. But Onpattro is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein over a period of time) every 3 weeks. You may receive either drug from a healthcare professional in a doctor’s office or clinic.

If you’re considering Amvuttra or Onpattro for your condition, talk with your doctor. They can tell you more about how they compare and recommend which drug may be right for your condition.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Amvuttra. What you’ll pay for Amvuttra may depend on several factors, including your treatment plan.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Alnylam Assist may also be available.

Other drugs are also available that can treat polyneuropathy related to hATTR amyloidosis. These include Wainua (eplontersen) and Onpattro (patisiran).

If you’d like to explore an alternative to Amvuttra, talk with your doctor. They can suggest other medications that may work well for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.