Before Receiving Nucala Tell Your Healthcare Provider About All Of Your Medical Conditions Including If You:
- are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid medicines unless instructed by your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine to come back.
- have a parasitic infection.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NUCALA may harm your unborn baby.
- Pregnancy Registry. There is a pregnancy registery for women who receive NUCALA while pregnant. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about you and your babys health. You can talk to your healthcare provider about how to take part in this registry or you can get more information and register by calling 1-877-311-8972 or go to www.mothertobaby.org/asthma.
What If I Miss A Dose
Its important to keep having your injections as scheduled, even if you feel better. If you use a Nucala autoinjector pen or syringe and miss a dose, give yourself an injection as soon as possible. Then get back on track with your normal schedule. But if you miss a dose and its time for your next one, follow your normal schedule.
If your healthcare provider gives you injections of Nucala and you miss an appointment, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. They can make a new appointment and adjust the timing of other visits if needed.
Its a good idea to write your injection schedule on a calendar. You can also set a reminder in your phone so that you dont miss a dose or an appointment. Other medication reminders can help, too.
Questions About Taking Dupixent
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about taking Dupixent.
- What if I miss a dose of Dupixent? If you miss your dose of Dupixent, inject the dose within 7 days of missing it. But if you miss your dose by more than 7 days, skip the missed dose. Then, wait until its time to take your next scheduled dose of Dupixent.
- Will I need to use Dupixent long term? Dupixent is meant to be used long term. If you and your doctor decide that Dupixent is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term.
- Should I take Dupixent with food? Since youll inject Dupixent under your skin, when you eat does not affect how the drug works in your body.
- How long does Dupixent take to work? Dupixent begins to work in your body after the first injection. But it may be a few weeks to months before you notice symptom relief.
- What should I know about storing Dupixent? How long can it stay out of the refrigerator? You should keep Dupixent in the refrigerator at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F . After you take Dupixent out of the refrigerator, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 14 days. After that, it must be discarded. Be sure to keep Dupixent in its original carton to protect the drug from light.
- How do you stop taking Dupixent? If you and your doctor decide that youll end Dupixent treatment, you simply wont inject any further doses. There are no special instructions for stopping Dupixent.
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What Should I Know About Dupixent Vs Xolair
Dupixent and Xolair are both biologic drugs. Theyre made from living cells rather than chemicals. Both drugs are types of monoclonal antibodies. They work by targeting very specific but different parts of your immune system.
Dupixent works by blocking inflammation signals. Xolair works by blocking a protein thats involved in allergic reactions.
Dupixent and Xolair are both used to treat certain forms of asthma in adults and some children. They each have other uses, too.
You can learn more about how they are alike and different in this article. Also, be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is better for you.
Do not take more Dupixent than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this may lead to serious side effects.
Skin Conditions Of The Scalp
The symptoms: Seborrheic dermatitis causes the scalp to shed its skin, so you’ll notice greasy, yellowish scales on your shoulders or in your hair. It may be the result of yeast called Malassezia, hormonal changes, or excess oil in the skin. Psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes excessive skin cell turnover, produces a very thick white scale on the scalp that can bleed if pulled off. With ringworm, a fungus you contract by touching an infected person or animal, you’ll notice red patches on your scalp, which may be diffuse, Jakubowicz says.
The tests: A physical exam of the scalp will help determine which condition you have. A fungal culture and possibly a biopsy of the scalp may pinpoint ringworm.
What you can do: Each condition usually requires a prescription: a medicated shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis, medications or light therapy for psoriasis, and oral antifungals for ringworm.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. It affects about 4.7 million people in the United States and occurs equally in men and women. The cause is unknown, but it may be triggered by stress or illness.
The tests: Observing the pattern of hair loss can usually determine if you have alopecia areata, and blood tests for iron stores, ANAs. and hormones are usually done to rule out underlying conditions that may cause hair loss.
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Drugs Used With Xolair For Chronic Hives
If you have chronic hives, youll most likely take an antihistamine with Xolair. Examples of nondrowsy and less-drowsy antihistamines include:
- loratadine
- fexofenadine
- cetirizine
If your hives dont improve after using one these antihistamines with Xolair, your doctor may increase your dosage of the antihistamine. Or your doctor may recommend that you use a different type of antihistamine that may cause drowsiness, such as diphenhydramine .
The Xolair dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition youre using Xolair to treat
- your age
- your weight
- other medical conditions you may have
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then theyll adjust it over time to reach the amount thats right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.
Why You Should Talk To Your Doctor About Hair Loss
For some people, mild hair loss isn’t a big deal, but for others, it’s traumatic. Theres often a stigma attached to it especially for women because it’s a side effect that may be visible to others, and it’s less common for women to be bald.
Some people may be too embarrassed to talk about it. But if you’re experiencing hair loss and it bugs you, its worth speaking to your rheumatologist, because it’s a problem that can be solved fairly easily and quickly.
If the idea of talking about it makes you cringe, consider bringing a tangible prop, such as a prescription or hairbrush, to draw attention to the concern and to help start the dialogue. Be direct, explain what’s happening, and then ask a question. You could say, for instance, I’m noticing hair loss and Im concerned. Do you think one of my rheumatoid arthritis drugs might be causing it? If so, are there changes that we can make to my treatment plan to reduce or eliminate this side effect?”
Your rheumatologist will probably offer a few different strategies to mitigate or get rid of the side effect. First, says Husni, for people experiencing this issue who are taking methotrexate, shed recommend taking a folic acid supplement along with the medication. Sometimes that alone can solve the problem. If it doesn’t, she might lower the dosage of the methotrexate. Finally, as a last resort, she might switch you to an entirely different drug that has a lower risk of hair loss as a side effect.
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Is Dupixent An Immunosuppressant Does It Lower The Activity Of Your Immune System
No, Dupixent is not an immunosuppressant. Instead, its a monoclonal antibody drug, which works on very specific targets within your immune system.
Dupixent isnt known to weaken your immune system in a way that makes it easier for you to get infections. Instead, the drug reduces inflammation signals in your immune system that can cause eczema, asthma, and chronic sinusitis.
Keep in mind that inflammation signals are important for your immune system to respond to certain vaccines. For information about receiving vaccines during Dupixent treatment, see Vaccine interactions in the What should be considered before taking Dupixent? section below.
If you have questions about Dupixents effects on your immune system, talk with your doctor.
Drug Forms And Strengths
Xolair is available in two strengths:
- 75 mg/0.5 mL and 150 mg/1 mL. These strengths each come as a liquid solution inside prefilled single-dose syringes.
- 150 mg. This strength comes as a powder thats mixed with liquid to form a solution. It comes in single-dose vials.
Both forms of Xolair are given by subcutaneous injection . Youll receive Xolair injections at your healthcare providers office.
The maximum dose of Xolair that can be injected into one area of your body is 150 mg. If your dose of Xolair is greater than 150 mg, youll get more than one injection, in different areas of your body. Xolair can be injected into your upper arms or thighs.
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Does Xolair Contain Steroids
No, Xolair isnt a steroid and its not made from steroids. Xolair is a monoclonal antibody. These drugs are made in a lab from immune system cells. They work differently in your body than steroids do.
Your doctor may recommend that you use a corticosteroid along with Xolair. This combination of drugs is sometimes used to better treat your condition.
Can I Take Xolair For Angioedema
No, you shouldnt take Xolair to treat angioedema . This drug isnt approved to treat angioedema.
In fact, angioedema has been reported as a serious side effect of Xolair. And there havent been any studies done to look at using Xolair to treat the condition.
If you have questions about how to treat angioedema, talk with your doctor.
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Look Back At Pharma News In The Week To March 5 2021
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How Do Nucala Xolair And Cinqair Work To Improve Asthma Control
ANSWER
Mepolizumab is a biologic therapy that controls the blood cells that often trigger asthma. Nucala targets Interluken-5 which regulates the levels of blood eosinophils . Genetically engineered, Nucala keeps IL-5 from binding to eosinophils and, thereby, lowers the risk of a severe asthma attack.
Nucala is administered by injection once every 4 weeks and is meant to be used in conjunction with other asthma treatments as a maintenance medication. By using Nucala, patients have been found to not only experience fewer asthma incidents, but they are able to reduce the amount of their other asthma medications. Side effects include headache and a hypersensitivity reaction that can cause swelling of the face and tongue, dizziness, hives, and breathing problems.
Omalizumab , an immunomodulator, works differently from other anti-inflammatory medications for asthma . Xolair blocks the activity of IgE before it can lead to asthma attacks. Immunomodulator treatment has been shown to help reduce the number of asthma attacks in people with moderate to severe allergic asthma whose symptoms are not controlled with inhaled steroids.
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Drug Forms And Administration
Nucala comes in three forms:
- A single-dose vial of powder containing 100 mg of mepolizumab. Your healthcare provider will mix the powder with sterile water. Theyll give you this solution as an injection under your skin .
- A single-dose prefilled autoinjector pen containing 100 mg of mepolizumab. Once your healthcare provider teaches you how to use the pen, youll be able to give yourself injections under your skin.
- A single-dose prefilled syringe containing 100 mg of mepolizumab. Once your healthcare provider teaches you how to use the syringe, youll be able to give yourself injections under your skin.
Fasenra comes as a single-dose prefilled syringe containing 30 mg of benralizumab. The drug is given as an injection under your skin by your healthcare provider.
Nucala is given once every four weeks. Fasenra is given once every four weeks for the first three doses. After that, Fasenra is given once every eight weeks.
Is Xolair Used For Hives
If you have a certain type of hives, your doctor may recommend Xolair.
Its a prescription drug used to treat hives due to chronic idiopathic urticaria . With CIU, you have hives or angioedema . And the condition lasts for 6 weeks or more.
Xolair is prescribed for adults and children ages 12 years and older. To take Xolair for hives, you must have already tried antihistamine treatments, such as cetirizine or loratadine . And these treatments didnt help with your condition.
Hives can be itchy and may appear as pink-to-red areas on your skin. Usually, the center of the area is pale in color. While hives can occur anywhere on the body, some areas are more prone to hives, such as:
- waist
- armpits
- groin
Xolair isnt used to treat hives that result from allergic reactions or other forms of hives. Its only used for the type of hives described above.
In addition to treating hives, Xolair is used for other purposes. See the Is Xolair used for other conditions? section below.
If you have asthma or nasal polyps, your doctor may prescribe Xolair.
Its a prescription drug used for:
Note:You should not use Xolair for sudden trouble breathing or severe breathing problems that dont improve with treatment. These are both possible symptoms of asthma. Instead, you should use a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. To learn more, see Receiving other drugs with Xolair in the How is Xolair administered? section below.
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